While the gorgeous Nokia N9 never made it to UK shores, its influence was felt all year thanks to the release of the stunning Nokia Lumia 800. Packing the same ground breaking design as the Nokia Windows Phone, but with MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan in place of Windows Phone 7.5, the Nokia N9 was a hit that will continue to influence Nokia smartphones well into 2012.
Nokia N9: Full tech specs, plus hands-on video
When the Nokia N9 was launched earlier in the year it was an instant success with critics and consumers alike, thanks to its standout design, great usability and feature-packed specification. With reviewers around the world signing its praises, we waited with bated breath for news of a UK release.
While the news we had hoped for never came – with the UK instead being the first to get the fantastic Nokia Lumia 800 – we were still among the lucky UK journalists to try out the Nokia N9 and the phone quickly spread around the world, winning fans wherever it went, thanks to its unique style.
Packing a gorgeous 3.9-inch AMOLED screen and a sharp 8-Megapixel camera, the Nokia N9 was ideally suited to multimedia use and with the added bonus of NFC capabilities it squeezed more than enough cutting-edge technology into its sleek chassis to please even the most demanding smartphone fan.
Not only that, but the Nokia N9 placed its MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan operating system front and centre. Providing a distinctive interface that again set the N9 apart from its rivals in the smartphone market, MeeGo delivered a great user experience, which added to the pedigree of the Nokia N9 handset.
But it was arguably the unique curved chassis that won the most praise for the Nokia N9. With its beautiful and ergonomic styling, it makes rival smartphones look plain and boring by comparison, so it was no wonder that Nokia took the N9’s design template and used to craft the equally attractive Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone.
When the Nokia Lumia 800 arrived in the UK at the end of the year, the Nokia N9’s influence was written all over it and so, even though many British smartphone fans are still clamouring for a UK Nokia N9 release, we got to experience a taste of what made the MeeGo handset such a hit overseas.
But what did you think of the Nokia N9 this year and were you among the many lucky smartphone owners that were able to get your hands on this great MeeGo device? Why not let us know your thoughts in the Comments below?
Top games your Nokia N9 needs:
Angry Birds Free
What smartphone would be complete without Angry Birds? Get stuck into the epic battle or fowl vs. swine for free on your Nokia N9 with this unbeatable slice of high-quality smartphone gaming.
The Sims 3 HD
Love it or hate it, The Sims is one of the most popular games of all time and now you can enjoy a fully MeeGo optimised version for your Nokia N9, offering gameplay that is both unique and totally compelling at all times.
Bejeweled 2 HD
If you love puzzle games, then Bejeweled 2 HD on the Nokia N9 will make your day. Easy to pick up, incredibly tough to master and yet always loads of fun, this should be an instant addition to your must-have games list.