Alessandro Levi Montalcini has released USB Overdrive v10.4, an updated version of his software that extends the usability of mice, trackballs, joysticks and gamepads in Mac OS X. The new release adds support for and extends the capabilities of the new Mighty Mouse, Apple’s first multi-button mouse.
With USB Overdrive, you can configure USB-based input controllers globally or on a per-application basis, assigning specific commands to buttons, wheels, switches and other controls, managing keyboard emulation and more. The v10.4 release is compatible with Mac OS X v10.2.8 or later.
Apple includes software with the Mighty Mouse that lets users program various functions for the mouse’s buttons, but that software is limited to Mac OS X v10.4.2 or later. What’s more, the functionality of that software is limited in its scope. USB Overdrive exposes more capabilities for Mighty mouse users.
“… the new version can assign all sorts of useful actions to the Mighty Buttons, including double clicks and keystrokes,” Montalcini told MacCentral. “And before you ask — no, it can’t make the two side ‘squeeze buttons’ act separately to add a 5th button.”
Montalcini explained that that capability is handled in the Mighty Mouse’s firmware itself — something he can’t work around in software at present.”
Montalcini noted on his Web site that this “quick update” has delayed another release that he has previously spoken about which will add support for Bluetooth devices and a native Preference Pane. Both are still “coming soon.”
Released as shareware, USB Overdrive costs US$20 to register. The update is free for registered users of the Mac OS X version.