3 ms·

Turn Your iPhone Into a Walkman a cool Kickstarter Project

19 points by eande 15y ago

rottencupcakes 15y ago
You're going to take my super functional iPhone touch screen, put it behind a bulky plastic casing, and only allow me to interact with my iPhone through 4 or 5 random buttons while I play music on shuffle or from premade playlists? Talk about "Single Function."
- Xuzz 15y ago
  Maybe it would make more sense to do this as a (large, I guess) case for the iPod shuffle? With the smaller device, it might even be able to provide a much-extended battry, if nothing else.
- deanEkko 15y ago
  I can understand your sentiment. I designed the product and can tell you that the casing isn't bulky, it's 1.5mm thick all around which is less than some iPhone cases. I also made it super quick and easy to open the door to get to your iPhone's touch screen and the iPhone app we are working on will allow you a lot of flexibility in what the buttons trigger. The buttons allow for fast forwarding, skipping and album/artist skipping, basically how long you hold down the button takes you up levels in the music directory and of course it works with other apps such as Pandora as well. I can also tell you that people that were at first skeptical tried it out and commented that the UI for most music/podcast listening was a bit superior in that everything was just a thumb press away. Granted, this product isn't for everyone, but I don't think it should be so quickly dismissed as we've spent a lot of time on the UI, electronics and firmware and app to make a great experience. Don't be fooled by the retro-styling aspect as that was simply a design decision. Also, do you know of any other accessories that combine a battery to charge your iPhone with portable speakers in such a small package?
  - jamesbkel 15y ago
    FWIW, I don't have a case on my iPhone 4 since I can't stand the extra bulk, but I am definitely considering the Audman. I left my iPod out in the sun awhile ago and it overheated... since then I've found my iPhone to be a lousy replacement for listening to music. The lack of a tactile UI means that I'm constantly fishing it out of my coat to do something as simple as skip a song. Even worse in the car (I have a 1/8" connection, but don't use it because trying to manage the iPod app while driving is really no better than texting while driving). Seems like this product may be a good solution.
    - Pheter 15y ago
      I use a jailbreak app called activator to set up skipping songs by holding down the volume up and down buttons and it works great!
- tkahn6 15y ago
  Yes that's quite ironic isn't it. Given that the target audience is hipsters, this only adds to the appeal.
d_r 15y ago
This is going to be a stupid question (but I'd really like to know!) How do these Kickstarter projects make such quality "model" photos showcasing their project (e.g. the guy dancing)? Are these just skillfully customized stock photos? If not, has anyone had success with outsourcing/hiring someone to make these (such as for an iPhone app)? I'd love to spruce up my screenshots...
- deanEkko 15y ago
  Hi, I'm the project creator of the Audman and I personally took all the shots and video. I had an Audman prototype with me and saw a crazy tap dancing guy on Market St. and just went up to him and asked if he'd dance around with it and he did. I also came across the GetAround guys with a Tesla Roadster and asked if I could have my friend sit in it and get some photos and they were cool. So long story short. The best way to spruce up your screenshots is to just get out there with a camera and and try out interesting things and ask people if you can take their photos. After that, use Photoshop or any other photo editing package to color balance crop and apply any effects to make the image pop and I'm sure you'll get some really great imagery. -Dean
  - d_r 15y ago
    That is incredibly cool and "just getting out there" shows the true spirit of entrepreneurship. Thanks for the response + inspiration! You just got my 10 bucks. =)
js4all 15y ago
This looks like fun and many "brings memories back" products are successful.
ck2 15y ago
You should make an app that makes the sound warble like the tape models did when there is lots of motion (via accelerometer). Gosh I am too old as I remember the real sony one that came out that was just barely bigger than the size of cassette tape, it was state of the art back then. http://www.sony.net/Fun/design/history/product/1980/wm-20.html http://www.sony.net/Fun/design/history/product/1980/wm-20.ht... look at the engineering from 30 years ago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFnrsDmIsxo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFnrsDmIsxo
- wazoox 15y ago
  Oh my do I remember these! And a friend of mine had the first one with autoreverse, electromagnetic buttons, hardly bigger than the cassette box, entirely metal-made... Costed an arm and a leg back then (1985?), this one: http://www.walkmancentral.com/products/wm-7 http://www.walkmancentral.com/products/wm-7
jonursenbach 15y ago
Funny how the last in-use picture is someone using it whilst driving and wearing headphones.
wr1472 15y ago
One of the model photos shows the driver listening to an iphone/walkman in the car with headphones on whilst driving. And she's holding it in her hand. Somehow I don't think that's a typical use case.

19 points by eande 15y ago

You're going to take my super functional iPhone touch screen, put it behind a bulky plastic casing, and only allow me to interact with my iPhone through 4 or 5 random buttons while I play music on shuffle or from premade playlists? Talk about "Single Function."

Xuzz 15y ago
Maybe it would make more sense to do this as a (large, I guess) case for the iPod shuffle? With the smaller device, it might even be able to provide a much-extended battry, if nothing else.
deanEkko 15y ago
I can understand your sentiment. I designed the product and can tell you that the casing isn't bulky, it's 1.5mm thick all around which is less than some iPhone cases. I also made it super quick and easy to open the door to get to your iPhone's touch screen and the iPhone app we are working on will allow you a lot of flexibility in what the buttons trigger. The buttons allow for fast forwarding, skipping and album/artist skipping, basically how long you hold down the button takes you up levels in the music directory and of course it works with other apps such as Pandora as well. I can also tell you that people that were at first skeptical tried it out and commented that the UI for most music/podcast listening was a bit superior in that everything was just a thumb press away. Granted, this product isn't for everyone, but I don't think it should be so quickly dismissed as we've spent a lot of time on the UI, electronics and firmware and app to make a great experience. Don't be fooled by the retro-styling aspect as that was simply a design decision. Also, do you know of any other accessories that combine a battery to charge your iPhone with portable speakers in such a small package?
- jamesbkel 15y ago
  FWIW, I don't have a case on my iPhone 4 since I can't stand the extra bulk, but I am definitely considering the Audman. I left my iPod out in the sun awhile ago and it overheated... since then I've found my iPhone to be a lousy replacement for listening to music. The lack of a tactile UI means that I'm constantly fishing it out of my coat to do something as simple as skip a song. Even worse in the car (I have a 1/8" connection, but don't use it because trying to manage the iPod app while driving is really no better than texting while driving). Seems like this product may be a good solution.
  - Pheter 15y ago
    I use a jailbreak app called activator to set up skipping songs by holding down the volume up and down buttons and it works great!
tkahn6 15y ago
Yes that's quite ironic isn't it. Given that the target audience is hipsters, this only adds to the appeal.

d_r 15y ago

This is going to be a stupid question (but I'd really like to know!) How do these Kickstarter projects make such quality "model" photos showcasing their project (e.g. the guy dancing)? Are these just skillfully customized stock photos? If not, has anyone had success with outsourcing/hiring someone to make these (such as for an iPhone app)? I'd love to spruce up my screenshots...

deanEkko 15y ago
Hi, I'm the project creator of the Audman and I personally took all the shots and video. I had an Audman prototype with me and saw a crazy tap dancing guy on Market St. and just went up to him and asked if he'd dance around with it and he did. I also came across the GetAround guys with a Tesla Roadster and asked if I could have my friend sit in it and get some photos and they were cool. So long story short. The best way to spruce up your screenshots is to just get out there with a camera and and try out interesting things and ask people if you can take their photos. After that, use Photoshop or any other photo editing package to color balance crop and apply any effects to make the image pop and I'm sure you'll get some really great imagery. -Dean
- d_r 15y ago
  That is incredibly cool and "just getting out there" shows the true spirit of entrepreneurship. Thanks for the response + inspiration! You just got my 10 bucks. =)

js4all 15y ago

This looks like fun and many "brings memories back" products are successful.

ck2 15y ago

You should make an app that makes the sound warble like the tape models did when there is lots of motion (via accelerometer). Gosh I am too old as I remember the real sony one that came out that was just barely bigger than the size of cassette tape, it was state of the art back then. http://www.sony.net/Fun/design/history/product/1980/wm-20.html http://www.sony.net/Fun/design/history/product/1980/wm-20.ht... look at the engineering from 30 years ago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFnrsDmIsxo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFnrsDmIsxo

wazoox 15y ago
Oh my do I remember these! And a friend of mine had the first one with autoreverse, electromagnetic buttons, hardly bigger than the cassette box, entirely metal-made... Costed an arm and a leg back then (1985?), this one: http://www.walkmancentral.com/products/wm-7 http://www.walkmancentral.com/products/wm-7

jonursenbach 15y ago

Funny how the last in-use picture is someone using it whilst driving and wearing headphones.

wr1472 15y ago

One of the model photos shows the driver listening to an iphone/walkman in the car with headphones on whilst driving. And she's holding it in her hand. Somehow I don't think that's a typical use case.