Indie Dev Leverages iPhone Duo Hardware for Retro 'Walkman' App

Indie developer Vidit Bhargava is capitalizing on the hardware utility of the upcoming iPhone Duo with a new app called Duo-Man, as TechCrunch first reported. According to TechCrunch, the app replicates a classic Walkman experience by utilizing the device's foldable design, which features a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display.

Users interact with the app by opening the device to select music and "insert" a cassette tape, then closing it to begin listening. To enhance authenticity, Bhargava recorded actual static noise and button clicks from a real Walkman. The project originated as a second-place entry at the Bitrig hackathon, where developers use AI to build native apps via Apple's Swift language.

Bhargava, who has previously developed the LookUp dictionary and Movie Buzz recommendation app, plans to support local files and Apple Music. He also intends to implement fast-forward and rewind functions and a feature allowing the Apple Pencil to "roll" the cassette loop. Spotify support is a potential future addition.

TechCrunch reports that the app aligns with a growing retro trend among young consumers who are returning to physical technology such as landlines, CDs, and flip phones. The developer's demonstration of the app on X garnered nearly 10,000 likes and over 1.8 million views, prompting Bhargava to transition the hackathon project into a commercial app. Preorders for the iPhone Duo are scheduled to begin in late October.