The tech community loves a good throwback, and this is an excellent one. A developer has created an app that brings the iPod’s iconic click wheel to the iPhone − complete with haptic feedback and that lovely ticking sound we’re all so familiar with.
And yes, it really is as nostalgia inducing as it sounds. See for yourself:
Turned my iPhone into an iPod Classic with Click Wheel and Cover Flow with #SwiftUI pic.twitter.com/zVk5YJj0rh
— Elvin ?️? (@elvin_not_11) November 27, 2019
The app was created by a developer called Elvin Hu, but it’s a work in progress at the moment, and a release is by no means confirmed.
“I’ve been working on this project since October and whether I can release it or not does depend on whether Apple approve it,” Hu told The Verge. “I believe they have legitimate reasons not to (patents and other reasons).”
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If its release is blocked, Hu says he might instead “release it as an open source project”.
It’s generated a hell of a response online, because obviously, and Hu’s clip of it in action has even caught the attention of Tony Fadell, the so-called “Father of the iPod” − or Podfather if you prefer (as I do).
Though Phil Schiller has traditionally been credited with dreaming up the idea of the click wheel.
NICE THROWBACK… https://t.co/TqXWTsi39h
— Tony Fadell (@tfadell) November 28, 2019
Hu is hoping to get the app release-ready by the end of the year, and we can only hope that Apple gives it the green light. It’s not going to transform people’s lives, but come on, it looks like so much fun.
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“I’ve always been a fan of Apple products since I was a kid,” he added.
“Before my family could afford one, I would draw the UI layout of iPhone on lids of Ferrero Rocher boxes. Their products (among other products, such as Windows Vista and Zune HD) have greatly influenced my decision of pursuing design as a career.”
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
