Merge pull request 'Release v26.04.16.1 — Silero VAD voice detection' (#26) from dev into main

Use VadHandler from the vad package (Silero VAD v5 ONNX) for speech
detection instead of amplitude thresholds. VAD runs its own PCM
stream while the file recorder captures AAC-LC for Whisper. Grace
period starts on speech-start, auto-stop on speech-end after grace.
No-speech guard shows error on manual stop without detected speech.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.forgejo/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 # CI runs first; build only proceeds if all checks pass.
 #
-# Push to dev or main:  flutter analyze + flutter test
+# Push to dev:       flutter analyze + flutter test
-# Tag v* (release):     gates + signed APK build + attach to Forgejo Release
+# Tag v* (release):  gates + signed APK build + attach to Forgejo Release
+#
+# main pushes are NOT gated here: a merge to main only happens after
+# dev has already passed CI, and the release tag is the sole trigger
+# for a signed APK build. Re-running analyze+test on the merge commit
+# just burns runner time without changing the outcome.
 #
 # To cut a release:
 #   Create a release via the Forgejo UI on main with a v* tag name.
@@ -20,7 +25,7 @@ name: CI & Build
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: [dev, main]
+    branches: [dev]
     tags: ["v*"]
 
 # Cancel older runs on the same branch when a newer push lands. Tag runs
@@ -63,7 +68,7 @@ jobs:
   build:
     name: Build release APK
     needs: [analyze]
-    # Only tag pushes produce a signed release build. dev/main pushes
+    # Only tag pushes produce a signed release build. dev pushes
     # run the gates above and stop there.
     if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
     runs-on: ci-runner

lib/app.dart

@@ -159,20 +159,20 @@ final routerProvider = Provider<GoRouter>((ref) {
             path: Routes.conversations,
             builder: (_, _) => const ConversationsTabScreen(),
           ),
+          GoRoute(
+            path: Routes.projects,
+            builder: (_, _) => const ProjectsScreen(),
+          ),
+          GoRoute(
+            path: Routes.news,
+            builder: (_, _) => const NewsScreen(),
+          ),
+          GoRoute(
+            path: Routes.calendar,
+            builder: (_, _) => const CalendarScreen(),
+          ),
         ],
       ),
-      GoRoute(
-        path: Routes.projects,
-        builder: (_, _) => const ProjectsScreen(),
-      ),
-      GoRoute(
-        path: Routes.news,
-        builder: (_, _) => const NewsScreen(),
-      ),
-      GoRoute(
-        path: Routes.calendar,
-        builder: (_, _) => const CalendarScreen(),
-      ),
     ],
   );
 });
@@ -190,6 +190,9 @@ class _ShellState extends ConsumerState<_Shell> with WidgetsBindingObserver {
     Routes.briefing,
     Routes.knowledge,
     Routes.conversations,
+    Routes.projects,
+    Routes.news,
+    Routes.calendar,
   ];
 
   // Minimum gap between app-resume refreshes to avoid hammering the server.
@@ -255,6 +258,10 @@ class _ShellState extends ConsumerState<_Shell> with WidgetsBindingObserver {
         ref.read(knowledgeProvider.notifier).refresh();
       case 2:
         ref.read(conversationsProvider.notifier).refresh();
+      case 4:
+        ref.read(newsProvider.notifier).refresh();
+      case 5:
+        ref.read(calendarProvider.notifier).refresh();
     }
   }
 
@@ -271,11 +278,6 @@ class _ShellState extends ConsumerState<_Shell> with WidgetsBindingObserver {
     for (var i = 0; i < _tabs.length; i++) {
       if (location.startsWith(_tabs[i])) return i;
     }
-    if (location.startsWith(Routes.projects) ||
-        location.startsWith(Routes.news) ||
-        location.startsWith(Routes.calendar)) {
-      return 3;
-    }
     return 0;
   }
 
@@ -394,7 +396,7 @@ class _ShellState extends ConsumerState<_Shell> with WidgetsBindingObserver {
     final index = _tabIndex(location);
 
     // Refresh the incoming tab's data when switching between shell tabs.
-    if (_prevTabIndex != null && _prevTabIndex != index && index < 3) {
+    if (_prevTabIndex != null && _prevTabIndex != index) {
       WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) => _refreshTab(index));
     }
     _prevTabIndex = index;
@@ -413,13 +415,7 @@ class _ShellState extends ConsumerState<_Shell> with WidgetsBindingObserver {
                   children: [
                     NavigationRail(
                       selectedIndex: index,
-                      onDestinationSelected: (i) {
+                      onDestinationSelected: (i) => context.go(_tabs[i]),
-                        if (i == 3) {
-                          _showMoreSheet(context);
-                        } else {
-                          context.go(_tabs[i]);
-                        }
-                      },
                       labelType: NavigationRailLabelType.all,
                       destinations: const [
                         NavigationRailDestination(
@@ -438,9 +434,19 @@ class _ShellState extends ConsumerState<_Shell> with WidgetsBindingObserver {
                           label: Text('Chat'),
                         ),
                         NavigationRailDestination(
-                          icon: Icon(Icons.more_horiz_outlined),
+                          icon: Icon(Icons.folder_outlined),
-                          selectedIcon: Icon(Icons.more_horiz),
+                          selectedIcon: Icon(Icons.folder),
-                          label: Text('More'),
+                          label: Text('Projects'),
+                        ),
+                        NavigationRailDestination(
+                          icon: Icon(Icons.newspaper_outlined),
+                          selectedIcon: Icon(Icons.newspaper),
+                          label: Text('News'),
+                        ),
+                        NavigationRailDestination(
+                          icon: Icon(Icons.calendar_month_outlined),
+                          selectedIcon: Icon(Icons.calendar_month),
+                          label: Text('Calendar'),
                         ),
                       ],
                     ),
@@ -469,7 +475,7 @@ class _ShellState extends ConsumerState<_Shell> with WidgetsBindingObserver {
         ],
       ),
       bottomNavigationBar: NavigationBar(
-        selectedIndex: index,
+        selectedIndex: index >= 3 ? 3 : index,
         onDestinationSelected: (i) {
           if (i == 3) {
             _showMoreSheet(context);
@@ -653,6 +659,7 @@ class _QuickCaptureBarState extends ConsumerState<_QuickCaptureBar> {
                 VoiceMicButton(
                   mode: ref.watch(voiceProvider).mode,
                   voiceModeActive: ref.watch(voiceProvider).voiceModeActive,
+                  amplitude: ref.watch(voiceProvider).amplitude,
                   onTap: _toggleCaptureMic,
                 ),
                 IconButton(

lib/data/models/knowledge_item.dart

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class KnowledgeItem {
         id: json['id'] as int,
         noteType: json['note_type'] as String? ?? 'note',
         title: json['title'] as String? ?? '',
-        body: json['body'] as String? ?? '',
+        body: (json['snippet'] ?? json['body']) as String? ?? '',
         tags: (json['tags'] as List<dynamic>?)
                 ?.map((e) => e as String)
                 .toList() ??

lib/providers/briefing_provider.dart

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import 'dart:async';
+
 import 'package:flutter_riverpod/flutter_riverpod.dart';
 
 import '../data/api/chat_api.dart';
@@ -49,6 +51,40 @@ class BriefingNotifier extends AsyncNotifier<BriefingConversation> {
     await future;
   }
 
+  /// Re-fetch the current briefing conversation and unfreeze a stuck
+  /// streaming state if the server-side message is already complete.
+  ///
+  /// Same role as MessagesNotifier.refresh() in chat_provider: when an SSE
+  /// socket dies silently (mobile network handoff, app backgrounded mid-stream,
+  /// reverse proxy dropping idle sockets) the send loop never observes close
+  /// and [isBriefingStreamingProvider] stays stuck true. This is the manual
+  /// recovery path hit by pull-to-refresh, the AppBar refresh button, and the
+  /// lifecycle-resume hook.
+  Future<void> refreshMessages() async {
+    final current = state.value;
+    if (current == null) {
+      ref.invalidateSelf();
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      final fresh = await ref.read(briefingApiProvider).getToday();
+      state = AsyncData(fresh);
+      final messages = fresh.messages;
+      Message? lastAssistant;
+      for (var i = messages.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+        if (messages[i].role == MessageRole.assistant) {
+          lastAssistant = messages[i];
+          break;
+        }
+      }
+      if (lastAssistant != null && lastAssistant.status != 'generating') {
+        ref.read(isBriefingStreamingProvider.notifier).state = false;
+      }
+    } catch (_) {
+      // Network hiccup — keep existing state; user can retry.
+    }
+  }
+
   /// Inject a news article as context and trigger generation.
   ///
   /// Mirrors sendReply() but calls the /discuss endpoint instead of
@@ -77,10 +113,71 @@ class BriefingNotifier extends AsyncNotifier<BriefingConversation> {
       rethrow;
     }
 
-    // SSE stream (best-effort)
+    final streamedContent = await _consumeStream(chatApi.streamGeneration(convId));
-    bool streamedContent = false;
+    await _pollUntilComplete(convId, streamedContent);
+  }
+
+  /// Send a reply to today's briefing conversation.
+  ///
+  /// Mirrors MessagesNotifier.sendMessage() in chat_provider with the same
+  /// stall-watchdog pattern:
+  ///   1. Optimistic UI update
+  ///   2. POST message to chat endpoint
+  ///   3. SSE stream with per-event timeout (stall watchdog)
+  ///   4. Poll until complete
+  Future<void> sendReply(String content) async {
+    final conv = state.value;
+    if (conv == null) return;
+    final convId = conv.id;
+    final chatApi = ref.read(chatApiProvider);
+
+    final previous = conv.messages;
+    final userMsg = Message(
+      conversationId: convId,
+      role: MessageRole.user,
+      content: content,
+    );
+    final placeholder = Message(
+      conversationId: convId,
+      role: MessageRole.assistant,
+      content: '',
+      status: 'generating',
+    );
+    state = AsyncData(conv.copyWith(messages: [...previous, userMsg, placeholder]));
+    ref.read(isBriefingStreamingProvider.notifier).state = true;
+
     try {
-      await for (final event in chatApi.streamGeneration(convId)) {
+      await chatApi.sendMessage(convId, content);
+    } catch (e) {
+      state = AsyncData(conv.copyWith(messages: previous));
+      ref.read(isBriefingStreamingProvider.notifier).state = false;
+      rethrow;
+    }
+
+    final streamedContent = await _consumeStream(chatApi.streamGeneration(convId));
+    await _pollUntilComplete(convId, streamedContent);
+  }
+
+  /// Consume an SSE stream into the current briefing conversation state.
+  ///
+  /// Uses a StreamIterator with a per-event timeout as a stall watchdog —
+  /// same rationale as MessagesNotifier.sendMessage() in chat_provider.dart.
+  /// Mobile networks occasionally drop SSE sockets silently: the TCP
+  /// connection is half-closed, Dio never sees the close, and `await for`
+  /// hangs forever with [isBriefingStreamingProvider] stuck true. If no event
+  /// arrives within the watchdog window we bail out and let the polling pass
+  /// below reconcile state from the server.
+  ///
+  /// Returns whether any text content was actually streamed (the polling
+  /// pass uses this to decide whether it's safe to overwrite with a possibly
+  /// empty server-side row).
+  Future<bool> _consumeStream(Stream<ChatStreamEvent> stream) async {
+    const stallTimeout = Duration(seconds: 45);
+    bool streamedContent = false;
+    final iter = StreamIterator(stream);
+    try {
+      while (await iter.moveNext().timeout(stallTimeout)) {
+        final event = iter.current;
         final current = state.value;
         if (current == null) break;
         final msgs = current.messages;
@@ -100,11 +197,22 @@ class BriefingNotifier extends AsyncNotifier<BriefingConversation> {
               messages: [...msgs.sublist(0, msgs.length - 1), updated]));
         }
       }
+    } on TimeoutException {
+      // Stall watchdog — no SSE event for stallTimeout. Fall through to
+      // polling so the UI eventually unfreezes even if the socket is dead.
     } catch (_) {
-      // Fall through to polling.
+      // SSE failed — fall through to polling.
+    } finally {
+      await iter.cancel();
     }
+    return streamedContent;
+  }
 
-    // Poll until complete (max 20 attempts, 2s apart)
+  /// Poll /api/briefing messages until the last assistant row is complete,
+  /// same reconcile pattern as MessagesNotifier.sendMessage(). Always clears
+  /// [isBriefingStreamingProvider] at the end so the input can't stay locked.
+  Future<void> _pollUntilComplete(int convId, bool streamedContent) async {
+    final briefingApi = ref.read(briefingApiProvider);
     try {
       for (var attempt = 0; attempt < 20; attempt++) {
         if (attempt > 0) await Future.delayed(const Duration(seconds: 2));
@@ -136,101 +244,4 @@ class BriefingNotifier extends AsyncNotifier<BriefingConversation> {
       ref.read(isBriefingStreamingProvider.notifier).state = false;
     }
   }
-
-  /// Send a reply to today's briefing conversation.
-  ///
-  /// Mirrors MessagesNotifier.sendMessage():
-  ///   1. Optimistic UI update
-  ///   2. POST message to chat endpoint
-  ///   3. SSE stream (best-effort)
-  ///   4. Poll until complete
-  Future<void> sendReply(String content) async {
-    final conv = state.value;
-    if (conv == null) return;
-    final convId = conv.id;
-    final chatApi = ref.read(chatApiProvider);
-
-    final previous = conv.messages;
-    final userMsg = Message(
-      conversationId: convId,
-      role: MessageRole.user,
-      content: content,
-    );
-    final placeholder = Message(
-      conversationId: convId,
-      role: MessageRole.assistant,
-      content: '',
-      status: 'generating',
-    );
-    state = AsyncData(conv.copyWith(messages: [...previous, userMsg, placeholder]));
-    ref.read(isBriefingStreamingProvider.notifier).state = true;
-
-    try {
-      await chatApi.sendMessage(convId, content);
-    } catch (e) {
-      state = AsyncData(conv.copyWith(messages: previous));
-      ref.read(isBriefingStreamingProvider.notifier).state = false;
-      rethrow;
-    }
-
-    // SSE stream (best-effort)
-    bool streamedContent = false;
-    try {
-      await for (final event in chatApi.streamGeneration(convId)) {
-        final current = state.value;
-        if (current == null) break;
-        final msgs = current.messages;
-        if (msgs.isEmpty) continue;
-        if (event is ChatTextChunk) {
-          streamedContent = true;
-          final updated =
-              msgs.last.copyWith(content: msgs.last.content + event.text);
-          state = AsyncData(current.copyWith(
-              messages: [...msgs.sublist(0, msgs.length - 1), updated]));
-        } else if (event is ChatToolCall) {
-          final last = msgs.last;
-          if (last.role != MessageRole.assistant) continue;
-          final nextCalls = [...?last.toolCalls, event.toolCall];
-          final updated = last.copyWith(toolCalls: nextCalls);
-          state = AsyncData(current.copyWith(
-              messages: [...msgs.sublist(0, msgs.length - 1), updated]));
-        }
-      }
-    } catch (_) {
-      // Fall through to polling.
-    }
-
-    // Poll until complete (max 20 attempts, 2s apart)
-    try {
-      for (var attempt = 0; attempt < 20; attempt++) {
-        if (attempt > 0) await Future.delayed(const Duration(seconds: 2));
-        final fresh = await ref.read(briefingApiProvider).getMessages(convId);
-        final done = fresh.any(
-          (m) => m.role == MessageRole.assistant && m.status != 'generating',
-        );
-        final hasContent = fresh.any(
-          (m) => m.role == MessageRole.assistant && m.content.isNotEmpty,
-        );
-        final current = state.value;
-        if (current != null && (!streamedContent || done || hasContent)) {
-          state = AsyncData(current.copyWith(messages: fresh));
-        }
-        if (done) break;
-      }
-    } catch (_) {
-      // Clear the generating placeholder so UI doesn't spin forever.
-      final current = state.value;
-      if (current != null) {
-        final msgs = current.messages;
-        if (msgs.isNotEmpty && msgs.last.status == 'generating') {
-          state = AsyncData(current.copyWith(messages: [
-            ...msgs.sublist(0, msgs.length - 1),
-            msgs.last.copyWith(status: 'complete'),
-          ]));
-        }
-      }
-    } finally {
-      ref.read(isBriefingStreamingProvider.notifier).state = false;
-    }
-  }
 }

lib/providers/chat_provider.dart

@@ -118,6 +118,120 @@ class MessagesNotifier extends AsyncNotifier<List<Message>> {
     }
   }
 
+  /// Attach to an already-running generation for this conversation.
+  ///
+  /// Used when the chat screen lands on a conversation that was started by
+  /// something other than a direct user message — e.g. the /news discuss
+  /// button, which creates a conversation on the backend and auto-kicks a
+  /// generation before navigating. Without this the stream runs to
+  /// completion invisibly and the screen only shows the final persisted
+  /// message after a manual refresh.
+  ///
+  /// Safe to call unconditionally on screen init: no-ops when there is no
+  /// generating assistant message. Mirrors the web chat store's
+  /// reconnectIfGenerating() helper.
+  Future<void> attachToGeneration() async {
+    final convId = _convId;
+    final repo = ref.read(chatRepositoryProvider);
+
+    // Make sure we're looking at fresh server state before deciding whether
+    // to attach. The provider's build() fetches once; if the conversation
+    // was seeded via a POST that happened between build() and this call the
+    // generating placeholder won't be in our in-memory list yet.
+    try {
+      final (_, fresh) = await repo.getMessages(convId);
+      state = AsyncData(fresh);
+    } catch (_) {
+      // If we can't load messages we can't attach either — bail cleanly.
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (ref.read(isStreamingProvider(convId))) return;
+    final msgs = state.value ?? const <Message>[];
+    final hasGeneratingAssistant = msgs.any(
+      (m) => m.role == MessageRole.assistant && m.status == 'generating',
+    );
+    if (!hasGeneratingAssistant) return;
+
+    ref.read(isStreamingProvider(convId).notifier).state = true;
+
+    const stallTimeout = Duration(seconds: 45);
+    bool streamedContent = false;
+    final iter = StreamIterator(repo.streamGeneration(convId));
+    try {
+      while (await iter.moveNext().timeout(stallTimeout)) {
+        final event = iter.current;
+        if (event is ChatTextChunk) {
+          streamedContent = true;
+          ref.read(streamingStatusProvider(convId).notifier).state = '';
+          final cur = state.requireValue;
+          if (cur.isEmpty) continue;
+          // Route text chunks into the generating assistant message. The
+          // last message is usually the placeholder, but tool-call fan-in
+          // means we can't rely on that universally.
+          final idx = _findGeneratingAssistantIndex(cur);
+          if (idx < 0) continue;
+          final updated = cur[idx].copyWith(content: cur[idx].content + event.text);
+          state = AsyncData([
+            ...cur.sublist(0, idx),
+            updated,
+            ...cur.sublist(idx + 1),
+          ]);
+        } else if (event is ChatStatusUpdate) {
+          ref.read(streamingStatusProvider(convId).notifier).state = event.status;
+        } else if (event is ChatToolCall) {
+          final cur = state.requireValue;
+          if (cur.isEmpty) continue;
+          final idx = _findGeneratingAssistantIndex(cur);
+          if (idx < 0) continue;
+          final nextCalls = [...?cur[idx].toolCalls, event.toolCall];
+          final updated = cur[idx].copyWith(toolCalls: nextCalls);
+          state = AsyncData([
+            ...cur.sublist(0, idx),
+            updated,
+            ...cur.sublist(idx + 1),
+          ]);
+        }
+      }
+    } on TimeoutException {
+      // Stall — fall through to polling.
+    } catch (_) {
+      // Stream failed — fall through to polling.
+    } finally {
+      await iter.cancel();
+    }
+
+    try {
+      for (var attempt = 0; attempt < 20; attempt++) {
+        if (attempt > 0) await Future.delayed(const Duration(seconds: 2));
+        final (_, fresh) = await repo.getMessages(convId);
+        final done = fresh.any(
+          (m) => m.role == MessageRole.assistant && m.status != 'generating',
+        );
+        final polledHasContent = fresh.any(
+          (m) => m.role == MessageRole.assistant && m.content.isNotEmpty,
+        );
+        if (!streamedContent || done || polledHasContent) {
+          state = AsyncData(fresh);
+        }
+        if (done) break;
+      }
+    } catch (_) {
+      // Give up silently — user can pull-to-refresh.
+    } finally {
+      ref.read(isStreamingProvider(convId).notifier).state = false;
+      ref.read(streamingStatusProvider(convId).notifier).state = '';
+    }
+  }
+
+  int _findGeneratingAssistantIndex(List<Message> msgs) {
+    for (var i = msgs.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+      final m = msgs[i];
+      if (m.role == MessageRole.assistant && m.status == 'generating') return i;
+    }
+    return -1;
+  }
+
   Future<void> sendMessage(String content) async {
     final convId = _convId;
     final repo = ref.read(chatRepositoryProvider);

lib/providers/voice_provider.dart

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import 'package:just_audio/just_audio.dart';
 import 'package:path_provider/path_provider.dart';
 import 'package:permission_handler/permission_handler.dart';
 import 'package:record/record.dart';
+import 'package:vad/vad.dart';
 
 import 'api_client_provider.dart';
 
@@ -59,22 +60,29 @@ class VoiceState {
   final VoiceMode mode;
   final bool voiceModeActive;
   final bool available;
+  /// Normalized mic amplitude 0.0–1.0 while recording. Drives the live
+  /// pulse on VoiceMicButton so the user has obvious feedback that audio
+  /// is actually being picked up.
+  final double amplitude;
 
   const VoiceState({
     this.mode = VoiceMode.idle,
     this.voiceModeActive = false,
     this.available = true,
+    this.amplitude = 0.0,
   });
 
   VoiceState copyWith({
     VoiceMode? mode,
     bool? voiceModeActive,
     bool? available,
+    double? amplitude,
   }) =>
       VoiceState(
         mode: mode ?? this.mode,
         voiceModeActive: voiceModeActive ?? this.voiceModeActive,
         available: available ?? this.available,
+        amplitude: amplitude ?? this.amplitude,
       );
 }
 
@@ -91,12 +99,13 @@ class VoiceNotifier extends Notifier<VoiceState> {
   AudioPlayer? _player;
   StreamSubscription<Amplitude>? _amplitudeSubscription;
 
-  // Recording / silence detection
+  // VAD-based speech detection
-  int _recordingStartMs = 0;
+  VadHandler? _vadHandler;
-  int _silenceMs = 0;
+  StreamSubscription<void>? _vadSpeechStartSub;
-  static const _silenceThresholdDb = -40.0;
+  StreamSubscription<List<double>>? _vadSpeechEndSub;
-  static const _silenceDurationMs = 1500;
+  bool _speechDetected = false;
-  static const _minRecordingMs = 300;
+  int _speechStartMs = 0;
+  static const _vadGraceMs = 1500;
 
   // Voice mode callbacks
   Future<void> Function(String transcript)? _onTranscript;
@@ -144,6 +153,9 @@ class VoiceNotifier extends Notifier<VoiceState> {
     required void Function(String message) onError,
   }) async {
     if (state.voiceModeActive) {
+      if (state.mode == VoiceMode.recording && !_speechDetected) {
+        onError('No speech detected');
+      }
       exitVoiceMode();
       return;
     }
@@ -191,12 +203,14 @@ class VoiceNotifier extends Notifier<VoiceState> {
     _amplitudeSubscription?.cancel();
     _amplitudeSubscription = null;
     _recorder?.stop();
+    _stopVad();
     _player?.stop();
     _ttsQueue.clear();
     _ttsPlaying = false;
     _sentenceBuffer = '';
     _lastSeenLength = 0;
     _streamComplete = false;
+    _speechDetected = false;
     _onTranscript = null;
     _onError = null;
     state = const VoiceState();
@@ -228,8 +242,8 @@ class VoiceNotifier extends Notifier<VoiceState> {
   Future<void> _startListening() async {
     if (!state.voiceModeActive) return;
 
-    _silenceMs = 0;
+    _speechDetected = false;
-    _recordingStartMs = DateTime.now().millisecondsSinceEpoch;
+    _speechStartMs = 0;
     state = state.copyWith(mode: VoiceMode.recording);
 
     final dir = _tempDir ?? await getTemporaryDirectory();
@@ -237,9 +251,6 @@ class VoiceNotifier extends Notifier<VoiceState> {
         '${dir.path}/voice_rec_${DateTime.now().millisecondsSinceEpoch}.m4a';
 
     try {
-      // Recreate the recorder each session — the record package can leave
-      // the native AudioRecord in a bad state after stop/error cycles,
-      // and a stale instance is the most common cause of "could not start".
       _recorder?.dispose();
       _recorder = AudioRecorder();
 
@@ -258,33 +269,52 @@ class VoiceNotifier extends Notifier<VoiceState> {
       _amplitudeSubscription = _recorder!
           .onAmplitudeChanged(const Duration(milliseconds: 200))
           .listen(_onAmplitude);
+
+      // VAD for speech detection — uses its own AudioRecorder internally
+      await _stopVad();
+      _vadHandler = VadHandler.create();
+      _vadSpeechStartSub = _vadHandler!.onSpeechStart.listen((_) {
+        if (!_speechDetected) {
+          _speechDetected = true;
+          _speechStartMs = DateTime.now().millisecondsSinceEpoch;
+        }
+      });
+      _vadSpeechEndSub = _vadHandler!.onSpeechEnd.listen((_) {
+        if (!state.voiceModeActive) return;
+        final now = DateTime.now().millisecondsSinceEpoch;
+        final sinceStart = _speechStartMs > 0 ? now - _speechStartMs : 0;
+        if (_speechDetected && sinceStart >= _vadGraceMs) {
+          _amplitudeSubscription?.cancel();
+          _amplitudeSubscription = null;
+          _stopVad();
+          _handleSilence();
+        }
+      });
+      await _vadHandler!.startListening(model: 'v5');
     } catch (e) {
       _onError?.call('Microphone error: $e');
       exitVoiceMode();
     }
   }
 
+  Future<void> _stopVad() async {
+    await _vadSpeechStartSub?.cancel();
+    _vadSpeechStartSub = null;
+    await _vadSpeechEndSub?.cancel();
+    _vadSpeechEndSub = null;
+    if (_vadHandler != null) {
+      await _vadHandler!.dispose();
+      _vadHandler = null;
+    }
+  }
+
   void _onAmplitude(Amplitude event) {
     if (!state.voiceModeActive) return;
-
-    final elapsed =
-        DateTime.now().millisecondsSinceEpoch - _recordingStartMs;
-    if (elapsed < _minRecordingMs) return;
-
     final db = event.current;
-    // Guard against NaN / ±Infinity which can arrive on some Android devices
+    if (db.isNaN || db.isInfinite) return;
-    // when the recorder is initialising. Treat invalid readings as silence.
+    final norm = ((db + 60.0) / 60.0).clamp(0.0, 1.0);
-    final isSilent = db.isNaN || db.isInfinite || db < _silenceThresholdDb;
+    if ((norm - state.amplitude).abs() > 0.02) {
-
+      state = state.copyWith(amplitude: norm);
-    if (isSilent) {
-      _silenceMs += 200;
-      if (_silenceMs >= _silenceDurationMs) {
-        _amplitudeSubscription?.cancel();
-        _amplitudeSubscription = null;
-        _handleSilence();
-      }
-    } else {
-      _silenceMs = 0;
     }
   }
 

lib/screens/briefing/briefing_screen.dart

@@ -41,7 +41,14 @@ class _BriefingScreenState extends ConsumerState<BriefingScreen>
 
   @override
   void didChangeAppLifecycleState(AppLifecycleState state) {
+    final wasBackground = !_appInForeground;
     _appInForeground = state == AppLifecycleState.resumed;
+    // On resume, force a message refresh. This also unfreezes a stuck
+    // streaming state if the SSE socket died while the app was backgrounded
+    // — silentRefresh won't do that because it guards on isStreaming.
+    if (_appInForeground && wasBackground && mounted) {
+      ref.read(briefingProvider.notifier).refreshMessages();
+    }
   }
 
   void _pollSilently() {
@@ -51,6 +58,18 @@ class _BriefingScreenState extends ConsumerState<BriefingScreen>
     ref.read(briefingProvider.notifier).silentRefresh();
   }
 
+  Future<void> _pullToRefresh() async {
+    try {
+      await ref.read(briefingProvider.notifier).refreshMessages();
+    } catch (_) {
+      if (mounted) {
+        ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(
+          const SnackBar(content: Text('Could not refresh.')),
+        );
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   @override
   void dispose() {
     _pollTimer?.cancel();
@@ -247,12 +266,18 @@ class _BriefingScreenState extends ConsumerState<BriefingScreen>
           ),
         ),
         data: (conv) {
-          return Column(
+          final isWide = MediaQuery.of(context).size.width >= 600;
+          Widget body = Column(
             children: [
               Expanded(
-                child: CustomScrollView(
+                child: RefreshIndicator(
-                  controller: _scrollController,
+                  onRefresh: _pullToRefresh,
-                  slivers: [
+                  child: CustomScrollView(
+                    controller: _scrollController,
+                    // AlwaysScrollable so pull-to-refresh fires even when
+                    // the briefing is empty or shorter than the viewport.
+                    physics: const AlwaysScrollableScrollPhysics(),
+                    slivers: [
                     if (conv.messages.isEmpty)
                       SliverFillRemaining(
                         child: Center(
@@ -293,7 +318,8 @@ class _BriefingScreenState extends ConsumerState<BriefingScreen>
                           },
                         ),
                       ),
-                  ],
+                    ],
+                  ),
                 ),
               ),
 
@@ -351,6 +377,7 @@ class _BriefingScreenState extends ConsumerState<BriefingScreen>
                       VoiceMicButton(
                         mode: voiceState.mode,
                         voiceModeActive: voiceState.voiceModeActive,
+                        amplitude: voiceState.amplitude,
                         onTap: _toggleVoiceMode,
                       ),
                       const SizedBox(width: 6),
@@ -366,6 +393,15 @@ class _BriefingScreenState extends ConsumerState<BriefingScreen>
               ),
             ],
           );
+          if (isWide) {
+            body = Center(
+              child: ConstrainedBox(
+                constraints: const BoxConstraints(maxWidth: 700),
+                child: body,
+              ),
+            );
+          }
+          return body;
         },
       ),
     );

lib/screens/chat/chat_screen.dart

@@ -44,6 +44,16 @@ class _ChatScreenState extends ConsumerState<ChatScreen>
   void initState() {
     super.initState();
     WidgetsBinding.instance.addObserver(this);
+    // If we land on a conversation whose last assistant message is already
+    // mid-stream (e.g. the /news discuss button creates a conv and
+    // auto-kicks generation), attach to the running stream so the user sees
+    // live tokens instead of a frozen placeholder.
+    WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
+      if (!mounted) return;
+      ref
+          .read(messagesProvider(widget.conversationId).notifier)
+          .attachToGeneration();
+    });
   }
 
   @override
@@ -257,6 +267,7 @@ class _ChatScreenState extends ConsumerState<ChatScreen>
                   VoiceMicButton(
                     mode: voiceState.mode,
                     voiceModeActive: voiceState.voiceModeActive,
+                    amplitude: voiceState.amplitude,
                     onTap: _toggleVoiceMode,
                   ),
                   const SizedBox(width: 6),

lib/screens/chat/conversations_tab_screen.dart

@@ -4,30 +4,79 @@ import 'package:go_router/go_router.dart';
 
 import '../../core/constants.dart';
 import '../../providers/chat_provider.dart';
+import 'chat_screen.dart';
 
-class ConversationsTabScreen extends ConsumerWidget {
+class ConversationsTabScreen extends ConsumerStatefulWidget {
   const ConversationsTabScreen({super.key});
 
   @override
-  Widget build(BuildContext context, WidgetRef ref) {
+  ConsumerState<ConversationsTabScreen> createState() =>
+      _ConversationsTabScreenState();
+}
+
+class _ConversationsTabScreenState
+    extends ConsumerState<ConversationsTabScreen> {
+  int? _selectedConvId;
+
+  Future<void> _createConversation() async {
+    final conv =
+        await ref.read(conversationsProvider.notifier).create('');
+    if (!mounted) return;
+    final isWide = MediaQuery.of(context).size.width >= 600;
+    if (isWide) {
+      setState(() => _selectedConvId = conv.id);
+    } else {
+      context.push(Routes.chat.replaceFirst(':id', '${conv.id}'));
+    }
+  }
+
+  void _openConversation(int id) {
+    final isWide = MediaQuery.of(context).size.width >= 600;
+    if (isWide) {
+      setState(() => _selectedConvId = id);
+    } else {
+      context.push(Routes.chat.replaceFirst(':id', '$id'));
+    }
+  }
+
+  Future<void> _confirmDelete(int id, String title) async {
+    final ok = await showDialog<bool>(
+      context: context,
+      builder: (dialogContext) => AlertDialog(
+        title: const Text('Delete conversation?'),
+        content: Text('"$title" will be permanently deleted.'),
+        actions: [
+          TextButton(
+              onPressed: () => Navigator.pop(dialogContext, false),
+              child: const Text('Cancel')),
+          FilledButton(
+              onPressed: () => Navigator.pop(dialogContext, true),
+              child: const Text('Delete')),
+        ],
+      ),
+    );
+    if (ok == true) {
+      await ref.read(conversationsProvider.notifier).delete(id);
+      if (_selectedConvId == id) {
+        setState(() => _selectedConvId = null);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final isWide = MediaQuery.of(context).size.width >= 600;
     final theme = Theme.of(context);
     final convsAsync = ref.watch(conversationsProvider);
 
-    return Scaffold(
+    final listPanel = Scaffold(
       appBar: AppBar(
         title: Text('Chat', style: theme.textTheme.titleLarge),
         actions: [
           IconButton(
             icon: const Icon(Icons.add),
             tooltip: 'New conversation',
-            onPressed: () async {
+            onPressed: _createConversation,
-              final conv = await ref
-                  .read(conversationsProvider.notifier)
-                  .create('');
-              if (context.mounted) {
-                context.push(Routes.chat.replaceFirst(':id', '${conv.id}'));
-              }
-            },
           ),
         ],
       ),
@@ -49,26 +98,20 @@ class ConversationsTabScreen extends ConsumerWidget {
                   FilledButton.icon(
                     icon: const Icon(Icons.add),
                     label: const Text('Start a conversation'),
-                    onPressed: () async {
+                    onPressed: _createConversation,
-                      final conv = await ref
-                          .read(conversationsProvider.notifier)
-                          .create('');
-                      if (context.mounted) {
-                        context.push(
-                            Routes.chat.replaceFirst(':id', '${conv.id}'));
-                      }
-                    },
                   ),
                 ],
               ),
             );
           }
           return RefreshIndicator(
-            onRefresh: () => ref.read(conversationsProvider.notifier).refresh(),
+            onRefresh: () =>
+                ref.read(conversationsProvider.notifier).refresh(),
             child: ListView.builder(
               itemCount: convs.length,
               itemBuilder: (ctx, i) {
                 final c = convs[i];
+                final selected = isWide && c.id == _selectedConvId;
                 return ListTile(
                   leading: const Icon(Icons.chat_bubble_outline),
                   title: Text(
@@ -79,13 +122,12 @@ class ConversationsTabScreen extends ConsumerWidget {
                     _relativeTime(c.updatedAt),
                     style: theme.textTheme.labelSmall,
                   ),
+                  selected: selected,
                   trailing: IconButton(
                     icon: const Icon(Icons.delete_outline),
-                    onPressed: () =>
+                    onPressed: () => _confirmDelete(c.id, c.title),
-                        _confirmDelete(context, ref, c.id, c.title),
                   ),
-                  onTap: () =>
+                  onTap: () => _openConversation(c.id),
-                      ctx.push(Routes.chat.replaceFirst(':id', '${c.id}')),
                 );
               },
             ),
@@ -93,28 +135,38 @@ class ConversationsTabScreen extends ConsumerWidget {
         },
       ),
     );
-  }
 
-  Future<void> _confirmDelete(
+    if (!isWide) return listPanel;
-      BuildContext context, WidgetRef ref, int id, String title) async {
+
-    final ok = await showDialog<bool>(
+    return Row(
-      context: context,
+      children: [
-      builder: (dialogContext) => AlertDialog(
+        SizedBox(
-        title: const Text('Delete conversation?'),
+          width: 320,
-        content: Text('"$title" will be permanently deleted.'),
+          child: listPanel,
-        actions: [
+        ),
-          TextButton(
+        const VerticalDivider(width: 1),
-              onPressed: () => Navigator.pop(dialogContext, false),
+        Expanded(
-              child: const Text('Cancel')),
+          child: _selectedConvId != null
-          FilledButton(
+              ? ChatScreen(
-              onPressed: () => Navigator.pop(dialogContext, true),
+                  key: ValueKey(_selectedConvId),
-              child: const Text('Delete')),
+                  conversationId: _selectedConvId!,
-        ],
+                )
-      ),
+              : Center(
+                  child: Column(
+                    mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+                    children: [
+                      Icon(Icons.chat_bubble_outline,
+                          size: 48,
+                          color: theme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant),
+                      const SizedBox(height: 16),
+                      Text('Select a conversation',
+                          style: theme.textTheme.titleMedium),
+                    ],
+                  ),
+                ),
+        ),
+      ],
     );
-    if (ok == true) {
-      await ref.read(conversationsProvider.notifier).delete(id);
-    }
   }
 }
 

lib/screens/knowledge/knowledge_screen.dart

@@ -186,18 +186,57 @@ class _KnowledgeScreenState extends ConsumerState<KnowledgeScreen>
     }
     return RefreshIndicator(
       onRefresh: () => ref.read(knowledgeProvider.notifier).refresh(),
-      child: ListView.separated(
+      child: LayoutBuilder(
-        controller: _scrollController,
+        builder: (context, constraints) {
-        itemCount: items.length + (state.isLoadingBatch ? 1 : 0),
+          final cols = constraints.maxWidth >= 900
-        separatorBuilder: (_, _) => const Divider(height: 1),
+              ? 3
-        itemBuilder: (_, i) {
+              : constraints.maxWidth >= 600
-          if (i >= items.length) {
+                  ? 2
-            return const Padding(
+                  : 1;
-              padding: EdgeInsets.all(16),
+          if (cols == 1) {
-              child: Center(child: CircularProgressIndicator()),
+            return ListView.separated(
+              controller: _scrollController,
+              itemCount: items.length + (state.isLoadingBatch ? 1 : 0),
+              separatorBuilder: (_, _) => const Divider(height: 1),
+              itemBuilder: (_, i) {
+                if (i >= items.length) {
+                  return const Padding(
+                    padding: EdgeInsets.all(16),
+                    child: Center(child: CircularProgressIndicator()),
+                  );
+                }
+                return KnowledgeItemCard(item: items[i]);
+              },
             );
           }
-          return KnowledgeItemCard(item: items[i]);
+          return CustomScrollView(
+            controller: _scrollController,
+            slivers: [
+              SliverPadding(
+                padding: const EdgeInsets.all(8),
+                sliver: SliverGrid(
+                  gridDelegate: SliverGridDelegateWithFixedCrossAxisCount(
+                    crossAxisCount: cols,
+                    crossAxisSpacing: 8,
+                    mainAxisSpacing: 8,
+                    childAspectRatio: 1.8,
+                  ),
+                  delegate: SliverChildBuilderDelegate(
+                    (_, i) {
+                      if (i >= items.length) {
+                        return const Center(
+                            child: CircularProgressIndicator());
+                      }
+                      return KnowledgeItemCard(item: items[i])
+                          .buildGridCard(context);
+                    },
+                    childCount:
+                        items.length + (state.isLoadingBatch ? 1 : 0),
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ),
+            ],
+          );
         },
       ),
     );

lib/screens/news/news_screen.dart

@@ -50,6 +50,34 @@ class _NewsScreenState extends ConsumerState<NewsScreen> {
     }
   }
 
+  Widget _buildNewsItem(NewsState news, int i, {int cols = 1}) {
+    if (i >= news.items.length) {
+      if (!news.hasMore) return const SizedBox.shrink();
+      return Padding(
+        padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(vertical: 8),
+        child: Center(
+          child: news.loadingMore
+              ? const CircularProgressIndicator()
+              : FilledButton.tonal(
+                  onPressed: _loadMore,
+                  child: const Text('Load more'),
+                ),
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+    final item = news.items[i];
+    return NewsCard(
+      item: RssItemMeta.fromNewsItem(item),
+      reaction: news.reactions[item.id],
+      snippetMaxLines: cols > 1 ? 5 : 2,
+      onReaction: (itemId, reaction) =>
+          ref.read(newsProvider.notifier).toggleReaction(itemId, reaction),
+      onDiscuss: _openingChat.contains(item.id)
+          ? null
+          : () => _handleDiscuss(item.id),
+    );
+  }
+
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     final newsAsync = ref.watch(newsProvider);
@@ -98,38 +126,59 @@ class _NewsScreenState extends ConsumerState<NewsScreen> {
             Expanded(
               child: RefreshIndicator(
                 onRefresh: () => ref.read(newsProvider.notifier).refresh(),
-                child: ListView.builder(
+                child: LayoutBuilder(
-                padding:
+                  builder: (context, constraints) {
-                    const EdgeInsets.symmetric(horizontal: 8, vertical: 8),
+                    final cols = constraints.maxWidth >= 900
-                itemCount: news.items.length + 1,
+                        ? 3
-                itemBuilder: (_, i) {
+                        : constraints.maxWidth >= 600
-                  if (i == news.items.length) {
+                            ? 2
-                    if (!news.hasMore) return const SizedBox.shrink();
+                            : 1;
-                    return Padding(
+                    if (cols == 1) {
-                      padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(vertical: 8),
+                      return ListView.builder(
-                      child: Center(
+                        padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(
-                        child: news.loadingMore
+                            horizontal: 8, vertical: 8),
-                            ? const CircularProgressIndicator()
+                        itemCount: news.items.length + 1,
-                            : FilledButton.tonal(
+                        itemBuilder: (_, i) =>
-                                onPressed: _loadMore,
+                            _buildNewsItem(news, i),
-                                child: const Text('Load more'),
+                      );
+                    }
+                    return CustomScrollView(
+                      slivers: [
+                        SliverPadding(
+                          padding: const EdgeInsets.all(8),
+                          sliver: SliverGrid(
+                            gridDelegate:
+                                SliverGridDelegateWithFixedCrossAxisCount(
+                              crossAxisCount: cols,
+                              crossAxisSpacing: 8,
+                              mainAxisSpacing: 8,
+                              childAspectRatio: 1.6,
+                            ),
+                            delegate: SliverChildBuilderDelegate(
+                              (_, i) => _buildNewsItem(news, i, cols: cols),
+                              childCount: news.items.length,
+                            ),
+                          ),
+                        ),
+                        if (news.hasMore)
+                          SliverToBoxAdapter(
+                            child: Padding(
+                              padding:
+                                  const EdgeInsets.symmetric(vertical: 12),
+                              child: Center(
+                                child: news.loadingMore
+                                    ? const CircularProgressIndicator()
+                                    : FilledButton.tonal(
+                                        onPressed: _loadMore,
+                                        child: const Text('Load more'),
+                                      ),
                               ),
-                      ),
+                            ),
+                          ),
+                      ],
                     );
-                  }
+                  },
-                  final item = news.items[i];
+                ),
-                  return NewsCard(
-                    item: RssItemMeta.fromNewsItem(item),
-                    reaction: news.reactions[item.id],
-                    onReaction: (itemId, reaction) => ref
-                        .read(newsProvider.notifier)
-                        .toggleReaction(itemId, reaction),
-                    onDiscuss: _openingChat.contains(item.id)
-                        ? null
-                        : () => _handleDiscuss(item.id),
-                  );
-                },
-              ),
               ),
             ),
           ],

lib/widgets/knowledge_item_card.dart

@@ -27,12 +27,24 @@ class KnowledgeItemCard extends StatelessWidget {
 
   String? get _subtitle {
     if (item.noteType == 'task') {
+      if (item.body.trim().isNotEmpty) {
+        final preview = item.body.trim().replaceAll('\n', ' ');
+        return preview.length > 200 ? '${preview.substring(0, 200)}…' : preview;
+      }
       if (item.dueDate != null) return 'Due ${item.dueDate}';
       return item.status;
     }
     if (item.body.trim().isEmpty) return null;
     final preview = item.body.trim().replaceAll('\n', ' ');
-    return preview.length > 120 ? '${preview.substring(0, 120)}…' : preview;
+    return preview.length > 200 ? '${preview.substring(0, 200)}…' : preview;
+  }
+
+  void _onTap(BuildContext context) {
+    if (item.noteType == 'task') {
+      context.push('/tasks/${item.id}/edit');
+    } else {
+      context.push('/notes/${item.id}');
+    }
   }
 
   @override
@@ -53,13 +65,64 @@ class KnowledgeItemCard extends StatelessWidget {
             )
           : null,
       trailing: item.tags.isNotEmpty ? _TagChips(tags: item.tags) : null,
-      onTap: () {
+      onTap: () => _onTap(context),
-        if (item.noteType == 'task') {
+    );
-          context.push('/tasks/${item.id}/edit');
+  }
-        } else {
+
-          context.push('/notes/${item.id}');
+  Widget buildGridCard(BuildContext context) {
-        }
+    final scheme = Theme.of(context).colorScheme;
-      },
+    final textTheme = Theme.of(context).textTheme;
+    return Card(
+      elevation: 0,
+      shape: RoundedRectangleBorder(
+        borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(10),
+        side: BorderSide(color: scheme.outlineVariant),
+      ),
+      child: InkWell(
+        borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(10),
+        onTap: () => _onTap(context),
+        child: Padding(
+          padding: const EdgeInsets.all(12),
+          child: Column(
+            crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+            children: [
+              Row(
+                children: [
+                  Icon(_icon, size: 18, color: _statusColor(context)),
+                  const SizedBox(width: 8),
+                  Expanded(
+                    child: Text(
+                      item.title.isEmpty ? '(untitled)' : item.title,
+                      maxLines: 2,
+                      overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                      style: textTheme.titleSmall
+                          ?.copyWith(fontWeight: FontWeight.w600),
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                ],
+              ),
+              if (_subtitle != null) ...[
+                const SizedBox(height: 8),
+                Expanded(
+                  child: Text(
+                    _subtitle!,
+                    overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                    maxLines: 4,
+                    style: textTheme.bodySmall?.copyWith(
+                      color: scheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                      height: 1.4,
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ],
+              if (item.tags.isNotEmpty) ...[
+                const Spacer(),
+                _TagChips(tags: item.tags),
+              ],
+            ],
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
     );
   }
 }

lib/widgets/news_card.dart

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class NewsCard extends StatelessWidget {
   final String? reaction; // 'up' | 'down' | null
   final void Function(int itemId, String reaction) onReaction;
   final VoidCallback? onDiscuss;
+  final int snippetMaxLines;
 
   const NewsCard({
     super.key,
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ class NewsCard extends StatelessWidget {
     required this.reaction,
     required this.onReaction,
     this.onDiscuss,
+    this.snippetMaxLines = 2,
   });
 
   Future<void> _openUrl() async {
@@ -113,16 +115,20 @@ class NewsCard extends StatelessWidget {
               ],
             ),
             const SizedBox(height: 4),
-            // Title — tappable if URL present
+            // Title — tappable if URL present. Text stays in onSurface for
+            // contrast; the primary-colored underline carries the "this is a
+            // link" signal without tanking readability.
             GestureDetector(
               onTap: item.url.isNotEmpty ? _openUrl : null,
               child: Text(
                 item.title,
-                style: textTheme.bodyMedium?.copyWith(
+                style: textTheme.titleSmall?.copyWith(
                   fontWeight: FontWeight.w600,
-                  color: item.url.isNotEmpty ? scheme.primary : scheme.onSurface,
+                  color: scheme.onSurface,
+                  height: 1.3,
                   decoration: item.url.isNotEmpty ? TextDecoration.underline : null,
-                  decorationColor: scheme.primary,
+                  decorationColor: scheme.primary.withValues(alpha: 0.7),
+                  decorationThickness: 1.5,
                 ),
               ),
             ),
@@ -131,7 +137,7 @@ class NewsCard extends StatelessWidget {
               const SizedBox(height: 4),
               Text(
                 item.snippet,
-                maxLines: 2,
+                maxLines: snippetMaxLines,
                 overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
                 style: textTheme.bodySmall?.copyWith(
                   color: scheme.onSurfaceVariant,

lib/widgets/voice_mic_button.dart

@@ -5,51 +5,29 @@ import '../providers/voice_provider.dart';
 /// Animated mic button that reflects the current [VoiceMode].
 ///
 /// - idle: muted background, mic_none icon
-/// - recording: red with pulsing shadow ring
+/// - recording: red, pulses with live [amplitude] for real-time feedback
 /// - transcribing: indigo with spinner
 /// - playing: indigo with volume_up icon
-class VoiceMicButton extends StatefulWidget {
+class VoiceMicButton extends StatelessWidget {
   final VoiceMode mode;
   final bool voiceModeActive;
+  /// Live mic amplitude 0.0–1.0 while recording. Drives the button scale
+  /// and glow so the user has obvious feedback that audio is being picked
+  /// up. Ignored when not in [VoiceMode.recording].
+  final double amplitude;
   final VoidCallback? onTap;
 
   const VoiceMicButton({
     super.key,
     required this.mode,
     required this.voiceModeActive,
+    this.amplitude = 0.0,
     this.onTap,
   });
 
-  @override
-  State<VoiceMicButton> createState() => _VoiceMicButtonState();
-}
-
-class _VoiceMicButtonState extends State<VoiceMicButton>
-    with SingleTickerProviderStateMixin {
-  late AnimationController _pulseController;
-  late Animation<double> _pulseAnimation;
-
-  @override
-  void initState() {
-    super.initState();
-    _pulseController = AnimationController(
-      vsync: this,
-      duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 900),
-    )..repeat(reverse: true);
-    _pulseAnimation = Tween<double>(begin: 1.0, end: 1.25).animate(
-      CurvedAnimation(parent: _pulseController, curve: Curves.easeInOut),
-    );
-  }
-
-  @override
-  void dispose() {
-    _pulseController.dispose();
-    super.dispose();
-  }
-
   Color _bgColor(BuildContext context) {
     final cs = Theme.of(context).colorScheme;
-    return switch (widget.mode) {
+    return switch (mode) {
       VoiceMode.recording => const Color(0xFFEF4444),
       VoiceMode.transcribing || VoiceMode.playing => cs.primary,
       VoiceMode.idle => cs.surfaceContainerHighest,
@@ -58,11 +36,10 @@ class _VoiceMicButtonState extends State<VoiceMicButton>
 
   Widget _icon(BuildContext context) {
     final cs = Theme.of(context).colorScheme;
-    final iconColor = widget.mode == VoiceMode.idle
+    final iconColor =
-        ? cs.onSurfaceVariant
+        mode == VoiceMode.idle ? cs.onSurfaceVariant : Colors.white;
-        : Colors.white;
 
-    return switch (widget.mode) {
+    return switch (mode) {
       VoiceMode.transcribing => SizedBox(
           width: 18,
           height: 18,
@@ -78,14 +55,14 @@ class _VoiceMicButtonState extends State<VoiceMicButton>
 
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
-    final isRecording = widget.mode == VoiceMode.recording;
+    final isRecording = mode == VoiceMode.recording;
 
     final button = Material(
       color: _bgColor(context),
       shape: const CircleBorder(),
       child: InkWell(
         customBorder: const CircleBorder(),
-        onTap: widget.onTap,
+        onTap: onTap,
         child: SizedBox(
           width: 40,
           height: 40,
@@ -96,22 +73,30 @@ class _VoiceMicButtonState extends State<VoiceMicButton>
 
     if (!isRecording) return button;
 
-    return AnimatedBuilder(
+    // Base pulse so silence still breathes (0.1 floor), scale + glow climb
-      animation: _pulseAnimation,
+    // linearly with live amplitude.
-      builder: (_, child) => Container(
+    final amp = amplitude.clamp(0.0, 1.0);
-        decoration: BoxDecoration(
+    final pulse = 0.1 + amp * 0.9;
-          shape: BoxShape.circle,
+
-          boxShadow: [
+    return AnimatedContainer(
-            BoxShadow(
+      duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 120),
-              color: const Color(0xFFEF4444).withValues(alpha: 0.35),
+      curve: Curves.easeOut,
-              blurRadius: 8 * _pulseAnimation.value,
+      decoration: BoxDecoration(
-              spreadRadius: 2 * _pulseAnimation.value,
+        shape: BoxShape.circle,
-            ),
+        boxShadow: [
-          ],
+          BoxShadow(
-        ),
+            color: const Color(0xFFEF4444).withValues(alpha: 0.2 + pulse * 0.3),
-        child: child,
+            blurRadius: 6 + pulse * 14,
+            spreadRadius: 1 + pulse * 5,
+          ),
+        ],
+      ),
+      child: AnimatedScale(
+        scale: 1.0 + pulse * 0.18,
+        duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 120),
+        curve: Curves.easeOut,
+        child: button,
       ),
-      child: button,
     );
   }
 }

pubspec.lock

@@ -804,10 +804,10 @@ packages:
     dependency: "direct main"
     description:
       name: record
-      sha256: "2e3d56d196abcd69f1046339b75e5f3855b2406fc087e5991f6703f188aa03a6"
+      sha256: d5b6b334f3ab02460db6544e08583c942dbf23e3504bf1e14fd4cbe3d9409277
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "5.2.1"
+    version: "6.2.0"
   record_android:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -816,22 +816,30 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "1.5.1"
-  record_darwin:
+  record_ios:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
-      name: record_darwin
+      name: record_ios
-      sha256: e487eccb19d82a9a39cd0126945cfc47b9986e0df211734e2788c95e3f63c82c
+      sha256: "8df7c136131bd05efc19256af29b2ba6ccc000ccc2c80d4b6b6d7a8d21a3b5a9"
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
-    version: "1.2.2"
+    version: "1.2.0"
   record_linux:
-    dependency: "direct overridden"
+    dependency: transitive
     description:
       name: record_linux
       sha256: c31a35cc158cd666fc6395f7f56fc054f31685571684be6b97670a27649ce5c7
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "1.3.0"
+  record_macos:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: record_macos
+      sha256: "084902e63fc9c0c224c29203d6c75f0bdf9b6a40536c9d916393c8f4c4256488"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "1.2.1"
   record_platform_interface:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
@@ -1165,6 +1173,14 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "4.5.3"
+  vad:
+    dependency: "direct main"
+    description:
+      name: vad
+      sha256: ef6c8b12c5af7a6a519ff5684f074b8a2ac00c434705f544af379ea77bccd258
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "0.0.7+1"
   vector_math:
     dependency: transitive
     description:

pubspec.yaml

@@ -28,13 +28,11 @@ dependencies:
   google_fonts: ^8.0.2
   flutter_timezone: ^5.0.2
   url_launcher: ^6.3.1
-  record: ^5.0.0
+  record: ^6.2.0
+  vad: ^0.0.7
   just_audio: ^0.9.39
   table_calendar: ^3.1.2
 
-dependency_overrides:
-  record_linux: ^1.3.0
-
 dev_dependencies:
   flutter_test:
     sdk: flutter