diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c9e85b7..ebac1c6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ loading…") or what went wrong, with Retry or Cancel when it helps. Chat and ac
 Tab), ready to type; it shows messages, and its "Activity" toggle adds
 joins, ready, seeks and the like between them. Joins, leaves, chat and
 other news also pop up bottom left with the person's avatar; click a message to open the chat
-(Settings → Notifications → Chat messages: All, Only when paused or Off;
-messages always reach the chat). Unread chat shows as a count on the chat
+(Settings → Notifications → Chat messages: Only when paused by default,
+or All, or Off; messages always reach the chat). Unread chat shows as a count on the chat
 buttons and, in fullscreen with the controls hidden and the video paused,
 as a small chip top right.
 
@@ -248,9 +248,10 @@ the same.
 
 Skipping: during the opening a "Skip OP" button floats in the corner (it
 jumps to the end of the opening), during the ending "Skip ED" (to the end
-of the ending only; what comes after is yours to skip). Any skip button
-(also "Skip 1:30") shows for 5 seconds when it comes up, then only while
-the controls are up (move the mouse). The opening and
+of the ending only; what comes after is yours to skip). "Skip OP" and
+"Skip 1:30" show for 5 seconds when they come up, then only while the
+controls are up (move the mouse); "Skip ED" and "Next episode" show only
+while the controls are up. The opening and
 ending come from Jellyfin's intro / outro segments when your Jellyfin has
 them (needs a segment plugin, e.g. Intro Skipper), else from chapter names
 (OP, Opening, Intro / ED, Ending, Credits, Outro). Without an opening or
@@ -311,9 +312,9 @@ Watching:
 
 Episodes: the ⏮ / ⏭ buttons next to the controls (or `<` / `>`,
 Shift+P / Shift+N) put up the previous or next episode for everyone. From
-the ending, when it is known (see Skipping above), a "Next episode"
-button floats in the corner; when it is not, nothing shows before the
-end. When an
+the ending (when it is known, see Skipping above; else in the last two
+minutes) a "Next episode" button floats in the corner while the controls
+are up. When an
 episode ends, a card shows what is next with Play next; with "Play the
 next episode automatically" (Settings, on by default) it counts down 10 s
 first, and Cancel stops it on your screen (seeking back stops it for
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/jellyfin/session_media.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/jellyfin/session_media.dart
index 84e4f44..dec4a86 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/jellyfin/session_media.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/jellyfin/session_media.dart
@@ -318,15 +318,17 @@ Future<({EpisodeLink? previous, EpisodeLink? next})> findAdjacentEpisodes(OwnPla
   }
 }
 
-/// When the floating "Next episode" pill appears: at [endingStart] (the
+/// Where the "Next episode" pill's window starts: at [endingStart] (the
 /// ED: Jellyfin Outro segment or ED-titled chapter, see `endingRange`)
-/// when one is known inside [runtime]. Null otherwise: no guessed ending,
-/// the end-of-episode card at the real end is the only prompt then.
-Duration? nextPromptStart(JellyfinItem? item, Duration runtime, {Duration? endingStart}) {
+/// when one is known inside [runtime], else the last two minutes of
+/// [runtime] (all of it for shorter media). The pill shows only while the
+/// controls are up (`PillGate`), so a guessed window costs nothing.
+Duration nextPromptStart(JellyfinItem? item, Duration runtime, {Duration? endingStart}) {
   if (endingStart != null && endingStart > Duration.zero && endingStart < runtime) {
     return endingStart;
   }
-  return null;
+  const lead = Duration(minutes: 2);
+  return runtime > lead ? runtime - lead : Duration.zero;
 }
 
 /// Who performs the auto-advance swap, so several counting clients do not
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/screens/session/jellyfin_widgets.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/screens/session/jellyfin_widgets.dart
index 5bdc512..6565c17 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/screens/session/jellyfin_widgets.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/screens/session/jellyfin_widgets.dart
@@ -36,9 +36,8 @@ class EpisodeSkipButton extends StatelessWidget {
   }
 }
 
-/// Floating "Next episode ›" from the ED (or the last two minutes):
-/// faint at rest, lit on hover. Lives outside the auto-hiding controls, so
-/// it shows in fullscreen and with the controls hidden.
+/// Floating "Next episode ›" from the ED (or the last two minutes), while
+/// the controls are up (`PillGate`): faint at rest, lit on hover.
 class NextEpisodePill extends StatelessWidget {
   final EpisodeLink episode;
   final VoidCallback onPressed;
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/screens/session/player_controls.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/screens/session/player_controls.dart
index 4a84ba0..2afe829 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/screens/session/player_controls.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/screens/session/player_controls.dart
@@ -526,8 +526,8 @@ class SkipForwardButton extends StatelessWidget {
 }
 
 /// Floating pill over the video (Next episode, Skip OP / ED / 1:30):
-/// faint at rest, lit on hover. Lives outside the auto-hiding controls, so
-/// it shows in fullscreen and with the controls hidden.
+/// faint at rest, lit on hover. Lives outside the auto-hiding controls
+/// (also in fullscreen); `PillGate` shows it with them.
 class FloatingPill extends StatefulWidget {
   final String label;
   final String tooltip;
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing.dart
index cd63dca..b9c2d3c 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing.dart
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ class NowPlaying {
   /// Portrait cover (2:3) and wide banner; '' when none.
   final String posterHash;
   final String bannerHash;
-  const NowPlaying({required this.title, this.episode, this.posterHash = '', this.bannerHash = ''});
-
-  /// The art is a web video's thumbnail (the same picture as cover and
-  /// banner): shown wide, under the video's own name.
-  bool get thumbnail => posterHash.isNotEmpty && posterHash == bannerHash;
+  /// A web video: its art is its thumbnail (the same picture as cover and
+  /// banner, or none yet), shown wide, under the video's own name.
+  final bool thumbnail;
+  const NowPlaying(
+      {required this.title, this.episode, this.posterHash = '', this.bannerHash = '', this.thumbnail = false});
 
   @override
   bool operator ==(Object other) =>
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ class NowPlaying {
       other.title == title &&
       other.episode == episode &&
       other.posterHash == posterHash &&
-      other.bannerHash == bannerHash;
+      other.bannerHash == bannerHash &&
+      other.thumbnail == thumbnail;
 
   @override
-  int get hashCode => Object.hash(title, episode, posterHash, bannerHash);
+  int get hashCode => Object.hash(title, episode, posterHash, bannerHash, thumbnail);
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing_info.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing_info.dart
index 454ac14..acad9e3 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing_info.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/now_playing_info.dart
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import 'package:sync_relay_core/core.dart' show hasMediaExtension;
+
 import '../files/name_parser.dart';
 import '../jellyfin/session_media.dart';
 import 'now_playing.dart';
@@ -16,17 +18,38 @@ NowPlaying? nowPlayingOf(Map<String, Object?>? media) {
   final art = media['art'] is Map ? media['art'] as Map : const {};
   final poster = art['poster'] is String ? art['poster'] as String : '';
   final banner = art['banner'] is String ? art['banner'] as String : '';
-  // A web video's thumbnail: its name as is, no episode guessing.
-  if (poster.isNotEmpty && poster == banner) {
-    return NowPlaying(title: name, posterHash: poster, bannerHash: banner);
-  }
   final ref = refOfStateMedia(media);
+  // A web video: its name as is, no episode guessing, its thumbnail as
+  // the art. Told by the art once it is up (the same picture as cover and
+  // banner), before that by the media itself, so it never changes layout.
+  final web = poster.isNotEmpty || banner.isNotEmpty ? poster == banner : ref == null && isWebVideo(media);
+  if (web) {
+    return NowPlaying(title: name, posterHash: poster, bannerHash: banner, thumbnail: true);
+  }
   final (title, episode) = ref != null
       ? jellyfinTitle(ref.title.isNotEmpty ? ref.title : name, ref.subtitle)
       : fileTitle(name);
   return NowPlaying(title: title, episode: episode, posterHash: poster, bannerHash: banner);
 }
 
+/// [media] (`state.media`, not Jellyfin) is a web page's video, whose art
+/// will be its thumbnail: a shared http(s) link that is no media file (the
+/// everyone-opens-it mode), or a relayed one (passed on by a member or
+/// fetched by the server: the URL stays private) named by the page's title,
+/// not a file name. A relayed file keeps its file name's extension.
+bool isWebVideo(Map<String, Object?> media) {
+  final url = media['url'];
+  if (url is String && url.isNotEmpty) {
+    final uri = Uri.tryParse(url);
+    return uri != null &&
+        (uri.isScheme('http') || uri.isScheme('https')) &&
+        uri.host.isNotEmpty &&
+        !hasMediaExtension(uri);
+  }
+  final name = media['name'] is String ? media['name'] as String : '';
+  return media['relay'] is Map && name.isNotEmpty && !_ext.hasMatch(name);
+}
+
 /// Jellyfin: [name] is the item's, [subtitle] "Series · S1E6" (or
 /// "Series - S01E02") for episodes, the year for movies. Episodes give the
 /// series and "S1 E6 · Name"; anything else the name alone.
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart
index 355abb6..df2fc3a 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart
@@ -200,8 +200,9 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
   /// Neighbouring episodes this viewer can put up (own account only).
   final previousEpisode = signal<EpisodeLink?>(null);
   final nextEpisode = signal<EpisodeLink?>(null);
-  /// The floating "Next episode" pill from a known ending (Outro segment
-  /// or ED chapter, [nextPromptStart]) on.
+  /// The "Next episode" pill's window ([nextPromptStart]: the known ending,
+  /// else the last two minutes); the pill shows in it only while the
+  /// controls are up.
   final nextPromptVisible = signal(false);
   /// End-of-episode countdown; null when none runs here.
   final autoAdvance = signal<AutoAdvance?>(null);
@@ -1690,7 +1691,7 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
       final item = (jellyfinPlan.peek() as OwnPlay?)?.item;
       final at = nextPromptStart(item, Duration(milliseconds: (duration * 1000).round()),
           endingStart: playback.ending.peek()?.start);
-      show = at != null && snap.position * 1000 >= at.inMilliseconds;
+      show = snap.position * 1000 >= at.inMilliseconds;
     }
     nextPromptVisible.value = show;
   }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/session_player.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/session_player.dart
index adc48c0..9af1d59 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/session_player.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/session_player.dart
@@ -668,8 +668,8 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
 
   /// Jellyfin: the blocked card, the end-of-episode card (countdown) and
   /// the "Next episode" pill; for any media the skip pill (Skip OP / ED /
-  /// 1:30) above it ([SkipPillGate]). Outside the auto-hiding controls, so
-  /// they stay up.
+  /// 1:30) above it. Outside the auto-hiding controls; the cards stay up,
+  /// the pills show only with the controls ([PillGate]).
   Widget _jellyfinOverlay() {
     final coord = _coord;
     return Positioned.fill(
@@ -712,13 +712,21 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
                     spacing: 10,
                     children: [
                       if (skip != null)
-                        SkipPillGate(
+                        PillGate(
                           key: const ValueKey('skip-gate'),
-                          offer: skip,
+                          kind: skip.kind,
+                          // Skip ED: no announcing, only with the controls.
+                          announce: skip.kind != SkipKind.ending,
                           controlsShown: _controlsShown,
                           child: SkipPill(offer: skip, onPressed: () => coord.skip(skip)),
                         ),
-                      if (showNext) NextEpisodePill(episode: next, onPressed: coord.playNextEpisode),
+                      if (showNext)
+                        PillGate(
+                          key: const ValueKey('next-gate'),
+                          kind: next,
+                          controlsShown: _controlsShown,
+                          child: NextEpisodePill(episode: next, onPressed: coord.playNextEpisode),
+                        ),
                     ],
                   ),
                 ),
@@ -900,22 +908,30 @@ class _SessionPlayerState extends State<SessionPlayer> {
   }
 }
 
-/// The skip pill's visibility: up for [firstShown] after an offer
-/// appears (a new kind: OP, ED, 1:30), then only while the controls are
-/// up or the mouse is on it; gone with the offer (the parent drops it).
-class SkipPillGate extends StatefulWidget {
+/// A floating pill's visibility: only while the controls are up (the
+/// mouse moved) or the mouse is on it. With [announce] it is also up for
+/// [firstShown] whenever [kind] changes (a new offer: Skip OP, Skip 1:30).
+/// Gone with the offer (the parent drops it).
+class PillGate extends StatefulWidget {
   static const firstShown = Duration(seconds: 5);
-  final SkipOffer offer;
+  final Object kind;
+  final bool announce;
   final ValueListenable<bool> controlsShown;
   final Widget child;
-  const SkipPillGate({super.key, required this.offer, required this.controlsShown, required this.child});
+  const PillGate({
+    super.key,
+    required this.kind,
+    this.announce = false,
+    required this.controlsShown,
+    required this.child,
+  });
 
   @override
-  State<SkipPillGate> createState() => _SkipPillGateState();
+  State<PillGate> createState() => _PillGateState();
 }
 
-class _SkipPillGateState extends State<SkipPillGate> {
-  SkipKind? _kind;
+class _PillGateState extends State<PillGate> {
+  Object? _kind;
   bool _fresh = false;
   bool _hover = false;
   Timer? _timer;
@@ -927,9 +943,9 @@ class _SkipPillGateState extends State<SkipPillGate> {
   }
 
   @override
-  void didUpdateWidget(SkipPillGate old) {
+  void didUpdateWidget(PillGate old) {
     super.didUpdateWidget(old);
-    if (widget.offer.kind != _kind) _arm();
+    if (widget.kind != _kind) _arm();
   }
 
   @override
@@ -939,10 +955,11 @@ class _SkipPillGateState extends State<SkipPillGate> {
   }
 
   void _arm() {
-    _kind = widget.offer.kind;
-    _fresh = true;
+    _kind = widget.kind;
     _timer?.cancel();
-    _timer = Timer(SkipPillGate.firstShown, () {
+    _fresh = widget.announce;
+    if (!_fresh) return;
+    _timer = Timer(PillGate.firstShown, () {
       if (mounted) setState(() => _fresh = false);
     });
   }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/state/settings.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/state/settings.dart
index f1ea5e8..1f08114 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/state/settings.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/state/settings.dart
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ class AppSettings {
   /// A 2 px progress line at the bottom of the video while the controls
   /// are hidden (both designs). Applies live.
   final progressLine = signal(true);
-  /// Chat message toasts. Applies live.
-  final chatPopups = signal(ChatPopups.all);
+  /// Chat message toasts (default: only when paused). Applies live.
+  final chatPopups = signal(ChatPopups.paused);
   /// App sounds (`sfx/`): 0..1, 0 = silent.
   final soundVolume = signal(1.0);
   /// `SfxKind` names switched off one by one.
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class AppSettings {
       final line = box.get(_keyProgressLine);
       if (line is bool) progressLine.value = line;
       final popups = box.get(_keyChatPopups);
-      chatPopups.value = ChatPopups.values.where((m) => m.name == popups).firstOrNull ?? ChatPopups.all;
+      chatPopups.value = ChatPopups.values.where((m) => m.name == popups).firstOrNull ?? ChatPopups.paused;
       final vol = box.get(_keySoundVolume);
       if (vol is num) soundVolume.value = vol.toDouble().clamp(0, 1);
       final off = box.get(_keySoundsOff);
diff --git a/apps/desktop/test/jellyfin_e2e_test.dart b/apps/desktop/test/jellyfin_e2e_test.dart
index f75ac25..3471390 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/test/jellyfin_e2e_test.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/test/jellyfin_e2e_test.dart
@@ -301,9 +301,9 @@ void main() {
         a.toggleReady();
         await _poll(() => all.every((x) => x.playback.player.state.playing), 'playing again');
 
-        // No known ending (no Outro segment, no ED chapter): no floating
-        // "Next episode" prompt mid-episode, only the card at the end.
-        expect(a.nextPromptVisible.peek(), isFalse);
+        // Account holders see the "Next episode" prompt (this item is
+        // shorter than its 2 min lead); the guest cannot put it up.
+        await _poll(() => a.nextPromptVisible.peek(), 'next prompt');
         expect(b.nextPromptVisible.peek(), isFalse);
 
         // Alice and the guest pick English; it carries to the next episode.
diff --git a/apps/desktop/test/jellyfin_session_test.dart b/apps/desktop/test/jellyfin_session_test.dart
index a9bd33a..e857a07 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/test/jellyfin_session_test.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/test/jellyfin_session_test.dart
@@ -321,9 +321,9 @@ void main() {
       expect(media.jellyfin!.subtitle, 'Black Summoner · S1E7');
     });
 
-    test('no floating prompt without a known ending', () {
-      expect(nextPromptStart(null, const Duration(minutes: 24)), isNull);
-      expect(nextPromptStart(null, const Duration(seconds: 90)), isNull);
+    test('the floating prompt starts two minutes before the end', () {
+      expect(nextPromptStart(null, const Duration(minutes: 24)), const Duration(minutes: 22));
+      expect(nextPromptStart(null, const Duration(seconds: 90)), Duration.zero);
     });
 
     test('one auto-advance swapper: the lowest id among members with their own account', () {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/test/media_marks_test.dart b/apps/desktop/test/media_marks_test.dart
index 17259a1..9a47769 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/test/media_marks_test.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/test/media_marks_test.dart
@@ -154,14 +154,14 @@ void main() {
   });
 
   group('next episode prompt', () {
-    test('at the ED start when known, else none (never a guessed time)', () {
+    test('at the ED start when known, else the last two minutes', () {
       expect(nextPromptStart(null, m(24), endingStart: m(20)), m(20));
-      expect(nextPromptStart(null, m(24)), isNull);
-      expect(nextPromptStart(null, m(24), endingStart: null), isNull);
-      // Nonsense ending starts count as unknown.
-      expect(nextPromptStart(null, m(24), endingStart: m(25)), isNull);
-      expect(nextPromptStart(null, m(24), endingStart: Duration.zero), isNull);
-      expect(nextPromptStart(null, s(90)), isNull);
+      expect(nextPromptStart(null, m(24)), m(22));
+      expect(nextPromptStart(null, m(24), endingStart: null), m(22));
+      // Nonsense ending starts fall back.
+      expect(nextPromptStart(null, m(24), endingStart: m(25)), m(22));
+      expect(nextPromptStart(null, m(24), endingStart: Duration.zero), m(22));
+      expect(nextPromptStart(null, s(90)), Duration.zero);
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/test/now_playing_info_test.dart b/apps/desktop/test/now_playing_info_test.dart
index ab40117..5a214d6 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/test/now_playing_info_test.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/test/now_playing_info_test.dart
@@ -42,4 +42,25 @@ void main() {
         const NowPlaying(title: 'Show', episode: 'S1 E2 · The Pilot', posterHash: 'aaaa', bannerHash: 'bbbb'));
     expect(nowPlayingOf({'name': 'Show - 12.mkv'}), const NowPlaying(title: 'Show', episode: 'E12'));
   });
+
+  test('web videos: name as is and wide from the start, before the thumbnail', () {
+    const title = 'Frieren - 05 | reaction';
+    // Everyone opens it, passed on by a member, fetched by the server.
+    for (final media in [
+      {'name': title, 'url': 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x'},
+      {'name': title, 'relay': {'source': 'm2', 'live': true}},
+      {'name': title, 'relay': {'fetch': true}},
+    ]) {
+      expect(nowPlayingOf(media), const NowPlaying(title: title, thumbnail: true));
+      expect(nowPlayingOf({...media, 'art': {'poster': 'aa', 'banner': 'aa'}}),
+          const NowPlaying(title: title, posterHash: 'aa', bannerHash: 'aa', thumbnail: true));
+    }
+    // Files (a link to one, a relayed one) and Jellyfin keep their parsing.
+    expect(nowPlayingOf({'name': 'Show - 12.mkv', 'url': 'https://cdn.example/Show%20-%2012.mkv'}),
+        const NowPlaying(title: 'Show', episode: 'E12'));
+    expect(nowPlayingOf({'name': 'Show - 12.mkv', 'relay': {'source': 'm2'}}),
+        const NowPlaying(title: 'Show', episode: 'E12'));
+    expect(nowPlayingOf({'name': 'Show - 12', 'relay': {}, 'art': {'poster': 'p', 'banner': 'b'}}),
+        const NowPlaying(title: 'Show', episode: 'E12', posterHash: 'p', bannerHash: 'b'));
+  });
 }
diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 00ba273..db6c6af 100644
--- a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -744,9 +744,9 @@ Client side (`lib/src/jellyfin/session_media.dart`, `progress.dart`,
   `/Shows/{id}/Episodes` call; `episodeBefore` / `episodeAfter`) gives the
   previous and next episode. The controls show previous / next buttons
   (also `<` `>`, Shift+P / Shift+N); from `nextPromptStart` (the ending's
-  start, see "Skip rules") a floating "Next episode" pill shows outside
-  the auto-hiding controls. Without a known ending there is no pill (never
-  a guessed time); the end card at `finished` is the only prompt. Auto-advance still waits for `finished`. Any
+  start when one is known, see "Skip rules", else the last 2 min of the
+  runtime) a floating "Next episode" pill shows while the controls are up
+  (see "Session controls"). Auto-advance still waits for `finished`. Any
   of them swaps to that episode's ref with the clicker's account. Guests
   (relay, blocked) see none of it.
 - **Auto-advance** (Settings, on by default): at `finished` with a known
@@ -984,7 +984,7 @@ always scrolls the page). Space never presses a focused button
   slides in, stays 5 s, then slides out and collapses its gap. A click on
   a chat toast opens the chat; the others let clicks through. Chat toasts
   follow `AppSettings.chatPopups` (Settings → Notifications: All, Only
-  when paused, Off); the message is in the chat either way.
+  when paused (default), Off); the message is in the chat either way.
 
 Settings persist in two Hive boxes: `connect_form` (last form, recent
 servers and links, the profile picture and colour; saved even when a join
@@ -1056,10 +1056,11 @@ keeps its row at the top). A drag sends no hover events, so the bar keeps
 the controls up through a guarded dynamic `onHover()` on media_kit's
 private controls state (`keepVideoControlsAwake`). Pills (Skip OP / ED /
 1:30, Next episode) and cards live outside the auto-hiding controls. The
-Next episode pill and the cards stay up; the skip pill (`SkipPillGate`)
-shows for 5 s when an offer of a new kind appears, then only while the
-controls are up (`ControlsHoverProbe` for this design, `UoscControls.shown`
-for uosc) or the mouse is on it. Volume (`controls/volume.dart`, both
+cards stay up; a pill (`PillGate`) shows only while the controls are up
+(`ControlsHoverProbe` for this design, `UoscControls.shown` for uosc) or
+the mouse is on it, and Skip OP / Skip 1:30 also for 5 s when an offer of
+a new kind appears (Skip ED and Next episode never without the controls).
+Volume (`controls/volume.dart`, both
 designs): mpv's `volume-max` is pinned to `PlaybackController.maxVolume`
 (150) per player; `VolumeBar` runs 0..150 with a tick at 100 and the part
 above in amber; the wheel and ↑ / ↓ step 5 %, clamped.
@@ -1193,6 +1194,11 @@ testers land back on stable. `0.0.0-dev` (a dev run) checks nothing.
   poster cap when larger; else an AniList title search on the parsed
   release name) and sends `art`, so guests without Jellyfin get covers too.
   `coordinator.nowPlaying` derives title, episode line and art hashes from
-  `state.media` (`now_playing_info.dart`); poster and banner of one hash
-  mark a thumbnail (`NowPlaying.thumbnail`): the media name as is, no
-  episode line, a 16:9 cover in the controls and none on the start card.
+  `state.media` (`now_playing_info.dart`). A web video
+  (`NowPlaying.thumbnail`) shows the media name as is, no episode line, a
+  16:9 cover in the controls (a neutral placeholder until the art is up)
+  and none on the start card. Art up: poster and banner of one hash mark
+  it. Before the art: `isWebVideo` tells it from the media itself (an
+  http(s) `url` without a media file extension, or a relayed, non-Jellyfin
+  media whose name has no file extension: a page's title), so the layout
+  never switches when the thumbnail lands.