iOS 1.0 RC 2: Plex streams under upload caps, shuffle and album radio stations, Recently Added list, photo covers, crossfade

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -20,3 +20,10 @@
 2026-10-31 iOS: version is now 1.0 RC 1 (build 21). Bundle version 1.0, label in StemifyVersionLabel, IPA stemify-1.0-rc1.ipa, tag ios-v1.0-rc1.
 2026-10-31 iOS: battery and heat. Waveform redraws 4/s instead of 120, meters and playing bars capped at 30 fps. Engine sleeps until its buffer is half drained (120 ms foreground, 600 ms with no screen), 2 s idle while paused. Decoders wake on a low-water mark and run at userInitiated. stemd polling stops in the background unless CarPlay is connected. Widget reloads settle for 0.6 s.
 2026-10-31 web: player redraws the waveform only when the playhead moves a bar (200 ms tick instead of rAF), caches the envelope, and stops polling while the tab is hidden.
+2026-11-06 iOS: version is now 1.0 RC 2 (build 22). IPA stemify-1.0-rc2.ipa, tag ios-v1.0-rc2.
+2026-11-06 iOS: plain Plex songs play when Remote Access has an upload cap. Streams now ask Plex for a playback decision first and fetch the part with that session, like Plexamp, instead of a bare part URL that Plex rejected with a 500.
+2026-11-06 iOS: shuffle buttons (Songs, Library Radio) play server-side random batches of 100 and top up as the queue runs low, instead of loading the whole library and timing out.
+2026-11-06 iOS: Random Album Radio works like Plexamp. It shuffles the album list once, keeps about 8 albums queued ahead in that order, plays each album in track order, and tops up when 3 are left. The station survives a restart.
+2026-11-06 iOS: Recently Added has See All, a full scrolling list sorted by date added. Tapping a song on the Library page plays from it through the last 500 added songs.
+2026-11-06 iOS: stem playlist covers can come from Photos (Change Cover > Choose from Photos). Stored on the phone, 1200 px JPEG.
+2026-11-06 iOS: crossfade, Off or 1-12 s in Settings > Listening. Equal-power fade, Sweet Fades skips it between songs of the same album. Seeking during a fade finishes it.

ios/Stemify/Cache/Downloads.swift

@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ final class Downloads: @unchecked Sendable {
                 sources = entry.stems.map { (PlaybackManager.stemKey(entry, $0.file, $0.size, q), stems.fileUrl(entry, $0, q)) }
             } else {
                 guard let part = t.partKey else { throw PlainError("No file on the server") }
-                sources = [(PlaybackManager.plexKey(t), plex.partUrl(part))]
+                sources = [(PlaybackManager.plexKey(t), plex.streamUrlNow(t) ?? plex.partUrl(part))]
             }
             update { m in
                 m[key]?.keys = sources.map(\.0)

ios/Stemify/Core/Settings.swift

@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ final class Settings: @unchecked Sendable {
         "servers", "plexUrl", "plexToken", "plexUser", "plexMachineId", "musicSection", "musicSectionTitle",
         "stemUrl", "stemToken", "plexAccountToken", "stemRoots", "theme", "accent", "albumColorNowPlaying", "highRefreshRate",
         "stemQuality", "cacheLimitGb", "downloadsWifiOnly", "downloadSort", "keepStemMix", "masterVolume", "tabLayout",
-        "karaokeVocals", "karaokeSoftDb", "playbackSpeed", "stemsOnly", "noStems", "precacheCount", "hiddenNowPlaying", "presets", "presetOrder", "hiddenPresets", "lockedPreset", "webStations", "lockScreenMix", "acapella",
+        "karaokeVocals", "karaokeSoftDb", "playbackSpeed", "stemsOnly", "noStems", "precacheCount", "hiddenNowPlaying", "presets", "presetOrder", "hiddenPresets", "lockedPreset", "webStations", "lockScreenMix", "acapella", "crossfadeSec", "sweetFades",
     ]
 
     private func read<T>(_ kp: KeyPath<Settings, T>, _ key: String, _ def: T) -> T {
@@ -246,6 +246,10 @@ final class Settings: @unchecked Sendable {
     var hiddenPresets: String { get { read(\.hiddenPresets, "hiddenPresets", "") } set { write(\.hiddenPresets, "hiddenPresets", newValue, "") } }
     /// The id of the preset every song starts with, or empty.
     var lockedPreset: String { get { read(\.lockedPreset, "lockedPreset", "") } set { write(\.lockedPreset, "lockedPreset", newValue, "") } }
+    /// Crossfade length in seconds, 0 is off.
+    var crossfadeSec: Int { get { read(\.crossfadeSec, "crossfadeSec", 0) } set { write(\.crossfadeSec, "crossfadeSec", min(12, max(0, newValue)), 0) } }
+    /// Skip the crossfade between songs of the same album.
+    var sweetFades: Bool { get { read(\.sweetFades, "sweetFades", true) } set { write(\.sweetFades, "sweetFades", newValue, true) } }
     var keepStemMix: Bool { get { read(\.keepStemMix, "keepStemMix", true) } set { write(\.keepStemMix, "keepStemMix", newValue, true) } }
     var playbackSpeed: Double {
         get { access(keyPath: \.playbackSpeed); lock.lock(); defer { lock.unlock() }; return (store["playbackSpeed"] as? NSNumber)?.doubleValue ?? 1 }

ios/Stemify/Engine/StemEngine.swift

@@ -231,6 +231,13 @@ final class StemEngine: @unchecked Sendable {
 
     private var session: TrackSession?
     private var next: TrackSession?
+    /// Crossfade length into [next], in ms (0 = gapless).
+    private var nextFadeMs = 0
+    /// The track fading in over the end of [session], and how far through the fade we are.
+    private var xf: TrackSession?
+    private var xfLen: Int64 = 0
+    private var xfDone: Int64 = 0
+    private var env = [Float](repeating: 0, count: 0)
     private var wantPlay = false
     private let av = AVAudioEngine()
     private var node: AVAudioSourceNode?
@@ -319,11 +326,20 @@ final class StemEngine: @unchecked Sendable {
         }
     }
 
-    /// The track to continue into gaplessly when the current one ends (or nil).
+    /// The track to continue into when the current one ends (or nil): gaplessly, or crossfading
-    func queueNext(_ s: TrackSession?) {
+    /// over the last [fadeMs] of the current track.
+    func queueNext(_ s: TrackSession?, fadeMs: Int = 0) {
         post { [self] in
             if next !== s { next?.release() }
             next = s
+            nextFadeMs = s == nil ? 0 : max(0, fadeMs)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Changes the fade into the queued track, if it hasn't started.
+    func setNextFade(_ fadeMs: Int) {
+        post { [self] in
+            if next != nil { nextFadeMs = max(0, fadeMs) }
         }
     }
 
@@ -348,6 +364,21 @@ final class StemEngine: @unchecked Sendable {
 
     func seekTo(_ ms: Int64) {
         post { [self] in
+            if let x = xf, let s = session {
+                xf = nil
+                if segments.count > 1 {
+                    // The fade hasn't reached the speakers yet, so the seek is in the old track:
+                    // put the new one back as next, from its start, to fade in again later.
+                    x.gen += 1
+                    x.framePos = 0
+                    x.decoders.forEach { $0.seek(gen: x.gen, frame: 0) }
+                    next?.release()
+                    next = x
+                } else {
+                    s.release()
+                    session = x
+                }
+            }
             guard let s = session else { return }
             let frame = min(max(ms * Int64(s.sampleRate) / 1000, 0), max(0, s.durationFrames - 1))
             s.gen += 1
@@ -396,8 +427,10 @@ final class StemEngine: @unchecked Sendable {
     private func dropAll() {
         session?.release()
         next?.release()
+        xf?.release()
         session = nil
         next = nil
+        xf = nil
         drainUntil = -1
         pauseOutput()
         tap?.flush()
@@ -497,9 +530,10 @@ final class StemEngine: @unchecked Sendable {
             idle(max(5, Int(ms)))
             return
         }
-        let n = mixChunk(s)
+        startFade(s)
+        let n = xf != nil ? mixFade(s) : mixChunk(s)
         if n == 0 {
-            if s.finished() { endOfTrack(s) } else { idle(2) }
+            if xf == nil, let cur = session, cur.finished() { endOfTrack(cur) } else { idle(2) }
             return
         }
         eq.configure(eqParams, sampleRate: s.sampleRate)
@@ -553,20 +587,77 @@ final class StemEngine: @unchecked Sendable {
         }
     }
 
-    private func mixChunk(_ s: TrackSession) -> Int {
+    /// Starts the crossfade into [next] once [s] is within the fade length of its end and the next
-        if s.finished() { return 0 }
+    /// track has buffered. Different sample rates can't share the output, so those stay gapless.
+    private func startFade(_ s: TrackSession) {
+        guard xf == nil, nextFadeMs > 0, let nx = next, nx.sampleRate == s.sampleRate, nx.error() == nil else { return }
+        let dur = s.durationFrames
+        let len = Int64(nextFadeMs) * Int64(s.sampleRate) / 1000
+        guard dur > 0, len > 0, s.framePos >= dur - len, !s.finished(), nx.ready(Self.prefill) || nx.finished() else { return }
+        xf = nx
+        next = nil
+        nextFadeMs = 0
+        xfLen = max(Int64(Self.chunk), min(len, dur - s.framePos))
+        xfDone = 0
+        segments.append(Segment(writtenStart: written, token: nx.token, frameStart: nx.framePos))
+    }
+
+    /// One chunk of the crossfade: [s] fading out under [xf] fading in (equal power). When the fade
+    /// is done, or the old track runs out, the new one becomes the session.
+    private func mixFade(_ s: TrackSession) -> Int {
+        guard let x = xf else { return 0 }
+        let outDone = s.finished()
+        if x.finished() || outDone && xfDone >= xfLen { return endFade(s, x) }
+        var n = available(x)
+        if !outDone { n = min(n, available(s)) }
+        if n <= 0 { return 0 }
+        if env.count < n { env = [Float](repeating: 0, count: n) }
+        out.update(repeating: 0, count: n * 2)
+        let len = Double(xfLen)
+        if !outDone {
+            for f in 0..<n { env[f] = Float(cos(min(1, Double(xfDone + Int64(f)) / len) * .pi / 2)) }
+            env.withUnsafeBufferPointer { mix(s, n, $0.baseAddress!) }
+        }
+        for f in 0..<n { env[f] = Float(sin(min(1, Double(xfDone + Int64(f)) / len) * .pi / 2)) }
+        env.withUnsafeBufferPointer { mix(x, n, $0.baseAddress!) }
+        xfDone += Int64(n)
+        if xfDone >= xfLen { _ = endFade(s, x) }
+        return n
+    }
+
+    private func endFade(_ s: TrackSession, _ x: TrackSession) -> Int {
+        s.release()
+        session = x
+        xf = nil
+        return 0
+    }
+
+    /// Frames every live decoder of [s] can give right now, up to a chunk.
+    private func available(_ s: TrackSession) -> Int {
         var n = Self.chunk
         for d in s.decoders {
             if d.error != nil || d.ring.eos && d.ring.availableFrames == 0 { continue }
             n = min(n, d.ring.availableFrames)
         }
+        return n
+    }
+
+    private func mixChunk(_ s: TrackSession) -> Int {
+        if s.finished() { return 0 }
+        let n = available(s)
         if n <= 0 { return 0 }
+        out.update(repeating: 0, count: n * 2)
+        mix(s, n, nil)
+        return n
+    }
+
+    /// Adds [n] frames of [s]'s stems into [out], each at its mix gain (ramped), times [env] when given.
+    private func mix(_ s: TrackSession, _ n: Int, _ env: UnsafePointer<Float>?) {
         let (gains, version) = shared.with { (_mix, _mixVersion) }
         if s.mixVersion != version {
             for i in s.names.indices { s.target[i] = gains[s.names[i]] ?? 1 }
             s.mixVersion = version
         }
-        out.update(repeating: 0, count: n * 2)
         let stride = MeterHistory.maxStems
         let block = MeterHistory.block
         let blocks = (n + block - 1) / block
@@ -585,8 +676,9 @@ final class StemEngine: @unchecked Sendable {
                 let end = min(n, (b + 1) * block)
                 var sum: Float = 0
                 for f in (b * block)..<end {
-                    let l = tmp[f * 2] * g
+                    let e = env.map { g * $0[f] } ?? g
-                    let r = tmp[f * 2 + 1] * g
+                    let l = tmp[f * 2] * e
+                    let r = tmp[f * 2 + 1] * e
                     out[f * 2] += l
                     out[f * 2 + 1] += r
                     sum += l * l + r * r
@@ -599,7 +691,6 @@ final class StemEngine: @unchecked Sendable {
             for b in 0..<blocks { meters.add(s.token, s.framePos + Int64(b * block), p.baseAddress! + b * stride, s.names.count) }
         }
         s.framePos += Int64(n)
-        return n
     }
 
     private func rampGain(_ buf: UnsafeMutablePointer<Float>, _ n: Int, _ from: Float, _ to: Float) {

ios/Stemify/Playback/PlaybackManager.swift

@@ -64,13 +64,14 @@ private struct SavedQueue: Codable {
     var positionMs: Int64 = 0
     var repeatMode: RepeatMode = .Off
     var mix: [String: StemSetting] = [:]
+    var station: PlaybackManager.Station?
 
-    init(items: [QueueItem], unshuffled: [QueueItem]?, index: Int, positionMs: Int64, repeatMode: RepeatMode, mix: [String: StemSetting]) {
+    init(items: [QueueItem], unshuffled: [QueueItem]?, index: Int, positionMs: Int64, repeatMode: RepeatMode, mix: [String: StemSetting], station: PlaybackManager.Station?) {
         self.items = items; self.unshuffled = unshuffled; self.index = index
-        self.positionMs = positionMs; self.repeatMode = repeatMode; self.mix = mix
+        self.positionMs = positionMs; self.repeatMode = repeatMode; self.mix = mix; self.station = station
     }
 
-    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey { case items, unshuffled, index, positionMs, repeatMode = "repeat", mix }
+    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey { case items, unshuffled, index, positionMs, repeatMode = "repeat", mix, station }
 
     init(from decoder: Decoder) throws {
         let c = try decoder.container(keyedBy: CodingKeys.self)
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ private struct SavedQueue: Codable {
         positionMs = (try? c.decode(Int64.self, forKey: .positionMs)) ?? 0
         repeatMode = (try? c.decode(RepeatMode.self, forKey: .repeatMode)) ?? .Off
         mix = (try? c.decode([String: StemSetting].self, forKey: .mix)) ?? [:]
+        station = try? c.decode(PlaybackManager.Station.self, forKey: .station)
     }
 }
 
@@ -203,37 +205,92 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
     }
     private func changed() {
         listeners.values.forEach { $0() }
-        topUpRadio()
+        topUpStation()
     }
 
-    /// Album radio: every album in the library in random order, each played whole and in track order.
+    /// Endless queues that top themselves up as they play.
-    /// Only the next album is fetched, once the queue is nearly played out.
+    /// Album radio (Plexamp's Random Album Radio): every album in the library in one shuffled order,
-    @ObservationIgnored private var radioDeck: [Album]?
+    /// each played whole and in track order. The next several albums sit in the queue up front and
-    @ObservationIgnored private var radioBusy = false
+    /// more are added, in deck order, as they play out.
+    /// Song radio: random songs from the whole library, fetched from the server a batch at a time
+    /// (Library Radio and Songs > Shuffle), so nothing has to load the whole library first.
+    enum Station: Codable, Equatable { case albums([String]), songs }
+    @ObservationIgnored private var station: Station?
+    @ObservationIgnored private var stationGen = 0
+    @ObservationIgnored private var stationBusy = false
+    private static let radioAlbumsAhead = 8
+    private static let radioAlbumsLow = 3
+    private static let radioSongsBatch = 100
+    private static let radioSongsLow = 25
+
+    private func setStation(_ s: Station?) { station = s; stationGen += 1; stationBusy = false }
+
+    private func albumDeck() async throws -> [String] {
+        var deck = (try? await plex.albums().map(\.ratingKey)) ?? []
+        if deck.isEmpty { deck = try await plex.randomAlbums(500).map(\.ratingKey) }
+        return deck.shuffled()
+    }
+
+    /// Tracks of [keys] in that order, fetched in parallel. Albums that fail or are empty are skipped.
+    private func albumTracks(_ keys: [String]) async -> [Track] {
+        let plex = plex
+        let lists = await withTaskGroup(of: (Int, [Track]).self) { group in
+            for (i, k) in keys.enumerated() { group.addTask { (i, (try? await plex.albumTracks(k)) ?? []) } }
+            var out = [[Track]](repeating: [], count: keys.count)
+            for await (i, t) in group { out[i] = t }
+            return out
+        }
+        return lists.flatMap { $0 }
+    }
 
     func startAlbumRadio() async throws {
-        var deck = try await plex.albums().shuffled()
+        var deck = try await albumDeck()
+        // The first album alone so music starts right away, then the rest of the look-ahead.
         var first: [Track] = []
-        while first.isEmpty, !deck.isEmpty { first = (try? await plex.albumTracks(deck.removeLast().ratingKey)) ?? [] }
+        while first.isEmpty, !deck.isEmpty { first = await albumTracks([deck.removeFirst()]) }
-        if first.isEmpty { return }
+        if first.isEmpty { throw RadioEmpty() }
         playTracks(first)
-        radioDeck = deck
+        setStation(.albums(deck))
+        topUpStation()
     }
 
-    private func topUpRadio() {
+    func startSongRadio() async throws {
-        guard radioDeck != nil, !radioBusy, queue.count - index < 3 else { return }
+        let first = try await plex.randomTracks(Self.radioSongsBatch)
-        radioBusy = true
+        if first.isEmpty { throw RadioEmpty() }
-        Task { @MainActor in
+        playTracks(first)
-            defer { radioBusy = false }
+        setStation(.songs)
-            while var deck = radioDeck, !deck.isEmpty {
+    }
-                let album = deck.removeLast()
+
-                radioDeck = deck
+    struct RadioEmpty: LocalizedError { var errorDescription: String? { "No music found in your library" } }
-                if let t = try? await plex.albumTracks(album.ratingKey), !t.isEmpty, radioDeck != nil {
+
-                    addToQueue(t)
+    private func topUpStation() {
-                    return
+        guard let st = station, !stationBusy, index >= 0, index < queue.count else { return }
-                }
+        let gen = stationGen
+        switch st {
+        case .albums(let saved):
+            let ahead = Set(queue[index...].map { $0.track.albumKey ?? $0.track.album }).count
+            guard ahead <= Self.radioAlbumsLow else { return }
+            stationBusy = true
+            Task { @MainActor in
+                defer { if gen == stationGen { stationBusy = false } }
+                var deck = saved
+                if deck.isEmpty { deck = (try? await albumDeck()) ?? [] }
+                let take = Array(deck.prefix(Self.radioAlbumsAhead + 1 - ahead))
+                deck.removeFirst(take.count)
+                let tracks = await albumTracks(take)
+                guard gen == stationGen else { return }
+                station = .albums(deck)
+                addToQueue(tracks)
+            }
+        case .songs:
+            guard queue.count - index <= Self.radioSongsLow else { return }
+            stationBusy = true
+            Task { @MainActor in
+                defer { if gen == stationGen { stationBusy = false } }
+                let have = Set(queue.map(\.track.ratingKey))
+                guard let more = try? await plex.randomTracks(Self.radioSongsBatch), gen == stationGen else { return }
+                addToQueue(more.filter { !have.contains($0.ratingKey) })
             }
-            if radioDeck != nil, let all = try? await plex.albums(), !all.isEmpty { radioDeck = all.shuffled() }
         }
     }
 
@@ -263,7 +320,7 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
 
     func playTracks(_ tracks: [Track], mixes: [[String: StemSetting]]? = nil, start: Int = 0, shuffle doShuffle: Bool = false) {
         if tracks.isEmpty { return }
-        radioDeck = nil
+        setStation(nil)
         let items = items(tracks, mixes)
         if doShuffle {
             unshuffled = items
@@ -332,6 +389,7 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
     }
 
     func clearUpNext() {
+        setStation(nil)
         guard index >= 0 else { return }
         queue = Array(queue.prefix(index + 1))
         unshuffled = nil
@@ -454,6 +512,7 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
         reportTimeline("stopped")
         currentToken = -1
         queued = [:]
+        setStation(nil)
         queue = []
         index = -1
         current = nil
@@ -649,15 +708,18 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
     }
 
     private func openDetached(_ track: Track, _ startMs: Int64) async throws -> (TrackSession, StemEntry?) {
-        try await withCheckedThrowingContinuation { cont in
+        // Plain Plex files need a playback session first, or a Remote Access upload limit fails them.
+        var stream: URL?
+        if stems.find(track) == nil, !cache.isComplete(Self.plexKey(track)) { stream = await plex.streamUrl(track) }
+        return try await withCheckedThrowingContinuation { [stream] cont in
             DispatchQueue.global(qos: .userInitiated).async { [self] in
-                cont.resume(with: Result { try open(track, startMs) })
+                cont.resume(with: Result { try open(track, startMs, stream: stream) })
             }
         }
     }
 
     /// Opens every stem (or the original file) and waits for the decoders to know their format.
-    private func open(_ track: Track, _ startMs: Int64) throws -> (TrackSession, StemEntry?) {
+    private func open(_ track: Track, _ startMs: Int64, stream: URL? = nil) throws -> (TrackSession, StemEntry?) {
         let entry = stems.find(track)
         var sources: [(name: String, key: String, url: URL?, hint: String)] = []
         if let entry {
@@ -671,7 +733,7 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
         } else {
             guard let part = track.partKey else { throw PlainError("Plex has no file for this track") }
             let hint = track.partFile.map { ($0 as NSString).pathExtension } ?? track.codec ?? ""
-            sources.append(("mix", Self.plexKey(track), plex.partUrl(part), hint))
+            sources.append(("mix", Self.plexKey(track), stream ?? plex.partUrl(part), hint))
         }
         if sources.isEmpty { throw PlainError("No stems listed for this track") }
         let decoders = sources.map { src -> StemDecoder in
@@ -723,7 +785,7 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
                 return
             }
             self.queued[s.token] = (item.uid, entry)
-            self.engine.queueNext(s)
+            self.engine.queueNext(s, fadeMs: self.fadeMs(into: item.track))
             await self.precacheAhead(from: i)
         }
     }
@@ -746,6 +808,20 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
         }
     }
 
+    /// How long to crossfade from the current track into `next`, in ms.
+    private func fadeMs(into next: Track) -> Int {
+        let sec = settings.crossfadeSec
+        guard sec > 0 else { return 0 }
+        if settings.sweetFades, let a = current?.track.albumKey, a == next.albumKey { return 0 }
+        return sec * 1000
+    }
+
+    /// Applies a changed crossfade setting to the queued track.
+    func crossfadeChanged() {
+        guard let i = upcomingIndex() else { return }
+        engine.setNextFade(fadeMs(into: queue[i].track))
+    }
+
     private func requeueNext() {
         if currentToken >= 0 { prepareNext() }
     }
@@ -922,7 +998,7 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
             try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 500_000_000)
             guard let self, !Task.isCancelled else { return }
             let snap = SavedQueue(items: self.queue, unshuffled: self.unshuffled, index: self.index,
-                                  positionMs: self.positionMs(), repeatMode: self.repeatMode, mix: self.mix)
+                                  positionMs: self.positionMs(), repeatMode: self.repeatMode, mix: self.mix, station: self.station)
             let file = self.queueFile
             DispatchQueue.global(qos: .utility).async {
                 guard let data = try? JSONEncoder().encode(snap) else { return }
@@ -934,7 +1010,7 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
     /// Saves right away, for when the app is about to be suspended.
     func flushSave() {
         saveTask?.cancel()
-        let snap = SavedQueue(items: queue, unshuffled: unshuffled, index: index, positionMs: positionMs(), repeatMode: repeatMode, mix: mix)
+        let snap = SavedQueue(items: queue, unshuffled: unshuffled, index: index, positionMs: positionMs(), repeatMode: repeatMode, mix: mix, station: station)
         if let data = try? JSONEncoder().encode(snap) { try? data.write(to: queueFile, options: .atomic) }
     }
 
@@ -945,6 +1021,7 @@ final class PlaybackManager: StemEngineListener, @unchecked Sendable {
         shuffle = saved.unshuffled != nil
         repeatMode = saved.repeatMode
         mix = saved.mix
+        station = saved.station
         nextUid = (saved.items.map(\.uid).max() ?? 0) + 1
         let i = min(max(saved.index, -1), saved.items.count - 1)
         index = i

ios/Stemify/Playback/StemPlaylists.swift

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import Foundation
 import Observation
+import UIKit
 
 /// One song in a stem playlist, saved with the mix it plays with.
 struct StemPlaylistItem: Codable, Hashable, Identifiable {
@@ -20,7 +21,12 @@ struct StemPlaylist: Codable, Hashable, Identifiable {
 
     var tracks: [Track] { items.map(\.track) }
     var mixes: [[String: StemSetting]] { items.map(\.mix) }
-    var thumb: String? { artThumb ?? items.lazy.compactMap(\.track.thumb).first }
+    /// A cover picked from Photos ("local:<file>") falls back to the songs' art if its file is gone
+    /// (an imported list, say).
+    var thumb: String? {
+        if let a = artThumb, !a.hasPrefix(StemPlaylists.localPrefix) || StemPlaylists.localArt(a) != nil { return a }
+        return items.lazy.compactMap(\.track.thumb).first
+    }
     var durationMs: Int64 { items.reduce(0) { $0 + $1.track.durationMs } }
 }
 
@@ -53,7 +59,52 @@ final class StemPlaylists {
         edit(id) { $0.items += tracks.map { StemPlaylistItem(track: $0, mix: MixPresets.normalized(mix)) } }
     }
 
-    func setArt(_ id: String, _ thumb: String?) { edit(id) { $0.artThumb = thumb } }
+    func setArt(_ id: String, _ thumb: String?) {
+        let old = list(id)?.artThumb
+        edit(id) { $0.artThumb = thumb }
+        if old != thumb { Self.removeLocalArt(old) }
+    }
+
+    // ---- covers from Photos -----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    nonisolated static let localPrefix = "local:"
+    nonisolated static var artDir: URL {
+        FileManager.default.urls(for: .applicationSupportDirectory, in: .userDomainMask)[0].appendingPathComponent("playlist-art", isDirectory: true)
+    }
+
+    /// The file behind a "local:" thumb, if it's still there.
+    nonisolated static func localArt(_ thumb: String) -> URL? {
+        guard thumb.hasPrefix(localPrefix) else { return nil }
+        let name = String(thumb.dropFirst(localPrefix.count))
+        guard !name.isEmpty, !name.contains("/") else { return nil }
+        let u = artDir.appendingPathComponent(name)
+        return FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: u.path) ? u : nil
+    }
+
+    nonisolated private static func removeLocalArt(_ thumb: String?) {
+        if let thumb, let u = localArt(thumb) { try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: u) }
+    }
+
+    /// Saves [data] (any image format Photos hands over) as the list's cover, scaled to 1200 px.
+    /// Each pick gets a new file name so cached art doesn't show the old one.
+    @discardableResult
+    func setPhotoArt(_ id: String, _ data: Data) -> Bool {
+        guard let img = UIImage(data: data) else { return false }
+        let side: CGFloat = 1200
+        let scale = min(1, side / max(img.size.width, img.size.height, 1))
+        let size = CGSize(width: (img.size.width * scale).rounded(), height: (img.size.height * scale).rounded())
+        let fmt = UIGraphicsImageRendererFormat.default(); fmt.scale = 1
+        let jpeg = UIGraphicsImageRenderer(size: size, format: fmt).jpegData(withCompressionQuality: 0.85) { _ in
+            img.draw(in: CGRect(origin: .zero, size: size))
+        }
+        let name = "\(id)-\(UUID().uuidString.prefix(8).lowercased()).jpg"
+        do {
+            try FileManager.default.createDirectory(at: Self.artDir, withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+            try jpeg.write(to: Self.artDir.appendingPathComponent(name), options: .atomic)
+        } catch { return false }
+        setArt(id, Self.localPrefix + name)
+        return true
+    }
 
     /// Re-reads every song from the library so renamed, retagged or re-added songs match again.
     /// Keeps each item's uid and mix, and leaves songs the library can't find as they are.
@@ -100,6 +151,7 @@ final class StemPlaylists {
     func rename(_ id: String, _ title: String) { edit(id) { $0.title = title } }
 
     func delete(_ id: String) {
+        Self.removeLocalArt(list(id)?.artThumb)
         lists.removeAll { $0.id == id }
         save()
     }

ios/Stemify/Plex/JellyfinClient.swift

@@ -440,6 +440,8 @@ final class JellyfinClient: MediaSource, @unchecked Sendable {
         URL(string: base + "/Audio/\(partKey)/stream?static=true&api_key=" + urlEncode(server.token))
     }
 
+    func streamUrl(_ ratingKey: String, partKey: String) async -> URL? { partUrl(partKey) }
+
     /// True if [url] answers as a Jellyfin server.
     func probe() async -> Bool {
         guard let u = URL(string: base + "/System/Info/Public") else { return false }

ios/Stemify/Plex/MediaServer.swift

@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ protocol MediaSource: AnyObject, Sendable {
     func timeline(_ track: Track, state: String, positionMs: Int64) async
     func artUrl(_ thumb: String?, px: Int) -> URL?
     func partUrl(_ partKey: String) -> URL?
+    /// The URL to stream a track's file from, after any setup the server needs for playback.
+    func streamUrl(_ ratingKey: String, partKey: String) async -> URL?
     /// Music libraries on the server, for the picker in Settings.
     func musicSections() async throws -> [MusicSection]
 }

ios/Stemify/Plex/PlexClient.swift

@@ -141,18 +141,6 @@ final class PlexClient: @unchecked Sendable {
         return (out, total)
     }
 
-    /// Every track in the library, in pages, shuffled.
-    func allTracksShuffled() async throws -> [Track] {
-        let size = 2000
-        var (out, total) = try await tracksPage(start: 0, size: size)
-        while out.count < total {
-            let (page, _) = try await tracksPage(start: out.count, size: size)
-            if page.isEmpty { break }
-            out += page
-        }
-        return out.shuffled()
-    }
-
     func randomTracks(_ count: Int) async throws -> [Track] {
         let each = count / max(sources.count, 1) + 1
         return Array(try await pool { s in try await s.randomTracks(each).map { $0.tagged(s.server.id) } }.shuffled().prefix(count))
@@ -265,6 +253,7 @@ final class PlexClient: @unchecked Sendable {
     // ---- URLs -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     func artUrl(_ thumb: String?, px: Int) -> URL? {
+        if let thumb, thumb.hasPrefix(StemPlaylists.localPrefix) { return StemPlaylists.localArt(thumb) }
         guard let thumb, !thumb.isEmpty, let r = route(thumb) else { return nil }
         let (s, k) = r
         return s.artUrl(k, px: px)
@@ -276,6 +265,26 @@ final class PlexClient: @unchecked Sendable {
         return s.partUrl(k)
     }
 
+    /// [track]'s file, set up for playback on its server (see PlexServer.streamUrl).
+    func streamUrl(_ track: Track) async -> URL? {
+        guard let part = track.partKey, let r = route(part) else { return nil }
+        let (s, k) = r
+        let rk = route(track.ratingKey)?.1 ?? track.ratingKey
+        return await s.streamUrl(rk, partKey: k)
+    }
+
+    /// Blocking form of [streamUrl] for worker threads.
+    func streamUrlNow(_ track: Track) -> URL? {
+        let box = UrlBox()
+        let sem = DispatchSemaphore(value: 0)
+        Task {
+            box.url = await streamUrl(track)
+            sem.signal()
+        }
+        sem.wait()
+        return box.url
+    }
+
     // ---- sign-in helpers --------------------------------------------------------------
 
     /// A Plex client for plex.tv calls and for a server that isn't saved yet.
@@ -333,3 +342,5 @@ final class PlexClient: @unchecked Sendable {
 
     func jellyfin(_ s: MediaServer) -> JellyfinClient { JellyfinClient(http: http, settings: settings, server: s) }
 }
+
+private final class UrlBox: @unchecked Sendable { var url: URL? }

ios/Stemify/Plex/PlexServer.swift

@@ -317,6 +317,32 @@ final class PlexServer: MediaSource, @unchecked Sendable {
         URL(string: base + partKey + "?X-Plex-Token=" + urlEncode(token))
     }
 
+    /// The part's URL the way Plexamp plays it: first a playback decision for this session, then
+    /// the file fetched under that session and client. A bare part request has no bitrate, so Plex
+    /// reads it as unlimited ("Bandwidth exceeded: 2147483647 kbps") and answers 500 whenever
+    /// Remote Access has an upload limit set.
+    func streamUrl(_ ratingKey: String, partKey: String) async -> URL? {
+        let session = UUID().uuidString.lowercased()
+        if signedIn, let u = try? url("/music/:/transcode/universal/decision", [
+            ("path", "/library/metadata/\(ratingKey)"), ("mediaIndex", 0), ("partIndex", 0),
+            ("protocol", "http"), ("directPlay", 1), ("directStream", 1), ("directStreamAudio", 1),
+            ("hasMDE", 1), ("session", session), ("X-Plex-Session-Identifier", session),
+        ]) {
+            var req = request(u)
+            req.setValue(session, forHTTPHeaderField: "X-Plex-Session-Identifier")
+            req.timeoutInterval = 8
+            // Best effort: the part URL below still carries the session if this fails.
+            if let (_, resp) = try? await http.session.data(for: req), let code = (resp as? HTTPURLResponse)?.statusCode, code >= 300 {
+                Log.shared.error("plex", "stream decision for \(ratingKey): HTTP \(code)")
+            }
+        }
+        guard let u = URL(string: base + partKey) else { return nil }
+        return u.with([
+            ("X-Plex-Token", token), ("X-Plex-Client-Identifier", settings.clientId), ("X-Plex-Product", Self.product),
+            ("X-Plex-Platform", "iOS"), ("X-Plex-Device", model), ("X-Plex-Session-Identifier", session), ("session", session),
+        ])
+    }
+
     // ---- plex.tv sign-in ------------------------------------------------------------
 
     func createPin() async throws -> PlexPin {

ios/Stemify/UI/Components/MediaMenu.swift

@@ -78,7 +78,14 @@ struct MediaMenu {
         if !pl.items.isEmpty {
             a.append(SheetAction("Change Cover…", icon: "photo") {
                 var seen = Set<String>()
-                var acts: [SheetAction] = [SheetAction("Automatic", icon: "wand.and.stars") { lists.setArt(pl.id, nil) }]
+                var acts: [SheetAction] = [
+                    SheetAction("Choose from Photos…", icon: "photo.on.rectangle") {
+                        overlays.pickPhoto { data in
+                            if !lists.setPhotoArt(pl.id, data) { overlays.hud("Couldn't use that photo", "exclamationmark.triangle") }
+                        }
+                    },
+                    SheetAction("Automatic", icon: "wand.and.stars") { lists.setArt(pl.id, nil) },
+                ]
                 for t in pl.tracks {
                     guard let th = t.thumb, seen.insert(th).inserted, seen.count <= 20 else { continue }
                     acts.append(SheetAction(t.album, icon: th == pl.artThumb ? "checkmark" : "photo") { lists.setArt(pl.id, th) })

ios/Stemify/UI/Components/Overlays.swift

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import PhotosUI
 import SwiftUI
 
 struct SheetAction: Identifiable {
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ final class Overlays {
     var prompt: Prompt?
     var hud: Hud?
     var addToPlaylist: AddToPlaylist?
+    /// Set while the Photos picker is up; gets the picked image's data.
+    var photoPick: ((Data) -> Void)?
+    var photoShown = false
     /// 1 while the Now Playing sheet is up, so its host shows overlays instead of the root's.
     var level = 0
 
@@ -65,6 +69,10 @@ final class Overlays {
         present { self.addToPlaylist = AddToPlaylist(tracks: tracks, title: title, skip: skip) }
     }
 
+    func pickPhoto(_ run: @escaping (Data) -> Void) {
+        present { self.photoPick = run; self.photoShown = true }
+    }
+
     func hud(_ text: String, _ icon: String = "checkmark") {
         hudTask?.cancel()
         withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: 0.15)) { hud = Hud(text: text, icon: icon) }
@@ -81,6 +89,7 @@ struct OverlayHost: ViewModifier {
     let overlays: Overlays
     let level: Int
     @State private var text = ""
+    @State private var photo: PhotosPickerItem?
     @Environment(\.palette) private var p
 
     private var mine: Bool { overlays.level == level }
@@ -116,6 +125,17 @@ struct OverlayHost: ViewModifier {
                 if let m = p.message { Text(m) }
             }
             .onChange(of: overlays.prompt?.title) { _, _ in text = overlays.prompt?.initial ?? "" }
+            .photosPicker(isPresented: Binding(get: { mine && overlays.photoShown }, set: { overlays.photoShown = $0 }),
+                          selection: $photo, matching: .images)
+            .onChange(of: photo) { _, item in
+                guard let item, let run = overlays.photoPick else { return }
+                photo = nil
+                overlays.photoPick = nil
+                Task { @MainActor in
+                    if let data = try? await item.loadTransferable(type: Data.self) { run(data) }
+                    else { overlays.hud("Couldn't load that photo", "exclamationmark.triangle") }
+                }
+            }
             .sheet(item: Binding(get: { mine ? overlays.addToPlaylist : nil }, set: { overlays.addToPlaylist = $0 })) { r in
                 AddToPlaylistSheet(req: r, overlays: overlays).environment(\.palette, p).tint(p.accent)
             }

ios/Stemify/UI/Nav.swift

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ enum Tab: String, CaseIterable, Hashable {
 }
 
 enum Route: Hashable {
-    case Artists, Albums, Songs, Playlists, Genres, Downloads, DownloadQueue, TabBar, WebRadio
+    case Artists, Albums, Songs, RecentlyAdded, Playlists, Genres, Downloads, DownloadQueue, TabBar, WebRadio
     case Eq, EqFilters(profileId: String), EqFilterPage(profileId: String, filterId: String)
     case Servers, ServerList, Server(String), StemServer, Quality, Storage, Appearance, NowPlayingOptions, StemEditor, About
     case GenrePage(String), ArtistPage(Artist), AlbumPage(Album), PlaylistPage(Playlist), StemPlaylistPage(String)

ios/Stemify/UI/RootView.swift

@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ struct RootView: View {
         case .Artists: ArtistsScreen()
         case .Albums: AlbumsScreen()
         case .Songs: SongsScreen()
+        case .RecentlyAdded: SongsScreen(recent: true)
         case .Playlists: PlaylistsScreen()
         case .Genres: GenresScreen()
         case .Downloads: DownloadsScreen()

ios/Stemify/UI/Screens/LibraryScreens.swift

@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ struct LibraryHome: View {
                 }
         case "Recently Added":
                 if !added.isEmpty {
-                    SectionTitle(title: "Recently Added")
+                    SectionTitle(title: "Recently Added", action: "See All") { ui.push(.RecentlyAdded) }
                     ForEach(Array(added.enumerated()), id: \.element.ratingKey) { i, t in
-                        TrackRow(track: t, menu: ui.menu.track(t)) { g.playback.playTracks(added, start: i) }
+                        TrackRow(track: t, menu: ui.menu.track(t)) { playRecent(from: t, at: i) }
                             .listRow(inset: MARGIN + 60, line: i < added.count - 1)
                     }
                 }
@@ -82,8 +82,7 @@ struct LibraryHome: View {
                 SectionTitle(title: "Stations")
                 let stations: [(String, String, () async throws -> Void)] = [
                     ("dot.radiowaves.left.and.right", "Library Radio", {
-                        let list = try await g.plex.allTracksShuffled()
+                        try await g.playback.startSongRadio()
-                        if !list.isEmpty { g.playback.playTracks(list) }
                     }),
                     ("square.stack", "Random Album Radio", { try await g.playback.startAlbumRadio() }),
                 ]
@@ -152,6 +151,16 @@ struct LibraryHome: View {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Plays the whole Recently Added list (up to 500 songs) from [t], not just the 10 shown here.
+    private func playRecent(from t: Track, at i: Int) {
+        let shown = added
+        Task {
+            let all = (try? await g.plex.recentlyAddedTracks(count: 500)) ?? []
+            if let j = all.firstIndex(where: { $0.ratingKey == t.ratingKey }) { g.playback.playTracks(all, start: j) }
+            else { g.playback.playTracks(shown, start: i) }
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Starts a station: its songs play in the order given (albums stay whole).
     private func play(_ start: @escaping () async throws -> Void) {
         Task {
@@ -542,6 +551,8 @@ struct AlbumsScreen: View {
 // ---- songs (paged) --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 struct SongsScreen: View {
+    /// Recently Added: every song, newest first, with no sort menu.
+    var recent = false
     @Environment(Ui.self) private var ui
     @Environment(\.palette) private var p
     @State private var tracks: [Track] = []
@@ -555,18 +566,21 @@ struct SongsScreen: View {
     private let sort = SortState("songs", SONG_SORTS)
     private var g: AppGraph { .shared }
 
-    /// Shuffles the whole library, not just the pages loaded so far.
+    /// Shuffles the whole library, not just the pages loaded so far: random songs from the server,
+    /// topped up as they play. Recently Added shuffles what it has loaded.
     private func shuffleAll() {
+        if recent { g.playback.playTracks(tracks, shuffle: true); return }
         Task {
-            do { g.playback.playTracks(try await g.plex.allTracksShuffled(), shuffle: true) }
+            do { try await g.playback.startSongRadio() }
-            catch { g.playback.report("Couldn't load songs: \(error.localizedDescription)") }
+            catch { ui.overlays.hud("Couldn't shuffle songs", "exclamationmark.triangle") }
         }
     }
+    private var order: String { recent ? "addedAt:desc" : sort.param }
 
     var body: some View {
-        Page(title: "Songs") {
+        Page(title: recent ? "Recently Added" : "Songs") {
             if !tracks.isEmpty {
-                if total > 0, !StemsOnly.on, !sort.option.random {
+                if total > 0, !StemsOnly.on, recent || !sort.option.random {
                     Text(songs(total)).font(.subheadline).foregroundStyle(p.label2).padding(.leading, MARGIN).padding(.bottom, 12)
                 }
                 PlayShuffle(play: { g.playback.playTracks(Array(tracks.prefix(1000))) },
@@ -584,7 +598,7 @@ struct SongsScreen: View {
             if loading { LoadingRow() }
             if let error { ErrorRow(message: error) { loadMore() } }
         }
-        .toolbar { ToolbarItem(placement: .topBarTrailing) { SortMenu(sort: sort) } }
+        .toolbar { if !recent { ToolbarItem(placement: .topBarTrailing) { SortMenu(sort: sort) } } }
         .task { if tracks.isEmpty { loadMore() } }
         .onChange(of: "\(sort.token)|\(StemsOnly.on)|\(g.settings.libraryKey)") {
             gen += 1; tracks = []; total = -1; offset = 0; error = nil; loading = false
@@ -595,7 +609,7 @@ struct SongsScreen: View {
     private func loadMore() {
         if loading || (total >= 0 && offset >= total) { return }
         loading = true
-        let mine = gen, order = sort.param, random = sort.option.random
+        let mine = gen, order = self.order, random = !recent && sort.option.random
         Task {
             do {
                 // Random pages would repeat songs, so it's one shuffled batch.

ios/Stemify/UI/Screens/SettingsScreens.swift

@@ -31,6 +31,29 @@ private struct ToggleCell: View {
     }
 }
 
+/// Crossfade length and the same-album exception.
+private struct CrossfadeCells: View {
+    @Environment(\.palette) private var p
+    private var g: AppGraph { .shared }
+    var body: some View {
+        @Bindable var s = g.settings
+        Picker(selection: Binding(get: { s.crossfadeSec }, set: { s.crossfadeSec = $0; g.playback.crossfadeChanged() })) {
+            Text("Off").tag(0)
+            ForEach(1...12, id: \.self) { Text("\($0) s").tag($0) }
+        } label: {
+            HStack(spacing: 14) {
+                SettingsIcon(symbol: "arrow.left.arrow.right", bg: 0xFF9500)
+                Text("Crossfade").foregroundStyle(p.label)
+            }
+        }
+        .themedRow()
+        if s.crossfadeSec > 0 {
+            ToggleCell(title: "Sweet Fades", icon: "rectangle.stack.fill", iconBg: 0xFF9500,
+                       isOn: Binding(get: { s.sweetFades }, set: { s.sweetFades = $0; g.playback.crossfadeChanged() }))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// How quiet karaoke's Soft vocals are.
 private struct SoftVocalsCell: View {
     @Environment(\.palette) private var p
@@ -203,6 +226,7 @@ struct SettingsScreen: View {
                 NavCell(title: "Stem Editor", value: s.lockedPreset.isEmpty ? nil : "Locked", icon: "slider.horizontal.3", iconBg: 0xAF52DE, route: .StemEditor)
                 NavCell(title: "Stem Quality", value: s.stemQuality.label, icon: "gauge.with.dots.needle.67percent", iconBg: 0xFF2D55, route: .Quality)
                 ToggleCell(title: "Keep Mix Between Songs", icon: "speaker.wave.2.fill", iconBg: 0x5856D6, isOn: $s.keepStemMix)
+                CrossfadeCells()
                 SoftVocalsCell()
             } header: { Header(text: "Listening") }
             Section {

ios/project.yml

@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ settings:
     SWIFT_VERSION: "5.0"
     # iOS needs a plain number for the bundle version; the label is what the app and releases show.
     MARKETING_VERSION: "1.0"
-    VERSION_LABEL: "1.0 RC 1"
+    VERSION_LABEL: "1.0 RC 2"
-    CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION: "21"
+    CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION: "22"
 targets:
   Stemify:
     type: application