Nokia's S60 Touch Interface announced
By Thomas Ricker 
posted October 16th 2007 7:24AM
posted October 16th 2007 7:24AM
Update: The press release is out and with it, more information about the new S60 software: existing S60 3rd Edition apps will run on touch-enabled devices unmodified (but can be further enhanced, natch); generic proximity and light sensors supported; a UI Accelerator Toolkit enables "impressive" graphical effects; and Flash Video will be supported in the S60 web browser. Available to S60 device manufacturers "during 2008." A bit more specificity please, Nokia?
Read -- S60 Touch Interface launched
Read -- Nokia PR
I'll pay £1000 to charity if no-one else mentions iPhone in their comment...
LOL, if I believed you I seriously wouldn't mention the jesus phone...but since I don't, I will...
I'm a mac user in the UK and looking forward to iPhone...but this thing looks niiiiiiice! If it has more power than the underwhelming N95 then it looks good! Even if it shares a few similarities with another popular device...
iPhone, iTouch, iTouch me, whatever, Apple is a monopoly that needs to be stopped. Good for Nokia, i can't wait to see their new phone. iTouch alternatives are there, you just have to look:
http://www.mp4nation.com/products/index.php?PID=onda
Don't most portable touchscreen devices, ie, current PDA's and Smartphones accept both finger and stylus input? Although the haptic feedback seems very cool, no more guessing if you pushed a button or not.
ipone. almost said it.
iphone ha!
iphone is the best!
haha no money for u charity
It's case sensitive
Looks like when they use the phone on the video that they are faking the features... Not like in the ads for iphone when you can see a page in safari render and start. Here everything starts direct... And when the girl scrolls it does not look like it follows here move more like she is following a movie played on the phone... Bad NOKIA..
Ugh, way too easy. Pass.
What you so conveniently forgot to mention was that in Apple's advertisements, pages in Safari rendered a good 3-4 times faster than in real life.
Nice to see that Nokia is adding decent eye candy and focusing on the usability of their UI. They already have the hardware and under-lying OS pretty much perfected.
2008 should be a vintage year for cell phones. :)
The problem is, Nokia is still not quite sure what makes Apple products successful.
In attempt to one-up the iPhone they put few buttons on the bottom, more things on the screen at the same time.. and a tiny, easy to lose stylus.
Nokia probably thinks "this is better than iPhone" while it's exactly the opposite.
Apple guesses more often than not when NOT to include a feature, so to make the product better (granted, locking 3rd party apps is an example of a wrong decision).
Nice to see we have more choice than the iPhone though. I always said it: iPhone will not become the hit Apple wanted, but it'll certainly change the industry, and here we go.
Whoever's designing their phones these days is very good (isn't it the former Ventu guy?). This phone, like the recently announced N81, N82 have classic Nokia features, but look really modern.
I keep trying to tell myself that the N95 is the last phone I'll need to buy. If they shove a decent camera & expandable memory I'll be proven wrong (again).
Make sure no one does mention that phone, I'm sure it's a worthwhile cause.
Anyway, that was pretty funny, S60 has gone downhill. They need to release a new O/S for Nokia Smartphones.
Also, did anyone else laugh at that sparke in that persons eye, or was that just me that thought it was funny?
Where did you get the number that S60 has gone downhill??
it's only in this cellular 3rd world called the united states of america that people do not use S60 devices... in other countries worldwide, S60 is still the dominant smartphone OS with over 70% market share... partly because people in this country are too cheap to use smartphones and they really love their shitty phones such as RAZR
Argh, I meant downhill as in... well... niceness.
S60 has become old, and has not been updated enough - and on most of the S60 phones, the UI is pretty boring.
Anyway, S60, because of the open platform, I have seen a couple of odd viruses hanging around. One that I saw kept on sending SMSs. Ouchies.
S60 (or more exact, Symbian) hasn't seen a virus EVER since they introduced a restrictive platform security model with version 9 - that is, in 2005...
So, just because Apple tells everyone that 3rd party apps would bring down the cellular network, doesn't make it true...
S60 is old, yes... need update, definitely
S60 is prone to virus?? Not really... Only for people who are stupid enough who opened unknown bluetooth file... just like that guy who opened his email with the subject line such as "XXX see her now!!! XXX" :D
It's not hard to fake the certificates? If that statement is true then I wouldn't use any online banking. They use the same methods of encryption.
Could you provide links to AV vendor press releases about these S60 3rd edition viruses, please? If viruses were out there, then surely the AV vendors would be bleating on about it.
It's certainly NOT easy.
Do a little research - there IS no virus for Symbian 9+/S60 v3+ devices. If it was so easy, it would have happened by now - after all, it is certainly a very proftable market segment for premium-SMS sending malware with 100's of millions of sold devices until now.
Getting viruses to any of your devices, whether PC or phone is usually the users fault. Stop faulting a platform just because some "viruses" exist. I have been using S60 phones one and off since 2003 and haven't encountered a single virus yet.
S60 is "old" and "needs update" how exactly? Not arguing with you, but I'd love to hear exactly what you think is wrong with it.
I mean, you want to talk *old,* let's talk Treos. I've seen way more improvements in S60 in the last year or so than I've seen in that blasted Palm OS since 2000.
Pretty UI ala iPhone + Symbian S60 3rd party goodness = Bye Bye my iPhone :)
Yeah - just my feeling too ;)
I just hope they'll make finger usage possible for anything, and thus, stylus usage completely optional...
1. The iPhone doesn't need to be interested with a 90's stylus, you can actually use your fingers.
2. Symbian? Woah, watch out iPhone only runs OS X.
3. 3rd party apps aren't here 'right now' but pretty much all know their coming.
My thought also. I checked out the Tilt and it is a *really* nice phone, however ATT forces you into the "PDA Data Plans", $40/mo for unlimited data is a tad too rich for my blood. Also, Symbian has always been much more stable for me than Windows mobile. Come on Apple, you know you want my money, just open up the damn device to 3rd party apps and I'll go get one.
@ Ireland
1. styli can be handy, and in this device are completely optional, and some people prefer them
2. The iPhone doesn't run OS X, it runs a basic interface that Job's called OS X so that tools like you would buy one.
3. And I thought OS X allowed 3rd party programs! and if "their" [get it right next time, it's THEY'RE for pete's sake] coming, why the hell were they not here originally?
We don't know that 3rd party iPhone apps are coming and we have no reason to believe they will. All we know is that a bunch of iPhone cheerleaders keep telling each other that. Apple will rule the iPhone with an iron fist. They've said so.
Do we still take out the stylus while typing on this nokia?
Though underrated, iPhone's keyboard works for me.
Sorry, nothing innovative or compelling there at all. The way Apple have eliminated the scroll bar is what makes iPhone so usable. Yes, a stylus is welcome because it is naturally intuitive and the only way to draw or sketch properly, but that demo while pretty did not show anything not already available on today's devices. And by the time this new S60 interface is available, I think Apple will be several steps ahead and will have opened up their platform a little more.
And you've reached that conclusion after seeing one bad quality video? Interesting...
This is already ahead of Apples offering by offering a similar UI, but still covering all basics well (you know, actually usable Bluetooth etc. etc.) and expandability (works with all thousands current apps available on S60)
Yeah ok, iPhoneboy.
worry about getting 3rd party apps to stay on your brick before you try to push that "nothing innovative or compelling there at all" bullshite line that we all knew one of you would try to puke on this story.
L, I will be the first to desire any device that offers an open alternative to MS or Apple, however, having owned a P900 and a P990, they may be versatile, but Symbian devices of today do not compare to the fluidity and usability of either the fantastic Psion devices of the past or the rock solid, fast and powerful OS that lies below the flawed iPhone. iPhone is version 1.0. Think of the first iPod. Chunky, 5gig storage (still enought for me BTW!) and mono screen. And compare to the iPod Touch of today. I am sure Apple will add Bluetooth and fix other flaws in iPhone 2.0. Their laptops and desktops have always lead the way with multiple wireless and connectivity options, so am sure they will produce the ultimate device soon enough. Else they are toast, and they know it. I don't think many realise that what makes iPhone special is that it is running a desktop OS, perhaps cut down, but OSX is phenomenally powerful. This is only the beginning. If you want my opinion, the LG Viewty is a great device. Radio, 5MP camera, VGA Video etc. I'm buying one until the iPhone 2.0 arrives. (Currently using an excellent Sony Ericsson K800i. Actually does more than an iPhone, so you get the last laugh!)
The thing that makes this major is the amount of users use S60 as its been said it dominates market. It has most of the users and its open platfrom... NOW if they can make it eye candy it will be the winner or continue to be the winner. Thought still no Nokia device with it so w'll see.
it looks good but am quite disappointed with what seems is a choice to go for a stylus. A phone should no use a stylus - a pda should but not a phone. I, and I suspect the mass market will not buy and use a phone, say to to text with a stylus, its finnicky and slow (one of many reasons I really dislike WM) I am afraid to say that apple are spot on when it comes to touch screens - ie do not use a stylus. I can see the benefit of a device with a stylus for business applications but NOT for day to day usage. I appreciate that they mentioned you can use fingers and a stylus, I just hope the stylus is an option not a requirement.
@ L
It's not that hard to make a fake certificate for a program... or a virus. And there has been more then one virus since the secruity update.
Also, when did I once mention Apple?
@ illutionz
Glad to see someone agrees with me that S60 is old! :)
Anyway, there are viruses, and that's all I'm saying. I know you'd be pretty stupid to install one, and that's why I don't install many things on my S60. (6110 Nav)
problem with feedback is not only knowing that you pushed a button, but knowing which button you're gonna push without looking.
also, lenovo, lg, samsung and panasonic all use s60.
I agree actually - it looks good but am quite disappointed with what seems is a choice to go for a stylus. A phone should no use a stylus - a pda should but not a phone. I, and I suspect the mass market will not buy and use a phone, say to to text with a stylus, its finnicky and slow (one of many reasons I really dislike WM) I am afraid to say that apple are spot on when it comes to touch screens - ie do not use a stylus. I can see the benefit of a device with a stylus for business applications but NOT for day to day usage. I appreciate that they mentioned you can use fingers and a stylus, I just hope the stylus is an option not a requirement.
Looks fantastic.
Let's hope Nokia Put some real innovation into the device and don't just offer us an iPhone copy.
I've always been pleased with any Nokia I have owned over the years (Although was slightly under whelmed with my N95) and would happily trade in my iPhone for the Nokia if it was as easy to use.
I had the misfortune of being set loose on an LG Prada phone a while back. It was horribly awkward and unintuitive to use.
Of course, by Summer 2008 every main manufacturer will have a high end touch phone. It can only get better!
Looking forward to a more in depth peak at some point soon...
Nothing hew here.
Looks just like TouchFlow, and much like TouchFlow it craps out and makes you use a stylus. Which is why I wont be buying a TouchFlow handset.
sure sounds like im gonna have a great life experience with this iPhone look-a-like device.
Why is this an Iphone look a like. The Iphone was a LG Prada look a like and all were look a like to various PDA phones already in existence for a couple of years.
you must be confused. the iPhone and Prada phone was released shortly after eachother which gave them almost no time to sneak peek at eachother. Nokia have had plenty of time.....you get the picture ?
The difference is that I will buy the Nokia!
Also, all cell phones are copies off of each other, since you put your ear on one end, and your voice goes into the bottom... The lack of a keypad, and a larger screen, now that's evolution, my good man!
whats the tune playing in the background?? anyone got an idea of that?
Seems like an adaption of The Roots - The Seed I'd say...
thanks it is! thats great thank you!
No problem, glad I could (at least partly) help :)
The Roots' song is really great imho...
IF it works as good as it shows on video. Nokia is a no brainer their hardware is the best already.
Cant wait for the TS phone.
Pity my upgrade is due in March then. Anyone know what other touchscreen phones O2 are offering?