Macworld
The early reviews of the iPhone Duo posted on Wednesday, and one common complaint is how some third-party apps look on the device. The iPhone Duo has new dimensions, and that often results in a suboptimal user experience. One reviewer went so far as to call them “horrible.”
In these situations, apps are not yet optimized for the iPhone Duo. Apps that are made for iPhone Duo can provide quite rewarding experiences, as Apple points out in an article it released to the media on Thursday. “From watching popular shows and content on the expansive inner display to multitasking across windows or playing console-quality games, developers around the world are reimagining what their apps can do,” said Apple VP Susan Prescott in the press release.
Netflix on the iPhone Duo.
Apple
Video apps are taking advantage of the bigger folding display by providing modes that work when the Duo is propped open in an L shape; the top display shows the video while the bottom can display video controls and other items, as shown on the Netflix app. The Paramount+ app does a similar thing, but the bottom display can show info on the show being watched.
Sports fans can have a great time watching the game in apps made for iPhone Duo. The screen can be split so that live game coverage is streamed on one half, while the other provides a vast array of statistics, scores, and other data, as with the MLB app, which will be available on day one, in time for the World Series.
Apple
Productivity apps such as Bear, Fantastical, Notewise, Salesforce, Slack, Things, and Zoom take advantage of the larger inner display, and Microsoft Word and Outlook take advantage of the Duo’s Split View. Creative apps such as Detail, Instagram Edits, and VLLO provide an enhanced UI for video editing. Apple says apps that have been optimized will have a clear “Made for iPhone Duo” badge in the App Store.
Of course, games provide a better experience on the Duo’s big screen. Game such as Asphalt Legends, Retrocade, Sneaky Sasquatch, Ungodly, Zenless Zone Zero have been optimized for the new phone. “The large inner display and the sustained performance of A20 Pro let us put more of the track and every detail of our cars in front of users, so races look and feel incredible wherever they play,” said Raúl Orrego del Río, of Gameloft, creator of Asphalt Legends.
While Apple’s press release lists several more apps optimized for iPhone Duo, there are still many more that are not. It’s not a new situation; when Apple introduced the iPad, iPhone 5, and iPhone X, several developers had their apps ready for the device launch, but a vast majority were not. Developers need some time to catch up, so if your favorite app looks odd on your iPhone Duo, be sure to check the App Store for updates. There could be one waiting for your Duo.
Macworld will be posting an in-depth review of the iPhone Duo soon. In the meantime, check out our guide to everything you need to know about the iPhone Duo.