iPhone Duo Apps Turn Foldable Screen Into Retro Computers and More
Developers are adapting apps to the iPhone Duo’s folding screen, with experiences that mimic a retro computer, notebook, toaster and Nintendo DS. The designs…
The iPhone Duo can tiny apps turn its folding screen into a retro computer, a notebook or even a virtual toaster. Developers are using the device’s hinge and orientations to make the hardware part of the experience.
Some are practical; others are playful. The range shows how app makers are adapting familiar ideas to the Duo’s foldable design, according to MacRumors.
Apps built around the fold
Tiny Computers gives the Duo the look of classic computers, with designs inspired by the Macintosh, Commodore 64, Amiga 500, iMac G3 and iBook G3. The app works best when the phone sits in a seated orientation, with one section serving as a display and another as a virtual keyboard.
Fold & Squish, from the same developer, turns the screen into a Rorschach-style art activity. Users paint on one half of the display, close the device and rub a finger over the outer screen to spread the virtual paint. Opening the phone reveals the finished pattern.
The hinge is the control in Fold Accordion. Opening and closing the Duo operates the instrument’s bellows, while a learn mode lights up the keys to press.
There is a quieter use for the folding screen, too. Portal offers environments based on natural locations, paired with calming sounds and breathing exercises. MacRumors reports that the app includes over 100 locations, as well as focus and sleep timers. Its scenes fill the screen when the Duo is unfolded and can also be viewed in tent mode.
Portal has three free portals, refreshed each month. Its Premium subscription costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
From coloring book to game console
Lake adapts an adult coloring book to the Duo’s portrait orientation, turning the unfolded display into a full-page coloring surface. The developer is updating it for Apple Pencil, MacRumors reports. The app is free to download with basic pages and tools; access to the full app requires a $9.99 monthly subscription.
Toastie takes a less serious route. The game asks players to assemble a grilled cheese sandwich and close the Duo to toast it. Timing matters: leave it too long, and the sandwich burns.
Delta, a game emulator, has also been updated for the device. It displays Nintendo DS-style controls, and closing the Duo makes it look like the handheld console while putting the game into sleep mode. Delta also supports games from other systems, according to MacRumors.
TypeDraw makes the closed phone resemble a notebook. Open it, and users can write on its pages; the app supports Apple Pencil. The developer quoted by MacRumors said users can customize colors and fonts, as well as use their own handwriting. The app is also available for regular iPhones.
Living Earth is designed for tent mode. It shows the time and local weather for a selected location alongside a rotating globe; unfolding the phone expands the globe across the display. MacRumors also reports that the app shows live clouds.
For owners, these designs make the hinge more than a way to fold the phone shut: it can shape how an app is controlled, displayed or played. The examples span work, relaxation and games, though some features come with subscriptions. Portal’s Premium plan is priced at $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
Source: macrumors.com
