Radio from around the world
Tens of thousands of stations from the open Radio-Browser database, searchable by name or genre.
Personal project · private beta · coming soon
Sintonia
Radio from around the world in a Mac app designed to be simple, fast and respectful of privacy.
Currently in private beta · coming soon in a limited free tier and a paid version
01 · The idea
The idea
I wanted to listen to online radio on my Mac without using a browser, creating an account or seeing ads: quickly finding a station from my region, a distant country or every station in a particular language. I also wanted my favourites close at hand, even when the window was closed.
That became Sintonia: a lightweight app with a native Mac feel, an open station database and personal data stored only on the Mac.
02 · Key features
Key features
Italy by region
All 20 Italian regions, even when stations describe the same region in different ways.
Countries and languages
Filter by country, region or state, or browse by language regardless of origin.
Local-only favourites
Reorderable, exportable and importable. No account and no cloud.
Quick controls
Play, pause, stop, volume, favourites and recently played stations from the menu bar.
macOS integration
Media keys, keyboard shortcuts, automatic launch, light/dark mode and five system languages.
03 · The app in use
The app in use
04 · Privacy
Privacy by design
- No account and no registration.
- Favourites and settings stay in a file on the Mac.
- No proprietary server and no tracking.
- The app connects only to Radio-Browser and station streams.
- Starting a station sends Radio-Browser an anonymous listening signal that helps the community.
05 · Electron
How it was built
Sintonia is an Electron desktop app: an HTML, CSS and JavaScript interface inside a complete macOS application.
Interface
Framework-free HTML, CSS and JavaScript, with block-rendered lists for smooth navigation.
Open data
Public Radio-Browser API, automatic server selection, fallback and local caching.
Audio
HTML5 Audio for MP3/AAC and hls.js for HLS streams.
Security
Context isolation, sandboxing, Content Security Policy and a controlled bridge to the system.
macOS
Menu bar, media keys, automatic launch and localisation based on system language.
Distribution
Universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel, packaged in a custom DMG.
06 · Architecture
Architecture
Three separate parts keep responsibilities clear and limit the interface’s access to the system.
Main process
Radio API, cache, favourites, menu bar and automatic launch
Preload
Secure bridge exposing only approved commands
Renderer
Interface, search, filters and audio player
Personal data remains in JSON files on the Mac. Only station lists and audio arrive from the internet.
07 · Technical overview
Technical overview
- Platform
- macOS, universal app (Apple Silicon + Intel)
- Technology
- Electron 33 (Chromium + Node.js)
- Interface
- Framework-free HTML, CSS and JavaScript
- Audio
- HTML5 Audio, hls.js
- Data
- Radio-Browser API, local cache
- Languages
- Italiano, Deutsch, English, Français, Español
- Storage
- Local JSON files, no cloud
- Distribution
- Custom DMG · public release in preparation
- Version
- 1.2.0 · October 2026
08 · 1.2.0
Status and next steps
Sintonia is currently in private beta. It will soon be available to everyone through a free tier with some limitations and a complete paid version. Pricing and the exact differences will be defined before launch.
- Now-playing track title and notifications
- Sleep timer and alarm
- Audio output selection
- Folders for favourites
- Apple signing and notarisation for public distribution
Sintonia · 2026
Have an idea for a custom app or tool? Let’s talk.
Get in touch↗Designed and developed by Thomas Furlanetto · Station directory: Radio-Browser, an open community database.