Sitting somewhere between a smartphone (yes, it’s a proper mobile phone) and a wearable tech, the Runcible is small enough to slip in a pocket, but also boasts all the usual things you’d expect from today’s smartphones (LTE, WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth). So, what is this “anti-smartphone”?
The Runcible is created as a standalone device; it runs on Mozilla’s Firefox OS platform and lets you make calls, ask for directions and browse the web. But what makes it stand out is that it comes with planned non-obsolesce – meaning all its parts can be removed, repaired and upgraded.
While we won’t be seeing this at your nearest telco just yet, the company that created this (Monohm) has financial backing from Japanese carrier KDDI, so it’ll most definitely hit the Japanese market.
The company wanted a relaxing product, and took inspiration from watches, compasses and other circular objects – the final product has a flat, circular display on one side, and as softly-curved piece of wood on its back. “Just to hold it is calming,” says Aubrey Anderson, the company’s founder and CEO.
Fingers crossed that it’ll make its way over to Singapore!
