We’ve known for years that Apple considered a number of different approaches when creating the original iPhone and iOS, but before today, we’ve not had a really good look at any of these early, discarded prototypes. Pictures and video published by Sonny Dickson change that, showing what the site claims is an iOS precursor named “AcornOS” that uses a click wheel to navigate the phone’s interface.

The screen of the prototype is spit into two halves, with the bottom occupied by a software click wheel and the top by a menu-based UI that’s a straight copy of the iPod’s. Alongside familiar options for “Music” and “Games,” there are links to “Dial” and “SMS,” allowing users to call numbers and send text messages.

Dickson points to the…

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