diff --git a/aesel/src/ac-server.mjs b/aesel/src/ac-server.mjs
index 5244e5249c..0a67fd73c3 100644
--- a/aesel/src/ac-server.mjs
+++ b/aesel/src/ac-server.mjs
@@ -496,7 +496,12 @@ export class AcServer extends EventEmitter {
             }
           } else if (event.type === "content_block_delta") {
             const delta = event.delta;
-            if (delta?.type === "text_delta" && delta.text) {
+            if (delta?.type === "thinking_delta" && delta.thinking) {
+              // A reasoning model's hidden work. Not part of the answer and
+              // never fed back, but a surface that shows the piece being made
+              // can scroll it rather than sit silent for ten seconds.
+              this.emit("notification", { method: "item/reasoning/delta", params: { itemId: messageId, delta: delta.thinking } });
+            } else if (delta?.type === "text_delta" && delta.text) {
               text += delta.text;
               this.emit("notification", {
                 method: "item/agentMessage/delta",
diff --git a/aesel/test/ac-server.test.mjs b/aesel/test/ac-server.test.mjs
index 32b7227325..f7df3df8e9 100644
--- a/aesel/test/ac-server.test.mjs
+++ b/aesel/test/ac-server.test.mjs
@@ -376,6 +376,24 @@ test('embedded preview can retain runtime feedback without offering desktop fram
  }
 });
 
+test('thinking deltas surface as reasoning notifications and never enter the answer',async t=>{
+ const dir=await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(),'ac-thinking-'));t.after(()=>rm(dir,{recursive:true,force:true}));
+ const file=join(dir,'piece.mjs');await writeFile(file,'export function paint(){}');
+ const reasoning=[],answers=[];
+ const engine=new AcServer({cwd:dir,piece:{file},jev:null,token:()=> 'test',fetch:async()=>serving([
+  {type:'content_block_start',index:0,content_block:{type:'thinking',thinking:''}},
+  {type:'content_block_delta',index:0,delta:{type:'thinking_delta',thinking:'the berries should vanish one at a time'}},
+  {type:'content_block_stop',index:0},
+  {type:'content_block_delta',index:1,delta:{type:'text_delta',text:'done'}},
+  {type:'message_delta',delta:{stop_reason:'end_turn'}},
+ ])()});
+ engine.on('notification',({method,params})=>{if(method==='item/reasoning/delta')reasoning.push(params.delta);if(method==='item/agentMessage/delta')answers.push(params.delta);});
+ await engine.startTurn('eat them');
+ assert.deepEqual(reasoning,['the berries should vanish one at a time']);
+ assert.deepEqual(answers,['done']);
+ assert.ok(!JSON.stringify(engine.messages).includes('vanish one at a time'),'thinking is not kept in the conversation');
+});
+
 test('a reasoning object is forwarded as given, and absent by default',async t=>{
  const dir=await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(),'ac-reasoning-'));t.after(()=>rm(dir,{recursive:true,force:true}));
  const file=join(dir,'piece.mjs');await writeFile(file,'export function paint(){}');
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Resources/Web/engine.mjs b/apple/walkieware/Resources/Web/engine.mjs
index 197225f9c4..1855436856 100644
--- a/apple/walkieware/Resources/Web/engine.mjs
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Resources/Web/engine.mjs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ try{lastAttempt=JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(storageKey+'-attempt')||'null');
 let versions=null,turnSucceeded=false,turnRequest='',turnParent=null,turnRuntimeFailed=false,turnError='';
 let token = '', busy = false, server, source = '', previous = '', pending = '', checkpoints = 0;
 let feedback = null, lastPaintedSource = '', previewSource = '', provisional = '', compileTimer = null;
-let outputStream='',code = '', codeItem = '', firstDelta = false, started = 0, timer, ready = false, painted = false;
+let outputStream='',reasoningStream='',code = '', codeItem = '', firstDelta = false, started = 0, timer, ready = false, painted = false;
 const events = [];
 const signIn=document.createElement('button');signIn.id='connect-ac';signIn.textContent='Account';signIn.onclick=()=>post({action:'signIn'});const identity=document.createElement('div');identity.id='walkieware-identity';const codeLabel=document.createElement('span');codeLabel.id='walkieware-thread';identity.append(signIn,codeLabel);document.body.append(identity);
 let accountToken='',accountHandle='',accountPalette=[];
@@ -216,6 +216,9 @@ function makeServer(){
       $('live-details').open=true;
     }
     if(method==='item/agentMessage/delta'){delta(params.delta);$('live-request').textContent+=params.delta;}
+    // Reasoning streams before any code. Let it fly by in the ticker, dimmed by
+    // the native side, so the wait reads as work rather than silence.
+    if(method==='item/reasoning/delta'){reasoningStream=(reasoningStream+params.delta).slice(-6000);if(!firstDelta){benchmark('firstReasoning');log('Model thinking');}if(!code)outputStream=reasoningStream;phase('Thinking…');nativeSnapshot();}
     if(method==='item/started')benchmark('toolStarted',{tool:params.item?.tool||params.item?.type});
     if(method==='item/completed' && params.item?.status?.startsWith('failed')) {log(params.item.status);benchmark('toolFailed',{message:params.item.status});}
     if(method==='turn/usage') log('Usage · '+(params.usage.output_tokens??0)+' output tokens');
@@ -238,7 +241,7 @@ async function ask(text,displayText=text,advice=null,starter=null,localText=text
     activeAttempt=saveAttempt(localStorage,storageKey,recovered||{id:crypto.randomUUID(),text,displayText,localText,parent:versions.head.id,baseSource:versions.head.source,retries:0,status:'working'});
   } catch { phase('Could not save request for recovery');return; }
   recoveryPending=false;
-  pending='';busy=true;outputStream='';previous=source;turnStarter='';starterPainted=false;turnCancelled=false;turnSucceeded=false;turnRuntimeFailed=false;turnError='';turnRequest=text;turnParent=versions?.head.id;review(false);firstDelta=false;checkpoints=0;code='';codeItem='';
+  pending='';busy=true;outputStream='';reasoningStream='';previous=source;turnStarter='';starterPainted=false;turnCancelled=false;turnSucceeded=false;turnRuntimeFailed=false;turnError='';turnRequest=text;turnParent=versions?.head.id;review(false);firstDelta=false;checkpoints=0;code='';codeItem='';
   lastAttempt={request:displayText.slice(0,20000),parent:turnParent,status:'working',startedAt:new Date().toISOString()};
   document.body.classList.add('live-mode');phase('Sending…');log('Submitted');
   timer=setInterval(()=>$('live-time').textContent=((performance.now()-started)/1000).toFixed(1)+'s',100);
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Sources/CodeTicker.swift b/apple/walkieware/Sources/CodeTicker.swift
index fd098398ab..543c37499d 100644
--- a/apple/walkieware/Sources/CodeTicker.swift
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Sources/CodeTicker.swift
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import SwiftUI
 
 struct CodeTicker: View {
     let output: String
+    /// Reasoning scrolls dimmed and plain; code is bold and full strength.
+    var thinking = false
     @Environment(\.accessibilityReduceMotion) private var reduceMotion
     private var line: String {
         String(output.suffix(1800)).replacingOccurrences(of: "\n", with: "  ").replacingOccurrences(of: "\r", with: " ")
@@ -10,7 +12,8 @@ struct CodeTicker: View {
         ScrollViewReader { proxy in
             ScrollView(.horizontal, showsIndicators: false) {
                 HStack(spacing: 0) {
-                    Text(line).font(.custom("Courier-Bold", size: 18, relativeTo: .body))
+                    Text(line).font(.custom(thinking ? "Courier" : "Courier-Bold", size: 18, relativeTo: .body))
+                        .opacity(thinking ? 0.55 : 1)
                         .lineLimit(1).fixedSize(horizontal: true, vertical: false)
                     Color.clear.frame(width: 1, height: 1).id("latest-code")
                 }
@@ -22,6 +25,6 @@ struct CodeTicker: View {
                 }
             }
         }.frame(maxWidth: .infinity).clipped()
-            .accessibilityLabel("Live code").accessibilityIdentifier("code-ticker")
+            .accessibilityLabel(thinking ? "Model thinking" : "Live code").accessibilityIdentifier("code-ticker")
     }
 }
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Sources/SpeechCapture.swift b/apple/walkieware/Sources/SpeechCapture.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3534387a38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Sources/SpeechCapture.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+import Foundation
+import AVFoundation
+import Speech
+
+// Hold-to-talk capture: the microphone feeds on-device speech recognition and
+// the pitch/energy analyzer at once, and a release delivers one utterance.
+// This type owns the audio session, the recognizer and the timing rules (the
+// eight-second budget, the release tail, the finalize grace). It knows nothing
+// about screens or web views: it reports through three closures, and the
+// session maps those onto published state and the JavaScript bridge.
+@MainActor final class SpeechCapture {
+    /// listening · partial · sound · musicalObservation · processing · mixedFinal · error
+    var onEvent: (_ kind: String, _ text: String, _ id: String) -> Void = { _, _, _ in }
+    /// Latest microphone energy, for the live waveform.
+    var onLevel: (_ rms: Double) -> Void = { _ in }
+    /// The audio benchmark fixture finished replaying and wants the release.
+    var onReplayRelease: () -> Void = {}
+
+    /// The id of the hold in progress, or empty.
+    private(set) var turn = ""
+
+    private let engine = AVAudioEngine()
+    private let recognizer = SFSpeechRecognizer(locale: Locale(identifier: "en-US"))
+    private var request: SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest?
+    private var task: SFSpeechRecognitionTask?
+    private var held = false
+    private var tapped = false
+    private var listeningSince: Date?
+    private var latest = ""
+    private var musicalInput = MusicalInput()
+    private var wordSegments: [[String: Any]] = []
+    private var delivering = false
+    private var recognitionFinal = false
+    private var audioEnded = false
+    private var replayTask: Task<Void, Never>?
+    private var finishing: Task<Void, Never>?
+    private var deadline: Task<Void, Never>?
+
+    private func emit(_ kind: String, text: String = "", id: String? = nil) {
+        if kind == "listening" { listeningSince = Date() }
+        onEvent(kind, text, id ?? turn)
+    }
+
+    func start(_ id: String) {
+        cancel()
+        turn = id; held = true; latest = ""; wordSegments = []; delivering = false; recognitionFinal = false; audioEnded = false
+        #if DEBUG
+        if NativeScreenFixture.enabled && NativeScreenFixture.mode == "gestures" { emit("listening"); return }
+        #endif
+        musicalInput = MusicalInput()
+        musicalInput.onUpdate = { [weak self] pitch, rms in
+            Task { @MainActor in
+                guard let self, self.turn == id, self.held else { return }
+                self.onLevel(rms.isFinite ? max(0, rms) : 0)
+                if let pitch, rms > 0.012 { self.emit("sound", text: "\(Int(pitch)) Hz") }
+            }
+        }
+        musicalInput.onObservation = { [weak self] sound in
+            Task { @MainActor in
+                guard let self, self.turn == id, self.held else { return }
+                let value: [String: Any] = ["transcript":self.latest,"words":self.wordSegments,"sound":sound]
+                guard let data = try? JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject:value), let json = String(data:data,encoding:.utf8) else { return }
+                self.emit("musicalObservation", text:json)
+            }
+        }
+        if AudioBenchmark.enabled { AudioBenchmark.reset(); AudioBenchmark.mark("holdStarted") }
+        Task { [weak self] in
+            guard let self else { return }
+            let speech = await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
+                SFSpeechRecognizer.requestAuthorization { continuation.resume(returning: $0 == .authorized) }
+            }
+            guard self.turn == id, self.held else { return }
+            guard speech else { self.fail("Speech permission is off. Enable it in Settings."); return }
+            let microphone = await AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(for: .audio)
+            guard self.turn == id, self.held else { return }
+            guard microphone else { self.fail("Microphone permission is off."); return }
+            guard let recognizer = self.recognizer, recognizer.isAvailable,
+                  recognizer.supportsOnDeviceRecognition else {
+                self.fail("On-device English speech is unavailable."); return
+            }
+            do {
+                let session = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
+                try session.setCategory(.playAndRecord, mode: .measurement, options: [.defaultToSpeaker, .allowBluetooth])
+                try session.setActive(true)
+                let request = SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest()
+                request.shouldReportPartialResults = true
+                request.taskHint = .dictation
+                request.requiresOnDeviceRecognition = true
+                request.contextualStrings = ["Walkieware", "Aesthetic Computer", "garden", "flowers"]
+                self.request = request
+                if !AudioBenchmark.enabled {
+                    let input = self.engine.inputNode
+                    let format = input.outputFormat(forBus: 0)
+                    guard format.sampleRate > 0, format.channelCount > 0 else {
+                        self.fail("No microphone is available."); return
+                    }
+                    let sound = self.musicalInput
+                    input.installTap(onBus: 0, bufferSize: 1024, format: format) { buffer, _ in request.append(buffer); sound.feed(buffer) }
+                    self.tapped = true
+                    self.engine.prepare()
+                    try self.engine.start()
+                }
+                self.emit("listening")
+                self.task = recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { [weak self] result, error in
+                    let text = result?.bestTranscription.formattedString
+                    let segments = result?.bestTranscription.segments.map { ["text": $0.substring, "atMs": $0.timestamp * 1000, "durationMs": $0.duration * 1000, "confidence": Double($0.confidence)] as [String: Any] }
+                    let isFinal = result?.isFinal ?? false
+                    let message = error?.localizedDescription
+                    Task { @MainActor in
+                        guard let self, self.turn == id else { return }
+                        if let segments { self.wordSegments = Array(segments.prefix(256)) }
+                        if let text { self.latest = text; self.emit("partial", text: text) }
+                        if isFinal { self.recognitionFinal = true; AudioBenchmark.mark("recognitionFinal") }
+                        if self.audioEnded && isFinal { self.deliver() }
+                        else if self.audioEnded && message != nil && self.latest.isEmpty {
+                            self.deliver() // Sound remains useful when speech finds no words.
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+                if AudioBenchmark.enabled {
+                    let sound = self.musicalInput
+                    self.replayTask = Task { [weak self] in
+                        do {
+                            try await AudioBenchmark.replay(into: request, sound: sound) { self?.onReplayRelease() }
+                        } catch { if !Task.isCancelled { self?.fail("Audio fixture replay failed.") } }
+                    }
+                }
+                self.deadline = Task { [weak self] in
+                    try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(8))
+                    guard !Task.isCancelled, let self, self.turn == id else { return }
+                    self.stop()
+                }
+            } catch { self.fail("Could not start the microphone. Please try again.") }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func stopAudio() {
+        engine.stop()
+        if tapped { engine.inputNode.removeTap(onBus: 0); tapped = false }
+        request?.endAudio()
+        try? AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(false, options: .notifyOthersOnDeactivation)
+    }
+
+    /// The thumb lifted. Ignored when `id` names a hold that is no longer this one.
+    func stop(matching id: String? = nil) {
+        if let id, id != turn { return }
+        guard !turn.isEmpty, held else { return }
+        held = false
+        AudioBenchmark.mark("releaseReceived")
+        guard request != nil else { cancel(); return }
+        // Capture a release tail, within the eight-second recording budget. A
+        // thumb lifts a beat before the last word lands; 0.25 s clipped endings.
+        let elapsed = listeningSince.map { Date().timeIntervalSince($0) } ?? 8
+        let tail = min(0.45, max(0, 8 - elapsed))
+        emit("processing")
+        finishing?.cancel()
+        let id = turn
+        finishing = Task { [weak self] in
+            try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(tail))
+            guard !Task.isCancelled, let self, self.turn == id else { return }
+            self.stopAudio()
+            self.audioEnded = true
+            AudioBenchmark.mark("audioDrained")
+            if self.recognitionFinal { self.deliver(); return }
+            // endAudio lets recognition consume every queued buffer and finalize.
+            // If it never does, the partial transcript is still the person's
+            // words: send what was heard rather than throw the utterance away.
+            try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(3))
+            guard !Task.isCancelled, self.turn == id, !self.delivering else { return }
+            AudioBenchmark.mark("recognitionTimedOut", fields: ["recognizedCharacters": self.latest.count])
+            self.deliver()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func deliver() {
+        guard !delivering, !turn.isEmpty else { return }
+        delivering = true
+        let text = latest.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+        let id = turn, words = wordSegments
+        stopAudio()
+        musicalInput.finish { [weak self] sound in
+            Task { @MainActor in
+                guard let self, self.turn == id else { return }
+                guard !text.isEmpty || (sound["audibleMs"] as? Double ?? 0) >= 150 else {
+                    self.fail("I didn’t hear words or a sound. Hold to try again."); return
+                }
+                let value: [String: Any] = ["transcript":text,"words":words,"sound":sound]
+                guard let data = try? JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject:value), let json = String(data:data,encoding:.utf8) else { self.fail("Could not read sound input."); return }
+                AudioBenchmark.checkTranscript(text)
+                AudioBenchmark.mark("soundSubmitted", fields: value)
+                self.cancel()
+                self.emit("mixedFinal", text:json, id:id)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func fail(_ message: String) {
+        AudioBenchmark.mark("recognitionFailed", fields: ["message": message, "recognizedCharacters": latest.count])
+        let id = turn
+        cancel()
+        emit("error", text: message, id: id)
+    }
+
+    func cancel() {
+        turn = ""; held = false; listeningSince = nil
+        replayTask?.cancel(); replayTask = nil
+        finishing?.cancel(); finishing = nil
+        deadline?.cancel(); deadline = nil
+        stopAudio()
+        task?.cancel(); task = nil; request = nil
+    }
+}
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Sources/WalkiewareApp.swift b/apple/walkieware/Sources/WalkiewareApp.swift
index 4bb62fc180..d85358776d 100644
--- a/apple/walkieware/Sources/WalkiewareApp.swift
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Sources/WalkiewareApp.swift
@@ -242,26 +242,19 @@ final class WalkiewareSession: NSObject, ObservableObject, WKScriptMessageHandle
         if recoveryCount < 1 { recoveryCount += 1; reloadWorkspace() }
         else { startupFailure = "The workspace stopped. Tap Reload to reopen it." }
     }
-    private let engine = AVAudioEngine()
-    private let recognizer = SFSpeechRecognizer(locale: Locale(identifier: "en-US"))
     let account = WalkiewareAccount()
+    // The microphone, recognizer and release timing live in SpeechCapture; this
+    // class only turns its events into screen state and bridge messages.
+    private let capture = SpeechCapture()
+    override init() {
+        super.init()
+        capture.onEvent = { [weak self] kind, text, id in self?.emit(kind, text: text, id: id) }
+        capture.onLevel = { [weak self] rms in guard let self else { return }; self.microphoneLevels = Array(self.microphoneLevels.dropFirst()) + [rms] }
+        capture.onReplayRelease = { [weak self] in self?.webView?.evaluateJavaScript("voiceEnd()", completionHandler: nil) }
+    }
     private var previewFrame: WKFrameInfo?
     private var previewSource = ""
     private var previewThreadID = UUID().uuidString
-    private var request: SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest?
-    private var task: SFSpeechRecognitionTask?
-    private var turn = ""
-    private var held = false
-    private var tapped = false
-    private var latest = ""
-    private var musicalInput = MusicalInput()
-    private var wordSegments: [[String: Any]] = []
-    private var delivering = false
-    private var recognitionFinal = false
-    private var audioEnded = false
-    private var replayTask: Task<Void, Never>?
-    private var finishing: Task<Void, Never>?
-    private var deadline: Task<Void, Never>?
 
     func userContentController(_ userContentController: WKUserContentController, didReceive message: WKScriptMessage) {
         if !message.frameInfo.isMainFrame,
@@ -362,9 +355,12 @@ final class WalkiewareSession: NSObject, ObservableObject, WKScriptMessageHandle
             guard let source = body["source"] as? String, source.utf8.count < 500_000 else { return }
             if let id = body["threadID"] as? String, UUID(uuidString: id) != nil { previewThreadID = id }
             previewSource = source; renderPreview()
-        case "start": start(id)
-        case "stop": if id == turn { stop() }
-        case "cancel": if id == turn { cancel() }
+        case "start":
+            capturePhase = .opening; captureError = nil; transcript = ""
+            microphoneLevels = Array(repeating: 0, count: 28)
+            capture.start(id)
+        case "stop": capture.stop(matching: id)
+        case "cancel": if id == capture.turn { cancel() }
         case "share":
             guard let value = body["data"] as? String, value.count < 10_000_000,
                   value.hasPrefix("data:image/png;base64,"),
@@ -401,7 +397,7 @@ final class WalkiewareSession: NSObject, ObservableObject, WKScriptMessageHandle
         }
         if kind == "partial", !text.isEmpty { AudioBenchmark.mark("firstRecognizedWords") }
         if kind == "final" { AudioBenchmark.checkTranscript(text) }
-        let event = ["kind": kind, "text": text, "id": id ?? turn]
+        let event = ["kind": kind, "text": text, "id": id ?? capture.turn]
         guard let data = try? JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject: event),
               let json = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8) else { return }
         webView?.evaluateJavaScript("window.walkieNativeEvent?.(\(json))") { _, error in
@@ -411,175 +407,8 @@ final class WalkiewareSession: NSObject, ObservableObject, WKScriptMessageHandle
         }
     }
 
-    private func start(_ id: String) {
-        cancel()
-        capturePhase = .opening; captureError = nil; transcript = ""
-        microphoneLevels = Array(repeating: 0, count: 28)
-        turn = id; held = true; latest = ""; wordSegments = []; delivering = false; recognitionFinal = false; audioEnded = false
-        #if DEBUG
-        if NativeScreenFixture.enabled && NativeScreenFixture.mode == "gestures" { emit("listening"); return }
-        #endif
-        musicalInput = MusicalInput()
-        musicalInput.onUpdate = { [weak self] pitch, rms in
-            Task { @MainActor in
-                guard let self, self.turn == id, self.held else { return }
-                self.microphoneLevels = Array(self.microphoneLevels.dropFirst()) + [rms.isFinite ? max(0, rms) : 0]
-                if let pitch, rms > 0.012 { self.emit("sound", text: "\(Int(pitch)) Hz") }
-            }
-        }
-        musicalInput.onObservation = { [weak self] sound in
-            Task { @MainActor in
-                guard let self, self.turn == id, self.held else { return }
-                let value: [String: Any] = ["transcript":self.latest,"words":self.wordSegments,"sound":sound]
-                guard let data = try? JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject:value), let json = String(data:data,encoding:.utf8) else { return }
-                self.emit("musicalObservation", text:json)
-            }
-        }
-        if AudioBenchmark.enabled { AudioBenchmark.reset(); AudioBenchmark.mark("holdStarted") }
-        Task { [weak self] in
-            guard let self else { return }
-            let speech = await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
-                SFSpeechRecognizer.requestAuthorization { continuation.resume(returning: $0 == .authorized) }
-            }
-            guard self.turn == id, self.held else { return }
-            guard speech else { self.fail("Speech permission is off. Enable it in Settings."); return }
-            let microphone = await AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(for: .audio)
-            guard self.turn == id, self.held else { return }
-            guard microphone else { self.fail("Microphone permission is off."); return }
-            guard let recognizer = self.recognizer, recognizer.isAvailable,
-                  recognizer.supportsOnDeviceRecognition else {
-                self.fail("On-device English speech is unavailable."); return
-            }
-            do {
-                let session = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
-                try session.setCategory(.playAndRecord, mode: .measurement, options: [.defaultToSpeaker, .allowBluetooth])
-                try session.setActive(true)
-                let request = SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest()
-                request.shouldReportPartialResults = true
-                request.taskHint = .dictation
-                request.requiresOnDeviceRecognition = true
-                request.contextualStrings = ["Walkieware", "Aesthetic Computer", "garden", "flowers"]
-                self.request = request
-                if !AudioBenchmark.enabled {
-                let input = self.engine.inputNode
-                let format = input.outputFormat(forBus: 0)
-                guard format.sampleRate > 0, format.channelCount > 0 else {
-                    self.fail("No microphone is available."); return
-                }
-                let sound = self.musicalInput
-                input.installTap(onBus: 0, bufferSize: 1024, format: format) { buffer, _ in request.append(buffer); sound.feed(buffer) }
-                self.tapped = true
-                self.engine.prepare()
-                try self.engine.start()
-                }
-                self.emit("listening")
-                self.task = recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { [weak self] result, error in
-                    let text = result?.bestTranscription.formattedString
-                    let segments = result?.bestTranscription.segments.map { ["text": $0.substring, "atMs": $0.timestamp * 1000, "durationMs": $0.duration * 1000, "confidence": Double($0.confidence)] as [String: Any] }
-                    let isFinal = result?.isFinal ?? false
-                    let message = error?.localizedDescription
-                    Task { @MainActor in
-                        guard let self, self.turn == id else { return }
-                        if let segments { self.wordSegments = Array(segments.prefix(256)) }
-                        if let text { self.latest = text; self.emit("partial", text: text) }
-                        if isFinal { self.recognitionFinal = true; AudioBenchmark.mark("recognitionFinal") }
-                        if self.audioEnded && isFinal { self.deliver() }
-                        else if self.audioEnded && message != nil && self.latest.isEmpty {
-                            self.deliver() // Sound remains useful when speech finds no words.
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-                if AudioBenchmark.enabled {
-                    let sound = self.musicalInput
-                    self.replayTask = Task { [weak self] in
-                        do {
-                            try await AudioBenchmark.replay(into: request, sound: sound) {
-                                self?.webView?.evaluateJavaScript("voiceEnd()", completionHandler: nil)
-                            }
-                        } catch { if !Task.isCancelled { self?.fail("Audio fixture replay failed.") } }
-                    }
-                }
-                self.deadline = Task { [weak self] in
-                    try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(8))
-                    guard !Task.isCancelled, let self, self.turn == id else { return }
-                    self.stop()
-                }
-            } catch { self.fail("Could not start the microphone. Please try again.") }
-        }
-    }
-
-    private func stopAudio() {
-        engine.stop()
-        if tapped { engine.inputNode.removeTap(onBus: 0); tapped = false }
-        request?.endAudio()
-        try? AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(false, options: .notifyOthersOnDeactivation)
-    }
-
-    private func stop() {
-        guard !turn.isEmpty, held else { return }
-        held = false
-        AudioBenchmark.mark("releaseReceived")
-        guard request != nil else { cancel(); return }
-        // Capture a release tail, within the eight-second recording budget. A
-        // thumb lifts a beat before the last word lands; 0.25 s clipped endings.
-        let elapsed = captureStarted.map { Date().timeIntervalSince($0) } ?? 8
-        let tail = min(0.45, max(0, 8 - elapsed))
-        emit("processing")
-        finishing?.cancel()
-        let id = turn
-        finishing = Task { [weak self] in
-            try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(tail))
-            guard !Task.isCancelled, let self, self.turn == id else { return }
-            self.stopAudio()
-            self.audioEnded = true
-            AudioBenchmark.mark("audioDrained")
-            if self.recognitionFinal { self.deliver(); return }
-            // endAudio lets recognition consume every queued buffer and finalize.
-            // If it never does, the partial transcript is still the person's
-            // words: send what was heard rather than throw the utterance away.
-            try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(3))
-            guard !Task.isCancelled, self.turn == id, !self.delivering else { return }
-            AudioBenchmark.mark("recognitionTimedOut", fields: ["recognizedCharacters": self.latest.count])
-            self.deliver()
-        }
-    }
-
-    private func deliver() {
-        guard !delivering, !turn.isEmpty else { return }
-        delivering = true
-        let text = latest.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
-        let id = turn, words = wordSegments
-        stopAudio()
-        musicalInput.finish { [weak self] sound in
-            Task { @MainActor in
-                guard let self, self.turn == id else { return }
-                guard !text.isEmpty || (sound["audibleMs"] as? Double ?? 0) >= 150 else {
-                    self.fail("I didn’t hear words or a sound. Hold to try again."); return
-                }
-                let value: [String: Any] = ["transcript":text,"words":words,"sound":sound]
-                guard let data = try? JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject:value), let json = String(data:data,encoding:.utf8) else { self.fail("Could not read sound input."); return }
-                AudioBenchmark.checkTranscript(text)
-                AudioBenchmark.mark("soundSubmitted", fields: value)
-                self.cancel()
-                self.emit("mixedFinal", text:json, id:id)
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    private func fail(_ message: String) {
-        AudioBenchmark.mark("recognitionFailed", fields: ["message": message, "recognizedCharacters": latest.count])
-        let id = turn
-        cancel()
-        emit("error", text: message, id: id)
-    }
-
     func cancel() {
         capturePhase = .idle; captureStarted = nil
-        turn = ""; held = false
-        replayTask?.cancel(); replayTask = nil
-        finishing?.cancel(); finishing = nil
-        deadline?.cancel(); deadline = nil
-        stopAudio()
-        task?.cancel(); task = nil; request = nil
+        capture.cancel()
     }
 }
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Sources/WalkiewareScreen.swift b/apple/walkieware/Sources/WalkiewareScreen.swift
index 091f48716c..7716ed7418 100644
--- a/apple/walkieware/Sources/WalkiewareScreen.swift
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Sources/WalkiewareScreen.swift
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ struct VersionFeed: View {
                 HStack(spacing: 12) {
                     if snapshot.busy { ProgressView().frame(width: 48) }
                     if snapshot.busy, let output = snapshot.output, !output.isEmpty {
-                        CodeTicker(output: output)
+                        CodeTicker(output: output, thinking: snapshot.phase.hasPrefix("Thinking"))
                     } else {
                     Text(attempt.request.replacingOccurrences(of: #" · [0-9.]+ seconds$"#, with: "", options: .regularExpression))
                         .font(.custom("ComicRelief-Regular", size: textSize, relativeTo: .title3))
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Tests/checks.json b/apple/walkieware/Tests/checks.json
index 52322d876b..07a2c65f65 100644
--- a/apple/walkieware/Tests/checks.json
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Tests/checks.json
@@ -778,7 +778,8 @@
    "13 relay policy tests passed incl. reasoning shapes",
    "AcServer tests passed"
   ],
-  "limits": "Needs a lith deploy before the phone benefits; the deployed relay drops the field. Live re-measure owed after deploy."
+  "limits": "Needs a lith deploy before the phone benefits; the deployed relay drops the field. Live re-measure owed after deploy.",
+  "result": "Deployed relay forwards the field (probe: malformed values get 400). OpenRouter /api/v1/messages ignores every shape for deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash: effort none \u2192 4958 thinking tokens, enabled false \u2192 3495, max_tokens 64 \u2192 2364. Thinking varies 2.3K\u20138.1K tokens on the same prompt. Open: does Anthropic-style thinking:{type:\"disabled\"} or /chat/completions honor it (probe-openrouter.mjs, @jeffrey runs it with the vault key)."
  },
  "selectorAndTicker": {
   "build": 74,
@@ -845,5 +846,72 @@
    "Device build passed"
   ],
   "limits": "Not yet auditioned by voice on the phone this turn."
+ },
+ "modelComparison": {
+  "date": "2026-10-01",
+  "edit": "wwGihap v2 basket + \"Someone is eating them\", desktop replay through the production relay, reasoning effort none requested",
+  "rows": [
+   {
+    "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash",
+    "totalMs": 15959,
+    "firstCodeMs": 12687,
+    "thinkingTokens": 4958,
+    "quality": "animated: berries vanish, critter chomps (best)"
+   },
+   {
+    "model": "openai/gpt-5.6-luna",
+    "totalMs": 12704,
+    "firstCodeMs": 6037,
+    "thinkingTokens": 266,
+    "quality": "static thief head, no eating animation"
+   },
+   {
+    "model": "qwen/qwen3.7-plus",
+    "totalMs": 41448,
+    "firstCodeMs": 7184,
+    "thinkingTokens": 263,
+    "quality": "invented tap-to-start interaction; 57 tok/s"
+   },
+   {
+    "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro",
+    "totalMs": 49035,
+    "firstCodeMs": 24181,
+    "thinkingTokens": 1444,
+    "quality": "four rounds"
+   },
+   {
+    "model": "deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3.1",
+    "totalMs": 58095,
+    "firstCodeMs": 1444,
+    "thinkingTokens": 0,
+    "quality": "static eater; five rounds, three of them chatter"
+   }
+  ],
+  "conclusion": "Keep DeepSeek v4.1 flash; its hidden thinking is the latency. Until it can be switched off, stream the thinking into the ticker (reasoningStream)."
+ },
+ "reasoningStream": {
+  "build": 78,
+  "change": "AcServer emits item/reasoning/delta for thinking_delta events (never kept in the conversation); the engine shows the reasoning in the pending-row ticker, dimmed and plain, until code arrives; phase reads Thinking\u2026",
+  "validation": [
+   "22 AcServer tests passed incl. thinking-delta case",
+   "native-bridge browser test passed",
+   "Live replay: first reasoning text at 669 ms, first code at 23.6 s on a heavy run \u2014 the ticker is busy for the whole gap"
+  ]
+ },
+ "sessionSplit": {
+  "build": 78,
+  "change": "SpeechCapture.swift owns the microphone, recognizer, pitch/energy analysis and release timing and reports through onEvent/onLevel/onReplayRelease; WalkiewareSession keeps screen state and the web bridge. WalkiewareApp.swift shrinks by ~180 lines.",
+  "validation": [
+   "Simulator build passed",
+   "Full UI suite: see sessionSplitUITests"
+  ]
+ },
+ "sessionSplitUITests": {
+  "build": 78,
+  "validation": [
+   "SwipeToTypeTests 3/3 passed on the split (inline typing both appearances, silent version scrolling, story restore)",
+   "HeaderSheetsTests 2/2 passed after the dismissal check became a proper disappearance wait",
+   "Device build 78 installed (launch blocked: phone locked)"
+  ]
  }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Tests/fixtures/basket-v2.mjs b/apple/walkieware/Tests/fixtures/basket-v2.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ba697ac56b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Tests/fixtures/basket-v2.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+// Walkieware v2 — a basket of blueberries.
+export function paint({ wipe, ink, circle, line, shape, screen }) {
+  wipe("#151838");
+
+  const cx = screen.width / 2;
+  const rimY = screen.height * 0.56;
+  const botY = screen.height * 0.9;
+  const topW = Math.min(screen.width * 0.66, 460);
+  const botW = topW * 0.68;
+  const r = topW * 0.075;
+
+  // basket body
+  ink("#7a4a22");
+  shape([
+    [cx - topW / 2, rimY], [cx + topW / 2, rimY],
+    [cx + botW / 2, botY], [cx - botW / 2, botY],
+  ], true);
+
+  const half = (t) => (topW + (botW - topW) * t) / 2;
+  ink("#96602c");
+  for (let i = 1; i < 6; i += 1) {
+    const t = i / 6;
+    const y = rimY + (botY - rimY) * t;
+    line(cx - half(t), y, cx + half(t), y);
+  }
+  ink("#673d1a");
+  for (let k = -3; k <= 3; k += 1) {
+    line(cx + (k * topW) / 7, rimY, cx + (k * botW) / 7, botY);
+  }
+
+  // the pile — back rows first so nearer berries overlap
+  const rows = [
+    { n: 5, y: rimY - r * 0.1 },
+    { n: 4, y: rimY - r * 1.05 },
+    { n: 2, y: rimY - r * 1.85 },
+  ];
+  rows.forEach(({ n, y }, row) => {
+    for (let i = 0; i < n; i += 1) {
+      const x = cx + (i - (n - 1) / 2) * r * 1.72;
+      berry(ink, circle, line, x + Math.sin(row * 3 + i * 2) * r * 0.12, y, r, row * 2 + i);
+    }
+  });
+
+  // front rim lip holds them in
+  ink("#a56a30");
+  line(cx - topW / 2, rimY, cx + topW / 2, rimY, r * 0.45);
+  ink("#c98a45");
+  line(cx - topW / 2, rimY - r * 0.22, cx + topW / 2, rimY - r * 0.22, r * 0.12);
+}
+
+function berry(ink, circle, line, x, y, r, seed) {
+  const shades = ["#2b3390", "#3843ad", "#4653c6", "#5866dc"];
+  ink(shades[seed % shades.length]);
+  circle(x, y, r, true);
+
+  ink("#8a95f6");
+  circle(x - r * 0.3, y - r * 0.32, r * 0.34, true);
+  ink("#cdd3ff");
+  circle(x - r * 0.36, y - r * 0.38, r * 0.12, true);
+
+  // calyx: five star points around a small central stem
+  ink("#191c4d");
+  const top = y - r * 0.82;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 5; i += 1) {
+    const a = -Math.PI / 2 + (i - 2) * 0.5;
+    line(x, top, x + Math.cos(a) * r * 0.34, top + Math.sin(a) * r * 0.3);
+  }
+  ink("#232666");
+  circle(x, top, r * 0.11, true);
+  line(x, top, x - r * 0.05, top - r * 0.15);
+}
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Tests/probe-openrouter.mjs b/apple/walkieware/Tests/probe-openrouter.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8f8948fff2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Tests/probe-openrouter.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+// Which parameter shape, if any, turns DeepSeek v4.1 flash's thinking off on
+// OpenRouter? Reads OPENROUTER_API_KEY from vault/lith/.env in-process (never
+// printed), sends one small request per shape, prints status + usage only.
+// Run: node probe-openrouter.mjs [model]
+import {readFileSync} from 'node:fs';
+const env=readFileSync(new URL('../../../vault/lith/.env',import.meta.url),'utf8');
+const key=env.match(/^OPENROUTER_API_KEY=(.+)$/m)?.[1]?.trim().replace(/^["']|["']$/g,'');
+if(!key)throw Error('no OPENROUTER_API_KEY in vault/lith/.env');
+const model=process.argv[2]||'deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash';
+const prompt='Write a JavaScript function that draws a filled circle at the center of a screen object with width and height, using ink() and circle(). Code only.';
+const headers={Authorization:`Bearer ${key}`,'Content-Type':'application/json','anthropic-version':'2023-06-01','HTTP-Referer':'https://aesthetic.computer','X-Title':'Walkieware probe'};
+const shapes=[
+  ['messages · baseline',{}],
+  ['messages · reasoning.effort none',{reasoning:{effort:'none'}}],
+  ['messages · reasoning.enabled false',{reasoning:{enabled:false}}],
+  ['messages · thinking disabled',{thinking:{type:'disabled'}}],
+  ['messages · reasoning.max_tokens 0',{reasoning:{max_tokens:0}}],
+  ['chat · reasoning.effort none',null],
+  ['chat · reasoning.enabled false',{enabled:false}],
+];
+for(const [label,extra] of shapes){
+  const t0=performance.now();
+  const chat=label.startsWith('chat');
+  const url=chat?'https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions':'https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/messages';
+  const body=chat?{model,max_tokens:600,messages:[{role:'user',content:prompt}],reasoning:extra||{effort:'none'}}:{model,max_tokens:600,messages:[{role:'user',content:prompt}],...extra};
+  try{
+    const r=await fetch(url,{method:'POST',headers,body:JSON.stringify(body)});
+    const text=await r.text();let j;try{j=JSON.parse(text);}catch{}
+    const usage=j?.usage||{};
+    const think=usage.output_tokens_details?.thinking_tokens??usage.completion_tokens_details?.reasoning_tokens??'?';
+    const out=usage.output_tokens??usage.completion_tokens??'?';
+    const stop=j?.stop_reason||j?.choices?.[0]?.finish_reason||'';
+    const err=j?.error?.message||(r.ok?'':text.slice(0,120));
+    console.log(label.padEnd(36),'→',r.status,String(Math.round(performance.now()-t0)).padStart(6)+'ms','thinking',String(think).padStart(5),'out',String(out).padStart(5),stop,err);
+  }catch(e){console.log(label.padEnd(36),'→ fetch failed',e.message);}
+}
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Tests/replay-edit.mjs b/apple/walkieware/Tests/replay-edit.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b2a498fe40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Tests/replay-edit.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// Replay one real Walkieware edit from the desktop through the same relay the
+// phone uses, and time every round: request → headers → first delta → end,
+// with the provider's usage block, stop reason and tool names per round.
+// Usage: node Tests/replay-edit.mjs [model] [prompt]
+//   REPLAY_SOURCE=./fixtures/other.mjs  REASONING_JSON='{"effort":"none"}'  REASONING=on (provider default)
+// Reports land in Tests/audio/ (gitignored evidence).
+import {ACSession,USER_AGENT} from '../../../aesel/src/ac-session.mjs';
+import {AcServer} from '../../../aesel/src/ac-server.mjs';
+import {GENERATION_INSTRUCTIONS,DEFAULT_MODEL} from '../Resources/Web/generation-policy.mjs';
+import {inferenceRequest} from '../Resources/Web/inference-input.mjs';
+import {mkdtemp,writeFile,readFile} from 'node:fs/promises';
+import {tmpdir} from 'node:os';
+import {join} from 'node:path';
+
+const model=process.argv[2]||DEFAULT_MODEL;
+const prompt=process.argv[3]||'Someone is eating them';
+const initial=await readFile(new URL(process.env.REPLAY_SOURCE||'./fixtures/basket-v2.mjs',import.meta.url),'utf8');
+const session=new ACSession();const token=await session.token();if(!token)throw Error('Sign in first');
+const cwd=await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(),'ww-replay-'));const file=join(cwd,'piece.mjs');await writeFile(file,initial);
+
+const t0=performance.now();const now=()=>Math.round(performance.now()-t0);
+const rounds=[];let round=null;let painted=initial;let feedback=null;
+const log=(...a)=>console.log(String(now()).padStart(6)+'ms',...a);
+const server=new AcServer({cwd,piece:{file,checkpoint:async()=>{painted=await readFile(file,'utf8');feedback={rendered:true,logs:[],updatedAt:new Date().toISOString()};}},
+  model,token:()=>token,preview:true,rounds:12,outputContinuations:4,jev:null,reasoning:process.env.REASONING_JSON?JSON.parse(process.env.REASONING_JSON):process.env.REASONING==='on'?null:{effort:'none'},frameCapture:false,layeredEdits:true,developerInstructions:GENERATION_INSTRUCTIONS,
+  fetch:async(url,options)=>{
+    round={n:rounds.length+1,request:now(),bodyBytes:Buffer.byteLength(options.body),tools:[],deltaBytes:0};rounds.push(round);
+    const body=JSON.parse(options.body);round.messages=body.messages.length;round.systemBytes=JSON.stringify(body.system).length;round.toolDefs=body.tools?.length;
+    const response=await fetch(url,{...options,headers:{...options.headers,'User-Agent':USER_AGENT}});
+    round.headers=now();log(`round ${round.n} headers after ${round.headers-round.request}ms · body ${round.bodyBytes}B · ${round.messages} msgs`);
+    return response;
+  }});
+server.runtimeFeedback=()=>feedback;
+server.on('notification',({method,params})=>{
+  if(!round)return;
+  if(method==='item/modelCode/delta'){round.firstDelta??=now();round.deltaBytes+=params.delta.length;if(!round.tools.includes(params.tool||'write_piece'))round.tools.push(params.tool||'write_piece');}
+  if(method==='item/agentMessage/delta'){round.firstDelta??=now();round.text=(round.text||'')+params.delta;}
+  if(method==='item/reasoning/delta'){round.firstReasoning??=now();round.reasoningChars=(round.reasoningChars||0)+params.delta.length;}
+  if(method==='item/started')round.tools.push(params.item?.tool||params.item?.type);
+  if(method==='item/completed'){round.completed=(round.completed||[]);round.completed.push(params.item?.status||params.item?.path);log(`  tool done: ${params.item?.status||params.item?.summary||params.item?.path}`);}
+  if(method==='turn/usage'){round.usage=params.usage;round.end=now();log(`  round ${round.n} end · ${round.end-round.request}ms · usage ${JSON.stringify(params.usage)}`);}
+  if(method==='turn/progress'&&params.phase==='continuing')log('  CONTINUATION',params.continuation);
+  if(method==='turn/progress'&&['generating','composing'].includes(params.phase)){round.firstByte??=now();round.phases=(round.phases||'')+(round.phases?.endsWith(params.phase[0])?'':params.phase[0]);}
+  if(method==='turn/completed'){log('turn completed',params.turn.status,params.turn.error?.message||'');}
+  if(method==='model/reported')round.reported=params.reported;
+});
+const deadline=setTimeout(()=>{log('DEADLINE interrupt');server.interrupt();},240000);
+try{await server.startTurn(inferenceRequest(prompt));}catch(e){log('error',e.message);}finally{clearTimeout(deadline);server.close();}
+const final=await readFile(file,'utf8');
+console.log('\n=== SUMMARY',model,JSON.stringify(prompt),'reasoning',process.env.REASONING_JSON||(process.env.REASONING==='on'?'default':'none'));
+console.log('total',now(),'ms · rounds',rounds.length,'· source',initial.length,'→',final.length,'chars · changed',final!==initial);
+for(const r of rounds)console.log(JSON.stringify({n:r.n,ttHeaders:r.headers-r.request,ttFirstDelta:r.firstDelta?r.firstDelta-r.request:null,ttFirstByte:r.firstByte?r.firstByte-r.request:null,ttFirstReasoning:r.firstReasoning?r.firstReasoning-r.request:null,reasoningChars:r.reasoningChars||0,phases:r.phases,duration:(r.end||now())-r.request,tools:r.tools,deltaBytes:r.deltaBytes,usage:r.usage,text:(r.text||'').slice(0,120),bodyBytes:r.bodyBytes,msgs:r.messages}));
+await writeFile(new URL(`./audio/replay-${model.replace(/\W/g,'_')}-${Date.now()}.json`,import.meta.url),JSON.stringify({model,prompt,rounds,total:now(),final},null,1));
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/UITests/HeaderSheetsTests.swift b/apple/walkieware/UITests/HeaderSheetsTests.swift
index a38c0a2d61..5cfb0d9ad6 100644
--- a/apple/walkieware/UITests/HeaderSheetsTests.swift
+++ b/apple/walkieware/UITests/HeaderSheetsTests.swift
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ import XCTest
 // the pieces sheet with a way to start a new piece. Runs on the simulator
 // against the "history" fixture, which signs nothing in and reaches no cloud.
 final class HeaderSheetsTests: XCTestCase {
+    /// Sheets dismiss with an animation; poll until the element is really gone.
+    private func waitForDisappearance(of element: XCUIElement, timeout: TimeInterval = 6) -> Bool {
+        let gone = expectation(for: NSPredicate(format: "exists == false"), evaluatedWith: element)
+        return XCTWaiter().wait(for: [gone], timeout: timeout) == .completed
+    }
+
     private func launch() -> XCUIApplication {
         let app = XCUIApplication()
         app.launchEnvironment["WALKIE_NATIVE_SCREEN_FIXTURE"] = "history"
@@ -19,7 +25,7 @@ final class HeaderSheetsTests: XCTestCase {
         XCTAssertTrue(app.buttons["pieces-new"].waitForExistence(timeout: 10), "the pieces sheet offers New piece")
         XCTAssertTrue(app.buttons["piece-wwDemo"].exists, "the open piece is listed by its code")
         app.buttons["Done"].tap()
-        XCTAssertFalse(app.buttons["pieces-new"].waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForDisappearance(of: app.buttons["pieces-new"]), "Done closes the pieces sheet")
     }
 
     func testHandleOpensAccountSheetWithSignOut() {
@@ -30,6 +36,6 @@ final class HeaderSheetsTests: XCTestCase {
         XCTAssertTrue(app.buttons["account-sign-out"].waitForExistence(timeout: 10), "a signed-in fixture handle shows Sign out")
         XCTAssertTrue(app.segmentedControls.firstMatch.exists, "appearance moved into the account sheet")
         app.buttons["Done"].tap()
-        XCTAssertFalse(app.buttons["account-sign-out"].waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForDisappearance(of: app.buttons["account-sign-out"]), "Done closes the account sheet")
     }
 }
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/Walkieware.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/apple/walkieware/Walkieware.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index 04d1bd97a4..fdea05e490 100644
--- a/apple/walkieware/Walkieware.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/apple/walkieware/Walkieware.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 		91EBE2405BCB456959613E70 /* RecordingTrim.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 35720E8232DBFB5B795FBEEA /* RecordingTrim.swift */; };
 		97AB97086118FC695F4B2133 /* AudioBenchmark.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 45F6D30D7883EC26BF391CC7 /* AudioBenchmark.swift */; };
 		99B11F258C6DD8DEAD32A419 /* MusicalInput.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 1A7C5768F0EE9F4A8A288767 /* MusicalInput.swift */; };
+		B01CCEF94DAC4203687C68CB /* SpeechCapture.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 054D4872CAC359CCAFE93F95 /* SpeechCapture.swift */; };
 		C57CC34DE256A25EDF176C4A /* NativeScreenFixture.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = FF403AD7661862BCAC9B2F95 /* NativeScreenFixture.swift */; };
 		E0B6A4DB98A5C44344C74589 /* WorkspaceCoordinator.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = D40BA9A3C78CC0324903812B /* WorkspaceCoordinator.swift */; };
 		F1E262539EDCC86364A1B426 /* UtteranceRecording.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 4A3D6D0D1C0C32051B6C6AF4 /* UtteranceRecording.swift */; };
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@
 
 /* Begin PBXFileReference section */
 		03D832B5A1A03E760A43BBF8 /* WalkiewareHeader.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = WalkiewareHeader.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
+		054D4872CAC359CCAFE93F95 /* SpeechCapture.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = SpeechCapture.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		06F16D0B24CA61442FFD0E27 /* SequenceBenchmark.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = SequenceBenchmark.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		110077D3E4AF92775C4E6D74 /* Assets.xcassets */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = folder.assetcatalog; path = Assets.xcassets; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		1A7C5768F0EE9F4A8A288767 /* MusicalInput.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = MusicalInput.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
@@ -95,6 +97,7 @@
 				50D5B994181BB8DD173DBA13 /* PlaybackWord.swift */,
 				35720E8232DBFB5B795FBEEA /* RecordingTrim.swift */,
 				06F16D0B24CA61442FFD0E27 /* SequenceBenchmark.swift */,
+				054D4872CAC359CCAFE93F95 /* SpeechCapture.swift */,
 				4A3D6D0D1C0C32051B6C6AF4 /* UtteranceRecording.swift */,
 				E8E12122840B2375C0AB2ED0 /* VersionNarrator.swift */,
 				F3EC37299741D5E90E45EE5F /* WalkiewareAccount.swift */,
@@ -263,6 +266,7 @@
 				09A89EDEB03772B566D345A9 /* PlaybackWord.swift in Sources */,
 				91EBE2405BCB456959613E70 /* RecordingTrim.swift in Sources */,
 				7EC06C94440CDAF9B846F0BB /* SequenceBenchmark.swift in Sources */,
+				B01CCEF94DAC4203687C68CB /* SpeechCapture.swift in Sources */,
 				F1E262539EDCC86364A1B426 /* UtteranceRecording.swift in Sources */,
 				27410D22F96D8006B6D29452 /* VersionNarrator.swift in Sources */,
 				28DE33D8B94B853B408571A1 /* WalkiewareAccount.swift in Sources */,
@@ -390,7 +394,7 @@
 				CLANG_WARN__DUPLICATE_METHOD_MATCH = YES;
 				CODE_SIGN_STYLE = Automatic;
 				COPY_PHASE_STRIP = NO;
-				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 77;
+				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 78;
 				DEBUG_INFORMATION_FORMAT = dwarf;
 				DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = FB5948YR3S;
 				ENABLE_STRICT_OBJC_MSGSEND = YES;
@@ -457,7 +461,7 @@
 				CLANG_WARN__DUPLICATE_METHOD_MATCH = YES;
 				CODE_SIGN_STYLE = Automatic;
 				COPY_PHASE_STRIP = NO;
-				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 77;
+				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 78;
 				DEBUG_INFORMATION_FORMAT = "dwarf-with-dsym";
 				DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = FB5948YR3S;
 				ENABLE_NS_ASSERTIONS = NO;
diff --git a/apple/walkieware/project.yml b/apple/walkieware/project.yml
index 3439ec3f7e..23a06b4932 100644
--- a/apple/walkieware/project.yml
+++ b/apple/walkieware/project.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ settings:
     CODE_SIGN_STYLE: Automatic
     SWIFT_VERSION: "5.0"
     MARKETING_VERSION: "0.1.0"
-    CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION: "77"
+    CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION: "78"
 targets:
   Walkieware:
     type: application