AirheadWaves vs OpenPods
Side-by-side comparison of two open source alternatives
AirheadWaves
AirheadWaves is a versatile Android application for real-time audio streaming from your device to a server on your local network. It captures internal audio playback, encodes it, and transmits it over TCP, making it perfect for creating a whole-house audio system or streaming to a Raspberry Pi. Features: • Real-time audio streaming with low latency • Advanced audio controls: volume, bass, and treble adjustments • Multi-profile system for managing multiple server configurations • Flexible audio settings: bitrate (96-320 kbps), sample rate (22050-48000 Hz), mono/stereo • Audio-reactive visualization that pulses with music • Modern Material Design 3 UI with light/dark/system themes • Robust state management across backgrounding and configuration changes Technical Details: • Captures internal device audio using MediaProjection API • Encodes to AAC format with ADTS headers • Streams over standard TCP sockets • Software-based DSP effects using custom Biquad filters • Built with Jetpack Compose and modern Android architecture Use Cases: • Whole-house audio systems with multiple receivers • Upgrade legacy speakers with wireless streaming • Multi-room audio control with quick profile switching • Low-latency streaming for podcasts and music • DIY audio projects with full pipeline control Requirements: • Android 10 (API 29) or higher • Network connectivity to receiving server • Server setup guide included in repository The app is completely free, open source, and contains no ads or tracking. Perfect for privacy-conscious users and DIY enthusiasts who want full control over their audio streaming setup.
OpenPods
The Free and Open Source app for monitoring your AirPods on Android. Features: * Shows a notification with AirPods status when they are connected * Respects your privacy * Free and Open Source software * Supports Dark Theme Supported devices: * Apple AirPods 1st gen * Apple AirPods 2nd gen * Apple AirPods 3rd gen * Apple AirPods Pro * Apple AirPods Max * Beats X * Beats Flex * Beats Solo 3 * Beats Studio 3 * Powerbeats 3 * Powerbeats Pro
| Feature | AirheadWaves | OpenPods |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0-only |
| Install sources | F-Droid | F-DroidGitHub |
| Categories | Media PlayerMessagingVideo | ProductivityMedia PlayerMessagingVideo |
| Features | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking | Ad-FreeOpen SourceNo Tracking |
| Platforms | Android | Android |
| Website | ||
| Source code |