AXIOS (Ina Fried) - App-makers are having a blast with the iPhone Duo, turning it into a retro Walkman
The iPhone Duo isn't even out yet but developers are already having fun with the new design, creating apps that turn Apple's first foldable smartphone into everything from an accordion to a retro Walkman. Why it matters: Clever apps that couldn't exist on a traditional iPhone could help persuade early adopters to fork over nearly $2,000 for Apple's first foldable. Flashback: It's reminiscent of the early days of the iPhone, when developers turned its giant touchscreen and sensors into virtual versions of familiar objects, such as the virtual lighter apps whose flame flickered and swayed as the phone moved. Zoom in: Among the apps is Duo Man , a music player that turns the latest iPhone into a portable cassette player reminiscent of…
What historical precedent does the current wave of iPhone Duo app development draw from?
The current development cycle is reminiscent of the early days of the original iPhone, when developers created virtual versions of familiar physical objects using the phone's touchscreen and sensors, such as apps that simulated a virtual lighter with a flame that flickered and swayed based on the movement of the device.
Q&A ID 9b36af8f-1367-4197-8be9-bb6e56582ef5
Who is Riley Testut, and what functionality is he developing for the iPhone Duo?
Riley Testut is a developer for Delta who is working on Duo support. His goal is to create software that allows the foldable iPhone to resemble the Nintendo dual-screen DS, utilizing the hinge and dual-screen nature of the hardware to emulate the familiar hinged gadget.
Q&A ID 33983392-c94c-4176-84de-cb97db253f44
How is the iPhone Duo expected to be priced, and what is the significance of the apps being developed for it?
The iPhone Duo is expected to cost nearly $2,000. The development of clever apps that utilize the foldable design—features that could not exist on a traditional iPhone—is seen as a way to help persuade early adopters to purchase the high-priced device.
Q&A ID ebae8297-e8e3-498f-a620-ef8f17825fc5
What specific applications were developed during the four-hour San Francisco hackathon for the iPhone Duo?
The hackathon produced 73 submitted projects, including:
- Accorduon: Turns the phone's hinge into the bellows of an accordion, where the speed of folding and unfolding determines the volume of the instrument.
- Crate: A beat machine where folding controls effects and snapping the phone open triggers a musical drop; this project took first place at the hackathon.
- Foldtales: A virtual pop-up book that uses the hinge to make objects like castles and trees rise as the phone opens.
- Twofold: A game app that uses the partially folded screen to hide pieces in virtual versions of classic tabletop games.
- Duo Man: A Walkman-style music player which finished in second place at the hackathon.
Q&A ID 89afe6c1-b9b7-40f2-8b7e-e1b60f8fda2c
What is Duo Man, and how does it utilize the hardware of the upcoming iPhone Duo?
Duo Man is a music player app created by indie developer Vidit Bhargava during a four-hour hackathon. It turns the iPhone Duo into a portable cassette player reminiscent of a Sony Walkman. Users open the Duo to choose an album and "insert" a cassette, then close the device to begin listening. The app even includes actual recordings of clicks and static from a real Walkman to enhance the retro experience.
Q&A ID 98272b8e-c927-4477-9f32-39086105704c