Opera Mobile

Opera Fingertouch

By Jan StandalThink. Thursday, March 5, 2009 2:25:05 PM

mobile, devices, technology, touch, labs, opera fingertouch

Today we introduce Opera Fingertouch, a technology designed to make interacting with the Web easier and simpler on touch-based devices. Opera Fingertouch provides visual feedback when you hit a Web link, and assists you when you come across multiple links or other selectable elements in close proximity to one another.

To see Opera Fingertouch in action today, download the new beta version of Opera Mobile for Symbian UiQ, check out the video demo below, or read the labs article.

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Tamil # Thursday, March 5, 2009 2:27:34 PM

myfrenchopera # Thursday, March 5, 2009 2:46:10 PM

OMG ! This is a killer feature !

ColKilkenny # Thursday, March 5, 2009 2:48:47 PM

Why is Opera still releasing Opera Mobile for Symbian UIQ? I mean releasing stuff for UIQ is ok, but you haven't released anything for S60 for a very very long time. Let's face it, UIQ is dead and Nokia killed it with S60.
IIRC Opera Mobile is developed in Sweden, UIQ was Swedish. Has this something to do with it? Or is the S60 browser good enough for users so that there's no market for commercial S60 browsers?

Just wondering..

prking # Thursday, March 5, 2009 2:56:12 PM

I have to say, my heart sank when I read about yet another beta for UIQ, and nothing for Series60. And no comment about what is going on.

Haavardhaavard # Thursday, March 5, 2009 3:58:46 PM

This version is intended to show off the new feature, so it's definitely not the right time to introduce a new platform. It's most likely just the same as the old beta with this single new feature added.

I don't know why it's only available for UIQ and not Windows Mobile, but I guess it could have something to do with which team is working on what. Fingertouch will likely be available for all platforms in the future.

MisterNobody # Thursday, March 5, 2009 4:15:59 PM

Cool feature.
Do you have patent?

Anonymous # Thursday, March 5, 2009 4:25:45 PM

Ankan writes: SUPERB!! Thanks for supporting UIQ platform and doing this! This feature is sooooo cool and useful! I really didn't think Opera Mobile 9.5 could be any better for UIQ, but you guys just proved me wrong. RESPECT! To all the people who think Opera should not be doing anything for UIQ, please let them do their job :)

thobi # Thursday, March 5, 2009 4:41:35 PM

nice idea, really nice feature!

a nokia 5800 user waiting for a s60 version...

Investor # Thursday, March 5, 2009 5:02:38 PM

nice and useful feature...

however needs some design improvements. dont let apple steal this one too. as with speed dial http://images.apple.com/safari/images/overview-hero-image1-20090217.png

what looks good probably is good too

Anonymous # Thursday, March 5, 2009 6:10:18 PM

Anonymous writes: I poke on my screen hard... I poke on my screen harder... I realize the harsh reality that my s60 phone has no touch screen... HELP.....give me a beta..

FataL # Thursday, March 5, 2009 6:21:51 PM

Nice feature! Really nice!

And the p1i phone is really nice too (I have it). It's a pity that Sony ended UIQ line.

Anonymous # Thursday, March 5, 2009 6:48:25 PM

Anarion writes: That's a really nice and intelligent feature but, sniff, no Symbian S60 build yet. Byääääääh! :-(

Manrique Lopezjsmanrique # Thursday, March 5, 2009 6:57:41 PM

Nice! My nokia 5800 is waiting for this too! As soon it is released, I would test it...

Anonymous # Thursday, March 5, 2009 7:06:18 PM

Gen writes: still no flash support :(

perrisiam # Thursday, March 5, 2009 7:29:43 PM

nice feature

I am still waiting for a "page down" page up" button and a functional scroll bar

KYrenKYren # Thursday, March 5, 2009 7:59:53 PM

When will the more advanced touchscreen phones like Android G2 and Pre be launched in India? I want to use Opera on them.

Haavardhaavard # Thursday, March 5, 2009 8:11:23 PM

still no flash support

This build was intended to show off Fingertouch, so you shouldn't be surprised if you don't find anything else that's new.

Originally posted by Investor:

however needs some design improvements.

It's just a technology demo.

JeremyApocalypticDesire # Thursday, March 5, 2009 9:11:19 PM

if i remember right flash should be working now on the G700/G900, though its been a while since i checked personally

Anonymous # Thursday, March 5, 2009 9:56:03 PM

Matt writes: Nice feature. Seems to work well. The animation is very pleasing!

Anonymous # Friday, March 6, 2009 8:35:00 AM

Anonymous writes: Nice, please port it to WinMo!

Anonymous # Friday, March 6, 2009 9:51:46 AM

ares writes: it´s supposed to support the UIQ3 flash pluggin....

RoyGarion # Friday, March 6, 2009 5:57:01 PM

Yes please do port to Windows Mobile ASAP.

You know what's ridiculous though? To be able to view the info about this great browser and see the video I had to use Skyfire...

Anonymous # Friday, March 6, 2009 6:16:57 PM

Anonim writes: UIQ is Dead!!! where is S60 version ?!

Anonymous # Friday, March 6, 2009 7:06:15 PM

UIQ & Android user writes: Yeah, you don't remeber UIQ users! :) hhmmm... when can I'll see Android verion?

Anonymous # Friday, March 6, 2009 7:07:27 PM

UIQ user writes: Anonim - S60 is Dead! And fu*k you! S60 is shit.

Anonymous # Friday, March 6, 2009 7:33:05 PM

Anonim writes: Read and shut up!!! http://www.symbian-freak.com/news/008/10/official_death_of_the_symbian_uiq_platform.htm

Thor BøeBubbleboy # Friday, March 6, 2009 9:04:32 PM

I'm still using my SonyEricsson P1i phone (Symbian UIQ), and I downloaded the 9.5beta2 today, and the fingertocuh option is big news for me. Usually i have to browse internet using the stylus pen, but with this feature it works fantastic with just using the finger on the screen, and the visual effects when you open a link is also cool. Earlier I decided to buy a new phone this month, maybe Samsung innov8.? But now I'm so satisfied with my old phone with OperaMobile and WLAN, so i think I'm gonna keep it for a while

Thank You Opera!

Ilgaz # Saturday, March 7, 2009 5:27:46 AM

Why do you people want Opera act like others and abandon people's working UIQ3 handsets? That is NOT how Opera gained such prestige.

As die hard S60 fans, do you know how many models and different concepts one must test before releasing a beta to S60? It is almost uncountable. If Opera released a seg faulting S60 beta, I bet the very same people would call Opera dead. I am totally sure.

UIQ3 is called a missed chance by all developers (even including iPhone ones) since it is really easy to code for. Bad economic shape, S60 foundation, Sony and Motorola mixed together and it died but it is not like UIQ3 devices stopped booting that day.

If you want Opera to do amateurish things like abandoning a platform and its users without any technical reason, you are at wrong domain IMHO.

prking # Saturday, March 7, 2009 6:46:15 AM

@ilgaz, no-one wants Opera to abandon UIQ. It just seems that their are quite a few people that wonder why Opera doesn't have a presence on the dominant smartphone platform and yet seemingly have developers with enough time to develop new features on UIQ, which will never generate any money for Opera, as there will be no new UIQ handsets.

Fingertouch seems ok, but not particularly new or innovative. I'm sure I've seem something similar on LG handsets and also in tech demos of new versions of Windows Mobile.

Anonymous # Saturday, March 7, 2009 3:24:44 PM

Anonym writes: "seemingly have developers with enough time to develop new features on UIQ" Gee, could that be due to UIQ being dead and therefore UIQ developers are free to develop new features, and they just happen to do it on the platform they were working on? Logic, people. Logic. "will never generate any money for Opera, as there will be no new UIQ handsets" There are existing UIQ handsets out there, moron. "Fingertouch seems ok, but not particularly new or innovative." Show some specific prior art then, not just vague Opera bashing.

vrv1 # Saturday, March 7, 2009 3:26:30 PM

Thanks for the Opera Mobile 9.5 b2 (117) UIQ release! Fingertouch is a great idea, and I hope you guys patented it!

I see you guys also have the "stop" button on the new beta when a page is loading. Thats great!

If only we get more widgets for the Opera Mobile ...

(Gmail, integrate a world clock with the accuweather widget, more games)

Thanks for the UIQ support!!! Have a P1i and its great when new software comes out now!

prking # Saturday, March 7, 2009 8:22:17 PM

@anonymous user, I am entitled to my views, and you are entitled to yours. Although I notice you ignore the examples I gave in my post and you also hide behind anonymity so that you can insult me. If you truly believe what you say why hide?

I repeat, fingertouch is ok, but its similar to existing attempts to make touchscreens easier to use (eg on LG phones and in tech demos of the new Windows Mobile)

Anonymous # Saturday, March 7, 2009 9:09:06 PM

st8ic writes: Dreaming of appearance of Opera Fingertouch on Nokia 5800.

Anonymous # Sunday, March 8, 2009 10:13:10 AM

Anonymous writes: @prking, what about LG phones? What Windows Mobile tech demos? I notice that you didn't even answer the question about specific "prior art" or what the "similar" things you have seen are.

prking # Sunday, March 8, 2009 7:29:24 PM

@anonymous, I have answered your question, you even quote it in your previous sentence????

I don't think answering questions from an anonymous person is what these blog comments are about. You are quite welcome to message me if you would like further information, but you will have to stop hiding behind anonymity.

I think its great that Opera are trying to make touchscreens easier to use, it will be interesting to see how it develops when translated to devices in actual use.

Anonymous # Sunday, March 8, 2009 8:06:44 PM

Anonym writes: @prking, you didn't answer the question. You only threw out some vague claim about some stuff LG allegedly did, and some fluff abour WM demos. What is this stuff from LG specifically? What is this WM stuff specifically? You have yet to show one single example of specific prior art. So again, you didn't answer the questions. And now you are using the fact that I don't have an account here as an excuse to not have to back up your completely unfounded claims? Is it because you lied that you can't come up with specific examples?

Henrik Bakkenhenrikb # Monday, March 9, 2009 8:10:39 AM

This looks *really* good, guys!

docertabum # Monday, March 9, 2009 8:44:04 AM

what-a-surprise! thanks, for supporting UIQ3 even now! you operaguys rulez!

Investor # Monday, March 9, 2009 5:12:40 PM

dont have a uiq phone myself...

but read a swedish review about opera fingertouch. translated it says :

problem is too often nothing happens, or links are magnified, but not the links of interest. the most common problem is that the browser misinterprets a touch which opens link without intent and without prior magnification.

source :
* Problemet är bara att det allt för ofta inte händer någonting, eller så förstoras vissa länkar, men inte de länkar man är intresserad av. Det vanligaster problemet är dock att webbläsaren direkt uppfattar att klickat på en länk utan att man haft för avsikt att göra det och utan någon förstoring innan. * http://www.mobil.se/ArticlePages/200903/09/20090309074749_MOB_Administratorer346/20090309074749_MOB_Administratorer346.dbp.asp

Haavardhaavard # Tuesday, March 10, 2009 1:36:53 PM

Slow phones are slow

Anonymous # Sunday, March 15, 2009 10:43:33 AM

E90_owner writes: Sigh... my Nokia E90 feels so crippled without a good browser. The built-in browser is so slow it's painful. I'm using Opera Mini right now but I'm still waiting for Opera Mobile which I will purchase the same day it's released. Will there ever be a version of Opera Mobile for Nokia E90?

Peter Kreftingnafmo # Monday, March 23, 2009 8:06:43 PM

Can't get it to work with on my P1i. The 9.5 beta 1 works fine, while this just crashes on startup. :-/

Anonymous # Thursday, March 26, 2009 2:21:07 PM

UIQ rocks writes: UIQ is the best finger touch mobile OS.It's very disappointing that they are now dead.

Anonymous # Monday, April 13, 2009 11:52:52 AM

Blackberry writes: Hi, Every thing in this place play very important role on this world from each mobile phone is also take role in men life.

ardi_tan_89 # Tuesday, June 30, 2009 4:10:15 PM

Thnks for Opera Mobile 9.5 Finger Touch for UIQv3.

if you all do not think that UIQ3 better than S60v3 or S60v5?

UIQv3 have Bluetooth Internet "PAN" (For Free Browsing Internet Using Bluetooth) and S60v3 or S60v5 don't have it....

illiad # Tuesday, August 25, 2009 12:05:17 PM

um, a lot of newer phones now have wifi, so they do not have to rely on a BT connection to a PC... they just find a wifi hotspot in a cafe or pub, that most supply now for free...

Vincentke-vincent # Sunday, September 13, 2009 11:12:44 AM

Does Opera Finger Touch supports Nokia 5800 xpress music and Nokia N97 ? hope its a great work.

illiad # Thursday, September 17, 2009 1:11:49 PM

N97 & 5800 are s60v5, not UIQ... and I think 'fingertouch' is mainly for people that dont use a stylus...

Though Opera Mini V5 BETA does work nicely on my 5800... inertial scrolling, tabs, speeddial..

illiad # Thursday, September 17, 2009 1:21:50 PM

ardi_tan_89: I can now answer your post!! (having now got used to my 5800...

It has wifi so you can use any network that you can access - I have found a lot, just walking about! Some pubs even provide it for free!!

Vincentke-vincent # Friday, September 18, 2009 3:14:54 PM

thank you ardi tan illiad

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