How RadauApp Was Born: From a Broken DIY Box to a Finished App
Why does RadauApp exist?
My name is Jens – DJ, dad of two little boys, and a long-time Apple Music subscriber. When my sons got old enough to love music, I asked myself a simple question:
How can they choose their own music independently – without being able to read, and without using my phone?
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First attempt: The RadauBox
My first approach was hardware. I built a custom box based on the Tonuino project – an open-source system using Arduino and NFC cards. Each card represented different content. Place the card, music plays. Brilliantly simple.
What worked well:
- Kids loved the tactile concept
- Full control over the content
- No screen, no distractions
- The box eventually broke
- The circuit board was no longer available
- Rebuilding wasn't possible
Second approach: An app
Instead of building a new box, I asked myself: What do I already have at home? An old iPhone. And an Apple Music subscription.
So I built RadauApp – an iOS app that brings the Tonuino concept into the digital world. Large picture tiles instead of text. Tap instead of read. Parental controls instead of open access.
What got added over time:
- Podcasts: My boys always listen to stories and podcasts at bedtime. TKKG, Kakadu, the Maus – everything had to be included.
- Web radio: They love Maus Radio. So that was added too.
What RadauApp can do today
- Apple Music playlists and albums
- Custom MP3 files
- Podcast feeds (RSS)
- Web radio stations
- Parental controls with access protection
- Runs on any iPhone from 6s onwards
*RadauApp is my personal project – built for my kids, shared with every parent facing the same question.*