This is a device with essential functionalities: calls, messages, camera and maps, and it doesn't include any apps
Without realizing it, we are capable of spending whole hours with our eyes fixed on the smartphone. And it doesn't matter where or when: at home, while walking or, worse, even when driving. Any opportunity is good to isolate ourselves from the world. What can we do about it? Siempo might have the right answer.
It's a startup that has launched on Kickstarter, one of the main crowdfunding sites, a device able to help us a little bit to fight smartphone addiction. How? Always through a smartphone. The particularity of the Siempo mobile device is that it does not include most of the "time-wasting" apps. There is no room, for example, for social networks or messaging applications. Forget, therefore, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Snapchat. The smartphone does, however, allow you to use maps, the camera and send and receive simple messages, in addition to the classic phone functions.
How Siempo works
The goal of the developers of the startup is to put in the hands of users a device with essential functionality that encourages them to focus more on the world around them. Siempo is a device halfway between smartphone and old style cell phone. The device is also easy to use. You can manage, in fact, all the functions directly from the home screen. With a simple click, the phone is able to stop all notifications for a certain period of time. It's like turning on the airplane mode, present on most "traditional" smartphones. However, you can still select emergency contacts from which to continue receiving messages and calls during this pause period.
The Perfect Day
With the "Mindful Morning" feature, the atypical smartphone allows you to create the "perfect day". Basically, it's a timer that allows you to set time intervals in which to perform off-line activities: reading, exercises, meditation. The "Time" mode, on the other hand, lets you choose how often to receive a notification.
Technical Features
We mentioned that Siempo is also a smartphone. In fact, the device runs on a 1 Ghz, quad-core processor, has a 4-inch display, 8 GB of minimum internal storage, and is compatible with 2G, 3G, and 4G. It integrates Bluetooth, GPS, NFC and Wifi connection. As for the battery, it has a capacity of 1600 mAh.
Price and release date
At the moment, the device can only be pre-ordered for a price of $279 (about 250 euros). If all goes according to plan, Siempo should hit the shelves by December 2017.