The Logitech MX Master 4 Developer Edition just started shipping, and I have one on my desk to try out. The mouse is an ode to developers covered with Easter eggs and nods to programming.

This mouse is one of the first to support Windows 11 haptics, which lets you feel Windows 11 through subtle physical feedback. That functionality is not exclusive to the developer edition, so you can take advantage of haptics if you prefer to grab the black or white versions of the Logitech MX Master 4.

I've only had the Logitech MX Master 4 Developer Edition for a bit, so I can't judge it fully. So far, the mouse has impressed me throughout full work days.

But one thing has stood out to me so far: this mouse is basically a fidget spinner. Its vertical scroll wheel can toggle between ratchet or smooth scrolling. You can even set the mouse to switch between those modes depending on force.

Your thumb rests just below a horizontal scroll wheel when using the mouse. That is also fun to spin when I'm bored. It also scrolls horizontally, but that's a feature I only use occasionally.

Add in a haptic side panel that buzzes when pressed and displays a ring of shortcuts, and you have a surprisingly great fidget tool for your desk.

Early impressions

This mouse is the first device I've used that supports Windows 11 haptics. That feature, which provides physical bumps when you perform certain actions, has been fun to play with.

I've used a Logitech MX mouse for years, but it's been the Logitech MX Vertical on my desk. That mouse is excellent, and I still recommend it to those who want an ergonomic mouse, but having used the Logitech MX Master 4, there are features I'd love to see Logitech bring over to its ergonomic line.

I've been surprised by how much I use the horizontal scroll wheel of the Logitech MX Master 4. I usually just hold Shift and use the vertical scroll wheel to navigate horizontally. But the horizontal scroll wheel is perfectly placed on the Logitech MX Master 4, making them easier to use and more comfortable.

The Logitech MX Master 4 has a bit more of a thunk than a click, which I prefer. I also like the matte plastic finish of the Logitech MX Master 4.

None of this is surprising since the Logitech MX Master 4 earned a near-perfect score from our friends at Tom's Guide. The version of the mouse I have is identical in terms of features and overall design. What makes it stand out are its Easter eggs, such as syntax annotations and markup tags that are laser-etched onto the mouse.

I've often said I can't go back to using a flat mouse since relying on the Logitech MX Vertical. I still prefer the vertical design of that mouse over the flatter layout of the Logitech MX Master 4, but I prefer the features and build of the latter. My perfect mouse would be a combination of the two.

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We're just over one week from the release of GTA VI. After years of delays and rumors, Rockstar's iconic franchise is back. Some analysts suspect there will be a record number of sick days in mid-November on the day GTA VI launches, but employees at Logitech won't be part of that wave.

According to Fortune, a new initiative by Logitech called "Logi Game Day" allows employees to take a day off work to play a game.

Logi Game Day is not actually a specific day. It's also not set aside exclusively for GTA VI. Logitech employees can take off any individual day over the next year to play the game of their choosing.

It's unlikely that the timing of the initiative is a coincidence. At least one expert estimates that the launch of GTA VI will cost $1 billion in productivity in the United States.

Rather than trying to squeeze productivity out of distracted employees eager to go home and play GTA VI, Logitech leaned into the skid and gave people the green light to take off work.

"It’s time to retire the stereotype that gaming is a waste of time,” said Hanneke Faber, Logitech’s chief executive officer. “As a company designing products for work and play, we see every day how engagement in one sphere supports performance in the other."

Times are definitely changing, and I'd argue it's for the better. When I grew up, it was common knowledge that little got done during the NCAA basketball tournament, but people would have scoffed at similar dips in productivity caused by a video game launch.

Of course, we don't all work for Logitech and may have to work on GTA VI launch day.

While most of us won't be getting a dedicated gaming holiday from our employer, there are still ways to squeeze in some GTA VI during a lunch break or while away from your console. GTA VI will not be playable through Xbox Cloud Gaming, but it will support Xbox Remote Play. That means you could squeeze in some playtime on a PC or mobile device by streaming from an Xbox or PlayStation console.

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Windows 11's desktop will soon look different on your PC, and I'm not talking about the refreshed Start menu or the upgrades to the taskbar in the works. Microsoft reportedly has new default wallpapers in the works for Windows 11, and they're a bigger deal than they might initially seem.

I cover wallpapers a lot, sometimes with a hint of sarcastic enthusiasm. But Microsoft making new default wallpapers for Windows is significant.

Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden discussed the new wallpapers in the latest episode of the Windows Central Podcast. When Microsoft creates new default wallpapers for Windows, it usually signals either a new major version of Windows, such as Windows 12, or a major refresh of the current release. According to Bowden and the initial report from The Verge on the topic, the latter is far more likely.

There will reportedly be separate editions of the wallpaper for different versions of Windows 11, such as Windows 11 Pro and commercial versions of the OS.

We've already seen the default Windows 11 wallpaper refreshed a few times. Microsoft created a special version of the wallpaper for Copilot+ PCs and a variant for the company's 50th anniversary. While the new wallpapers that will ship in 2027 are a bit similar to Bloom, they are not simply color swaps or small tweaks. They're new images rather than just variants of Bloom.

At one point in time, Microsoft planned to ship major releases of Windows every three years, but those plans changed with the departure of Panos Panay. Microsoft released the AI-focused update to Windows 11 after the operating system had been around for three years. It appears that another major update is on the way in 2027 rather than Windows 12.

Bowden dove deeper into why Microsoft is not likely to ship Windows 12 next year. But I'm a simple man: I see nice wallpapers and I focus on those. I spent weeks hunting down the RTX Spark wallpaper and now have it set on my desktop.

The new Windows 11 wallpapers should come out with an update in 2027, but I suspect they'll leak on the web before then. You can already grab one of them now despite Microsoft not even announcing its plans for next year.

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