This is what Helio looked like before there was a Helio

Just what did Helio look like when it was still in its formative years, under the guidance of Earthlink and SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM)? It looked pimple-faced awkward.

HelioCity got their hands on some sweet pics of the prototype devices in Helio’s lineup, and here they are. These early devices are actually so old that they still sport the “SK Earthlink” branding. Take a gander at the antenna stub on the Helio KickFlip prototype. Definitely a half-baked idea - it’s a good thing Helio decided to nix that particular design element. And, the KickFlip prototypes had a secondary LCD display for framing the perfect self-portrait. It’s a shame that Helio didn’t go forward with that idea.

The Helio Hero and Helio Ocean prototypes look pretty similar to the final version. It’s amazing how a few minor cosmetic changes really make a world of difference. The prototype forms of the Hero and Ocean just look a bit clunkier than the current generation - it’s a good thing the design-guys at Helio decided to tweak these devices before they hit the market. But, it would have been interesting to see the current Helio Ocean rocking a two-tone color scheme.

Head on over to HelioCity for the rest of the prototype pictures.

[Via: HelioCity]