Product
Prioritize the listening loop that matters
Plan releases across mobile and in-car
Scope for certification and platform constraints
Media app development for listeners who aren't sitting at a desk
Your audience listens in the car, on a run, and between everything else. They expect fast startup, reliable streaming, and apps that work beyond the phone. We build and maintain media apps for partners like KQED and Radio Paradise, from cross-platform mobile to native in-car experiences.
The challenge
A stream in a WebView is not a product
Listeners do not care about your CMS or your org chart. They care whether the app starts fast, keeps playing, and works in the car. Most media apps are either a thin wrapper around a stream or a phone app awkwardly mirrored to the dashboard. OS updates break playback. CarPlay feels bolted on. And Android Automotive OS is a completely different platform that most dev shops have never shipped on.
Mobile and in-car, built together
Product, design, and engineering for media companies that need apps people actually use, on phones and in vehicles.
UX & Design
Low-friction playback and browsing
Automotive UX for large in-dash displays
Mobile patterns that feel native, not ported
Development
Flutter for iOS and Android
CarPlay, Android Auto, and Android Automotive OS
Reliable streaming, downloads, and background audio
Featured work
Media apps we have built and maintained
KQED
Flutter mobile apps and in-car listening since 2021
We have been KQED's mobile development partner since 2021, re-architecting and rebuilding their iOS and Android apps in Flutter. The work includes ongoing feature development, CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and the kind of long-term maintenance that turns a streaming app into a product listeners choose over generic alternatives.
KQED's apps are widely regarded as a gold standard among public radio organizations. That reputation came from sustained product, design, and engineering partnership, not a one-off rebuild.
Radio Paradise
Native Android Automotive OS for first-party in-car listening
Radio Paradise wanted to be a first-party in-vehicle app, not just another stream projected from a phone. We built a native Android Automotive OS application that runs directly on the car infotainment stack, with UX tailored for large displays and low-cognitive-load interactions in a moving vehicle.
The project covered channel browsing, now playing, playback controls, and the certification requirements that block most teams from shipping in automotive. In-car listening is often the highest-intent moment in a media product's day. Radio Paradise is present there natively.
Why media companies work with Uptech Studio
We know in-car is not a mirror of mobile
CarPlay and Android Auto are one thing. Android Automotive OS is another. We have shipped on both sides: extending KQED's Flutter app into phone-projection platforms and building Radio Paradise's native in-dash experience from scratch.
Production apps, not store-fillers
We maintain media apps in production for years, not just launch them and disappear. Streaming reliability, background audio, platform updates, and store compliance are part of the job, not surprises six months in.
Product and design in the room
Media apps fail when engineering ships features nobody asked for, or when design ignores how people listen in real contexts. Our squads include product and UX alongside developers so the app serves listeners and the business.
Public radio to internet radio
Our media work spans large public broadcasters and independent listener-supported services. Different business models, same core problem: build software that keeps audiences coming back to your app instead of a generic player.
Common questions
Do you build for both mobile and in-car platforms?
Yes. We have extended mobile apps to CarPlay and Android Auto for KQED, and built a native Android Automotive OS app for Radio Paradise that runs directly on the vehicle infotainment system with no phone required. We can help you figure out which platforms match your audience and roadmap.
Should we use Flutter or go native for a media app?
It depends on your platforms, team, and timeline. Flutter has worked well for KQED's cross-platform mobile apps and CarPlay/Android Auto extensions. Android Automotive OS typically calls for native Android work, as with Radio Paradise. We will recommend what fits your situation, not what is trendy.
Can you take over an existing media app?
Yes. We assess the current codebase, playback architecture, and what listeners actually need. Sometimes incremental improvement is enough. Sometimes a structured rebuild, as with KQED, is the right call. We will tell you which before you commit.
What kinds of media companies do you work with?
Public broadcasters, internet radio services, podcast networks, and other audio-first products. If your core experience is listening and your audience expects strong mobile and in-car software, we are likely a fit.
Meet listeners where they actually are
Building or extending a media app? Let's talk about mobile, in-car, and what your listeners need from the product.
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