v0.4.0-rc.1

Changelog

• 61b84ad docs: clarify speed claim in README
• 01436d0 docs: refine highlight descriptions for performance and UI wording
• 40013ce docs: improve README wording and consistency
• 58d501e docs: update README for on‑device usage and add comprehensive reference documentation
• 803f7ba feat: support prerelease tags for proper update handling
• 71cb452 Merge pull request #27 from sumerc/improve-install-ux
• 09a1923 feat(tray): clarify auto‑start menu text and tooltip for dev builds
• 1580899 feat(tray): place Reload Config below a separator
• 6b32458 feat(login): add login auto-start management
• fa00449 feat: update default hotkey to Option+Space and limit auto-start to installed app builds
• 791f384 feat: cap and prune auto‑saved failed recordings
• 5966e4d refactor: replace config watcher with manual reload and add env longpress support
• 2f1bac4 feat(config): reduce default mic tail-wait to 50 ms for lower latency
• 709a043 feat: add separator before input device selection
• 58c60aa docs: refine multilingual model tradeoff notes and add M1 v3 benchmark data
• eef361a feat: reintroduce Parakeet v3 multilingual as opt‑in model and unify local models under a single menu groupgpc
• 019d74e docs: pin measured M1 Pro benchmark numbers for local model latency
• 75fcbdb docs: add re‑verification notes for encoder state issue and update VAD analysis
• 91feae1 feat: extend transcription API and add submenu separator in tray
• 8126c6b refactor(tray): simplify to single template icon and remove warning/transcribing states
• 3d3943d feat: add on-screen overlay with mic level meter and integrate hint support into local transcribers
• 2e57e57 chore: clarify model download is one-time in install output
• 6c2db8c refactor: enforce explicit model IDs and derive provider from model engine in integration tests
• c152c14 feat: add release-to-text latency metric and halve default mic tail‑wait
• b3355d7 refactor(tray): replace colored icons with template images and remove dark‑mode detection logic
• b00bdb5 refactor: unify local engine handling and improve mic test flow
• ef65f06 feat: add Whisper local engine and refactor local provider architecture to unify model handling
• ede61eb feat: add isolated local inference benchmark and PCM conversion utility
• cad7737 feat: add configurable mic tail wait to prevent clipping last word
• ee95aeb feat: add asynchronous model loading and guard engine actions during recording
• 2385b6d feat(tray): add menu item to edit credentials.json directly
• c89b517 refactor: use argv for alert dialogs and separate hotkey modifier maps by OS
• 226b2c9 refactor(clipboard): remove ZEE_NO_CLIPBOARD test hook
• dcdf47c chore(audio): update comments to reflect AVAudioPlayer playback architecture
• b888926 chore(audio): switch feedback tones from AudioToolbox to AVAudioPlayer with in-memory WAV bytes
• b78b987 perf(audio): replace malgo playback device with AudioToolbox System Sound Services for instant feedback tones
• 2890374 fix: prevent quick-tap misfire from clipboard snapshot blocking the press window
• d3fd83e perf(audio): keep mic device warm across recordings to cut press-to-record latency
• b2bfe4f chore(setup): add English sample audio for wizard verification
• 02bb005 feat(hotkey): instrument press-to-record latency to diagnose tap misfires
• fead296 feat(parakeet): run local model on Metal via parakeet.cpp v0.4.0
• ca44d82 feat(setup): improve wizard readability and simplify paste verification
• 039e259 feat(update): hand off to setup after bundle swap to restore TCC grants
• 458847a feat(setup): migrate provider prompts to huh v2 TUI and fix light menu bar icons
• 2a0f8b0 fix: add untracked self-update + test files; pin provider in integration tests
• c09bb57 refactor: add zip asset handling and unify release URL generation
• 6c21a5e feat: add hotkey validation tests and macOS spawn disclaimer support
• dab9255 feat: make installation atomic, add hotkey validation and permission handling
• c3fa9cf feat: ensure failed recordings auto‑save before transcription cycle ends
• 0f01d6b test: add failure diagnostics dump in integration tests
• 22577d5 test: stream session retains audio for save/error-recovery
• 9d30219 feat: enable install.sh to use a local DMG via DMG_PATH
• 6537b3f feat: retain streaming session audio and expose it as WAV in session results
• 9c3f553 feat: drop Auto-detect for Deepgram and avoid redundant key re‑test
• ca143c7 feat: add health check and enhance setup wizard behavior
• a5ecd43 feat(setup): improve wizard verification and abort install on model download failure
• 3d04eeb refactor: add live config watching, hotkey equality, and UI updates for settings changes
• ee14c33 feat(config): ensure config file exists before opening settings
• c396eb9 feat(setup): add zee -setup wizard, credentials.json, configurable hotkey