Apple's newly unveiled iPhone Duo has inspired a developer to replicate one of its most striking features on a competing device. A Reddit user, known as u/moomanjohnny, has successfully recreated the iPhone Duo's unique unfolding animation on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, garnering significant attention within the foldable phone community.
Apple's original implementation, dubbed 'Liquid Glass,' showcases a mesmerizing blue effect that appears to stay fixed as the phone unfolds, with apps and home-screen content gradually coming into focus as the display widens. This creates a seamless visual experience, giving the impression that the software itself is moving in sync with the device's physical transformation.
How the Animation Was Recreated
The developer's impressive recreation on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a testament to clever software engineering. It leverages several key components:
- Hinge Sensor Data: The Fold 8's built-in hinge extension sensor provides live angle readings, crucial for timing the animation precisely.
- Android APIs: Custom code utilizes Android APIs to control the visual effects.
- AGSL Shader: An Android Graphics Shading Language (AGSL) shader is mapped across both displays via the Presentation API.
- Pre-captured Screenshots: Instead of rendering live apps, the recreation loads screenshots of the inner and outer home screens. As the phone opens, the shader interpolates between these two screenshots in real time, matching the exact angle and speed of the unfolding motion.
The result is an animation that closely mirrors Apple's design, making the software respond dynamically as the device unfolds.
Limitations and Community Reception
Despite its visual fidelity, the recreation operates as a standalone proof-of-concept rather than a fully integrated system feature. Samsung's One UI restricts third-party apps from deep system-level SystemUI access, preventing it from functioning as an interactive home launcher. This means users cannot interact with live apps during the animation, as it essentially displays interpolated screenshots.
Nevertheless, the project has been widely praised on Reddit, with many users expressing a desire for Samsung to adopt a similar feature, perhaps even through its Good Lock customization suite. The recreation highlights the potential for innovative software experiences on foldable devices and the creative prowess of the developer community.