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PERIPHERAL MAKER Logitech has made a wireless mouse especially for use with tablet devices running Google’s Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system.

You might be wondering why the mouse is specifically for tablets and we wondered the same thing. The only answer is that the mouse uses Bluetooth connectivity without a USB dongle.

Logitech has creatively named it the Tablet Mouse for Android 3.1+ and said, “Make your tablet work for you with our first-ever mouse made for Android tablets.”

Logitech hasn’t told us why the mouse won’t work on Android versions lower than 3.1. The mouse uses a laser for tracking, which won’t work on glass or mirrors, and is powered by two AA batteries.

Some tablets do come with full size USB slots so you can plug in a wired mouse or keyboard if you wish but others don’t, such as the Motorola’s Xoom, so this could actually be handy. That is if you want to use a mouse on an operating system that is designed for touch control.

The mouse has left and right buttons and a scroll wheel meaning you can scroll up and down, as you’d expect. Bluetooth allows you to use the mouse up to 30 feet away from the tablet, where you presumably can’t see the screen, let alone the cursor.

The Tablet Mouse for Android 3.1+ is available now for .99 and looks remarkably like Logitech’s V470 wireless mouse which retails for less. But let us also not forget that the mouse comes with a protective case. µ

For many, the deal breaker for the Logitech Revue and other Google TV products was two words: IR blaster. Opting to act as a supplement to your current home theater set-up rather than a replacement for a cable/satellite set-top box, the device was hamstrung by a somewhat complicated set-up process. But this was never about the hardware, the workhorse of this product was the Android-based OS behind it all. Bringing the web to the TV has been a concept bouncing around the consumer electronics industry years, and Google’s effort leveraged the Chrome browser to bring any content to your living room. The execution, though solid, failed to meet expectations; primarily because there seemed to be so much left on the table. Like Apple TV, Google TV products had no access to the apps that made their respective OS’s so popular and full featured. 

Google used I/O 2011 to announce that apps would be coming to Google TV during a reset that brings Honeycomb 3.1 to the table. First reported by GTV Source shortly after the conference, Google went so far as to invite some devs to participate in a beta of the new software under a project called ‘Fishtank.’ In recent days there’s been signs of progress in this program based on the appearance of device listings for Google TV devices under the Android Market’s settings menu. Though apps could not yet be sent to user devices, this was a good indicator.

Now, it appears that the appearance may be tied to the Fishtank programs deployment. As reported by Geek.com’s Russel Holly, images and details of the hardware received by Fishtank developers. The hardware closely mirrors that of Logitech’s Revue, featuring the same Intel CE4100 SoC and even the same wireless keyboard. Port selection mirrors the Revue but is notable for the presence of a blanked out second HDMI in port; a coaxial connection is noted but, based on its size and appearance, is likely to be used with a WiFi antenna. 

Loaded in the device is what’s known as Google TV 2.0 beta, the Android 3.1 based OS we’ve been waiting for, complete with apps. Unfortunately the only apps up right now are a Clock app and Live TV app, whose source is the HDMI input on the device. The interface retains Honeycomb’s blue and black theme and shows plenty of effective optimizations for the big screen. Fishtank is supported by a private Groups message board through which the main request from the 50 or so participants is the ability to overlay video with data from an application. This feature is apparently available while on the home screen, but not open for developers to use. 

Fishtank isn’t the only testing ground for Google TV 2.0, though. We can confirm that Logitech is testing the new software on Revue units on their campus and working with in-house developers to prepare a suite of apps for its users. Current Revue owners can expect the new software to land late this summer, a broad window to be sure, but better than no window at all. Logitech would not comment on new hardware, though with such an upgrade in software it would be surprising to not see something new in hardware. It’s certainly comforting to see that GTV early adopters will not be left behind, as can so often be the case. More information on Google TV 2.0 as it becomes available.

A competitive gamer loves being at the cutting edge.  Every piece of hardware needs to be meticulously set to his or her specifications and customisations – being hindered by substandard equipment is not an option.  For a number of years, Logitech have played a role in this field, trying to give the gamer what they want – assuming money is no object, of course.  Today they have announced a triumvirate of a new headset, new mouse and new keyboard to add to any prospective warrior’s arsenal, if your wallet stretches that far.