Trdo brings open-source radio to Windows via Microsoft Store
The release of Trdo offers Windows users a dedicated tool for live online radio broadcasts, featuring song history tracking and optional links to major streaming platforms.
Trdo, a free and open-source application, has been released for Windows, allowing users to listen to live online radio broadcasts via a system tray icon. Available from the Microsoft Store, the app enables users to search for or manually add stations using PLS files. Features include song history tracking, tagging, and optional links to Spotify, Discogs, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
The application addresses a long-standing gap in the Windows market for a dedicated online radio app, contrasting with macOS options like Eter. The app is controlled via the system tray icon, with left-clicks defaulting to play or pause functions and right-clicks opening a pop-up window. Users can also pause or play the current station using the pause button on their keyboard.
To get started, users install Trdo from the Microsoft Store and must add their own stations, as there are no built-in presets. The app includes a search tool for finding stations, with the option to manually add stations using PLS file links. Many online radio stations offer these links freely on their websites, and the author recommends checking out Public Radio Fan or InternetRadio for finding streaming links.
Key functionalities include song history tracking, the ability to tag favourite tracks, and optional integration links to Spotify, Discogs, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. The app is positioned as a complement to on-demand streaming services, emphasising human-curated stations over algorithmic recommendations. The author notes that internet radio is perfect for those who do not want to make a decision or want to be surprised by new music.
While the app currently lacks 'Next' or 'Previous' station controls, the author hopes Trdo will add this feature in the future. The release highlights the value of human-curated radio stations, such as KEXP, Indie XFM, and SomaFM, over algorithmic streaming services. The author positions internet radio as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, on-demand music streaming apps.
