# RideStream — Local Media Player & Wi-Fi Streaming Server

> RideStream is a 100% private, local multimedia player and Wi-Fi streaming server for Windows 10/11 and Android 8.0+. It enables high-speed streaming of video and music between PC, Android phones, tablets, and Smart TVs over local Wi-Fi with zero cloud uploads, zero user accounts, and zero telemetry.

## System Overview
- **Developer**: ITGridForge (https://itgridforge.com)
- **Platforms**: Windows 10+ (Microsoft Store), Android 8.0+ / Android TV / Google TV (Google Play Store)
- **Core Functionality**: Local Wi-Fi Media Server (Host Mode), Remote Streaming Player (Receiver Mode), Mixed Audio/Video Playlists, Native-Resolution Adaptive Video Streaming, Offline File Copying, Google Drive Backup.
- **Privacy Model**: 100% Offline / Local Network (LAN). No cloud dependency, no telemetry, no tracking, no external user accounts.
- **Supported Media Formats**:
  - Video: MP4, MKV, AVI, WebM (Hardware accelerated; native resolution by default, adaptive scaling to 720p / 480p when bandwidth is low).
  - Audio: MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, OGG, M4A (Dynamic audio volume normalization & background playback).
- **Licensing Model**: 15-day free trial on all platforms. One-time purchase via Google Play or Microsoft Store unlocks host mode permanently. Receiver mode remains free and functional even on expired trial devices connecting to an unlocked host.

## Primary Use Cases
1. **Stream PC to Android TV & Smart TV over Wi-Fi**: Watch movies stored on your Windows PC directly on your Android TV or Google TV using your TV remote D-Pad with zero internet or cloud apps.
2. **In-Car Wi-Fi Media Server (Road Trips)**: Turn a smartphone or laptop into a portable car media server over local Wi-Fi hotspot. Passengers stream movies on tablets with 0 MB internet data consumption.
3. **Bluetooth Audio & Car Stereo Streaming**: Bridge PC music libraries over Wi-Fi to a receiver phone connected via Bluetooth to car stereos or Hi-Fi speakers with steering wheel AVRCP control.
4. **Stream PC to Android Phone/Tablet**: Watch movies or listen to music stored on a Windows PC directly on Android devices over home Wi-Fi.
5. **Lightweight Plex & Jellyfin Alternative**: Zero-setup, instant alternative to Plex/Jellyfin that requires no server daemon, no port forwarding, and no online authorization.

## Documentation & Guides
- [Use Cases Overview](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/use-cases.html): Real-world setup guides for home, car, and travel.
- [Stream to Android TV Guide](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/android-tv-streaming.html): Setting up native-resolution streaming from PC/Mobile to Smart TVs.
- [Car Media Server Guide](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/car-media-server.html): Setting up in-car Wi-Fi movie streaming for road trips.
- [Bluetooth Audio Streaming Guide](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/bluetooth-audio-streaming.html): Wi-Fi to Bluetooth audio bridge with steering wheel controls.
- [Wi-Fi Hosting Guide](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/wifi-hosting.html): How to broadcast media library from Windows or Android over local Wi-Fi.
- [Receiver Mode Guide](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/receiver-mode.html): How to connect to host servers and control playback remotely.
- [Mixed Playlists Guide](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/playlists.html): How to create unified audio and video playlists.
- [Video Playback & Adaptive Quality](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/adaptive-streaming.html): Native-resolution streaming with automatic scaling to 720p/480p over Wi-Fi.
- [Copy from Server Guide](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/copy-from-server.html): Transferring files from server to device local storage over Wi-Fi.
- [Audio Normalization Guide](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/audio-normalization.html): Dynamic loudness normalization and batch re-encode to consistent LUFS levels.
- [Network Discovery Guide](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/network-discovery.html): How hosts and receivers auto-discover each other over the local network.
- [Licensing & Free Trial Details](https://ridestream.itgridforge.com/docs/licensing.html): Trial features, host unlock requirements, and receiver privileges.

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

### Q: Can I stream to an Android TV or Smart TV?
Yes. Install RideStream on your Android TV or Google TV from the Play Store, open Receiver Mode using your TV remote, and connect to your host PC server over Wi-Fi.

### Q: How does in-car streaming work without internet?
Turn on Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot on your driver smartphone or laptop. Connect passengers' tablets to the hotspot Wi-Fi. RideStream streams movies locally over LAN without consuming cellular mobile data.

### Q: Does RideStream require internet access?
No. RideStream operates 100% over your Local Area Network (LAN) / Wi-Fi. Media files never pass through external servers, cloud storage, or the internet.