The upcoming foldable iPhone, known as the iPhone Duo, is preparing to receive its first distinctive applications even before it is officially launched on the market. It is an application that mimics the classic experience of Sony Walkman devices, taking advantage of the unique design of the dual screens.
Independent programmer Vidit Bhargava developed an application called “Duo-Man”, which was specifically designed to take advantage of the device’s two screens, as the internal screen measures 7.6 inches when the phone is opened, while the external screen measures 5.4 inches when it is closed.
The idea of the application is based on simulating the way of using traditional Walkman devices. It allows the user to open the phone to select music and “insert” the cassette tape, then close the device to start listening, in a unique interactive experience.
Although the application does not contain real cassette tapes or mechanical buttons, its developer was keen to accurately convey the experience of the original devices, by incorporating audio recordings of button pressing operations, as well as adding the distinctive distortion sounds produced by the actual Walkman devices.
Bhargava explained that he has been passionate about Walkman devices for years and owns one and uses it sometimes. He pointed out that the idea for the application was born during his participation in the “Hackathon” event, where he searched for physical objects that contained hinges that could be simulated on foldable phones, so he was stopped by the mechanism of opening the door of the “Walkman” device to insert the tape.
This innovation comes amid a rising wave of nostalgia for old technology (nostalgia), especially among younger generations, coinciding with the increasing demand for acquiring old digital cameras, classic foldable phones, CDs, landlines and cassette tapes.
It is noteworthy that Bhargava originally developed the idea for a project in which he participated in the “Bitrig Hackathon” over the weekend, and through which he won second place. After publishing a review clip of the application on the “X” platform, the post achieved widespread interaction, exceeding 1.8 million views and about 10,000 likes, which motivated him to transform the project from just an innovative experiment into a practical application ready for launch.
Upon launch, the application is scheduled to provide support for the “Apple Music” service and local music files, in addition to the feature of using the “Apple Pencil” to manually “twist” the cassette tape loop.
The developer also intends to add other features, including simulating the fast forwarding and rewinding mechanisms of the original Walkman devices, while studying the possibility of providing support for the Spotify platform in the future.
The appearance of this application comes before the start of receiving pre-orders for the “iPhone Du” phone next October, to embody a practical model of how developers invest in the features of foldable phones to create interactive experiences that go beyond what is common in traditional devices.
