Introduction to an open source internet radio (Transistor, Episode 1)

The blockchain-based applications are at present gaining the necessary visibility to explode, and for that reason, I have decided to diversify my series because I figured many open source applications out there are with valuable features yet to be discovered by users.

Today marks the Fifth time I’m writing an article based on open source applications. During the early stage, I thought it was going be an easy task to accomplish, then I realized, that to be a good writer requires hard work.

My blog series started about a week ago when I first introduced an open source platform built on the blockchain. I shared my personal experience and presented necessary information on how to get acquainted with the project.

Social Media has presented an extraordinary wave to reckon with when it comes to information, but radio systems have been doing the same since the beginning. Thanks to recent developments, we’ve been gifted to see radio systems being revolutionized into smartphones so users can acquire the same information as those operating the analog radios.

Since the prediction of radio waves by a Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell, radio systems have undoubtedly remained the universal force in acquiring information.

Digitized systems have made information to be easily acquired in recent times compared to analog systems which have long been abandoned by most fanatics of digital radios.

The analog radio system is a popular device in most homes especially in rural areas where the internet is extremely strange. I remember I had an analog radio system back then when I was younger, but now I can easily access it from my smartphone.

Early in the morning I still rush to my local radio channels for trending news base on the forthcoming elections here in Nigeria.

The analog radio system is not a popular device anymore in urban cities due to its digitization, but yet not everyone has come to the knowledge of digitized radio system integrated into smartphones especially those that are very much involved with analog radio in rural settlements.

Though I have used different digitized radio applications on my smartphone, I was eager to know more when I learned about the transistor internet radio application.

As an avid user of radio applications, I proceeded to acquire the free version which was present on google play store.

Today makes it one month since I downloaded transistor open source radio application, there are features I have used, and there are some I have not used yet, but as we advance through this series, I'll introduce and elaborate to the best of my knowledge.

Today, I have decided to share some light on this great application called ”Transistor”

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What is the transistor radio application?

People are no longer interested in radio programs since the introduction of cable TVs. For me, there are programs that I dare not to miss because there are extremely important.

Though this is a radio application, from its name, you might think it is an application meant for electronic studies, designs or simulation.

The transistor is a radio application for listening to your desired programs over the Internet.

The transistor radio application is not the regulars, as it features a BYOS type. There is no search option on the platform, so channels are integrated manually.

The Transistor radio application stores station files on external storage, and it accepts AAC, OGG/OPUS and MP3 encoded streams.

Adding a station on transistor radio application

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The transistor radio application is not hard to use, neither is it hard to understand. Even if this is your first time using internet radio, you'll do just fine.

The first question for any user will be how to add a new radio station. Though at first, I had this difficulty, this is a simple task if you have used an Internet radio before.

There are various platforms to search for radio stations such as community radio browser, or you search directly from Google

All radio applications that I used previously were not broadcasting through the Internet, so I had difficulties being my first time.

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I was displeased on the fact that radio stations couldn't search, and this led to discovering an alternative which was to copy streaming links and paste directly on the application.

Establishing a shortcut on your mobile home screen

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Another thing to watch out for when using the transistor radio application is the shortcut feature. Having used this application for some time, I have learned how to add stations to shortcut. Currently, I have added my favorite station to my home screen so that I'm a click away from accessing it.

Adding a station’s shortcut to your home screen requires no tech knowledge because this option is accessed while clicking the three dots attached to a station.

When your station is assigned a shortcut, a click on it will take you directly to transistor radio application, and the playback resumes immediately.

Where are your station files stored:

Having said that the transistor radio application stores it stations as files on external memory, it is necessary to know where these files are stored likewise it directory for easy access and manipulation. /Android/data/org.y20k.transistor/files/Collection.

Well as for me I don't think I know much about what I can do with these files, so I don't bother myself about it.

How can you transfer and back up your radio stations:

Many users might not be bothered about this feature, but for the sake of those who will love to try it, I will discuss on it concisely.

Transistor radio application has no internal database for saving radio stations, so files are saved to an external device. These M3U files can be backed up or transfer to various platforms as long as the platform has an application that supports these file types.

Backing up your radio channels are necessary. These backed up files can be accessed on different devices.

To perform this task is easy and it only takes just a few clicks.

Transistor radio application supports auto backup feature on Android 6 which means this radio station stored as files can be backed up directly to your google account. In a case where transistor radio application is deleted and reinstalled, these backed up station files will restore automatically.

N/B:

If your smartphone is running an older version of Android, then this process has to be run manually.

Most of my radio stations are backed up to my google account, and this is because I want to access them anytime I change my smartphone to a new one. This feature gives me rest of mind because I know vividly that even on a new phone, I can restore my radio station files.

Setting:

Settings feature is an option that is always present in most applications, but to my greatest surprise, transistor radio application does not have this feature.

I don’t know why the developers omitted this feature, but from his statement, he said there is no need for it because this will make the application more simplified for users.
I miss seeing this feature on transistor radio application as it will offer more control to the users.

More themes would have been included on transistor radio application if this feature was there, maybe a profile feature would have been added. Settings feature on applications is what given more authority to the users.

There is nothing to be set ;). Transistor is a very simple app. Depending on your point of view "simple" is either great or lame.
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I hope to see a Settings option in the coming updates.

Recent developments:

It delights me each time I witness an update on any application I’m using. A few days ago an update was launched and it Link was included on the application’s GitHub. If you’re a user, you can update your transistor radio application now.

Date of update

29 January, 2019

Summary:

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On transistor Internet radio application series, this is where I will stop for today, and I hope to resume its episode two in the coming days.

The transistor radio application is a unique tool to have, and it features various options to try out. It is simple, and it has a user-friendly interface.

Thanks for stopping by.

Links:

Project link:

http://www.y20k.org/transistor/

Project repository:

https://github.com/y20k/transistor

Resources:

All provided information on this article are mine, and downloaded pictures are with sources.

Previous series:

My first review and how steepshot uttered my journey on the blockchain

The amazing fun facts about Omni notes and how I have been intrigued so far.

My first review and how steepshot uttered my journey on the blockchain

This is why telegram deserves it current ranking on playstore.

GitHub profile:

https://github.com/abasifreke50