Duo-Man app turns unreleased iPhone Duo into a virtual Walkman
Duo-Man, an app for the iPhone Duo, recreates a Sony Walkman with two screens and supports Apple Music and local files.
TechRadar reported that Duo-Man is designed specifically for the iPhone Duo's two-screen design. The cover screen acts as the front of a Walkman, where users can see a tape spinning and access controls. The foldable screen can be opened to insert or remove a tape, mimicking the physical act of loading a cassette. The app currently supports Apple Music and local files, with Spotify support possibly being added later, according to TechRadar.
9to5Mac reported that Bhargava created Duo-Man at a hackathon. Because many of those present would never have seen a real Walkman, he brought an actual unit to show them what it looked like. He originally created the app only as a demo for fun, but he will now release it as an actual app, 9to5Mac reported.
TechRadar reported that the app includes button click and static sounds recorded from a real Walkman. Users will also be able to use an Apple Pencil to wind the tapes. The app, like the iPhone Duo itself, is not yet available, and the iPhone Duo cannot yet be purchased.
TechRadar reported that the X post about Duo-Man had 2.1 million views and 10,000 likes. 9to5Mac said the best comment in the X thread was an image that would only make sense to people of a certain age.
The Walkman, introduced long before the iPod, became the device of choice for people who wanted to add a soundtrack to their life, 9to5Mac reported. Before the Walkman, portable music listening was limited, and most cassette players of the time were heavy and bulky. Sony took an audio recorder designed for journalists and shrank it into the smallest possible cassette player, and it quickly became an iconic product.
TechRadar noted that support for Apple Music and local files means users would have access to a large library of tapes immediately, rather than having to carry around multiple real tapes as people did in the 1990s if they did not want to hear the same thing on repeat. The app is not available yet, but TechRadar said it seems likely to be a hit when it launches, given the response on X.