The iPhone Duo may already have its first killer app: a virtual Walkman

An indie iOS developer has demoed a whimsical app for the forthcoming iPhone Duo that emulates the experience of using a classic Walkman. Named Duo-Man, the app takes advantage of the Duo's two screens: users can open the phone to select music and 'insert' a virtual cassette on the larger inner display, then close the device to begin listening on the outer display.

Developer Vidit Bhargava aimed for an authentic feel by sampling button clicks and tape static from a real Walkman and incorporating those sounds into the app. He explained that his interest in hinged physical objects inspired the idea — the Walkman's cassette door provided a natural analogue for the Duo's hinge. Bhargava first built and showcased the project at the Bitrig hackathon, where it finished in second place.

The Duo-Man demo has drawn substantial attention on social media, with Bhargava's post on X surpassing 1.8 million views and nearly 10,000 likes. Encouraged by the response, he plans to develop the hackathon prototype into a released app that will support Apple Music and local audio files. Additional features under development include using the Apple Pencil to 'roll' the cassette loop and Walkman-like fast-forward and rewind behavior; Spotify support may arrive later.

Bhargava is not new to building iOS apps: his portfolio includes a dictionary and vocab tool called LookUp, a movie recommendations app Movie Buzz, and a time zone utility. The Duo-Man project also reflects a broader retro tech interest, as younger consumers increasingly seek out vintage hardware and formats such as cassette tapes and flip phones.