The fabled Nokia "Moonraker" smartwatch had a manual that was leaked, showing that the device isn't just a fabled moniker without something of a prototype. And yet, for all the info we've seen, there is an even greater need to see the smartwatch up-close and have some sense of what it was and the novelty or similarity in design with other smartwatches. Finally, thanks to renown leakster Evan Blass (a.k.a. @evleaks), we have a look at what the Nokia Moonraker smartwatch would've been if it had ever been released for public purchase.
Blass posted the fabled smartwatch by way of a GIF at Twitter, with the words "Bonus: Microsoft Moonraker (dead)" and a link to his first report on the fabled smartwatch. Of course, he calls it the Microsoft Moonraker because Microsoft purchased Nokia, but we call it the Nokia Moonraker out of respect to those who designed it (Microsoft wasn't on the list of designers). The device does bear the "Microsoft" brand name, though, so we can't override that it's possible that either 1) Microsoft was placing its name on devices then and tried to force Nokia's hand or 2) Nokia had already contemplated selling to Microsoft as early as the prototype design.
Microsoft could've very well purchased the company and still contemplated announcing the smartwatch, though we have no way of knowing what would've motivated Microsoft to push forward with this project. As you can see, the wrist wearable looks somewhat modern, though it has a square shape -- which was the preferred smartwatch shape for wrist wearables out of the gate for the first time. Samsung has made a number of square smartwatches (Galaxy Gear, Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, and Gear S), with the Gear S2 being the Korean giant's first circular smartwatch on the market. Nokia's square smartwatch matches what we've seen from Apple with its first-generation Apple Watch. We don't have any confirmation that the second-generation smartwatch will be circular, though.
One can also see the size of the wristband and the back of the display, showing a place where a charging cradle would connect to and charge the smartwatch. The charging pins on the back of the device matches what we've seen from Samsung's very own Gear S produced in 2014. Of course, the problem with charging pins that match the Gear S's and the Nokia Moonraker setup is that charging cradles "snap" onto the back of the device. That is, until they decide one day to suddenly stop snapping.
There isn't much else to tell, though the date (November 29th) seems to hint that the Moonraker smartwatch may have had a possible Fall release, which matches the Apple Watch release annually, as well as Samsung's own Gear smartwatch announcements (September at IFA in Berlin, Germany). The HTC smartwatch may see a Fall release, too, if HTC confirms the smartwatch and stops teasing us with rumors already. Xiaomi's got its own sophisticated smartwatch offering to announce this September, and the new rumor on the street is that Google will announce two Nexus smartwatches this Fall, after the Nexus smartphone announcement. Of course, November is a bit late for an announcement, since most smartphones have been announced by then annually.
Well, for those who've been anxious to see a prototype, you can check out photos below. What do you think? Could you see yourself sporting a Nokia/Microsoft Moonraker smartwatch? Do you think Microsoft could resurrect this project?
