Update README for 1.4.1

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

README.md

@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ A simple menu bar app for voice dictation using OpenAI Whisper (local, offline).
 
 ## macOS
 
+### What's new in 1.4.1
+
+- 🎨 **Native icons instead of emoji** — the menu bar icon, recording overlay, download window, menus and Settings now use macOS SF Symbols: sharp at any size, matching light/dark menu bars, and the menu bar microphone turns red while recording
+
+### What's new in 1.4.0
+
+- 💬 **Live preview while recording** — the recording overlay shows what you're saying as you speak, using macOS's on-device dictation model (works in Hungarian too). It's a preview: the pasted text still comes from Whisper, so it can differ slightly. Toggle it in Settings.
+
 ### What's new in 1.3.1
 
 - 🪶 **Quantized models** — *Large v3 Turbo q5_0* keeps the transcription server at ~0.7 GB RAM instead of ~1.75 GB, at the same speed (also Small q5_1, Medium q5_0, Turbo q8_0 and Large v3 q5_0)
@@ -29,6 +37,7 @@ A simple menu bar app for voice dictation using OpenAI Whisper (local, offline).
 - 🎤 Global hotkey (⌃⌥D) to start/stop recording
 - ⚡ Fast transcription via a warm whisper-server (model stays loaded — no per-dictation reload), with automatic fallback to `whisper-cli`
 - 📊 Live mic-level meter while recording, with a "no audio input" warning
+- 💬 Live transcript preview in the recording overlay (on-device Apple dictation model; Whisper still produces the pasted text)
 - 📖 Custom dictionary (heard → replacement) that also biases recognition
 - 🔒 Fully offline - uses local Whisper model
 - ⌨️ Automatic paste into any focused app
@@ -42,7 +51,7 @@ A simple menu bar app for voice dictation using OpenAI Whisper (local, offline).
 
 ### Requirements
 
-- macOS 13.0+
+- macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later
 - Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) or Intel Mac
 
 ### Quick Install (Download)
@@ -80,9 +89,9 @@ make install
 ### Usage
 
 1. Launch WhisperDictate from Applications
-2. Look for the 🎤 icon in your menu bar
+2. Look for the microphone icon in your menu bar
 3. Press **⌃⌥D** (Control + Option + D) to start recording
-4. Speak (icon changes to 🔴)
+4. Speak (the menu bar microphone turns red)
 5. Press **⌃⌥D** again to stop and transcribe
 6. Text is automatically pasted where your cursor is
 
@@ -93,6 +102,7 @@ Click the menu bar icon → Settings to configure:
 - **Model**: Select from installed models or download new ones (✓ marks models already downloaded)
 - **Dictionary**: Add *Heard → Replacement* pairs to fix names/jargon (use `\n` for a newline); the replacement terms also improve recognition
 - **Sound feedback**: Toggle audio feedback on/off
+- **Live preview while recording**: Show a rough live transcript in the recording overlay (on by default)
 - **Launch at login**: Start automatically when you log in
 
 ### Whisper Models
@@ -145,6 +155,7 @@ Grant these in System Settings → Privacy & Security:
 ## Security
 
 - All processing is done locally - no data leaves your device
+- The live preview uses macOS's on-device dictation model (SpeechAnalyzer); it needs no extra permission beyond the microphone
 - The bundled `whisper-server` is bound to `127.0.0.1` (loopback only) and is never exposed on the network
 - Audio files are stored in private temp directory and deleted after transcription
 - Clipboard is cleared after paste (transcript doesn't remain accessible)

macos/Makefile

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 APP_NAME = WhisperDictate
 APP_BUNDLE = $(APP_NAME).app
-VERSION = 1.3.1
+VERSION = 1.4.1
 
 # Directories
 SRC_DIR = src
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ BUNDLE_DIR = $(APP_BUNDLE)/Contents
 
 # Compiler settings
 SWIFT = swiftc
-SWIFT_FLAGS = -O -framework Cocoa -framework AVFoundation -framework Carbon -framework CoreGraphics -framework ServiceManagement
+SWIFT_FLAGS = -O -framework Cocoa -framework AVFoundation -framework Speech -framework Carbon -framework CoreGraphics -framework ServiceManagement
 
 .PHONY: all clean build bundle install run dmg
 

macos/WhisperDictate.app/Contents/Info.plist

@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
 	<key>CFBundlePackageType</key>
 	<string>APPL</string>
 	<key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
-	<string>1.3.1</string>
+	<string>1.4.1</string>
 	<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
-	<string>4</string>
+	<string>6</string>
 	<key>LSMinimumSystemVersion</key>
 	<string>13.0</string>
 	<key>LSUIElement</key>

macos/src/main.swift

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import Cocoa
-import AVFoundation
+@preconcurrency import AVFoundation
+@preconcurrency import Speech
 import Carbon.HIToolbox
 import ServiceManagement
 import ApplicationServices
@@ -11,6 +12,36 @@ struct Defaults {
     static let modelPath = "whisperModelPath"
     static let playSounds = "playSounds"
     static let replacements = "customReplacements"
+    static let livePreview = "livePreview"
+}
+
+// MARK: - Icons
+// SF Symbols: vector icons that stay sharp at any scale. Template symbols are
+// tinted by macOS (menu bar, menus, buttons) and follow light/dark appearance.
+enum Icons {
+    static func symbol(_ name: String, pointSize: CGFloat = 13, weight: NSFont.Weight = .regular, description: String? = nil) -> NSImage? {
+        let image = NSImage(systemSymbolName: name, accessibilityDescription: description)?
+            .withSymbolConfiguration(.init(pointSize: pointSize, weight: weight))
+        image?.isTemplate = true
+        return image
+    }
+
+    // Fixed colour, for states that need it (recording) and for custom drawing (HUD).
+    // Tints the monochrome symbol so knockouts stay transparent (the tick in
+    // checkmark.circle.fill); a one-colour palette would fill them in. Drawn
+    // lazily, so it stays sharp on any display scale.
+    static func coloredSymbol(_ name: String, pointSize: CGFloat, weight: NSFont.Weight = .regular, color: NSColor, description: String? = nil) -> NSImage? {
+        guard let symbol = symbol(name, pointSize: pointSize, weight: weight, description: description) else { return nil }
+        let image = NSImage(size: symbol.size, flipped: false) { rect in
+            symbol.draw(in: rect)
+            color.set()
+            rect.fill(using: .sourceAtop)
+            return true
+        }
+        image.accessibilityDescription = description
+        image.isTemplate = false
+        return image
+    }
 }
 
 // MARK: - Whisper Models
@@ -411,6 +442,208 @@ final class WhisperServer {
 // A small floating, non-interactive panel shown while recording. Doubles as a
 // diagnostic: if the input stays silent it flags "no input" — exactly the
 // failure that silently produced empty recordings + whisper hallucinations.
+// MARK: - Live Preview (on-device Apple dictation model)
+// Streams a rough live transcript into the recording HUD using the system's
+// on-device dictation model (SpeechAnalyzer + DictationTranscriber, macOS 26).
+// It is only a preview: the pasted text still comes from Whisper. It captures
+// the microphone with its own AVAudioEngine so the AVAudioRecorder path used
+// for Whisper stays untouched; if anything here fails there is simply no preview.
+final class LivePreview {
+    // Called on the main thread with the transcript so far
+    var onText: ((String) -> Void)?
+
+    private var session = 0
+    private var engine: AVAudioEngine?
+    private var analyzer: SpeechAnalyzer?
+    private var input: AsyncStream<AnalyzerInput>.Continuation?
+    private var resultsTask: Task<Void, Never>?
+
+    // App language code -> supported dictation locale ("hu" -> hu-HU); nil if unsupported
+    static func locale(for languageCode: String) async -> Locale? {
+        let requested = languageCode == SupportedLanguages.autoDetect ? Locale.current : Locale(identifier: languageCode)
+        return await DictationTranscriber.supportedLocale(equivalentTo: requested)
+    }
+
+    private static func makeTranscriber(locale: Locale) -> DictationTranscriber {
+        DictationTranscriber(locale: locale, contentHints: [], transcriptionOptions: [.punctuation],
+                             reportingOptions: [.volatileResults, .frequentFinalization], attributeOptions: [])
+    }
+
+    // Download the on-device model for this language in the background if it's missing
+    static func installModelIfNeeded(languageCode: String) {
+        Task {
+            guard let locale = await locale(for: languageCode) else { return }
+            do {
+                if let request = try await AssetInventory.assetInstallationRequest(supporting: [makeTranscriber(locale: locale)]) {
+                    NSLog("Live preview: installing dictation model for \(locale.identifier)")
+                    try await request.downloadAndInstall()
+                    NSLog("Live preview: dictation model installed for \(locale.identifier)")
+                }
+            } catch {
+                NSLog("Live preview: model install failed: \(error)")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    func start(languageCode: String, contextualStrings: [String]) {
+        stop()
+        let current = session
+        Task { @MainActor in
+            do {
+                guard let locale = await LivePreview.locale(for: languageCode) else {
+                    NSLog("Live preview: no on-device dictation model for '\(languageCode)'")
+                    return
+                }
+                let transcriber = LivePreview.makeTranscriber(locale: locale)
+                // Even when the model is already on disk the app may first have to register it;
+                // that takes a fraction of a second. A real download just means no preview this time.
+                _ = try? await AssetInventory.reserve(locale: locale)
+                if await AssetInventory.status(forModules: [transcriber]) != .installed,
+                   let request = try await AssetInventory.assetInstallationRequest(supporting: [transcriber]) {
+                    NSLog("Live preview: preparing dictation model for \(locale.identifier)")
+                    try await request.downloadAndInstall()
+                }
+                guard current == self.session,
+                      let analyzerFormat = await SpeechAnalyzer.bestAvailableAudioFormat(compatibleWith: [transcriber]) else { return }
+
+                // Start the microphone first; the stream buffers audio until the analyzer is running,
+                // so the first words aren't lost while the model spins up.
+                let (stream, continuation) = AsyncStream<AnalyzerInput>.makeStream()
+                let engine = AVAudioEngine()
+                let micFormat = engine.inputNode.outputFormat(forBus: 0)
+                guard micFormat.sampleRate > 0, current == self.session,
+                      let monoFormat = AVAudioFormat(standardFormatWithSampleRate: micFormat.sampleRate, channels: 1),
+                      let converter = AVAudioConverter(from: monoFormat, to: analyzerFormat) else { return }
+                NSLog("Live preview: mic %d ch @ %.0f Hz -> %@", micFormat.channelCount, micFormat.sampleRate, analyzerFormat.description)
+                engine.inputNode.installTap(onBus: 0, bufferSize: 4096, format: micFormat,
+                                            block: LivePreview.tapBlock(converter: converter, format: analyzerFormat, continuation: continuation))
+                try engine.start()
+                self.engine = engine
+                self.input = continuation
+
+                let analyzer = SpeechAnalyzer(modules: [transcriber])
+                self.analyzer = analyzer
+                if !contextualStrings.isEmpty {
+                    let context = AnalysisContext()
+                    context.contextualStrings[.general] = contextualStrings
+                    try await analyzer.setContext(context)
+                }
+                self.resultsTask = Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
+                    // Finalized segments accumulate; the volatile tail is replaced on every update
+                    var finalized = ""
+                    do {
+                        for try await result in transcriber.results {
+                            let text = String(result.text.characters)
+                            let shown = LivePreview.join(finalized, text)
+                            if result.isFinal { finalized = shown }
+                            guard let self = self, current == self.session else { return }
+                            self.onText?(shown)
+                        }
+                    } catch {
+                        NSLog("Live preview: results ended: \(error)")
+                    }
+                }
+                guard current == self.session else { return }  // stop() already tore everything down
+                try await analyzer.start(inputSequence: stream)
+            } catch {
+                NSLog("Live preview failed: \(error)")
+                if current == self.session { self.stop() }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    func stop() {
+        session += 1
+        if let engine = engine {
+            engine.inputNode.removeTap(onBus: 0)
+            engine.stop()
+        }
+        engine = nil
+        input?.finish()
+        input = nil
+        resultsTask?.cancel()
+        resultsTask = nil
+        if let analyzer = analyzer {
+            Task { await analyzer.cancelAndFinishNow() }
+        }
+        analyzer = nil
+    }
+
+    // Segments don't always carry a separating space
+    static func join(_ head: String, _ tail: String) -> String {
+        guard let last = head.last, let first = tail.first, !last.isWhitespace, !first.isWhitespace else { return head + tail }
+        return head + " " + tail
+    }
+
+    // Runs on the audio thread: take the voice channel as mono, convert it to the
+    // analyzer's format. Built in a static context so it carries no actor assumptions.
+    private static func tapBlock(converter: AVAudioConverter, format: AVAudioFormat,
+                                 continuation: AsyncStream<AnalyzerInput>.Continuation) -> AVAudioNodeTapBlock {
+        let downmixer = VoiceChannelPicker()
+        return { micBuffer, _ in
+            guard let buffer = downmixer.mono(from: micBuffer) else { return }
+            let ratio = format.sampleRate / buffer.format.sampleRate
+            let capacity = AVAudioFrameCount(Double(buffer.frameLength) * ratio) + 64
+            guard let out = AVAudioPCMBuffer(pcmFormat: format, frameCapacity: capacity) else { return }
+            var consumed = false
+            var error: NSError?
+            converter.convert(to: out, error: &error) { _, status in
+                if consumed {
+                    status.pointee = .noDataNow
+                    return nil
+                }
+                consumed = true
+                status.pointee = .haveData
+                return buffer
+            }
+            if error == nil, out.frameLength > 0 {
+                continuation.yield(AnalyzerInput(buffer: out))
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// Picks the input channel that carries the voice and returns it as a mono buffer.
+// AVAudioConverter keeps only channel 1 when downmixing stereo, and outputs pure
+// silence for layout-less multi-channel inputs (e.g. a 4-input USB interface),
+// so the live preview model would hear nothing. The loudest channel is chosen on
+// smoothed energy, and only replaced by one that is clearly (6 dB) louder.
+final class VoiceChannelPicker {
+    private var energy: [Float] = []
+    private var active = 0
+    private var monoFormat: AVAudioFormat?
+
+    func mono(from buffer: AVAudioPCMBuffer) -> AVAudioPCMBuffer? {
+        let channels = Int(buffer.format.channelCount)
+        let frames = Int(buffer.frameLength)
+        guard frames > 0, let data = buffer.floatChannelData else { return nil }
+        if channels == 1 { return buffer }
+
+        if energy.count != channels {
+            energy = Array(repeating: 0, count: channels)
+            active = 0
+        }
+        for c in 0..<channels {
+            var sum: Float = 0
+            for i in 0..<frames { sum += data[c][i] * data[c][i] }
+            energy[c] = energy[c] * 0.9 + sum / Float(frames) * 0.1
+        }
+        if let loudest = energy.indices.max(by: { energy[$0] < energy[$1] }), energy[loudest] > energy[active] * 4 {
+            active = loudest
+        }
+
+        if monoFormat?.sampleRate != buffer.format.sampleRate {
+            monoFormat = AVAudioFormat(standardFormatWithSampleRate: buffer.format.sampleRate, channels: 1)
+        }
+        guard let format = monoFormat,
+              let out = AVAudioPCMBuffer(pcmFormat: format, frameCapacity: AVAudioFrameCount(frames)),
+              let dest = out.floatChannelData else { return nil }
+        dest[0].update(from: data[active], count: frames)
+        out.frameLength = AVAudioFrameCount(frames)
+        return out
+    }
+}
+
 final class MeterView: NSView {
     enum Mode { case recording, transcribing }
     enum Notice { case loadingModel, modelLoaded }
@@ -419,15 +652,55 @@ final class MeterView: NSView {
     private var silent = false
     var mode = Mode.recording { didSet { needsDisplay = true } }
     var notice: Notice? { didSet { needsDisplay = true } }
+    var previewText: String? { didSet { if previewText != oldValue { cachedPreview = nil; needsDisplay = true } } }
+    var hasPreview: Bool { previewBlock() != nil }
 
-    // Height for the current mode + notice
+    private static let maxPreviewLines = 3
+    private static let previewFont = NSFont.systemFont(ofSize: 13)
+    private var cachedPreview: (width: CGFloat, text: NSAttributedString, height: CGFloat)?
+
+    private var noticeHeight: CGFloat {
+        switch notice {
+        case .loadingModel?: return 35
+        case .modelLoaded?: return 19
+        case nil: return 0
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Height for the current mode, notice and live preview text
     var preferredHeight: CGFloat {
         let base: CGFloat = mode == .recording ? 72 : 44
-        switch notice {
+        let preview = previewBlock().map { 6 + $0.height } ?? 0
-        case .loadingModel?: return base + 34
+        return base + noticeHeight + preview
-        case .modelLoaded?: return base + 20
-        case nil: return base
     }
+
+    // The tail of the live transcript that fits in a few lines; older words scroll off the top
+    private func previewBlock() -> (text: NSAttributedString, height: CGFloat)? {
+        guard let raw = previewText, !raw.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).isEmpty else { return nil }
+        let width = bounds.width - 32
+        if let cached = cachedPreview, cached.width == width { return (cached.text, cached.height) }
+
+        let attrs: [NSAttributedString.Key: Any] = [
+            .font: MeterView.previewFont,
+            .foregroundColor: NSColor(calibratedWhite: 1, alpha: 0.92)
+        ]
+        func measure(_ string: NSAttributedString) -> CGFloat {
+            ceil(string.boundingRect(with: NSSize(width: width, height: 10_000), options: [.usesLineFragmentOrigin, .usesFontLeading]).height)
+        }
+        let lineHeight = measure(NSAttributedString(string: "Ag", attributes: attrs))
+        let maxHeight = lineHeight * CGFloat(MeterView.maxPreviewLines) + 1
+
+        let words = raw.split(whereSeparator: { $0.isWhitespace })
+        var dropped = 0
+        var text = NSAttributedString(string: words.joined(separator: " "), attributes: attrs)
+        var height = measure(text)
+        while height > maxHeight && dropped < words.count - 1 {
+            dropped += 1
+            text = NSAttributedString(string: "…" + words[dropped...].joined(separator: " "), attributes: attrs)
+            height = measure(text)
+        }
+        cachedPreview = (width, text, height)
+        return (text, height)
     }
 
     func set(level: CGFloat, silent: Bool) {
@@ -435,7 +708,16 @@ final class MeterView: NSView {
         self.silent = silent
         needsDisplay = true
     }
-    func reset() { level = 0; silent = false; mode = .recording; notice = nil; needsDisplay = true }
+    func reset() { level = 0; silent = false; mode = .recording; notice = nil; previewText = nil; needsDisplay = true }
+
+    // Draws a symbol centred on a text line drawn at `origin`; returns the x where the text starts
+    private static func drawSymbol(_ name: String, color: NSColor, font: NSFont, at origin: NSPoint) -> CGFloat {
+        guard let image = Icons.coloredSymbol(name, pointSize: font.pointSize, weight: .medium, color: color) else { return origin.x }
+        let lineHeight = ceil(font.ascender - font.descender)
+        image.draw(in: NSRect(x: origin.x, y: origin.y + (lineHeight - image.size.height) / 2,
+                              width: image.size.width, height: image.size.height))
+        return origin.x + image.size.width + 5
+    }
 
     override func draw(_ dirtyRect: NSRect) {
         let bg = NSBezierPath(roundedRect: bounds, xRadius: 12, yRadius: 12)
@@ -443,18 +725,25 @@ final class MeterView: NSView {
         bg.fill()
 
         let warn = mode == .recording && silent
-        let label = mode == .transcribing ? "⏳ Transcribing…" : warn ? "🎤 No audio input?" : "🎤 Recording…"
+        let titleFont = NSFont.systemFont(ofSize: 12, weight: .medium)
+        let (symbol, symbolColor, label): (String, NSColor, String) =
+            mode == .transcribing ? ("hourglass", .white, "Transcribing…")
+            : warn ? ("mic.slash.fill", .systemRed, "No audio input?")
+            : ("mic.fill", .systemRed, "Recording…")
         var textY = bounds.height - 26
-        label.draw(at: NSPoint(x: 16, y: textY), withAttributes: [
+        let titleX = MeterView.drawSymbol(symbol, color: symbolColor, font: titleFont, at: NSPoint(x: 16, y: textY))
-            .font: NSFont.systemFont(ofSize: 12, weight: .medium),
+        label.draw(at: NSPoint(x: titleX, y: textY), withAttributes: [
+            .font: titleFont,
             .foregroundColor: warn ? NSColor.systemRed : NSColor.white
         ])
 
         switch notice {
         case .loadingModel?:
             textY -= 19
-            "Loading model into memory…".draw(at: NSPoint(x: 16, y: textY), withAttributes: [
+            let font = NSFont.systemFont(ofSize: 11, weight: .semibold)
-                .font: NSFont.systemFont(ofSize: 11, weight: .semibold),
+            let x = MeterView.drawSymbol("memorychip", color: .systemYellow, font: font, at: NSPoint(x: 16, y: textY))
+            "Loading model into memory…".draw(at: NSPoint(x: x, y: textY), withAttributes: [
+                .font: font,
                 .foregroundColor: NSColor.systemYellow
             ])
             textY -= 16
@@ -464,14 +753,22 @@ final class MeterView: NSView {
             ])
         case .modelLoaded?:
             textY -= 19
-            "✓ Model loaded".draw(at: NSPoint(x: 16, y: textY), withAttributes: [
+            let font = NSFont.systemFont(ofSize: 11, weight: .semibold)
-                .font: NSFont.systemFont(ofSize: 11, weight: .semibold),
+            let x = MeterView.drawSymbol("checkmark.circle.fill", color: .systemGreen, font: font, at: NSPoint(x: 16, y: textY))
+            "Model loaded".draw(at: NSPoint(x: x, y: textY), withAttributes: [
+                .font: font,
                 .foregroundColor: NSColor.systemGreen
             ])
         case nil:
             break
         }
 
+        if let preview = previewBlock() {
+            let top = textY - 6
+            preview.text.draw(with: NSRect(x: 16, y: top - preview.height, width: bounds.width - 32, height: preview.height),
+                              options: [.usesLineFragmentOrigin, .usesFontLeading])
+        }
+
         guard mode == .recording else { return }
 
         let segs = 20
@@ -496,7 +793,7 @@ final class MeterView: NSView {
 
 final class RecordingHUD {
     private var window: NSWindow?
-    private let meter = MeterView(frame: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 320, height: 72))
+    private let meter = MeterView(frame: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 420, height: 72))
 
     func show() {
         meter.reset()
@@ -512,6 +809,13 @@ final class RecordingHUD {
         layout()
     }
 
+    func setPreview(_ text: String?) {
+        meter.previewText = text
+        layout()
+    }
+
+    var hasPreview: Bool { meter.hasPreview }
+
     // Stay up after recording while a slow (model-loading) transcription runs
     func showTranscribing(notice: MeterView.Notice?) {
         makeWindowIfNeeded()
@@ -533,7 +837,7 @@ final class RecordingHUD {
 
     private func makeWindowIfNeeded() {
         if window == nil {
-            let w = NSPanel(contentRect: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 320, height: 72),
+            let w = NSPanel(contentRect: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 420, height: 72),
                             styleMask: [.borderless, .nonactivatingPanel],
                             backing: .buffered, defer: false)
             w.isOpaque = false
@@ -561,6 +865,7 @@ final class DownloadProgressWindow: NSObject {
     private var phase = Phase.downloading
 
     private var window: NSWindow?
+    private let titleIcon = NSImageView()
     private let titleLabel = NSTextField(labelWithString: "")
     // Two indicators instead of toggling isIndeterminate on one: after an
     // indeterminate phase, NSProgressIndicator stops drawing determinate values.
@@ -614,6 +919,7 @@ final class DownloadProgressWindow: NSObject {
         bytesPerSecond = 0
         lastRender = .distantPast
         titleLabel.stringValue = "Downloading \(modelName)"
+        setTitleIcon("arrow.down.circle.fill", color: .controlAccentColor)
         setBar(indeterminate: true)
         setDetail("Connecting…")
         hintLabel.isHidden = false
@@ -659,6 +965,7 @@ final class DownloadProgressWindow: NSObject {
     func showLoading(modelName: String) {
         phase = .loading
         titleLabel.stringValue = "Loading \(modelName)…"
+        setTitleIcon("memorychip.fill", color: .controlAccentColor)
         setBar(indeterminate: true)
         setDetail("Download complete. Loading the model into memory…")
         hintLabel.isHidden = true
@@ -667,7 +974,8 @@ final class DownloadProgressWindow: NSObject {
 
     func showReady(modelName: String) {
         phase = .ready
-        titleLabel.stringValue = "✓ \(modelName) is ready"
+        titleLabel.stringValue = "\(modelName) is ready"
+        setTitleIcon("checkmark.circle.fill", color: .systemGreen)
         setBar(indeterminate: false, value: 1)
         setDetail("It is now the active model. Press ⌃⌥D to dictate.")
         hintLabel.isHidden = true
@@ -676,7 +984,8 @@ final class DownloadProgressWindow: NSObject {
 
     func showFailed(modelName: String, message: String) {
         phase = .failed
-        titleLabel.stringValue = "⚠️ Could not download \(modelName)"
+        titleLabel.stringValue = "Could not download \(modelName)"
+        setTitleIcon("exclamationmark.triangle.fill", color: .systemYellow)
         busyBar.stopAnimation(nil)
         busyBar.isHidden = true
         bar.isHidden = true
@@ -694,7 +1003,11 @@ final class DownloadProgressWindow: NSObject {
 
         let v = NSView(frame: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 440, height: 170))
 
-        titleLabel.frame = NSRect(x: 20, y: 130, width: 400, height: 20)
+        titleIcon.frame = NSRect(x: 20, y: 131, width: 18, height: 18)
+        titleIcon.symbolConfiguration = .init(pointSize: 14, weight: .semibold)
+        v.addSubview(titleIcon)
+
+        titleLabel.frame = NSRect(x: 44, y: 130, width: 376, height: 20)
         titleLabel.font = .boldSystemFont(ofSize: 13)
         titleLabel.lineBreakMode = .byTruncatingTail
         v.addSubview(titleLabel)
@@ -738,6 +1051,11 @@ final class DownloadProgressWindow: NSObject {
         return w
     }
 
+    private func setTitleIcon(_ name: String, color: NSColor) {
+        titleIcon.image = NSImage(systemSymbolName: name, accessibilityDescription: nil)
+        titleIcon.contentTintColor = color
+    }
+
     private func setBar(indeterminate: Bool, value: Double = 0) {
         bar.isHidden = indeterminate
         busyBar.isHidden = !indeterminate
@@ -786,6 +1104,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
     var settingsWindowController: NSWindowController?
     var whisperServer: WhisperServer?
     let recordingHUD = RecordingHUD()
+    let livePreview = LivePreview()
     var meterTimer: Timer?
     var silenceStart: Date?
     weak var dictTable: NSTableView?
@@ -814,6 +1133,11 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         set { UserDefaults.standard.set(newValue, forKey: Defaults.playSounds) }
     }
 
+    var livePreviewEnabled: Bool {
+        get { UserDefaults.standard.object(forKey: Defaults.livePreview) as? Bool ?? true }
+        set { UserDefaults.standard.set(newValue, forKey: Defaults.livePreview) }
+    }
+
     // Custom dictionary: ordered list of ["from": recognised, "to": replacement].
     var replacements: [[String: String]] {
         get { (UserDefaults.standard.array(forKey: Defaults.replacements) as? [[String: String]]) ?? [] }
@@ -823,11 +1147,16 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
     // Whisper initial prompt built from the desired ("to") terms, to bias
     // recognition toward the user's names/jargon. Returns nil if empty.
     func customPrompt() -> String? {
-        let terms = replacements.compactMap { $0["to"] }
+        let terms = dictionaryTerms()
+        return terms.isEmpty ? nil : terms.joined(separator: ", ")
+    }
+
+    // The desired ("to") dictionary terms, also given to the live preview model
+    func dictionaryTerms() -> [String] {
+        replacements.compactMap { $0["to"] }
             .map { $0.replacingOccurrences(of: "\\n", with: " ") }
             .map { $0.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces) }
             .filter { !$0.isEmpty }
-        return terms.isEmpty ? nil : terms.joined(separator: ", ")
     }
 
     // Apply the dictionary find/replace pairs to a transcript. "\n" in a
@@ -858,6 +1187,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         }
 
         checkAccessibilityPermission()
+        if livePreviewEnabled { LivePreview.installModelIfNeeded(languageCode: language) }
 
         NSLog("WhisperDictate started. Press ⌃⌥D to toggle recording.")
     }
@@ -893,7 +1223,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         if alert.runModal() == .alertFirstButtonReturn {
             downloadModel(WhisperModels.available[popup.indexOfSelectedItem])
         } else {
-            updateStatus("⚠️ No model selected")
+            updateStatus("No model selected", warning: true)
         }
     }
 
@@ -911,7 +1241,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
             return
         }
         guard let url = URL(string: model.url) else {
-            updateStatus("⚠️ Invalid URL")
+            updateStatus("Invalid URL", warning: true)
             return
         }
 
@@ -955,7 +1285,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
     func failDownload(_ message: String) {
         let name = currentDownloadModel?.name ?? "model"
         clearDownloadState()
-        updateStatus("⚠️ Download failed")
+        updateStatus("Download failed", warning: true)
         if playSounds { NSSound(named: "Basso")?.play() }
         downloadWindow.showFailed(modelName: name, message: message)
         downloadWindow.show()
@@ -968,24 +1298,43 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         updateDownloadIndicators()
     }
 
-    // Menu bar icon when idle: download progress while a model downloads, else the mic
+    // Menu bar icon. While idle it shows the download progress if a model is downloading.
-    var idleIcon: String {
+    enum MenuBarIcon { case idle, recording, busy }
-        downloadTask != nil ? "⬇️ \(downloadPercent)%" : "🎤"
+    var menuBarIcon = MenuBarIcon.idle { didSet { refreshMenuBarIcon() } }
+
+    func refreshMenuBarIcon() {
+        guard let button = statusItem?.button else { return }
+        let downloading = menuBarIcon == .idle && downloadTask != nil
+        switch menuBarIcon {
+        case .idle:
+            button.image = downloading
+                ? Icons.symbol("arrow.down.circle", pointSize: 15, description: "WhisperDictate: downloading a model")
+                : Icons.symbol("mic", pointSize: 15, description: "WhisperDictate")
+        case .recording:
+            button.image = Icons.coloredSymbol("mic.fill", pointSize: 15, color: .systemRed, description: "WhisperDictate: recording")
+        case .busy:
+            button.image = Icons.symbol("hourglass", pointSize: 15, description: "WhisperDictate: working")
+        }
+        button.imagePosition = .imageLeading
+        button.title = downloading ? "\(downloadPercent)%" : ""
     }
 
     // Sync the menu bar icon, the menu's download line and the Settings button
     // with the download state, without overriding the recording/transcribing icon.
     func updateDownloadIndicators() {
-        if let title = statusItem.button?.title, title == "🎤" || title.hasPrefix("⬇️") {
+        refreshMenuBarIcon()
-            statusItem.button?.title = idleIcon
-        }
         if let item = statusItem.menu?.item(withTag: 101) {
             item.isHidden = currentDownloadModel == nil
             if let model = currentDownloadModel {
-                item.title = "⬇️ Downloading \(model.name): \(downloadPercent)% — Show Progress…"
+                item.title = "Downloading \(model.name): \(downloadPercent)% — Show Progress…"
             }
         }
-        settingsDownloadButton?.title = downloadTask != nil ? "⬇️ \(downloadPercent)%" : "Download..."
+        if let button = settingsDownloadButton {
+            let downloading = downloadTask != nil
+            button.image = downloading ? Icons.symbol("arrow.down.circle", pointSize: 11) : nil
+            button.imagePosition = .imageLeading
+            button.title = downloading ? "\(downloadPercent)%" : "Download..."
+        }
     }
 
     // MARK: - URLSessionDownloadDelegate
@@ -1055,7 +1404,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
     // MARK: - Status Item
     func setupStatusItem() {
         statusItem = NSStatusBar.system.statusItem(withLength: NSStatusItem.variableLength)
-        statusItem.button?.title = "🎤"
+        refreshMenuBarIcon()
 
         let menu = NSMenu()
 
@@ -1067,6 +1416,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         menu.addItem(statusMenuItem)
 
         let downloadMenuItem = NSMenuItem(title: "", action: #selector(showDownloadWindow), keyEquivalent: "")
+        downloadMenuItem.image = Icons.symbol("arrow.down.circle")
         downloadMenuItem.target = self
         downloadMenuItem.tag = 101
         downloadMenuItem.isHidden = true
@@ -1091,7 +1441,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
 
     func createSettingsWindow() -> NSWindow {
         let window = NSWindow(
-            contentRect: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 450, height: 540),
+            contentRect: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 450, height: 580),
             styleMask: [.titled, .closable],
             backing: .buffered,
             defer: false
@@ -1102,7 +1452,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
 
         let contentView = NSView(frame: window.contentView!.bounds)
 
-        var y: CGFloat = 498
+        var y: CGFloat = 538
         let labelWidth: CGFloat = 120
         let controlX: CGFloat = 140
         let controlWidth: CGFloat = 280
@@ -1180,6 +1530,15 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         loginCheck.state = isLaunchAtLoginEnabled() ? .on : .off
         contentView.addSubview(loginCheck)
 
+        y -= 40
+
+        // Live preview
+        let previewCheck = NSButton(checkboxWithTitle: "Live preview while recording", target: self, action: #selector(livePreviewChanged(_:)))
+        previewCheck.frame = NSRect(x: controlX, y: y, width: controlWidth, height: 24)
+        previewCheck.state = livePreviewEnabled ? .on : .off
+        previewCheck.toolTip = "Shows a rough live transcript in the recording overlay using macOS's on-device dictation model. The pasted text still comes from Whisper."
+        contentView.addSubview(previewCheck)
+
         // Custom dictionary (recognised -> replacement)
         let dictLabel = NSTextField(labelWithString: "Dictionary (heard → replacement):")
         dictLabel.frame = NSRect(x: 20, y: 304, width: 300, height: 20)
@@ -1247,6 +1606,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
     @objc func languageChanged(_ sender: NSPopUpButton) {
         if let code = sender.selectedItem?.representedObject as? String {
             language = code
+            if livePreviewEnabled { LivePreview.installModelIfNeeded(languageCode: code) }
             NSLog("Language changed to: \(language)")
         }
     }
@@ -1330,6 +1690,11 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         }
     }
 
+    @objc func livePreviewChanged(_ sender: NSButton) {
+        livePreviewEnabled = sender.state == .on
+        if livePreviewEnabled { LivePreview.installModelIfNeeded(languageCode: language) }
+    }
+
     @objc func playSoundsChanged(_ sender: NSButton) {
         playSounds = sender.state == .on
     }
@@ -1450,20 +1815,16 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
     func checkModelExists() {
         let validation = isValidModelPath(modelPath)
         if !validation.valid {
-            updateStatus("⚠️ \(validation.error ?? "Invalid model")")
+            updateStatus(validation.error ?? "Invalid model", warning: true)
         } else {
             updateStatus("Ready")
         }
     }
 
-    func updateStatus(_ status: String) {
+    func updateStatus(_ status: String, warning: Bool = false) {
-        if let menu = statusItem.menu {
+        guard let item = statusItem.menu?.item(withTag: 100) else { return }
-            for item in menu.items {
-                if item.tag == 100 {
         item.title = "Status: \(status)"
-                }
+        item.image = warning ? Icons.coloredSymbol("exclamationmark.triangle.fill", pointSize: 13, color: .systemYellow) : nil
-            }
-        }
     }
 
     // MARK: - Permissions
@@ -1556,12 +1917,13 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
             audioRecorder?.isMeteringEnabled = true
             audioRecorder?.record()
             isRecording = true
-            statusItem.button?.title = "🔴"
+            menuBarIcon = .recording
             updateStatus("Recording...")
             if playSounds { NSSound(named: "Tink")?.play() }
             NSLog("Recording started")
             startMeter()
             prepareModelForDictation()
+            startLivePreview()
         } catch {
             NSLog("Recording failed: \(error)")
             if playSounds { NSSound(named: "Basso")?.play() }
@@ -1603,6 +1965,16 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         checkModelLoaded()
     }
 
+    // MARK: - Live preview
+    func startLivePreview() {
+        guard livePreviewEnabled else { return }
+        livePreview.onText = { [weak self] text in
+            guard let self = self, self.isRecording else { return }
+            self.recordingHUD.setPreview(self.applyReplacements(text))
+        }
+        livePreview.start(languageCode: language, contextualStrings: dictionaryTerms())
+    }
+
     // MARK: - Model warm-up
     // Start getting the model into memory as soon as recording starts, so loading
     // overlaps with the user talking instead of following it. Only if that turns
@@ -1659,11 +2031,14 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         audioRecorder?.stop()
         isRecording = false
         isTranscribing = true
-        // Model still loading and already announced: keep explaining the wait
+        livePreview.stop()
-        let keepHUD = modelLoading && loadNoticeShown
+        // Keep the HUD up while Whisper works if there is something to show:
+        // the live preview text, or why this transcription is slower
+        let explainLoading = modelLoading && loadNoticeShown
+        let keepHUD = explainLoading || recordingHUD.hasPreview
         stopMeter(hideHUD: !keepHUD)
-        if keepHUD { recordingHUD.showTranscribing(notice: .loadingModel) }
+        if keepHUD { recordingHUD.showTranscribing(notice: explainLoading ? .loadingModel : nil) }
-        statusItem.button?.title = "⏳"
+        menuBarIcon = .busy
         updateStatus("Transcribing...")
         if playSounds { NSSound(named: "Pop")?.play() }
         NSLog("Recording stopped, transcribing...")
@@ -1733,7 +2108,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         }
 
         if !isRecording && !isTranscribing {
-            statusItem.button?.title = "⏳"
+            menuBarIcon = .busy
             updateStatus("Loading model…")
         }
 
@@ -1745,7 +2120,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
                 defer { completion?() }
                 guard let self = self, self.whisperServer === server else { return }
                 let busy = self.isRecording || self.isTranscribing
-                if !busy { self.statusItem.button?.title = self.idleIcon }
+                if !busy { self.menuBarIcon = .idle }
                 if ok {
                     if !busy { self.updateStatus("Ready") }
                     NSLog("whisper-server ready on port \(server.port)")
@@ -1763,8 +2138,8 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
         let modelValidation = isValidModelPath(modelPath)
         guard modelValidation.valid else {
             DispatchQueue.main.async {
-                self.statusItem.button?.title = self.idleIcon
+                self.menuBarIcon = .idle
-                self.updateStatus("⚠️ \(modelValidation.error ?? "Invalid model")")
+                self.updateStatus(modelValidation.error ?? "Invalid model", warning: true)
                 if self.playSounds { NSSound(named: "Basso")?.play() }
             }
             return
@@ -1772,8 +2147,8 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
 
         guard SupportedLanguages.isValid(language) else {
             DispatchQueue.main.async {
-                self.statusItem.button?.title = self.idleIcon
+                self.menuBarIcon = .idle
-                self.updateStatus("⚠️ Invalid language")
+                self.updateStatus("Invalid language", warning: true)
                 if self.playSounds { NSSound(named: "Basso")?.play() }
             }
             return
@@ -1800,7 +2175,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
             if let finalText = finalText, !finalText.isEmpty {
                 self.pasteText(finalText)
             } else {
-                self.statusItem.button?.title = self.idleIcon
+                self.menuBarIcon = .idle
                 self.updateStatus("Ready")
                 if self.playSounds { NSSound(named: "Basso")?.play() }
                 NSLog("No speech recognized")
@@ -1813,8 +2188,8 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
     func transcribeWithCLI(prompt: String? = nil) -> String? {
         guard let whisperPath = findWhisperCLI() else {
             DispatchQueue.main.async {
-                self.statusItem.button?.title = self.idleIcon
+                self.menuBarIcon = .idle
-                self.updateStatus("⚠️ whisper-cli not found")
+                self.updateStatus("whisper-cli not found", warning: true)
                 if self.playSounds { NSSound(named: "Basso")?.play() }
                 NSLog("whisper-cli not found in PATH")
             }
@@ -1889,7 +2264,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, URLSessionDownloadDelegate,
                 }
             }
 
-            self.statusItem.button?.title = self.idleIcon
+            self.menuBarIcon = .idle
             self.updateStatus("Ready")
             if self.playSounds { NSSound(named: "Glass")?.play() }
         }