Its first grainy, wide-angle images showed its own left rear wheel parked on the surface of Gale Crater near the equator of Mars, close to the foot of a three-mile-high mountain it aims to explore in months to come.

WSJ: NASA's Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars

"They've got a run of asphalt that's coming out of the surface and, also, I did notice at least one pothole in the main wheel track of the road as well, which is surprising for a motorway surface, " Mr Bullock said.

BBC: Condition of M5 near Bridgwater raises concerns

"For example, even on a road surface with minor ridges or furrows, the driver no longer has to grip the steering wheel tightly and make detailed adjustments, so travelling on the intended path becomes easier, " it said in a statement.

BBC: Nissan steer-by-wire cars set for showrooms by 2013

While the Mobile Mouse has just the Start key and a scroll wheel, though, the bigger Comfort Mouse takes things a step further: the button there doubles as a capacitive surface you can swipe to toggle through open programs in Windows 8.

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