Smartwatches have become a big deal in mobile in in the past year or so, with companies like Apple, Samsung, Motorola, and many more creating smart devices that you slap onto your wrist. One company that we haven’t seen a modern smartwatch from is Nokia, but apparently the Finnish firm did have one that was nearly ready for the public.
Images of a Nokia smartwatch codenamed “Moonraker” have been shared by Pei-Chi Hsieh, a Microsoft designer. The shots depict a black smartwatch with a square display, colorful bands, and a Windows Phone-esque user interface. The Moonraker features the basic apps that you’d expect from a smartwatch, like email, calls, Facebook, a camera remote, and a steps counter.
The images shared by Pei-Chi Hsieh are said to have been created for marketing purposes, and The Verge claims that the Moonraker came close to launch. Nokia reportedly showed prototype models during MWC 2014 and was planning to announce it alongside the Lumia 930. However, Microsoft ultimately decided to cancel the Moonraker in favor of its own Band, which it felt has more functionality.
The Moonraker definitely looks like a pre-Microsoft Nokia product, offering a Windows Phone-style user interface with bands that are colorful and available in several hues. It’s kind of a bummer that the Moonraker likely won’t ever make it to market, especially since it looks much more fashionable than Microsoft’s Band. The good news is that it’s rumored that Microsoft is planning to make the Band 2 better-looking than its predecessor, so perhaps we’ll see some of the Moonraker’s looks make it into the next Band.
What do you think of Nokia’s Moonraker? Do you think that you would’ve bought one if it had made it to market?