According to IMDb, Tom Hanks enjoys collecting typewriters and has purchased over 80 of them around the globe. He even penned an opinion essay sharing his fascination with the mechanical machine and it was eventually published in The New York Times.
With that point in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Oscar-winning actor, along with help from creative agency Hitcents, have developed a typewriter app for the Apple iPad. Named Hanx Writer, it recreates the experience of a manual typewriter, but with the ease and speed of an iPad.
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Developed in close collaboration with Tom Hanks, Hanx Writer reflects the look, feel, and sound of old-fashioned word-processing while embracing a few new-fashioned luxuries (like the DELETE key!)
– Hitcents.com
Decked in a clean minimalist design, users can also feel the rhythm of their work with each “SHOOK SHOOK” or “FITT-FITT”. The free app comes with wireless keyboard support and can be downloaded on iTunes.
Exclusive collections such as the Hanx 707 and the Hanx Golden Touch typewriter are available for in-app purchases. According to Hitcents, the Hanx Writer’s additional features include the option to change font colour and adding pictures to title pages.
Despite it being the 21st century, typewriters are making a comeback. Daily Mail has recently reported that the sales of the typewriter are booming. During an interview with Financial Times, owner of Cambridge Typewriter Tom Furrier described it as “a slow-growing movement” and “a very popular thing.”
Judging by the reaction, it looks like Hanx Writer is off to a flying start.
To say Tom Hanks is excited about his new project would be an understatement. The actor has been actively sharing tweets and many of them included hashtag HanxWriter. Did you hear? There was even a live Q&A with the creator himself!
Since its launch, the app has received critical acclaim from iPad users. The most noteworthy review is perhaps by this one user who goes by the name of DeadWriter: If I could write and send Tom Hanks a thank you, I would.
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