Pointer tool with touch-enabled precise placement

A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that cause a computing device coupled to a touch screen to perform a method, the method comprising:

• activating a pointer tool in a touch screen display to display the pointer tool in response to contact with the touch screen display, a location of the pointer tool upon activation being independent of a cursor location;
• relocating the pointer tool in the touch screen display to an insertion point at character level precision, at least by displaying the pointer tool relative to contact movement indicating the insertion point, wherein the pointer tool is displayed such that text in the touch screen display is not overlapped;
• persisting the displaying of the pointer tool in the touch screen display after the contact with the touch screen is removed;
• and
• removing the pointer tool from the touch screen display in response to receiving editing data.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• activating a pointer tool on a touch screen display in response to contact with an area of the touch screen display, the pointer tool displayed above the area of contact with the touch screen;
• relocating the pointer tool in the touch screen display to a first cursor position in an editable text field at character level precision, at least by moving the pointer tool in the display relative to contact movement indicating the first cursor position in the editable text field, wherein the pointer tool is displayed so that text is not overlapped in the editable text field;
• wherein the pointer tool moves in a floating fashion respective to the area of contact with the touch screen until the pointer tool enters an area relative to a possible cursor location in the editable text field;
• and
• moving the pointer tool in a notched fashion when the pointer tool enters an area relative to a possible cursor location in the editable text field, wherein moving in a notched fashion comprises locating the pointer tool in possible cursor locations such that the pointer tool does not obscure text;
• persisting the displaying of the pointer tool in the touch screen display after the finger contact with the touch screen is removed;
• relocating the pointer tool by re-grabbing the displayed pointer tool through contact with the touch screen within the pointer tool hit target area and moving the pointer tool to a second cursor location by contact movement;
• and
• removing the pointer tool from the touch screen display when a text character is entered into the editable text field.