What if a modern foldable iPhone could be transformed, even digitally, into a classic Sony Walkman? An independent developer decided to provide his own answer, creating an app that leverages the design of the upcoming iPhone Duo to recreate the experience of a cassette player from the 80s.
Developer Vidit Bhargava created Duo-Man, a project that takes advantage of the foldable device's hinge in a particularly inventive way. Rather than being just another virtual music player, the app was designed so that opening and closing the phone itself is part of the music playback experience.
See also: What the iPhone Duo camera can and can't do
The idea is based on a simple but effective connection between the old and the new: the foldable screen functions like a digital cassette player, while the device's movements mimic the natural process of using a Walkman.
iPhone Duo: Cassette appears on the internal screen
When the iPhone Duo opens, the user can select the music they want to listen to and then “place” a virtual cassette on the 7.6-inch. Closing the device then functions like the motion that activates the old cassette player.
This approach isn't limited to looks. The creator's goal was to replicate the feel of a real Walkman as closely as possible, using sounds and small interactions that hark back to portable music devices from another era.
Bhargava said that to achieve a more authentic result, he recorded the characteristic button sounds of a real Walkman, as well as the analog noise that accompanied the playback of a cassette. Thus, Duo-Man not only attempts to copy the appearance of an old device, but also the atmosphere that accompanied it.
From hackathon project to regular application
Duo-Man started as a project at BitRig's recent hackathon in San Francisco, where it managed to take second place. Its presence in the competition gave the project significant exposure, but the biggest surprise came afterwards.
Bhargava’s post on X garnered more than 2.1 million views , showing that the idea resonated far beyond the hackathon audience. The reaction encouraged the creator to move beyond treating Duo-Man as a temporary experiment and instead consider turning it into a full-fledged application.
See also: IMAX's Reaction to the iPhone Duo's 1:1.4 Aspect Ratio Screens
This development is also indicative of a broader interest in applications that exploit the capabilities of foldable devices in a different way. Instead of the second screen being used solely for more space, it can be transformed into an interactive element and directly affect the way an application works.
Apple Music, local files, and Apple Pencil
The final version of Duo-Man is expected to significantly expand the capabilities of the initial prototype. According to the creator, the application will support Apple Music, as well as music files stored locally on the device.
At the same time, a special feature is being planned for the Apple Pencil, which will allow the user to digitally “rewind” the tape of a cassette. This is a reference to a well-known trick from the Walkman era, when users could manually rewind the cassette to avoid consuming battery power from the device’s motor.
If the project gains more popularity, Bhargava is also considering adding Spotify. However, no specific release date has been announced yet.
See also: A shorter Apple Pencil would be released alongside the iPhone Duo
When is the iPhone Duo coming?
Duo-Man will of course need the new hardware to fully utilize its unique design. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo are expected to begin on Friday, October 16th, while its release is scheduled for October 23rd.
The app is a prime example of how developers can turn a new hardware feature into a different user experience. Rather than treating the hinge as just a technical feature, Duo-Man integrates it into the app's mechanism.
Whether the nostalgic idea will develop into a popular app remains to be seen after its release. For now, however, Duo-Man shows that even technology designed for the future can be a reason for a digital return to an era when music came in the form of a plastic cassette, a few physical buttons, and the characteristic "click" before the song started.
