Ploopy has announced the Ploopy Bean, an open-source mouse designed as a portable alternative to touchpads and trackballs. The device is shaped like a small travel mouse, but instead of relying on continuous mouse movement, it uses a built-in pointing method. Four surrounding buttons flank a red pointing nub that resembles the TrackPoint control found on classic IBM ThinkPad laptops. The pointing stick allows navigation without moving the mouse body around, addressing a use case associated with limited desk space and travel. Both outlets describe the Bean as part of Ploopy’s broader effort to provide alternatives that change how cursor control works while keeping the hardware open-source. The Verge and Engadget focus on the same core concept: the Bean is not a trackball-based design and does not incorporate a touchpad. Instead, it centers on a ThinkPad-like pointing stick paired with nearby buttons for interaction. Details such as release timing, software support, and pricing are not covered in the provided excerpts.