Brief
iPhone Duo’s ‘Walkman’ app turns foldable into nostalgic music player
The app, built for the iPhone Duo, lets users open the foldable to ‘insert’ a cassette and close it to play music, blending retro hardware cues with modern software.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Indie developer Vidit Bhargava has turned Apple’s new foldable iPhone Duo into a virtual Walkman with his app Duo‑Man. The app uses the Duo’s 7.6‑inch inner display and 5.4‑inch outer cover to replicate the experience of opening a cassette player, inserting a tape and then closing it to start playback. Bhargava recorded real Walkman button clicks and static noise to give the simulation an authentic feel.
Bhargava first demoed Duo‑Man at the Bitrig hackathon, where the project won second place. After posting a demo on X, the app attracted 1.8 million views and nearly 10 000 likes. He now plans to release the app, which will support Apple Music and local files, and will include a feature that lets users use an Apple Pencil to "roll" the cassette.
The iPhone Duo, launched on 18 September, is a premium foldable smartphone that features a 5.4‑inch cover display and a 7.6‑inch matte inner screen. It is priced at around $2 000, with a liquid‑metal edition selling for $21 000.
Key facts
- Duo‑Man uses the iPhone Duo’s two screens to simulate a Walkman’s cassette insertion and playback (techcrunch.com)
- The app was demoed at the Bitrig hackathon where it won second place (techcrunch.com)
- The demo attracted 1.8 million views and nearly 10 000 likes on X (techcrunch.com)
- The iPhone Duo launched on 18 September and costs about $2 000
Background
The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable smartphone, released on 18 September. It features a 5.4‑inch cover display and a 7.6‑inch inner screen, and is available in a standard version and a $21 000 liquid‑metal edition.
Why it matters
The app showcases how foldable hardware can be paired with creative software to revive nostalgic experiences, potentially expanding the Duo’s appeal beyond tech enthusiasts.
What happens next
Bhargava plans to release Duo‑Man as a full app that will support Apple Music and local files, with additional features such as Apple Pencil cassette rolling.
Sources
- [1] techcrunch.com
- [2] news18.com
