We have seen numerous smartphones unveiled at MWC 2015, but none of them are as unique as this particular “phone.” Meet the Runcible, a “premier device for the post-smartphone era” from Monohm. Featuring a rather odd circular design, the Runcible is like any other smartphone minus the “distractions” with a price that can match other flagship devices’ asking price.
Monohm based the unconventional design of the Runcible on pocket watches and compass. The central theme of the smartphone is to “remove us from how we’re so buried in our phones.” In order to do so, the Runcible will not give out any alert when it receives any kind of notification. It will never beep or interrupt the user in any way. Instead, notifications will appear on the screen itself.
The Runcible runs on Firefox OS, and connectivity wise, it has LTE, WiFi and Bluetooth, which are what you’d expect from any smartphone these days. Monohm doesn’t seem to focus too much on its other specifications, including its camera, emphasising instead on how the Runcible can “keep your head up, your attention on the real world and real people around you, and maintain your sense of wonder about life.” Right.
In any case, the Runcible is definitely a niche device that will only appeal to a select few. Considering the fact that it will retail at about the same price as other flagship devices, it’s even harder to give the Runcible a second thought. But you have to admit; it does look oddly appealing.
(Source: CNET)
