So you know how Xcode lets you run an iOS app in a simulator and how the current version of macOS Sequoia has iPhone mirroring? As it turns out, you can kind-of sort-of get an iPhone 3G going on your PowerPC Mac’s desktop! You might not be able to hold it or use it very much, and it’s debatable if this applet was even used to test apps out back in the day.
One thing’s for sure though – It looks like an iPhone 3G, animates like one, and sounds like one when you dial a number in the Phone app.
What you need to do
First, make sure you have a PowerPC Mac running Mac OS X Leopard. I haven’t tested this out on any early Intel Mac although I’m sure it can work on there, nor have I tested it in Tiger. You will need to download the adobe air installer as well as the desktop_phone.air app. Links are provided below in this article however the files are also listed in our software repository.
- Download Links:
- AdobeAIRPowerPC.dmg.zip (On Google Drive, Required for DesktopiPhone.air_.zip)
- DesktopiPhone.air_.zip (Requires Adobe air)
What can you do?
There’s really not a ton you can do on here, it’s more a well mocked-up iPhone 3G clone with animated images and sounds than it is even anything functional – but it’s cool nonetheless, and adds a lil’ era-correct flare to your PowerPC Macintosh.
- Look at a static Lock Screen, and unlock it.
- Look at a static Home Screen and choose one of 6 functions on here.
- Phone, Mail, Safari, Weather, Shout and Ribbit can open but are not at all functional.
- No settings can be changed, nor can settings be accessed.
- Animations are almost identical to the original iPhone
In Conclusion
There’s not much going on here, but it’s a cool lil’ bit of software to have on your computer. Just an extra goodie to have or to show off to friends, or if you simply like the aesthetic aspect of it, have it running on your desktop! The nostalgia is yours to behold.
