Wireless accelerometer-equipped Apple mouse on the way?

The successor of Apple's Mighty Mouse could actually bring much more mightiness if reports we obtained from our sources are to be believed.

First let us make it clear that this is one of our very exciting but unconfirmed reports. We decided to publish it because the information sounded credible to us.

The mouse that will succeed to the Mighty Mouse could be equipped with an accelerometer and come in a wireless only version sources told SiliconRumors.

Sources added that it could not only replace the Mighty Mouse but also the Apple Remote Control which has become optional in the latest MacBook and MacBook Pro refreshes. No details were provided on how this feature would be implemented though.

It is worth noting that the information we obtained clearly reminds the description of an Apple patent application published almost three years ago at the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office (see patent 7,154,477).

Accelerometers are more and more used in gadgets like the iPhone or digital cameras as well as on input devices such as the Wiimote or the Logitech MX Air. It will be interesting to see how Apple will take benefit of this technology.

In addition, we've been told that Apple could abandon AA batteries on both its wireless mouse and keyboard in favor of lithium a rechargeable battery similar to those found inside today's laptops and various gadgets.

That means we should also expect either a standalone charging base or charging docks built-in to the enclosure of next generations of Macs. This last point hasn't been clarified at all by our sources.

No precise information either on the release timeframe except that this new mouse should be ready for a release this year. We wouldn't bet on a release for this Tuesday's MacWorld Expo opening keynote athough it would be a good timing to release it along with the rumoured next-generation iMacs.