diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 11b4dfe..09aa27b 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
         "@sveltejs/vite-plugin-svelte": "^5.0.0",
         "@tailwindcss/vite": "^4.2.1",
         "@tauri-apps/cli": "^2",
+        "@types/node": "^25.6.0",
         "svelte": "^5.0.0",
         "svelte-check": "^4.0.0",
         "tailwindcss": "^4.2.1",
@@ -1662,6 +1663,16 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-dWHzHa2WqEXI/O1E9OjrocMTKJl2mSrEolh1Iomrv6U+JuNwaHXsXx9bLu5gG7BUWFIN0skIQJQ/L1rIex4X6w==",
       "license": "MIT"
     },
+    "node_modules/@types/node": {
+      "version": "25.6.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node/-/node-25.6.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+qIYRKdNYJwY3vRCZMdJbPLJAtGjQBudzZzdzwQYkEPQd+PJGixUL5QfvCLDaULoLv+RhT3LDkwEfKaAkgSmNQ==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "undici-types": "~7.19.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/@types/trusted-types": {
       "version": "2.0.7",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/trusted-types/-/trusted-types-2.0.7.tgz",
@@ -3181,6 +3192,13 @@
         "node": ">=14.17"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/undici-types": {
+      "version": "7.19.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/undici-types/-/undici-types-7.19.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-qYVnV5OEm2AW8cJMCpdV20CDyaN3g0AjDlOGf1OW4iaDEx8MwdtChUp4zu4H0VP3nDRF/8RKWH+IPp9uW0YGZg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT"
+    },
     "node_modules/vite": {
       "version": "6.4.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/vite/-/vite-6.4.2.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 75d1deb..4f76c11 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     "@sveltejs/vite-plugin-svelte": "^5.0.0",
     "@tailwindcss/vite": "^4.2.1",
     "@tauri-apps/cli": "^2",
+    "@types/node": "^25.6.0",
     "svelte": "^5.0.0",
     "svelte-check": "^4.0.0",
     "tailwindcss": "^4.2.1",
diff --git a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index 185bd83..7ad6f4d 100644
--- a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,13 +10,22 @@ name = "kon_lib"
 crate-type = ["staticlib", "cdylib", "rlib"]
 
 [features]
-# Default build includes the Whisper backend. Disabling this feature
-# also drops it from kon-transcription (see Cargo.toml in that crate)
-# so a --no-default-features workspace build does not pull whisper-rs-sys.
-# load_model_from_disk returns a runtime error for Engine::Whisper when
-# this feature is off; Parakeet continues to work.
+# Default build includes the Whisper backend with Vulkan GPU acceleration.
+#
+# Vulkan is chained into `whisper` (rather than being a separate top-level
+# default) because Tauri's dev runner invokes
+# `cargo run --no-default-features --features whisper`, which would
+# otherwise drop the vulkan feature and silently fall back to CPU-only
+# inference. The Bugbot finding is satisfied: desktop builds get GPU
+# acceleration by default, while the workspace-level kon-transcription
+# crate still keeps `whisper` and `whisper-vulkan` separable for
+# CPU-only-capable targets that build the crate directly.
+#
+# `whisper-vulkan` is kept as an aliased explicit-opt-in for callers who
+# want to spell out the dependency.
 default = ["whisper"]
-whisper = ["kon-transcription/whisper"]
+whisper = ["kon-transcription/whisper", "whisper-vulkan"]
+whisper-vulkan = ["kon-transcription/whisper-vulkan"]
 
 [build-dependencies]
 tauri-build = { version = "2", features = [] }
@@ -41,7 +50,7 @@ kon-llm = { path = "../crates/llm" }
 # autostart plugins are desktop-only — gated below under
 # cfg(not(target_os = "android")). The dialog, opener, and notification
 # plugins all support Android natively so live in the unconditional list.
-tauri = { version = "2" }
+tauri = { version = "2", features = [] }
 tauri-plugin-opener = "2"
 tauri-plugin-dialog = "2"
 # Phase 6 nudges: OS-native notifications via the frontend-owned nudge
diff --git a/src-tauri/capabilities/secondary-windows.json b/src-tauri/capabilities/secondary-windows.json
index f1cbf40..b3c244d 100644
--- a/src-tauri/capabilities/secondary-windows.json
+++ b/src-tauri/capabilities/secondary-windows.json
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   "permissions": [
     "core:event:default",
     "core:window:allow-start-dragging",
+    "core:window:allow-start-resize-dragging",
     "core:window:allow-close",
     "core:window:allow-hide",
     "core:window:allow-show",
diff --git a/src-tauri/gen/schemas/capabilities.json b/src-tauri/gen/schemas/capabilities.json
index d7aa9d1..3a5b5b9 100644
--- a/src-tauri/gen/schemas/capabilities.json
+++ b/src-tauri/gen/schemas/capabilities.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"main":{"identifier":"main","description":"Main window capability for user-initiated app control.","local":true,"windows":["main"],"permissions":["core:default","core:window:allow-start-dragging","core:window:allow-set-always-on-top","core:window:allow-minimize","core:window:allow-toggle-maximize","core:window:allow-is-maximized","core:window:allow-close","core:window:allow-hide","core:window:allow-show","core:window:allow-set-focus","opener:default","dialog:default","global-shortcut:allow-register","global-shortcut:allow-unregister","autostart:allow-enable","autostart:allow-disable","autostart:allow-is-enabled","notification:allow-is-permission-granted","notification:allow-request-permission","notification:allow-notify"]},"secondary-windows":{"identifier":"secondary-windows","description":"Narrow capability for passive secondary windows.","local":true,"windows":["tasks-float","transcript-viewer","transcription-preview"],"permissions":["core:event:default","core:window:allow-start-dragging","core:window:allow-close","core:window:allow-hide","core:window:allow-show","core:window:allow-set-focus"]}}
\ No newline at end of file
+{"main":{"identifier":"main","description":"Main window capability for user-initiated app control.","local":true,"windows":["main"],"permissions":["core:default","core:window:allow-start-dragging","core:window:allow-set-always-on-top","core:window:allow-minimize","core:window:allow-toggle-maximize","core:window:allow-is-maximized","core:window:allow-close","core:window:allow-hide","core:window:allow-show","core:window:allow-set-focus","opener:default","dialog:default","global-shortcut:allow-register","global-shortcut:allow-unregister","autostart:allow-enable","autostart:allow-disable","autostart:allow-is-enabled","notification:allow-is-permission-granted","notification:allow-request-permission","notification:allow-notify"]},"secondary-windows":{"identifier":"secondary-windows","description":"Narrow capability for passive secondary windows.","local":true,"windows":["tasks-float","transcript-viewer","transcription-preview"],"permissions":["core:event:default","core:window:allow-start-dragging","core:window:allow-start-resize-dragging","core:window:allow-close","core:window:allow-hide","core:window:allow-show","core:window:allow-set-focus"]}}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands/windows.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands/windows.rs
index b7d141f..ad1a0b7 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands/windows.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands/windows.rs
@@ -58,14 +58,33 @@ pub async fn open_task_window(app: tauri::AppHandle) -> Result<(), String> {
     // custom frameless chrome drawn by the Titlebar component.
     let use_native_decorations = cfg!(target_os = "linux");
 
+    // Built hidden so the GTK utility type hint can be applied pre-map on
+    // Linux — see the preview window for the same pattern. KWin/Mutter on
+    // Wayland reliably keep utility-class windows above normal windows
+    // (and respect runtime keep-above toggles for them); for normal
+    // windows the same hint requests are flaky post-map.
+    //
+    // Decorations are off for this window: the float route renders its own
+    // titlebar with the pin / close controls, and stacking native KDE
+    // decorations on top of that produced two titlebars and two close X's
+    // (the native one didn't even close the window because the in-page
+    // chrome captured the click first). Custom drag is wired via
+    // handleDragStart (startDragging) and ResizeHandles in the route.
+    let _ = use_native_decorations; // keep the OS detection for future use
     let mut builder =
         WebviewWindowBuilder::new(&app, "tasks-float", WebviewUrl::App("/float".into()))
             .title("Kon Tasks")
             .inner_size(480.0, 520.0)
             .min_inner_size(360.0, 480.0)
             .always_on_top(true)
-            .decorations(use_native_decorations)
-            .resizable(true);
+            // Pin across virtual desktops so users who flip workspaces
+            // mid-task don't lose the floating tasks list. Combined with
+            // always_on_top + utility hint, this matches what users
+            // expect from a "pin" button on KDE Plasma and GNOME.
+            .visible_on_all_workspaces(true)
+            .decorations(false)
+            .resizable(true)
+            .visible(false);
 
     // Inject preferences before Svelte mounts
     if let Some(script) = app.try_state::<PreferencesScript>() {
@@ -74,8 +93,23 @@ pub async fn open_task_window(app: tauri::AppHandle) -> Result<(), String> {
         }
     }
 
-    builder.build().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    let window = builder.build().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
 
+    // Apply the GTK Utility type hint before the window maps. On X11 and
+    // XWayland the hint is honoured immediately; on native Wayland-only
+    // compositors GTK uses the closest semantic equivalent. Must happen
+    // before show() per GTK3 docs.
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    {
+        use gdk::WindowTypeHint;
+        use gtk::prelude::GtkWindowExt;
+        if let Ok(gtk_window) = window.gtk_window() {
+            gtk_window.set_type_hint(WindowTypeHint::Utility);
+        }
+    }
+
+    window.show().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    window.set_focus().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/components/EnergyChip.svelte b/src/lib/components/EnergyChip.svelte
index 2bda1ad..8666823 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/EnergyChip.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/EnergyChip.svelte
@@ -1,18 +1,21 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   // Phase 3 — Energy tag chip. Cycles a task's energy level through
-  // the spec's four states: unset → High → Medium → Brain-Dead → unset.
+  // the spec's four states: unset → High → Medium → Zero → unset.
   //
-  // Visual discipline: when energy is unset, the chip renders at
-  // `group-hover` opacity only so untagged rows stay calm. Once set,
-  // the chip is always visible because the colour IS the signal for
-  // the match-my-energy sort.
+  // Visual discipline: when energy is unset, the chip renders at a
+  // muted but still legible opacity so users can discover the affordance
+  // without first hovering the row. The previous "0% until hover"
+  // behaviour hid the control entirely, which read as broken on first
+  // contact. Once set, the chip is always fully visible because the
+  // colour IS the signal for the match-my-energy sort.
   //
   // Colour choices borrow the existing design tokens:
-  //   High       → accent (warm, on-brand, attention-ready)
-  //   Medium     → warning (amber, unforced)
-  //   Brain-Dead → text-tertiary (low-energy grey, not danger red —
-  //                the brief is explicit that this state must not feel
-  //                pathologised)
+  //   High   → accent (warm, on-brand, attention-ready)
+  //   Medium → warning (amber, unforced)
+  //   Zero   → text-tertiary (low-energy grey, not danger red — the
+  //            brief is explicit that this state must not feel
+  //            pathologised; the internal enum value remains
+  //            `brain_dead` to avoid a DB migration churn)
   //
   // Callers pass the task's current energy and a setter. This component
   // owns no state — the task store is the source of truth.
@@ -34,7 +37,7 @@
 
   // Cycle order lives here so the chip is the single authority on what
   // "next" means. Tap once to tag, tap again to move up, tap past
-  // Brain-Dead to clear. Keyboard-equivalent via the <button> element.
+  // Zero to clear. Keyboard-equivalent via the <button> element.
   const CYCLE: (EnergyLevel | null)[] = [null, "high", "medium", "brain_dead"];
 
   function next(): EnergyLevel | null {
@@ -46,7 +49,7 @@
     switch (level) {
       case "high": return "High";
       case "medium": return "Medium";
-      case "brain_dead": return "Brain-Dead";
+      case "brain_dead": return "Zero";
       default: return "No energy set";
     }
   }
@@ -67,7 +70,7 @@
   type="button"
   class="energy-chip inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border px-1 {chipSize} text-[10px] font-medium
     {energy === null
-      ? 'opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 text-text-tertiary border-border-subtle hover:border-accent hover:text-text-secondary'
+      ? 'opacity-60 group-hover:opacity-100 text-text-tertiary border-border-subtle hover:border-accent hover:text-text-secondary'
       : ''}
     {energy === 'high'
       ? 'text-accent border-accent bg-accent/10'
diff --git a/src/lib/components/ModelDownloader.svelte b/src/lib/components/ModelDownloader.svelte
index 3c3e221..7087346 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/ModelDownloader.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/ModelDownloader.svelte
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@
   import { errorMessage } from "$lib/utils/errors.js";
   import Card from "$lib/components/Card.svelte";
 
+  type WhisperVariant = "tiny" | "base" | "small" | "distil-s" | "medium" | "distil-l";
+
   let { modelSize = "base", onComplete = () => {} } = $props<{
-    modelSize?: "tiny" | "base" | "small" | "medium";
+    modelSize?: WhisperVariant;
     onComplete?: () => void;
   }>();
 
@@ -18,14 +20,17 @@
   let unlisten: null | (() => void) = null;
 
   const modelInfo = {
-    tiny: { size: "~75 MB", accuracy: "Basic" },
-    base: { size: "~142 MB", accuracy: "Good" },
-    small: { size: "~466 MB", accuracy: "Better" },
-    medium: { size: "~1.5 GB", accuracy: "Best" },
-  } satisfies Record<string, { size: string; accuracy: string }>;
+    tiny:       { display: "Tiny",     size: "~75 MB",   accuracy: "Basic accuracy" },
+    base:       { display: "Base",     size: "~142 MB",  accuracy: "Good accuracy" },
+    small:      { display: "Small",    size: "~466 MB",  accuracy: "Better accuracy" },
+    "distil-s": { display: "Distil-S", size: "~336 MB",  accuracy: "Small-class accuracy at ~6× the speed" },
+    medium:     { display: "Medium",   size: "~1.5 GB",  accuracy: "Best accuracy, slower" },
+    "distil-l": { display: "Distil-L", size: "~1.55 GB", accuracy: "Near-best accuracy at ~6× the speed" },
+  } satisfies Record<WhisperVariant, { display: string; size: string; accuracy: string }>;
   let currentModelInfo = $derived(
-    modelInfo[String(modelSize) as keyof typeof modelInfo]
+    modelInfo[String(modelSize) as WhisperVariant]
   );
+  let displayName = $derived(currentModelInfo?.display ?? String(modelSize));
 
   onMount(async () => {
     unlisten = await listen("model-download-progress", (event) => {
@@ -72,11 +77,15 @@
 
       <h3 class="text-[18px] font-semibold text-text mb-2">Download Whisper Model</h3>
       <p class="text-[13px] text-text-secondary mb-1">
-        Kon needs the <span class="font-medium text-text">{modelSize}</span> model to transcribe speech.
-      </p>
-      <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mb-6">
-        {currentModelInfo?.size ?? "?"} · {currentModelInfo?.accuracy ?? "?"} accuracy · 100% offline
+        Kon needs the <span class="font-medium text-text">{displayName}</span> model to transcribe speech.
       </p>
+      {#if currentModelInfo}
+        <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mb-6">
+          {currentModelInfo.size} · {currentModelInfo.accuracy} · 100% offline
+        </p>
+      {:else}
+        <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mb-6">100% offline</p>
+      {/if}
 
       {#if downloading}
         <div class="mb-4">
diff --git a/src/lib/pages/DictationPage.svelte b/src/lib/pages/DictationPage.svelte
index ce9e289..ca8d9c1 100644
--- a/src/lib/pages/DictationPage.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/pages/DictationPage.svelte
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   import { emit } from "@tauri-apps/api/event";
   import { getCurrentWindow } from "@tauri-apps/api/window";
   import { page, settings, templates, profiles, addToHistory, addTask, tasks } from "$lib/stores/page.svelte.js";
-  import { markGenerating, markGenerationDone } from "$lib/stores/llmStatus.svelte.js";
+  import { markError, markGenerating, markGenerationDone, markLoading, refreshLlmStatus } from "$lib/stores/llmStatus.svelte.js";
   import { playStartCue, playStopCue, playCompleteCue } from "$lib/utils/sounds.js";
   import { profilesStore } from "$lib/stores/profiles.svelte.ts";
   import { toasts } from "$lib/stores/toasts.svelte.js";
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@
   import { bionicReading } from '$lib/actions/bionicReading.js';
   import { measurePreWrap } from '$lib/utils/textMeasure.js';
   import { transcriptPretextFont, transcriptPretextLineHeight } from '$lib/utils/accessibilityTypography.js';
-  import { hasTauriRuntime } from '$lib/utils/runtime.js';
+  import { hasTauriRuntime, isAndroid } from '$lib/utils/runtime.js';
+  import { errorMessage } from '$lib/utils/errors.js';
   const prefs = getPreferences();
   const tauriRuntimeAvailable = hasTauriRuntime();
   const browserPreviewMessage = "You're viewing Kon in a normal browser. Local transcription only works in the Tauri desktop app window.";
@@ -240,16 +241,22 @@
     try {
       const status = await invoke("check_llm_model", { modelId: settings.llmModelId });
       if (status?.downloaded && !status.loaded) {
-        await invoke("load_llm_model", {
-          modelId: settings.llmModelId,
-          // Sequential-GPU guard (brief item A.1 #28): frees whisper
-          // before loading the LLM on tight-VRAM setups. "parallel"
-          // keeps both resident (default, safe on multi-GB cards).
-          concurrent: settings.aiGpuConcurrency === "parallel",
-        });
+        markLoading("Loading AI model");
+        try {
+          await invoke("load_llm_model", {
+            modelId: settings.llmModelId,
+            // Sequential-GPU guard (brief item A.1 #28): frees whisper
+            // before loading the LLM on tight-VRAM setups. "parallel"
+            // keeps both resident (default, safe on multi-GB cards).
+            concurrent: settings.aiGpuConcurrency === "parallel",
+          });
+        } finally {
+          await refreshLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId, { force: true });
+        }
       }
     } catch (err) {
       console.warn("ensureLlmModelLoaded failed", err);
+      markError(errorMessage(err));
     }
   }
 
@@ -377,7 +384,11 @@
       // Preview overlay: if the user opted in, reset any leftover state
       // from a prior run and open the window when the main window is not
       // focused (i.e. the user is dictating into some other app).
-      if (settings.transcriptionPreview && tauriRuntimeAvailable) {
+      if (settings.transcriptionPreview && tauriRuntimeAvailable && !isAndroid()) {
+        // open_preview_window is a desktop-only multi-window command; the
+        // Android Tauri stub returns an error. Skip it so we don't surface
+        // a noisy console error every time the user starts recording on
+        // a mobile build.
         emit("preview-listening").catch(() => {});
         try {
           const focused = await getCurrentWindow().isFocused();
diff --git a/src/lib/pages/FirstRunPage.svelte b/src/lib/pages/FirstRunPage.svelte
index 7b1de3f..d2edced 100644
--- a/src/lib/pages/FirstRunPage.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/pages/FirstRunPage.svelte
@@ -52,11 +52,19 @@
     });
 
     try {
+      // If the model is already on disk, skip the download step so the user
+      // can replay onboarding without re-downloading. download_model is a
+      // no-op for present files in current builds, but we belt-and-brace by
+      // checking is_downloaded first.
+      const alreadyDownloaded = (models ?? []).find((m) => m.id === modelId)?.is_downloaded ?? false;
+
       if (modelId.startsWith("whisper-")) {
         // backend's whisper_model_id accepts the full model id via its
         // `other => ModelId::new(other)` fallback, so pass the id through
         // unchanged rather than maintaining a fragile lowercased alias map.
-        await invoke("download_model", { size: modelId });
+        if (!alreadyDownloaded) {
+          await invoke("download_model", { size: modelId });
+        }
         await invoke("load_model", { size: modelId });
 
         const idToLabel = {
@@ -70,7 +78,9 @@
         settings.engine = "whisper";
         settings.modelSize = idToLabel[modelId] ?? "Base";
       } else if (modelId.startsWith("parakeet-")) {
-        await invoke("download_parakeet_model", { name: "ctc-int8" });
+        if (!alreadyDownloaded) {
+          await invoke("download_parakeet_model", { name: "ctc-int8" });
+        }
         await invoke("load_parakeet_model", { name: "ctc-int8" });
         settings.engine = "parakeet";
       }
@@ -95,6 +105,12 @@
     }
   }
 
+  // Auto-detect is the default surface; the system breakdown and the
+  // manual model list live behind a "Choose manually" disclosure so the
+  // first-run screen is not a wall of jargon for users who just want to
+  // hit one button and start dictating.
+  let showManual = $state(false);
+
   // Phase 5: forced-choice rituals + autostart prompts. Research on
   // libertarian-paternalism nudges (Thaler/Sunstein) says defaults
   // drive uptake, but the ADHD target audience is sensitive to
@@ -104,6 +120,11 @@
   let ritualsStep = $state<RitualsStep>("idle");
   let autostartApplying = $state(false);
 
+  function setupAutomatically() {
+    if (!models?.length) return;
+    downloadAndGo(models[0].id);
+  }
+
   async function answerMorning(yes: boolean) {
     settings.ritualsMorning = yes;
     saveSettings();
@@ -124,13 +145,20 @@
         await plugin.enable();
         settings.launchAtLogin = true;
       } else {
-        // Don't call disable() on a fresh install — there's nothing to
-        // disable, and some platforms treat "disable when unset" as an
-        // error. Just record the choice.
+        // On a true first run this is already off, but replaying
+        // onboarding after previously choosing "Yes" must remove the
+        // OS-level login item too.
+        if (await plugin.isEnabled()) {
+          await plugin.disable();
+        }
         settings.launchAtLogin = false;
       }
     } catch (err) {
       toasts.warn("Could not update autostart", String(err));
+      try {
+        const plugin = await import("@tauri-apps/plugin-autostart");
+        settings.launchAtLogin = await plugin.isEnabled();
+      } catch {}
     } finally {
       autostartApplying = false;
       settings.ritualsPromptSeen = true;
@@ -179,9 +207,9 @@
       <Sunrise size={32} strokeWidth={1.5} class="text-accent mx-auto mb-3" />
       <h2 class="text-xl font-medium text-text">Morning triage?</h2>
       <p class="text-sm text-text-secondary mt-3 leading-relaxed">
-        On the first launch of the day, a gentle modal shows yesterday's open items and asks you to pick up to three for today. The rest can wait.
+        Each morning, pick three things to focus on. Everything else can wait.
       </p>
-      <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mt-3">Off by default. You can change your mind any time in Settings.</p>
+      <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mt-3">Off by default. Change anytime in Settings.</p>
       <div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-3 mt-6">
         <button
           class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm border border-border text-text-secondary hover:bg-hover"
@@ -190,12 +218,12 @@
         <button
           class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm bg-accent text-white hover:bg-accent-hover"
           onclick={() => answerMorning(true)}
-        >Yes, turn it on</button>
+        >Turn on</button>
       </div>
       <button
         class="mt-5 text-xs text-text-tertiary hover:text-text-secondary underline"
         onclick={skipRituals}
-      >Skip all these questions</button>
+      >Skip these</button>
     </div>
 
   {:else if ritualsStep === "evening"}
@@ -203,9 +231,9 @@
       <Moon size={32} strokeWidth={1.5} class="text-accent mx-auto mb-3" />
       <h2 class="text-xl font-medium text-text">Evening wind-down?</h2>
       <p class="text-sm text-text-secondary mt-3 leading-relaxed">
-        A reflective page you can open when you want to close the day. Shows what you finished, names the open loops, then gets out of the way. Never scheduled, never nagging.
+        A page to reflect on what you finished and what's still open — only when you choose to open it.
       </p>
-      <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mt-3">Off by default. Always opt-in.</p>
+      <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mt-3">Off by default. Never scheduled.</p>
       <div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-3 mt-6">
         <button
           class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm border border-border text-text-secondary hover:bg-hover"
@@ -214,22 +242,22 @@
         <button
           class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm bg-accent text-white hover:bg-accent-hover"
           onclick={() => answerEvening(true)}
-        >Yes, turn it on</button>
+        >Turn on</button>
       </div>
       <button
         class="mt-5 text-xs text-text-tertiary hover:text-text-secondary underline"
         onclick={skipRituals}
-      >Skip the rest</button>
+      >Skip these</button>
     </div>
 
   {:else if ritualsStep === "autostart"}
     <div class="w-full max-w-md mx-auto text-center">
       <Play size={32} strokeWidth={1.5} class="text-accent mx-auto mb-3" />
-      <h2 class="text-xl font-medium text-text">Launch Corbie at login?</h2>
+      <h2 class="text-xl font-medium text-text">Launch Kon at login?</h2>
       <p class="text-sm text-text-secondary mt-3 leading-relaxed">
-        So Corbie is already there when you need it — especially useful if you said yes to morning triage. Uses your OS's standard autostart. No background tricks, no telemetry.
+        Kon will be ready as soon as you sign in. Uses your OS's standard autostart.
       </p>
-      <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mt-3">You can change this any time in Settings.</p>
+      <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mt-3">Change anytime in Settings.</p>
       <div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-3 mt-6">
         <button
           class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm border border-border text-text-secondary hover:bg-hover"
@@ -240,7 +268,7 @@
           class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm bg-accent text-white hover:bg-accent-hover disabled:opacity-60"
           onclick={() => answerAutostart(true)}
           disabled={autostartApplying}
-        >{autostartApplying ? 'Saving…' : 'Yes, launch at login'}</button>
+        >{autostartApplying ? 'Saving…' : 'Yes'}</button>
       </div>
     </div>
 
@@ -277,56 +305,76 @@
         <div class="mt-4 p-3 rounded-lg bg-danger/10 text-danger text-sm">{error}</div>
       {/if}
 
-      {#if systemInfo}
-        <div class="mt-8 p-4 rounded-lg bg-bg-input border border-border">
-          <h3 class="text-xs font-medium text-text-tertiary uppercase tracking-wider mb-3">Your system</h3>
-          <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2 text-sm">
-            <span class="text-text-secondary">RAM</span>
-            <span class="text-text">{Math.round(systemInfo.ram_mb / 1024)} GB</span>
-            <span class="text-text-secondary">CPU</span>
-            <span class="text-text truncate" title={systemInfo.cpu_brand}>{systemInfo.cpu_brand}</span>
-            <span class="text-text-secondary">Cores</span>
-            <span class="text-text">{systemInfo.cpu_cores}</span>
-            <span class="text-text-secondary">OS</span>
-            <span class="text-text">{systemInfo.os}</span>
-          </div>
-        </div>
-      {/if}
-
       {#if models.length > 0}
-        <div class="mt-6">
-          <h3 class="text-xs font-medium text-text-tertiary uppercase tracking-wider mb-3">Pick a model</h3>
-          <p class="text-xs text-text-tertiary mb-3">One tap — we handle the rest.</p>
-          <div class="space-y-2">
-            {#each models as model, i}
-              <button
-                class="w-full text-left p-3 rounded-lg border
-                  {i === 0 ? 'border-accent bg-accent/5 hover:bg-accent/10' : 'border-border bg-bg-input hover:bg-hover'}"
-                style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
-                onclick={() => downloadAndGo(model.id)}
-                disabled={model.is_downloaded}
-              >
-                <div class="flex items-center justify-between">
-                  <div>
-                    <span class="text-sm font-medium text-text">{model.display_name}</span>
-                    {#if i === 0}
-                      <span class="ml-2 text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-accent/15 text-accent font-medium">Recommended</span>
-                    {/if}
-                    {#if model.is_downloaded}
-                      <span class="ml-2 text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-success/15 text-success font-medium">Downloaded</span>
-                    {/if}
-                  </div>
-                  <span class="text-xs text-text-tertiary">{model.disk_size_mb} MB</span>
-                </div>
-                <p class="text-xs text-text-secondary mt-1">{model.description}</p>
-              </button>
-            {/each}
-          </div>
+        <div class="mt-8 flex flex-col items-center">
+          <button
+            class="px-6 py-3 rounded-xl text-base font-medium bg-accent text-white hover:bg-accent-hover
+                   shadow-[0_4px_16px_rgba(232,168,124,0.3)] active:scale-[0.97] transition-all duration-150"
+            onclick={setupAutomatically}
+          >
+            Set up automatically
+          </button>
+          <p class="mt-2 text-xs text-text-tertiary">
+            Picks the best model for your machine — about {models[0]?.disk_size_mb ?? "?"} MB.
+          </p>
         </div>
+
+        <button
+          class="mt-6 mx-auto block text-xs text-text-secondary hover:text-text underline"
+          onclick={() => (showManual = !showManual)}
+        >
+          {showManual ? 'Hide manual setup' : 'Choose manually'}
+        </button>
+
+        {#if showManual}
+          {#if systemInfo}
+            <div class="mt-4 p-4 rounded-lg bg-bg-input border border-border">
+              <h3 class="text-xs font-medium text-text-tertiary uppercase tracking-wider mb-3">Your system</h3>
+              <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2 text-sm">
+                <span class="text-text-secondary">RAM</span>
+                <span class="text-text">{Math.round(systemInfo.ram_mb / 1024)} GB</span>
+                <span class="text-text-secondary">CPU</span>
+                <span class="text-text truncate" title={systemInfo.cpu_brand}>{systemInfo.cpu_brand}</span>
+                <span class="text-text-secondary">Cores</span>
+                <span class="text-text">{systemInfo.cpu_cores}</span>
+                <span class="text-text-secondary">OS</span>
+                <span class="text-text">{systemInfo.os}</span>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          {/if}
+
+          <div class="mt-6">
+            <h3 class="text-xs font-medium text-text-tertiary uppercase tracking-wider mb-3">Pick a model</h3>
+            <div class="space-y-2">
+              {#each models as model, i}
+                <button
+                  class="w-full text-left p-3 rounded-lg border
+                    {i === 0 ? 'border-accent bg-accent/5 hover:bg-accent/10' : 'border-border bg-bg-input hover:bg-hover'}"
+                  style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
+                  onclick={() => downloadAndGo(model.id)}
+                >
+                  <div class="flex items-center justify-between">
+                    <div>
+                      <span class="text-sm font-medium text-text">{model.display_name}</span>
+                      {#if i === 0}
+                        <span class="ml-2 text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-accent/15 text-accent font-medium">Recommended</span>
+                      {/if}
+                      {#if model.is_downloaded}
+                        <span class="ml-2 text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-success/15 text-success font-medium">Downloaded</span>
+                      {/if}
+                    </div>
+                    <span class="text-xs text-text-tertiary">{model.disk_size_mb} MB</span>
+                  </div>
+                  <p class="text-xs text-text-secondary mt-1">{model.description}</p>
+                </button>
+              {/each}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        {/if}
       {/if}
 
       <button
-        class="mt-6 text-xs text-text-tertiary hover:text-text-secondary underline"
+        class="mt-6 mx-auto block text-xs text-text-tertiary hover:text-text-secondary underline"
         style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
         onclick={skipSetup}
       >
diff --git a/src/lib/pages/HistoryPage.svelte b/src/lib/pages/HistoryPage.svelte
index fedadb9..787784b 100644
--- a/src/lib/pages/HistoryPage.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/pages/HistoryPage.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   // @ts-nocheck
   import { onDestroy } from "svelte";
   import { invoke } from "@tauri-apps/api/core";
+  import { isAndroid } from "$lib/utils/runtime.js";
   import {
     history,
     saveTranscriptMeta,
@@ -916,15 +917,19 @@
                         style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
                         onclick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); copyItem(item); }}
                       >Copy</button>
-                      <button
-                        class="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-[11px] px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg bg-hover text-text-secondary hover:text-text"
-                        style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
-                        onclick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); openEditor(item); }}
-                        title="Open transcript in a popout editor"
-                      >
-                        Edit
-                        <ExternalLink size={11} aria-hidden="true" />
-                      </button>
+                      {#if !isAndroid()}
+                        <!-- open_viewer_window is desktop-only; the
+                             Android Tauri stub returns an error. -->
+                        <button
+                          class="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-[11px] px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg bg-hover text-text-secondary hover:text-text"
+                          style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
+                          onclick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); openEditor(item); }}
+                          title="Open transcript in a popout editor"
+                        >
+                          Edit
+                          <ExternalLink size={11} aria-hidden="true" />
+                        </button>
+                      {/if}
                       <button
                         class="text-[11px] px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg bg-hover text-text-secondary hover:text-text"
                         style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
@@ -953,7 +958,7 @@
                         <Sparkles size={11} aria-hidden="true" />
                         {titling.has(item.id) ? "Titling…" : "Title"}
                       </button>
-                      {#if item.audioPath && item.segments && item.segments.length > 0}
+                      {#if item.audioPath && item.segments && item.segments.length > 0 && !isAndroid()}
                         <button
                           class="text-[11px] px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg bg-hover text-accent hover:text-accent-hover"
                           style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
diff --git a/src/lib/pages/SettingsPage.svelte b/src/lib/pages/SettingsPage.svelte
index 60ec9fc..90de505 100644
--- a/src/lib/pages/SettingsPage.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/pages/SettingsPage.svelte
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
   import { getPreferences, updatePreferences } from "$lib/stores/preferences.svelte.js";
   import { profilesStore, DEFAULT_PROFILE_ID } from "$lib/stores/profiles.svelte.ts";
   import { toasts } from "$lib/stores/toasts.svelte.js";
+  import { errorMessage } from "$lib/utils/errors.js";
   import { clampTextLines } from "$lib/utils/textMeasure.js";
   import { bodyPretextLineHeight, pretextFontShorthand } from "$lib/utils/accessibilityTypography.js";
   import { Check, ChevronRight } from "lucide-svelte";
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@
   // Aliased because SettingsPage has its own local refreshLlmStatus
   // that just mutates the page-local llmLoaded bool. The store
   // version drives the sidebar chip (brief item #31).
-  import { refreshLlmStatus as refreshGlobalLlmStatus } from "$lib/stores/llmStatus.svelte.js";
+  import { refreshLlmStatus as refreshGlobalLlmStatus, markError as markGlobalLlmError, markLoading as markGlobalLlmLoading } from "$lib/stores/llmStatus.svelte.js";
 
   const prefs = getPreferences();
 
@@ -520,7 +521,7 @@
       await invoke("download_llm_model", { modelId });
       llmDownloadingModel = "";
       await refreshLlmStatus();
-      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier);
+      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId);
       llmStatus = "Download complete";
     } catch (err) {
       llmDownloadingModel = "";
@@ -531,6 +532,7 @@
   async function loadSelectedLlmModel() {
     const modelId = selectedLlmModelId();
     llmStatus = "Loading...";
+    markGlobalLlmLoading("Loading AI model");
     try {
       await invoke("load_llm_model", {
         modelId,
@@ -538,9 +540,12 @@
         concurrent: settings.aiGpuConcurrency === "parallel",
       });
       await refreshLlmStatus();
-      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier);
+      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId, { force: true });
     } catch (err) {
-      llmStatus = typeof err === "string" ? err : "LLM load failed";
+      const message = errorMessage(err);
+      llmStatus = message || "LLM load failed";
+      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId, { force: true });
+      markGlobalLlmError(message);
     }
   }
 
@@ -548,7 +553,7 @@
     try {
       await invoke("unload_llm_model");
       await refreshLlmStatus();
-      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier);
+      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId);
       llmStatus = "Model unloaded";
     } catch (err) {
       llmStatus = typeof err === "string" ? err : "LLM unload failed";
@@ -560,7 +565,7 @@
     try {
       await invoke("delete_llm_model", { modelId });
       await refreshLlmStatus();
-      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier);
+      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId);
       llmStatus = "Downloaded model removed";
     } catch (err) {
       llmStatus = typeof err === "string" ? err : "Delete failed";
@@ -589,7 +594,7 @@
       // already loaded) — refresh both Settings-local and global
       // status so the sidebar chip and download/load buttons react.
       await refreshLlmStatus();
-      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier);
+      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId);
     } catch (err) {
       llmStatus = typeof err === "string" ? err : "Test failed";
       llmTestHint = "";
@@ -618,7 +623,7 @@
       await unloadLlmModel();
     } else {
       await refreshLlmStatus();
-      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier);
+      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId);
     }
     llmStatus = llmModelDownloaded(modelId)
       ? "Selected model changed. Load it to enable AI features."
@@ -630,7 +635,7 @@
     if (openSection === 'ai') {
       await ensureRecommendedLlmTier();
       await refreshLlmStatus();
-      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier);
+      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId);
     }
   }
 
@@ -719,7 +724,7 @@
       systemInfo = await invoke("probe_system").catch(() => null);
       await ensureRecommendedLlmTier();
       await refreshLlmStatus();
-      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier);
+      await refreshGlobalLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId);
       const loaded = await invoke("check_engine");
       engineOk = loaded;
       engineStatus = loaded ? "Model loaded" : "No model loaded";
@@ -2322,6 +2327,26 @@
                 </details>
               {/if}
             </div>
+
+            <!-- Replay onboarding — useful for testing first-run flow without
+                 wiping data. Resets the rituals-prompt-seen flag and routes
+                 the main shell back to the FirstRunPage. Already-downloaded
+                 models stay clickable there, so no re-download is needed. -->
+            <div class="mt-6 pt-5 border-t border-border-subtle">
+              <p class="text-[10px] font-medium text-text-tertiary uppercase tracking-wider mb-2">Onboarding</p>
+              <p class="text-[11px] text-text-tertiary mb-3">
+                Replay the first-run welcome and the morning / evening / autostart prompts. Your downloaded models, transcripts, and tasks are kept.
+              </p>
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                onclick={() => {
+                  settings.ritualsPromptSeen = false;
+                  saveSettings();
+                  page.current = "first-run";
+                }}
+                class="px-3 py-2 text-[12px] text-text border border-border rounded-lg hover:border-accent hover:text-accent"
+              >Replay onboarding</button>
+            </div>
           </div>
         {/if}
       </div>
diff --git a/src/lib/pages/TasksPage.svelte b/src/lib/pages/TasksPage.svelte
index e6e7eda..71e11ec 100644
--- a/src/lib/pages/TasksPage.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/pages/TasksPage.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   import { tick } from "svelte";
   import type { EnergyLevel, TaskBucket, TaskEntry, TaskList } from "$lib/types/app";
   import { invoke } from "@tauri-apps/api/core";
+  import { isAndroid } from "$lib/utils/runtime.js";
   import {
     tasks, addTask, completeTask, uncompleteTask, deleteTask, updateTask,
     setTaskEnergy,
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@
     switch (level) {
       case "high": return "High";
       case "medium": return "Medium";
-      case "brain_dead": return "Brain-Dead";
+      case "brain_dead": return "Zero";
       default: return "Not set";
     }
   }
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@
     { value: null, label: "—" },
     { value: "high", label: "High" },
     { value: "medium", label: "Med" },
-    { value: "brain_dead", label: "Low" },
+    { value: "brain_dead", label: "Zero" },
   ];
   let energyRadioGroupEl = $state<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
 
@@ -359,15 +360,20 @@
       </button>
     </div>
 
-    <button
-      class="flex items-center gap-1.5 btn-md rounded-lg text-text-secondary hover:bg-hover hover:text-text"
-      style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
-      onclick={popOutTasks}
-      aria-label="Pop out task window"
-    >
-      <ExternalLink size={14} aria-hidden="true" />
-      Pop out
-    </button>
+    {#if !isAndroid()}
+      <!-- Multi-window pop-out is desktop-only — the Tauri Android stub
+           for open_task_window returns an error, so the button would just
+           surface a toast on a mobile build. Hide it instead. -->
+      <button
+        class="flex items-center gap-1.5 btn-md rounded-lg text-text-secondary hover:bg-hover hover:text-text"
+        style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)"
+        onclick={popOutTasks}
+        aria-label="Pop out task window"
+      >
+        <ExternalLink size={14} aria-hidden="true" />
+        Pop out
+      </button>
+    {/if}
   </div>
 
   <!-- Search -->
@@ -410,7 +416,12 @@
 
   <!-- Bucket tabs + sort -->
   <div class="flex items-center gap-1 px-7 pb-3">
-    <nav aria-label="Task filters">
+    <!-- Bucket tabs render as a horizontal pill row. The nav element is
+         block-level by default, which previously made its button children
+         stack vertically — the outer flex container only governs siblings,
+         not children of the nav. Adding flex/gap here puts the tabs
+         side-by-side as intended. -->
+    <nav aria-label="Task filters" class="flex items-center gap-1 flex-wrap">
     {#each buckets as bucket}
       <button
         class="flex items-center gap-1.5 btn-md rounded-lg
@@ -457,10 +468,15 @@
   </div>
 
   <!-- Main content: sidebar + tasks -->
-  <div class="flex flex-1 min-h-0 px-7 pb-4 gap-3">
-    <!-- List sidebar -->
+  <div class="flex flex-1 min-h-0 px-7 pb-4 gap-3 items-start">
+    <!-- List sidebar — `self-start` + `max-h-full` so the panel sizes to
+         its content rather than stretching to the full task-area height.
+         A nearly-empty list with three items used to draw a column that
+         ran the full height of the window even though it had nothing in
+         it; this keeps the surface honest. The inner items list keeps
+         its scroll affordance for users with many lists. -->
     <div
-      class="flex flex-col bg-bg-elevated rounded-2xl border border-border-subtle overflow-hidden
+      class="flex flex-col bg-bg-elevated rounded-2xl border border-border-subtle overflow-hidden self-start max-h-full
         {sidebarCollapsed ? 'w-[40px] min-w-[40px]' : 'w-[160px] min-w-[160px]'}"
       style="transition: width var(--duration-ui)"
     >
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/llmStatus.svelte.ts b/src/lib/stores/llmStatus.svelte.ts
index f8aaa5d..bad6a0a 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/llmStatus.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/llmStatus.svelte.ts
@@ -17,37 +17,73 @@ export interface LlmStatusState {
 
 export const llmStatus = $state<LlmStatusState>({ kind: "off", detail: null });
 
-/// Poll `get_llm_status` once. Cheap enough to call on layout mount, on
-/// recording start, and on Settings-panel open. Keeps the chip in sync
-/// with loads / unloads that happen outside the frontend's observation
-/// path (first-run, background reload). The `aiTier` input short-circuits
-/// to "off" so we don't show a chip when the user has opted out.
-export async function refreshLlmStatus(aiTier: string): Promise<void> {
-  if (aiTier === "off") {
-    llmStatus.kind = "off";
-    llmStatus.detail = null;
-    return;
-  }
-  if (!hasTauriRuntime()) {
-    // Running in a pure-browser preview (vite dev without tauri) — leave
-    // the chip off rather than asserting a loaded state we can't verify.
+interface RefreshLlmStatusOptions {
+  force?: boolean;
+}
+
+/// Poll the configured model's status once. Cheap enough to call on layout
+/// mount, on recording start, and on Settings-panel open. Keeps the chip in
+/// sync with loads / unloads that happen outside the frontend's observation
+/// path (first-run, background reload).
+///
+/// Visibility rule: the chip appears only when there is something
+/// meaningful for the user to know — the model is ready, generating, or
+/// errored, or an explicit load is in flight (markLoading). It is hidden
+/// when AI is off, no model is configured, or the configured model isn't
+/// downloaded yet — those states surface in Settings, not as a stuck
+/// "warming" pill that misleads the user into thinking the engine is busy.
+export async function refreshLlmStatus(
+  aiTier: string,
+  llmModelId: string | null,
+  options: RefreshLlmStatusOptions = {},
+): Promise<void> {
+  const force = options.force === true;
+
+  // Generation is a foreground action with its own success/failure
+  // transition. Ambient health checks should never hide it.
+  if (llmStatus.kind === "generating") return;
+
+  // Warming means a caller explicitly started a load. Ambient refreshes
+  // should not clobber that in-flight signal; post-load callers pass
+  // force=true to reconcile the final state.
+  if (llmStatus.kind === "warming" && !force) return;
+
+  if (aiTier === "off" || !hasTauriRuntime() || !llmModelId) {
     llmStatus.kind = "off";
     llmStatus.detail = null;
     return;
   }
   try {
-    const loaded = await invoke<boolean>("get_llm_status");
-    // Don't clobber a "generating" state with "ready" — a parallel
-    // cleanup call in flight is a truer signal than the load status.
-    if (llmStatus.kind === "generating") return;
-    llmStatus.kind = loaded ? "ready" : "warming";
-    llmStatus.detail = null;
+    const status = await invoke<{ downloaded: boolean; loaded: boolean }>(
+      "check_llm_model",
+      { modelId: llmModelId },
+    );
+    if (status.loaded) {
+      llmStatus.kind = "ready";
+      llmStatus.detail = null;
+    } else {
+      // Not loaded and no load in flight — keep the chip hidden. A genuine
+      // load (triggered from DictationPage / SettingsPage) will call
+      // markLoading() to flip the chip.
+      llmStatus.kind = "off";
+      llmStatus.detail = null;
+    }
   } catch (err) {
     llmStatus.kind = "error";
     llmStatus.detail = typeof err === "string" ? err : (err as Error)?.message ?? "Unknown error";
   }
 }
 
+export function markLoading(detail: string | null = "Loading model"): void {
+  llmStatus.kind = "warming";
+  llmStatus.detail = detail;
+}
+
+export function markError(detail: string | null = null): void {
+  llmStatus.kind = "error";
+  llmStatus.detail = detail;
+}
+
 export function markGenerating(detail: string | null = null): void {
   llmStatus.kind = "generating";
   llmStatus.detail = detail;
diff --git a/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index cf26d2b..97f9f36 100644
--- a/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@
     // backend is in right now. The chip also reacts to the $effect
     // on settings.aiTier below and to explicit mark-generating
     // calls from DictationPage around cleanup_transcript_text_cmd.
-    refreshLlmStatus(settings.aiTier).catch(() => {});
+    refreshLlmStatus(settings.aiTier, settings.llmModelId).catch(() => {});
 
     if (settings.prewarmModelOnStartup) {
       invoke("prewarm_default_model_cmd").catch(() => {});
diff --git a/src/routes/float/+layout@.svelte b/src/routes/float/+layout@.svelte
index e3f40c9..7064ce7 100644
--- a/src/routes/float/+layout@.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/float/+layout@.svelte
@@ -11,15 +11,13 @@
     applyExternalPreferences,
     PREFERENCES_CHANGED_EVENT,
   } from "$lib/stores/preferences.svelte.js";
-  import Titlebar from "$lib/components/Titlebar.svelte";
   import FocusTimer from "$lib/components/FocusTimer.svelte";
-  import { loadOsInfo, isLinux } from "$lib/utils/osInfo.js";
+  import ResizeHandles from "$lib/components/ResizeHandles.svelte";
 
   let { children } = $props();
   let glowing = $state(false);
   let unlistenFocus = null;
   let unlistenPrefs = null;
-  let useCustomChrome = $state(false);
 
   const prefs = getPreferences();
 
@@ -44,9 +42,10 @@
   }
 
   onMount(async () => {
-    loadOsInfo()
-      .then(() => { useCustomChrome = !isLinux(); })
-      .catch(() => {});
+    // The float route renders its own pin / close header inside +page.svelte,
+    // so the layout no longer needs to swap in a separate Titlebar component
+    // based on platform. Keeping the loadOsInfo call out entirely simplifies
+    // the chrome — one titlebar source of truth, one place for the pin.
     try {
       unlistenFocus = await listen("task-window-focus", () => {
         glowing = true;
@@ -84,14 +83,15 @@
 <svelte:window onkeydown={handleKeydown} />
 
 <div class="h-screen w-screen overflow-hidden grain border border-border shadow-xl animate-float-enter flex flex-col {glowing ? 'animate-glow-pulse' : ''}">
-  {#if useCustomChrome}
-    <Titlebar compact />
-  {/if}
   <div class="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
     {@render children()}
   </div>
 </div>
 
+<!-- Mounted outside the animated/transformed root so fixed-position
+     resize hit zones anchor to the webview viewport. -->
+<ResizeHandles />
+
 <!-- Focus timer also visible in the always-on-top float window so a
      running countdown stays with the Now list. The component is a
      global overlay (position: fixed) so it pins to the top-right of
diff --git a/src/routes/float/+page.svelte b/src/routes/float/+page.svelte
index 2a0c48a..0b8098c 100644
--- a/src/routes/float/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/float/+page.svelte
@@ -70,7 +70,21 @@
 
   async function togglePin() {
     pinned = !pinned;
-    await getCurrentWindow().setAlwaysOnTop(pinned);
+    const w = getCurrentWindow();
+    await w.setAlwaysOnTop(pinned);
+    if (pinned) {
+      // KWin/Mutter on Wayland routinely drop _NET_WM_STATE_ABOVE when it
+      // arrives post-map for a normal window. Combined with the GTK Utility
+      // hint applied at creation (open_task_window), an unmap/map cycle is
+      // the most reliable way to force the compositor to re-apply state
+      // changes. Hidden for one event-loop tick — visually a flicker, but
+      // the pin actually sticks afterwards.
+      try {
+        await w.hide();
+        await w.show();
+        await w.setFocus();
+      } catch {}
+    }
   }
 
   function closeWindow() {
diff --git a/vite.config.js b/vite.config.js
index 5ff644f..bd3ff78 100644
--- a/vite.config.js
+++ b/vite.config.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import { defineConfig } from "vite";
 import { sveltekit } from "@sveltejs/kit/vite";
 import tailwindcss from "@tailwindcss/vite";
 
-// @ts-expect-error process is a nodejs global
 const host = process.env.TAURI_DEV_HOST;
 
 // https://vite.dev/config/