Introducing AACMix: A Minimalist, Privacy-Focused Online Radio Player with 54,000 Stations and a Single Big Button
In an era where digital privacy and streamlined user experiences are becoming increasingly important, I am excited to share the development of AACMix, a simple yet powerful online radio platform designed to prioritize user privacy and ease of use.
A No-Fuss Radio Experience
AACMix offers a minimalist approach to internet radio streaming. It features no user accounts, no advertisements, and abstains from collecting tracking data or displaying cookie banners. The interface is designed around a single, prominent button that randomly plays an AAC stream from an extensive collection of over 54,000 radio stations worldwide.
Key Features
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Single Large Button: Initiates playback of a random station from the vast playlist, making it accessible and straightforward—perfect for quick listening or discovering new stations.
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Stream Protocol Flexibility: Users can toggle between HTTP and HTTPS streams, ensuring compatibility and security preferences.
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Search Functionality: Quickly find stations by name with a search that starts from three characters, enabling efficient browsing.
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Favorites System: Save your preferred stations locally using
localStorage, so your favorite stations are accessible across sessions without server reliance. -
Filtering Options: Optional filters by country and genre allow for a more tailored listening experience, with some features available in a pro version.
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Mobile-Ready & PWA Support: The platform is fully responsive, supporting Progressive Web App functionalities for installation and offline access, enhancing usability across devices.
The Technical Backbone
AACMix is built with a focus on simplicity and efficiency:
- Backend: PHP combined with SQLite manages station data, ensuring lightweight performance.
- API: A JSON streaming API (
?api=stations) delivers station data without memory bloat, facilitating smooth operation. - Frontend: Developed with vanilla JavaScript, avoiding external frameworks to enhance performance and reliability.
- Audio Handling: Utilizes the native
Audio()API for playback, ensuring minimal dependencies. - Privacy First: Entirely free of tracking scripts and content Delivery Networks (CDNs), aligning with privacy-conscious design principles.
Visual Preview
Here are a couple of snapshots showcasing the clean interface:
