Turning my web-based pixel clock into native Android and iOS apps
I shipped the Android and iOS versions of Retro Watch.
It’s a small pixel clock app that turns your phone or tablet into a cozy retro desk display.
The app began as a web app, so I used Capacitor to bring it to native mobile quickly. The biggest lesson for me was that the native version should not just be a WebView copy.
So I added mobile-specific touches:
haptics
native sharing
app lifecycle handling
keep-screen-awake mode
small UI/copy refinements for mobile
The keep-screen-awake option ended up being especially important because it matches the core use case: leaving the app open on a desk, shelf, or bedside table.
Retro Watch is not trying to be a productivity tool. It is more like a tiny ambient object — a pixel clock with themes and background music that makes your space feel a little nicer.
It’s a simple product, but I like that it has a clear use case:
open it, place it somewhere, and let it quietly exist in the background.
Android:
iOS:
It's also available on the web as well.
Thank you and have a nice day!
Also I made a simple about page to introduce the app.
https://retrowatch.app/about/
Thank you for your support.