Runcible – The New Circular Phone

Just when you though smartphones were losing creativity, a small device in the shape of a circle and the size of a pocket watch has the potential to be one of the most innovative gadgets you've seen in quite a while.

The Runcible is both the strangest and most intriguing devices that you've probably seen this year. It offers many of the same capabilities as a smartphone, but looks like a cool little trinket you would find in a vintage store.

Apparently Runcible is a quieter gadget that can help people relax and live in the moment, while still staying connected online, just pop your existing SIM card into the Runcible and you can have a simpler experience during a night out or a weekend stroll.

While there is so much innovation happening in one small device, the first thing you will notice is the shape, which is based on the classic pocket watch and compact compass. If you think about how massive smartphones are getting these days, it’s a very refreshing change and it fits snugly in your hand. Meanwhile the cool back covering ensures that it won’t slip and there are many varieties to choose from, including wood, copper, tin, ceramic and recycled plastic.

So what does the Runcible do? Well, it tries to solve the problem of internet overload. Smartwatches, rings, bracelets, shoes, glasses and other wearables all promise to make notifications more manageable, with easy to see information that can save you from constantly pulling out your smartphone. The main difference with Runcible is that it’s a truly standalone device.

The Runcible runs on Mozilla’s Firefox OS platform and lets you make calls, ask for directions, take photos and browse the web. So when you’re heading out to eat dinner with your friends, you can leave your smartphone at home and avoid the temptations of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The compass-like device can also be synced with a Bluetooth earpiece and take calls directly, but like many things with the Runcible, there are limitations, which are part of a greater effort to not have too much information thrown at you. For example you can only select 12 contacts who you can talk to from the device when they call – everyone else goes to voicemail.

Unlike your normal smartphone, it won’t alert you every time you get a Facebook or Twitter alert either. The Runcible just lets you know when you have more social activity than usual by subtly notifying you within the watch itself!

But how does that work? One watch face you can choose has different colour bubbles that represent different social networks, like Facebook (blue) and Instagram (brown). When you’re getting activity on certain social networks the bubbles will get bigger, so you can glance down and see what’s happening without needing all the details!

The Runcible gets pretty creative with the compass too, instead of taking you directly to a landmark with premise GPS directions; it’ll take you through the most scenic route possible. It can also be set as a guessing game and point you in the right direction without step by step instructions. There are several Easter Eggs within the gadget to keep users entertained too.

The Runcible is a strange product, but it’s hard not to like it. It’s a radically different take on a smartphone, which is really refreshing.

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Written By: Christine Romans
CopyWriter at The Computer Guyz Cape Town