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Nokia’s Android phone — codenamed the Nokia Normandy — gets more real each and every time we hear about it. While we haven’t seen much outside of leaked renders up to this point, it looks like we may have gotten our first real look at this thing in the flesh.
A prototype of the Android-based devices has leaked online, giving us a look at the low-cost option Nokia seems to still seems to be working on. The pictures don’t show much, with the device being covered up in a rather ugly-looking case (likely to protect its identity). We do see Nokia’s familiar logo plastered on the display, as well as the distinctive back button that we’ve seen on all the renders.
We still don’t know a ton about the device, but some leaked screenshots of its user interface came out a while back, giving us a glimpse of what Nokia’s user interface would look like should it ever launch. What we’ve seen is a cross between Android and Windows Phone. We’re not too sure how we feel about that yet, though it’s not too surprising either way.
We reckon Nokia won’t want to boast its Android-based roots too much if it ever does launch, what with their soon-to-be parent company Microsoft looking over their shoulders. Whether this device will launch is still up in the air.
While many assumed this device wouldn’t see the light of day, earlier rumors suggest it’s too early to rule this guy out. Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia has yet to close, so perhaps the Finnish company is keeping this phone in their back pocket as a backup plan for the near future.
[via Twitter]
If you build it they will come!
A phone from a Patenttroll
I cannot see how that would ever come in to market with Microsoft’s deathly grip around Nokia’s throat. It would be nice to see Nokia going it alone without Microsoft once more and making Android phones.
I’d buy a Nokia Android phone for sure, but I think the company sold it’s soul when it partnered up with Microsoft, there may not be a way back for them. Dropping everything for Windows Phone was corporate suicide.
Agree
Bungie got away from Microsoft if I’m not mistaken. I believe that with the right tactics, so too could Nokia.
I hope so, I pray they do escape Microsoft’s control, it will be a shame to see a phone company with that amount of pedigree assimilated. Like I say, if they broke free, I would gladly support them by buying an Android phone from them.
I can imagine if they let the talent of the software engineers they used to have really go to town with Android’s open source code, they could come up with something binary compatible but really unique. (Like how they evolved Symbian from Psion’s initial versions.)
Despite what Nokia may do with the hardware, Windows phone OS is just pretty generic across the board and same-y. It’s like being allowed only design one half of a phone – with Android they could do the whole package, and probably increase sales and bring themselves back from the brink.
“giving us a look at the low-cost option Nokia…”
/looks at mathematical symbol on the bottom of the phone.
“Oh, this must be the new Nokia LessThan™”