My Nokia Blog has acquired some pictures of RM-581 “Columbus” prototype that ran Harmattan…. back in 2009. Camera sensor is 12MP AF, maybe the same found from N8 2010?
Just think about it. This Columbus device released 2010 with that camera and Harmattan inside. Mobile market could look very different today. Why wasn’t it released? Harmattan was not ready.
Prototype features integrated stand that makes kind of a nice combination of the multimedia N series design with a touch of Maemo’s past.
It’s also worth to note that Swipe UI probably did not exists when this prototype was out. 8 months before N9 was announced there was quite a bit of rumors saying the UI was totally reworked that delayed the release of Harmattan even more, delaying RM-680/N950 that was later to be N950 not released for mass market.
Not to talk about MeeGo that probably set the dates even more back just what Symbian Foundation did to Symbian.
Some bad, bad decisions inside Nokia back then. Even if you don’t like the direction Nokia is going now, at least they are finally focusing on something and that to me is a big thing after following Nokia’s missteps for 5 years.
In 2008-2011 when i was totally obsessed with the Maemo rumors i do actually remember this being one of the reference devices that where making appearance in Nokia’s mailing lists back in 2010.
- RX-71 (this one made appearance even before RX-51/N900)
- RM-581
- RM-660
- RM-680
- RM-690
- RM-696 (N9)
Source: My Nokia Blog
