Ploopy A+ trackball packs eight buttons, and two of them double as dials

Ploopy, a company known for unconventional computer input devices, has unveiled its latest creation: the A+ trackball. The new gadget merges the functions of several products the company has released over the years, including trackballs, trackpads, and dials.

The A+ features eight buttons — two more than the previous Adept model. The bottom two buttons also function as dials, allowing users to scroll or assign other actions to them. A detachable wrist rest is included in the box.

In line with Ploopy's philosophy, the A+ is fully open source: hardware schematics, firmware, and other design materials are available on the company's GitHub pages. The device's case is 3D-printed, which may not appeal to everyone's aesthetic preferences, but it reflects the small manufacturer's approach to crafting niche peripherals that bigger companies have largely abandoned.

The trackball is priced at 99 Canadian dollars. Ploopy has built a following among enthusiasts who appreciate customizable and repairable hardware, and the A+ continues that tradition with its modular design and community-driven development.

In other tech news from the same roundup, the Xteink X4 pocket-sized eReader, featuring a 4.3-inch display and a $69 price tag, has sold out. Despite this, the company remains committed to producing small, affordable, and mostly simple eReaders for users who prefer a dedicated device over a smartphone for reading.

Additionally, Google now allows users to download third-party app stores directly from the Play Store. However, the process is not made particularly convenient, as the company appears to be taking a cautious approach to this change. The move could have implications for how Android users discover and install apps, potentially opening the door to more competition in the app distribution space, though Google's implementation seems designed to limit the visibility of such stores.