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The Ploopy A+ Trackball Is Here

Three years ago, the design for the Adept trackball was released. Consistently popular, it has been used for various purposes and inspired modifications within the community. The Adept design now returns with improvements, known as the A+. Starting August 19th, 2026, at 10am ET, preorder kits for $99CAD. The A+ boasts several enhancements over its predecessor.

It features eight buttons, up from six, along with two knobs that function as high-resolution scroll knobs by default but can be reprogrammed for various functions. The A+ also introduces a detachable wrist rest, which can be attached, detached, or screwed together for added versatility. Three unique features introduced with the A+ are gestures, layers, and on-device configuration.

Gestures, inspired by QMK community work, allow the ball to be flicked in eight directions while holding a button to input commands. Layers, a first for trackballs, offer a second navigation and control layer accessed by pressing the right knob, enabling on-device configuration. The A+ also includes two internal LEDs for layer indication, configuration assistance, and more.

With the A+, you can expect the Pixelart PMW-3360 mouse sensor, renowned for its accuracy, speed, and 1,000Hz polling rate. The A+ also retains Omron D2LS-21 switches for crisp, snappy responsiveness. Powered by QMK and configurable via VIA, the A+ offers reprogramming and reconfigurability, with firmware residing on the device for ultimate portability.

As always, the A+ is 100% open-source, with design files, firmware, and detailed assembly instructions available for free under CERN OHL-V2s and GPLv3 licenses on their GitHub pages. The A+ is a testament to the community's support and innovation, and the team looks forward to seeing how the A+ evolves with community modifications over time.

Written by urgent.news from Hacker News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

Read the original at blog.ploopy.co →

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