Logitech Touch Mouse app for iPhone and iPod touch (image via Mobiletor.com)

I’m sure you’ve heard about Logitech’s Touch Mouse by now; the internet’s been buzzing with the news since Monday (and the story was floating around in cyberspace for a bit before it took off).

According to Logitech Global Product Marketing Manager Andy Hengel, the Touch Mouse app uses Wi-Fi to turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a wireless trackpad and keyboard for your computer, so you can point, click, scroll and type from afar, in any application, on a Mac or PC.

Yes, “now” you can lie in bed and respond to the IM that’s flashing on your monitor across the room (plus one). However you’ll need to be able to see what you’re responding to, since it won’t appear on your iPhone or iPod touch (minus one).

The above draw aside—it seems like the Touch Mouse would be perfect for controlling video on your computer (or HTPC) from across the room.

Wait a minute; why is everyone so excited? The first wireless trackpad and keyboard app for iPhone and iPod touch, Intelliremote, appeared in 2008. That same year, Logitech debuted a piece of dedicated hardware with similar (yet less robust) functionality, diNovo Mini. Frankly, I’m a little confused about why such a product is still on the market.

Why would anyone buy a cell phone-sized wireless keyboard for $150, when they could buy an iPhone and download a wireless keyboard and track pad app for $99? Please spare me your comments about the price of the wireless plan. Almost everyone has a cell phone. It’s a non-expense.

So now, almost two years later, Logitech has decided that it wants to eat lunch with the cool kids—the developers behind wireless keyboard and track pad apps like Intelliremote, Mobile Air Mouse Pro, Rowmote Pro, TouchPad. Yes Logitech, you can sit down; I hear the app is great. I’m just not sure how long you can stay…

It’s pretty clear that the iPhone and other app-friendly mobile devices are gadget killers. Macworld’s Christopher Breen brought this to our attention last year with his article, “iPhone 3G S and the ‘Uh Oh’ moment.”

I’m feeling a little sad for Logitech at the moment (and all the other companies that manufacture standalone gadgets that will soon be replaced by mobile devices).