{
  "id": 14288214,
  "title": "My wife and I lost our Apple Walkie-Talkie app, so I'm building my own",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/my-wife-and-i-lost-our-apple-walkie-talkie-app-so-im-building-my-own",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-13T20:38:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/henniefrancis/my-wife-and-i-lost-our-apple-walkie-talkie-app-so-im-building-my-own-1f74"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "My wife and I relied on our Apple Walkie-Talkie app for quick voice connections using a simple tap and hold of a button. However, when iOS 27 was released, the app was removed. Determined to create a replacement, I began building my own version and sharing updates. The Walkie Talkie app was never meant for long conversations, but rather for small, personal messages like \"On my way\" or \"Food is ready.\" Its disappearance left a noticeable gap. My goal is to build an Apple Watch-centric walkie-talkie app, utilizing the watch as the primary device, similar to both Apple's app and Zello. The app would allow users to connect via a tap, hold a button to talk, and listen to each other's voices. Voice messages and group chats could be added later. Building the app posed challenges, as Apple's watch has strict battery-saving rules, making it difficult to maintain background connections. By leveraging phone call notifications, I plan to wake the watch and establish a connection quickly. The app will be developed publicly to document the process, share mistakes, and learn along the way. Suggestions for a name are welcome, and feedback on what users miss about the original app is appreciated.",
  "summary": "For years, my wife and I talked through our watches. One tap, one sentence, a quick instant voice connection. Then iOS 27 arrived and Walkie-Talkie was gone. I build software for a living, so I'm doing the obvious thing: building a replacement, and documenting it every step of the way. Part 1 of my Public Build Series My favourite app on my Apple Watch was never a fitness tracker or a fancy watch…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}