Canceled Nokia Moonraker Smartwatch Shown Off In Video

In the tech industry, we are sometimes left wondering about ideas and products that never came to be. Just a few days ago we saw a glimpse of the modular Ara smartphone. This time, we're being treated to what could have been Nokia's first ever smartwatch. Given recent events, perhaps its only smartwatch. The Moonraker, as it was called, never reached the market, but that doesn't mean there was no actual smartwatch produced. And for the first time, we're actually seeing a real working, finished smartwatch that could have been.

The Nokia Moonraker was reportedly being developed just before Microsoft acquired the Finnish company's mobile division, which was back in 2013. That would explain the rather simplistic design of the user interface, which is sort of reminiscent of Samsung's first ever smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, which was released that year.

At the same time, it also showed Nokia's talent in forward-thinking design, utilizing swiping gestures all around the watch face, a year or so before either Android Wear or Apple watchOS would debut. The watch itself seemed capable, with support for phone calls and messages as well as step tracking. Though not special by today's standards, this was three years ago, before smartwatches even became a known product.

Sadly, the Moonraker Lumia smartwatch was one of the first casualties of Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's mobile division, and probably it was for he best. The Microsoft Band, though not exactly a smartwatch, sported a radically different design that harmonized better with Windows design. And now that Nokia is on the verge of resurrecting its smartphone business, who's to say it won't be able to make its own smartwatch again as well.

VIA: NokiaPoweruser