From 1edc1b17f1b04421c7d58206e1116e98652f33dd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Arjun <6592213+arkml@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2026 00:09:46 +0530
Subject: [PATCH] screen share pop out when I switch to a different app

---
 CLAUDE.md                                     |   1 +
 apps/x/VIDEO_MODE.md                          | 151 ++++++++++++++++++
 apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts                   |  96 ++++++++++-
 apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.tsx              |  55 +++++++
 .../src/components/video-call-view.tsx        |  34 +++-
 .../renderer/src/components/video-popout.tsx  | 117 ++++++++++++++
 .../src/components/video-preview-overlay.tsx  |  46 ++++--
 .../x/apps/renderer/src/hooks/useVideoMode.ts |  47 +++++-
 apps/x/apps/renderer/src/main.tsx             |  13 +-
 apps/x/packages/shared/src/ipc.ts             |  30 ++++
 10 files changed, 567 insertions(+), 23 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 apps/x/VIDEO_MODE.md
 create mode 100644 apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-popout.tsx

diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index bf34bd90..c80edc23 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ Long-form docs for specific features. Read the relevant file before making chang
 | Feature | Doc |
 |---------|-----|
 | Live Notes — single `live:` frontmatter block (one objective + optional cron / windows / eventMatchCriteria) that turns a note into a self-updating artifact, panel UI, Copilot skill, prompts catalog | `apps/x/LIVE_NOTE.md` |
+| Video mode — webcam + screen-share frames to the model (video+chat / hands-free call / full-screen Meet-style call), continuous voice loop, camera mute, popout window, prompts catalog | `apps/x/VIDEO_MODE.md` |
 | Analytics — PostHog event catalog, person properties, use-case taxonomy, how to add a new event | `apps/x/ANALYTICS.md` |
 | Turn/session runtime — event-sourced storage, reference model, the `npm run inspect` debugger | `AGENTS.md` (repo root), `apps/x/packages/core/docs/turn-runtime-design.md`, `session-design.md` |
 
diff --git a/apps/x/VIDEO_MODE.md b/apps/x/VIDEO_MODE.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fff8f6f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/x/VIDEO_MODE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+# Video Mode — Deep Dive
+
+Video mode lets the assistant *see* the user (webcam) and their screen (screen
+share), in three presentations: frames attached to normal chat, a hands-free
+spoken call, and a full-screen Meet-style call. This doc covers the product
+flow, the technical pipeline, and the LLM prompt surface with exact pointers.
+
+## Product flow
+
+The composer's video button (`chat-input-with-mentions.tsx`) toggles video
+mode; a chevron dropdown picks one of three modes (`VideoChatMode`):
+
+| Mode | What it does |
+|------|--------------|
+| `chat` — "Video + chat" | Camera on. Webcam (and screen-share) frames ride along with every typed or dictated message. Small PiP preview floats above the composer. |
+| `call` — "Video call (hands-free)" | Everything in `chat`, plus: continuous listening (each utterance auto-submits as a voice message) and forced full read-aloud TTS. No typing needed; composer still works. |
+| `meeting` — "Video call (full screen)" | Same pipeline as `call`, presented as a full-screen Meet-style layout: user tile + animated mascot tile, captions, control bar. |
+
+On top of any mode:
+
+- **Screen share** (`MonitorUp` buttons on the PiP overlay and the meeting
+  control bar): captures the primary screen; frames go to the model as a
+  separately labeled group. In the meeting view the screen becomes the big
+  tile with user + mascot in a side rail.
+- **Camera off** (Meet-style mute): video mode and screen share keep running,
+  no webcam frames are captured; tiles show a silhouette avatar.
+- **Mascot dismissal** (meeting view): swaps the animated mascot for a
+  Meet-style letter avatar ("R").
+- **Popout**: while screen sharing, if the app window loses focus (the user
+  switched to the app they're sharing), a small always-on-top frameless
+  window pops out with the user + mascot mini-tiles; refocusing dismisses it.
+  Its expand button focuses the main window (`video:focusMain`).
+
+`call`/`meeting` options are disabled unless both voice input (Deepgram) and
+voice output (TTS) are configured. Entering a call saves the user's TTS
+settings and forces `full` read-aloud; leaving restores them.
+
+## Frame pipeline
+
+`apps/renderer/src/hooks/useVideoMode.ts` runs one capture pipe per source
+(stream → offscreen `<video>` → canvas JPEG → ring buffer):
+
+- Cadence: 1 fps (`CAPTURE_INTERVAL_MS`, line 20); ring buffer ~2 min.
+- Webcam: 512px wide, JPEG q0.65, max **12 frames/message** (lines 21, 31).
+- Screen: 1280px wide (text legibility), JPEG q0.7, max **4 frames/message**
+  (lines 24, 32).
+- `collectFrames()` drains frames buffered since the last send, evenly
+  sampled down to the caps, always keeping the newest; grabs one final frame
+  at the moment of send. Falls back to the single latest frame for
+  rapid-fire messages.
+
+`App.tsx` `handlePromptSubmit` (~line 2767) attaches the drained frames to
+the outgoing message as `UserImagePart`s and sets
+`composition.videoMode: true`. Frames also become `isVideoFrame` display
+attachments (filmstrip in the transcript — `chat-message-attachments.tsx`;
+history hydration in `lib/run-to-conversation.ts`).
+
+## Message schema & model encoding
+
+- `packages/shared/src/message.ts:51` — `UserImagePart`: inline base64
+  (`data`, `mediaType`), `source: 'camera' | 'screen'`, `capturedAt`. Unlike
+  file attachments (path references read via the `LLMParse` tool), image
+  parts go to the model as real multimodal image parts.
+- `packages/core/src/agents/runtime.ts` `convertFromMessages` (~line 1013):
+  emits a context line (frame counts + time span), then labeled groups —
+  a `"Webcam frames (oldest to newest):"` text part before camera images and
+  a `"Screen-share frames (oldest to newest):"` text part before screen
+  images — so the model never confuses the user with their screen.
+- Frames stay inline in history (no pruning) deliberately: pruning would
+  bust provider prefix caching every turn and cost more than it saves.
+- The auto-permission classifier stringifies + truncates content to ~3KB per
+  message, so inline base64 can't blow up its prompt.
+
+## Hands-free voice loop
+
+`apps/renderer/src/hooks/useVoiceMode.ts`:
+
+- `startContinuous(onUtterance)` (line 404): push-to-talk params but with
+  `endpointing=1800` (line 25) so thinking pauses don't cut the user off,
+  plus `utterance_end_ms=2000` (line 38) as a second end-of-speech signal.
+  **Gotcha:** Deepgram's `speech_final` usually arrives on a result with an
+  EMPTY transcript — empty finals must reach the endpoint check or
+  utterances never complete (see the NOTE in `ws.onmessage`).
+- `setPaused(true)` (line 414) while the assistant thinks/speaks: drops mic
+  audio (so TTS is never transcribed back), discards half-heard buffer,
+  sends Deepgram KeepAlives every 5s. `App.tsx` drives this from
+  `activeIsProcessing || tts.state !== 'idle'`.
+- Mid-call socket drops reconnect after 1s; the offline audio backlog is
+  capped (~30s).
+
+Mode transitions live in `App.tsx` `handleVideoModeChange` (~line 1161):
+call ↔ meeting switches are presentation-only (mic/TTS untouched);
+entering/leaving hands-free saves/restores TTS settings. Push-to-talk is
+disabled while a call owns the mic.
+
+## Popout window
+
+- Renderer asks `video:setPopout {show}` (main handler:
+  `apps/main/src/ipc.ts:1742`); main creates a frameless, `alwaysOnTop`
+  ('floating'), all-workspaces BrowserWindow at the top-right of the primary
+  display, loading the renderer bundle with `#video-popout`
+  (`apps/renderer/src/main.tsx` branches on the hash →
+  `components/video-popout.tsx`).
+- Call state streams over the `video:popout-state` push channel; main caches
+  the last payload and replays it on popout load. Shown with
+  `showInactive()` so it never steals focus (that would re-hide it).
+- The popout captures its **own** camera preview (MediaStreams can't cross
+  windows) and synthesizes the mascot mouth level (no audio in that window).
+- `video:focusMain` matches only real app windows by URL — `getAllWindows()`
+  also contains hidden utility windows (PDF export) that must not be shown.
+
+## Permissions
+
+- Camera: `voice:ensureCameraAccess` settles the macOS TCC prompt before
+  `getUserMedia` (same pattern as the mic). `NSCameraUsageDescription` is in
+  `forge.config.cjs` `extendInfo`.
+- Screen: `getDisplayMedia` is auto-approved with the primary screen by
+  `setDisplayMediaRequestHandler` in `main.ts` (no picker);
+  `meeting:checkScreenPermission` registers the app in macOS Screen
+  Recording settings on first use.
+
+## LLM prompts catalog
+
+| Prompt | Where |
+|--------|-------|
+| `# Video Mode (Live Camera)` system section — how to use webcam frames, coaching guidance, screen-share rules ("treat the screen as the primary subject", "last screen frame is current"), etiquette (never comment on appearance) | `packages/core/src/agents/runtime.ts:386` (`composeSystemInstructions`, gated on `videoMode`) |
+| Per-message frame context line `[Video mode: N live webcam frames … and M frames of the user's shared screen …]` + group labels | `packages/core/src/agents/runtime.ts:~1013` (`convertFromMessages`) |
+| `videoMode` composition override (session-sticky; flips bust prefix cache) | `packages/core/src/turns/bridges/real-agent-resolver.ts:57,125`; set from `App.tsx` `sendConfig` |
+
+Voice input/output prompt sections (`# Voice Input`, `# Voice Output`) are
+reused untouched — calls set `voiceInput` per utterance and force
+`voiceOutput: 'full'`.
+
+## Cost notes
+
+Webcam frames ≈ 250–350 tokens each (≤12/message ≈ 3–4k); screen frames ≈
+1.5–2k tokens each (≤4/message ≈ 6–8k). History keeps frames inline, so long
+sessions grow but stay prefix-cached. First lever if cost bites: drop to one
+screen frame per message unless the screen changed.
+
+## Known limitations
+
+- Turn-taking is strict — no barge-in (would need echo cancellation against
+  TTS output).
+- Frame sampling, not video: motion between frames is invisible (the prompt
+  tells the model not to claim otherwise).
+- Vocal-delivery feedback is limited: Deepgram reduces speech to text, so
+  "energy" coaching leans on visual cues.
+- Screen share always captures the primary display (no window/display
+  picker yet).
+- The meeting view covers the chat; there's no in-call transcript drawer.
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts b/apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts
index 49578d4a..62e5b8fb 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts
+++ b/apps/x/apps/main/src/ipc.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-import { ipcMain, BrowserWindow, shell, dialog, systemPreferences, desktopCapturer, app } from 'electron';
+import { ipcMain, BrowserWindow, shell, dialog, systemPreferences, desktopCapturer, app, screen } from 'electron';
 import { ipc } from '@x/shared';
 import path from 'node:path';
 import os from 'node:os';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
 import {
   connectProvider,
   disconnectProvider,
@@ -381,9 +382,19 @@ type InvokeHandlers = {
   [K in InvokeChannels]: InvokeHandler<K>;
 };
 
+// Video-mode popout window (shown while screen sharing when the app loses
+// focus) and the last call state pushed by the main window — replayed to the
+// popout when it finishes loading.
+let videoPopoutWin: BrowserWindow | null = null;
+let lastVideoPopoutState: {
+  ttsState: 'idle' | 'synthesizing' | 'speaking';
+  status: 'listening' | 'thinking' | 'speaking' | null;
+  cameraOn: boolean;
+} | null = null;
+
 /**
  * Register all IPC handlers with type safety and runtime validation
- * 
+ *
  * This function ensures:
  * 1. All invoke channels have handlers (exhaustiveness checking)
  * 2. Handler signatures match channel definitions
@@ -1728,6 +1739,87 @@ export function setupIpcHandlers() {
         return { granted: false };
       }
     },
+    'video:setPopout': async (_event, args) => {
+      if (!args.show) {
+        if (videoPopoutWin && !videoPopoutWin.isDestroyed()) videoPopoutWin.destroy();
+        videoPopoutWin = null;
+        return {};
+      }
+      if (videoPopoutWin && !videoPopoutWin.isDestroyed()) return {};
+
+      const workArea = screen.getPrimaryDisplay().workArea;
+      const width = 340;
+      const height = 148;
+      const ipcDir = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+      const preloadPath = app.isPackaged
+        ? path.join(ipcDir, '../preload/dist/preload.js')
+        : path.join(ipcDir, '../../../preload/dist/preload.js');
+      const win = new BrowserWindow({
+        width,
+        height,
+        x: workArea.x + workArea.width - width - 24,
+        y: workArea.y + 24,
+        frame: false,
+        resizable: false,
+        alwaysOnTop: true,
+        skipTaskbar: true,
+        show: false,
+        hasShadow: true,
+        backgroundColor: '#171717',
+        webPreferences: {
+          nodeIntegration: false,
+          contextIsolation: true,
+          sandbox: true,
+          preload: preloadPath,
+        },
+      });
+      // Float above other apps (and fullscreen spaces on macOS) — the whole
+      // point is being visible while the user works elsewhere.
+      win.setAlwaysOnTop(true, 'floating');
+      win.setVisibleOnAllWorkspaces(true, { visibleOnFullScreen: true });
+      win.webContents.once('did-finish-load', () => {
+        if (lastVideoPopoutState) {
+          win.webContents.send('video:popout-state', lastVideoPopoutState);
+        }
+        // showInactive: appearing must not steal focus from the app the user
+        // switched to — that would immediately re-hide the popout.
+        if (!win.isDestroyed()) win.showInactive();
+      });
+      win.on('closed', () => {
+        if (videoPopoutWin === win) videoPopoutWin = null;
+      });
+      videoPopoutWin = win;
+      if (app.isPackaged) {
+        win.loadURL('app://-/index.html#video-popout');
+      } else {
+        win.loadURL('http://localhost:5173/#video-popout');
+      }
+      return {};
+    },
+    'video:popoutState': async (_event, args) => {
+      lastVideoPopoutState = args;
+      if (videoPopoutWin && !videoPopoutWin.isDestroyed()) {
+        videoPopoutWin.webContents.send('video:popout-state', args);
+      }
+      return {};
+    },
+    'video:focusMain': async () => {
+      // Match only real app windows — getAllWindows() can also contain the
+      // popout itself and hidden utility windows (e.g. PDF-export renderers),
+      // which must not be shown or focused.
+      const main = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().find((w) => {
+        if (w === videoPopoutWin || w.isDestroyed()) return false;
+        const url = w.webContents.getURL();
+        const isAppWindow = url.startsWith('app://') || url.startsWith('http://localhost');
+        return isAppWindow && !url.includes('#video-popout');
+      });
+      if (main) {
+        if (main.isMinimized()) main.restore();
+        main.show();
+        main.focus();
+      }
+      return {};
+    },
     // Live-note handlers
     'live-note:run': async (_event, args) => {
       const result = await runLiveNoteAgent(args.filePath, 'manual', args.context);
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.tsx
index 2273fcb6..d6d69d74 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.tsx
@@ -1231,6 +1231,57 @@ function App() {
     }
   }, [video])
 
+  // Meet-style camera mute: video mode (and any screen share) stays on, but
+  // no webcam frames are captured while the camera is off.
+  const handleToggleCamera = useCallback(() => {
+    void video.setCameraEnabled(!video.cameraOn)
+  }, [video])
+
+  // Current phase of a hands-free call (null outside call/meeting modes).
+  const videoCallStatus: 'listening' | 'thinking' | 'speaking' | null =
+    videoChatMode === 'call' || videoChatMode === 'meeting'
+      ? tts.state === 'speaking'
+        ? 'speaking'
+        : tts.state === 'synthesizing' || activeIsProcessing
+          ? 'thinking'
+          : 'listening'
+      : null
+
+  // Meet-style popout: while screen sharing, losing app focus (the user
+  // switched to the app they're sharing) pops the mini-call out into an
+  // always-on-top window; refocusing Rowboat dismisses it. The short show
+  // delay keeps a quick cmd-tab pass-through from flashing a window.
+  const [appFocused, setAppFocused] = useState(true)
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const onFocus = () => setAppFocused(true)
+    const onBlur = () => setAppFocused(false)
+    window.addEventListener('focus', onFocus)
+    window.addEventListener('blur', onBlur)
+    return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener('focus', onFocus)
+      window.removeEventListener('blur', onBlur)
+    }
+  }, [])
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const shouldShow = videoChatMode !== 'off' && video.screenState === 'live' && !appFocused
+    if (shouldShow) {
+      const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+        void window.ipc.invoke('video:setPopout', { show: true }).catch(() => {})
+      }, 300)
+      return () => clearTimeout(timer)
+    }
+    void window.ipc.invoke('video:setPopout', { show: false }).catch(() => {})
+  }, [videoChatMode, video.screenState, appFocused])
+
+  // Keep the popout's mascot/status/camera mirror of the call fresh. The main
+  // process caches the latest state and replays it when the popout loads.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (videoChatMode === 'off') return
+    void window.ipc
+      .invoke('video:popoutState', { ttsState: tts.state, status: videoCallStatus, cameraOn: video.cameraOn })
+      .catch(() => {})
+  }, [videoChatMode, tts.state, videoCallStatus, video.cameraOn])
+
   // Enter to submit voice input, Escape to cancel
   useEffect(() => {
     const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
@@ -6611,6 +6662,8 @@ function App() {
                 interimText={videoChatMode === 'call' ? voice.interimText : undefined}
                 isScreenSharing={video.screenState === 'live'}
                 onToggleScreenShare={handleToggleScreenShare}
+                cameraOn={video.cameraOn}
+                onToggleCamera={handleToggleCamera}
               />
             )}
             {/* Full-screen Meet-style call: user tile + animated mascot tile */}
@@ -6620,6 +6673,8 @@ function App() {
                 screenStreamRef={video.screenStreamRef}
                 isScreenSharing={video.screenState === 'live'}
                 onToggleScreenShare={handleToggleScreenShare}
+                cameraOn={video.cameraOn}
+                onToggleCamera={handleToggleCamera}
                 ttsState={tts.state}
                 getTtsLevel={tts.getLevel}
                 status={
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-call-view.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-call-view.tsx
index a954c970..91a12c4a 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-call-view.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-call-view.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
-import { MonitorUp, PhoneOff } from 'lucide-react'
+import { MonitorUp, PhoneOff, User, Video, VideoOff } from 'lucide-react'
 
 import { MascotFaceIcon, TalkingHead } from '@/components/talking-head'
 import type { TTSState } from '@/hooks/useVoiceTTS'
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ interface VideoCallViewProps {
   screenStreamRef: React.MutableRefObject<MediaStream | null>
   isScreenSharing: boolean
   onToggleScreenShare: () => void
+  cameraOn: boolean
+  onToggleCamera: () => void
   ttsState: TTSState
   /** Live TTS output level — drives the mascot's mouth animation. */
   getTtsLevel: () => number
@@ -76,6 +78,8 @@ export function VideoCallView({
   screenStreamRef,
   isScreenSharing,
   onToggleScreenShare,
+  cameraOn,
+  onToggleCamera,
   ttsState,
   getTtsLevel,
   status,
@@ -102,7 +106,19 @@ export function VideoCallView({
         isScreenSharing && 'aspect-video w-full'
       )}
     >
-      <StreamVideo streamRef={streamRef} mirrored className="h-full w-full object-cover" />
+      {cameraOn ? (
+        <StreamVideo streamRef={streamRef} mirrored className="h-full w-full object-cover" />
+      ) : (
+        <span
+          className={cn(
+            'flex items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-neutral-700 text-neutral-400',
+            isScreenSharing ? 'h-16 w-16' : 'h-40 w-40'
+          )}
+          aria-label="Camera off"
+        >
+          <User className={isScreenSharing ? 'h-8 w-8' : 'h-20 w-20'} />
+        </span>
+      )}
       <span className="absolute bottom-3 left-3 rounded-md bg-black/50 px-2 py-0.5 text-sm text-white">
         You
       </span>
@@ -182,6 +198,20 @@ export function VideoCallView({
           <span className={cn('block h-2 w-2 rounded-full', STATUS_DISPLAY[status].dotClass)} />
           {STATUS_DISPLAY[status].label}
         </span>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={onToggleCamera}
+          className={cn(
+            'flex h-10 w-10 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors',
+            cameraOn
+              ? 'bg-neutral-800 text-white/90 hover:bg-neutral-700'
+              : 'bg-red-600 text-white hover:bg-red-500'
+          )}
+          aria-label={cameraOn ? 'Turn off camera' : 'Turn on camera'}
+          title={cameraOn ? 'Turn off camera' : 'Turn on camera'}
+        >
+          {cameraOn ? <Video className="h-5 w-5" /> : <VideoOff className="h-5 w-5" />}
+        </button>
         <button
           type="button"
           onClick={onToggleScreenShare}
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-popout.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-popout.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ea97f5d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-popout.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { Maximize2, User } from 'lucide-react'
+
+import { TalkingHead } from '@/components/talking-head'
+
+type PopoutState = {
+  ttsState: 'idle' | 'synthesizing' | 'speaking'
+  status: 'listening' | 'thinking' | 'speaking' | null
+  cameraOn: boolean
+}
+
+const STATUS_DISPLAY: Record<NonNullable<PopoutState['status']>, { label: string; dotClass: string }> = {
+  listening: { label: 'Listening', dotClass: 'bg-green-500 animate-pulse' },
+  thinking: { label: 'Thinking…', dotClass: 'bg-amber-400' },
+  speaking: { label: 'Speaking', dotClass: 'bg-sky-400 animate-pulse' },
+}
+
+const dragRegion = { WebkitAppRegion: 'drag' } as React.CSSProperties
+const noDragRegion = { WebkitAppRegion: 'no-drag' } as React.CSSProperties
+
+/**
+ * Content of the always-on-top popout window shown while screen sharing when
+ * the main app window loses focus (Meet-style floating mini-call). Rendered
+ * in its own BrowserWindow (see `video:setPopout` in the main process); call
+ * state streams in over the `video:popout-state` push channel. Captures its
+ * own webcam feed — MediaStreams can't cross windows.
+ */
+export function VideoPopout() {
+  const [state, setState] = useState<PopoutState>({ ttsState: 'idle', status: null, cameraOn: true })
+  const videoRef = useRef<HTMLVideoElement | null>(null)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    return window.ipc.on('video:popout-state', (next) => setState(next))
+  }, [])
+
+  // Own camera feed, following the main window's camera-on/off state.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!state.cameraOn) return
+    let stream: MediaStream | null = null
+    let cancelled = false
+    navigator.mediaDevices
+      .getUserMedia({ video: { width: { ideal: 640 }, facingMode: 'user' }, audio: false })
+      .then((s) => {
+        if (cancelled) {
+          s.getTracks().forEach((t) => t.stop())
+          return
+        }
+        stream = s
+        if (videoRef.current) {
+          videoRef.current.srcObject = s
+          videoRef.current.play().catch(() => {})
+        }
+      })
+      .catch((err) => console.error('[popout] camera failed:', err))
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true
+      stream?.getTracks().forEach((t) => t.stop())
+      if (videoRef.current) videoRef.current.srcObject = null
+    }
+  }, [state.cameraOn])
+
+  // The popout has no TTS audio pipeline — synthesize a plausible mouth level
+  // so the mascot still animates while the assistant speaks in the main window.
+  const getLevel = useCallback(() => 0.45 + 0.35 * Math.sin(performance.now() / 90), [])
+
+  const statusDisplay = state.status ? STATUS_DISPLAY[state.status] : null
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className="flex h-screen w-screen select-none gap-1.5 bg-neutral-900 p-1.5"
+      style={dragRegion}
+    >
+      <div className="relative flex-1 overflow-hidden rounded-lg bg-neutral-800">
+        {state.cameraOn ? (
+          <video
+            ref={videoRef}
+            muted
+            playsInline
+            className="h-full w-full object-cover"
+            style={{ transform: 'scaleX(-1)' }}
+          />
+        ) : (
+          <div className="flex h-full w-full items-center justify-center">
+            <span className="flex h-14 w-14 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-neutral-700 text-neutral-400">
+              <User className="h-7 w-7" />
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        )}
+        <span className="absolute bottom-1 left-1.5 rounded bg-black/50 px-1 py-px text-[10px] text-white">
+          You
+        </span>
+      </div>
+      <div className="relative flex flex-1 items-center justify-center overflow-hidden rounded-lg bg-neutral-800">
+        <TalkingHead ttsState={state.ttsState} getLevel={getLevel} size={92} />
+        <span className="absolute bottom-1 left-1.5 rounded bg-black/50 px-1 py-px text-[10px] text-white">
+          Rowboat
+        </span>
+        {statusDisplay && (
+          <span className="absolute right-1.5 top-1.5 flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-black/50 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-white">
+            <span className={`block h-1.5 w-1.5 rounded-full ${statusDisplay.dotClass}`} />
+            {statusDisplay.label}
+          </span>
+        )}
+      </div>
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        onClick={() => void window.ipc.invoke('video:focusMain', null)}
+        className="absolute left-1.5 top-1.5 flex h-5 w-5 items-center justify-center rounded bg-black/50 text-white/80 hover:text-white"
+        style={noDragRegion}
+        aria-label="Back to Rowboat"
+        title="Back to Rowboat"
+      >
+        <Maximize2 className="h-3 w-3" />
+      </button>
+    </div>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-preview-overlay.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-preview-overlay.tsx
index 6fc71855..a0f91fe9 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-preview-overlay.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/video-preview-overlay.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
-import { MonitorUp, X } from 'lucide-react'
+import { MonitorUp, User, VideoOff, X } from 'lucide-react'
 
 interface VideoPreviewOverlayProps {
   /** Live camera stream from useVideoMode — attached to the preview element. */
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ interface VideoPreviewOverlayProps {
   interimText?: string
   isScreenSharing?: boolean
   onToggleScreenShare?: () => void
+  cameraOn?: boolean
+  onToggleCamera?: () => void
 }
 
 const CALL_STATUS_DISPLAY: Record<NonNullable<VideoPreviewOverlayProps['callStatus']>, { label: string; dotClass: string }> = {
@@ -24,10 +26,11 @@ const CALL_STATUS_DISPLAY: Record<NonNullable<VideoPreviewOverlayProps['callStat
  * on. Mirrored like a selfie camera so the user's movements feel natural.
  * Sits above the composer dock, mirroring the talking-head overlay's corner.
  */
-export function VideoPreviewOverlay({ streamRef, onTurnOff, callStatus, interimText, isScreenSharing, onToggleScreenShare }: VideoPreviewOverlayProps) {
+export function VideoPreviewOverlay({ streamRef, onTurnOff, callStatus, interimText, isScreenSharing, onToggleScreenShare, cameraOn = true, onToggleCamera }: VideoPreviewOverlayProps) {
   const videoRef = useRef<HTMLVideoElement | null>(null)
 
   useEffect(() => {
+    if (!cameraOn) return
     const videoEl = videoRef.current
     if (!videoEl) return
     videoEl.srcObject = streamRef.current
@@ -35,7 +38,7 @@ export function VideoPreviewOverlay({ streamRef, onTurnOff, callStatus, interimT
     return () => {
       videoEl.srcObject = null
     }
-  }, [streamRef])
+  }, [streamRef, cameraOn])
 
   return (
     <div
@@ -71,13 +74,36 @@ export function VideoPreviewOverlay({ streamRef, onTurnOff, callStatus, interimT
           <MonitorUp className="h-3 w-3" />
         </button>
       )}
-      <video
-        ref={videoRef}
-        muted
-        playsInline
-        className="h-32 w-auto rounded-xl border border-border/70 bg-black shadow-lg"
-        style={{ transform: 'scaleX(-1)' }}
-      />
+      {cameraOn ? (
+        <video
+          ref={videoRef}
+          muted
+          playsInline
+          className="h-32 w-auto rounded-xl border border-border/70 bg-black shadow-lg"
+          style={{ transform: 'scaleX(-1)' }}
+        />
+      ) : (
+        <div className="flex h-32 w-48 items-center justify-center rounded-xl border border-border/70 bg-black shadow-lg">
+          <span className="flex h-14 w-14 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-neutral-700 text-neutral-400">
+            <User className="h-7 w-7" />
+          </span>
+        </div>
+      )}
+      {onToggleCamera && (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={onToggleCamera}
+          className={`absolute -left-1.5 top-4 z-10 flex h-5 w-5 items-center justify-center rounded-full border shadow-sm transition-opacity ${
+            cameraOn
+              ? 'border-border bg-background text-muted-foreground opacity-0 hover:text-foreground group-hover:opacity-100'
+              : 'border-red-500 bg-red-600 text-white opacity-100'
+          }`}
+          aria-label={cameraOn ? 'Turn off camera' : 'Turn on camera'}
+          title={cameraOn ? 'Turn off camera' : 'Turn on camera'}
+        >
+          <VideoOff className="h-3 w-3" />
+        </button>
+      )}
       <span className="pointer-events-none absolute bottom-1.5 left-1.5 flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-black/60 px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-white">
         {callStatus ? (
           <>
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/hooks/useVideoMode.ts b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/hooks/useVideoMode.ts
index fa5e0ee8..36fa01aa 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/hooks/useVideoMode.ts
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/hooks/useVideoMode.ts
@@ -151,6 +151,9 @@ function drainPipe(pipe: CapturePipe, max: number, source: CapturedVideoFrame['s
 export function useVideoMode() {
     const [state, setState] = useState<VideoModeState>('idle');
     const [screenState, setScreenState] = useState<ScreenShareState>('idle');
+    // Camera can be turned off mid-session (Meet-style) while the mode — and
+    // any screen share — keeps running. Resets to on for the next session.
+    const [cameraOn, setCameraOn] = useState(true);
     const cameraPipeRef = useRef<CapturePipe>(emptyPipe());
     const screenPipeRef = useRef<CapturePipe>(emptyPipe());
     // Stable stream refs for preview components (<video srcObject>).
@@ -179,13 +182,13 @@ export function useVideoMode() {
         teardownPipe(cameraPipeRef.current);
         streamRef.current = null;
         setState('idle');
+        setCameraOn(true);
         stopScreenShare();
     }, [stopScreenShare]);
 
-    const start = useCallback(async (): Promise<boolean> => {
-        if (stateRef.current !== 'idle') return true;
-        setState('starting');
-
+    // Acquire the webcam and start its capture pipeline. Shared by start()
+    // and by re-enabling the camera mid-session.
+    const acquireCamera = useCallback(async (): Promise<boolean> => {
         // Settle the macOS TCC camera permission before getUserMedia, same as
         // voice mode does for the mic — otherwise the first click silently
         // fails while the native prompt is still up.
@@ -194,7 +197,6 @@ export function useVideoMode() {
             .catch(() => ({ granted: true }));
         if (!access.granted) {
             console.error('[video] Camera access denied');
-            setState('idle');
             return false;
         }
 
@@ -206,16 +208,45 @@ export function useVideoMode() {
             });
         } catch (err) {
             console.error('[video] Camera access failed:', err);
-            setState('idle');
             return false;
         }
 
         streamRef.current = stream;
         attachPipeSource(cameraPipeRef.current, stream, captureCameraFrame);
-        setState('live');
         return true;
     }, [captureCameraFrame]);
 
+    /**
+     * Turn the camera off/on without leaving video mode (Meet-style). While
+     * off, no webcam frames are captured or attached; screen-share frames
+     * (if presenting) keep flowing.
+     */
+    const setCameraEnabled = useCallback(async (enabled: boolean): Promise<boolean> => {
+        if (stateRef.current !== 'live') return false;
+        if (enabled) {
+            const ok = await acquireCamera();
+            if (ok) setCameraOn(true);
+            return ok;
+        }
+        teardownPipe(cameraPipeRef.current);
+        streamRef.current = null;
+        setCameraOn(false);
+        return true;
+    }, [acquireCamera]);
+
+    const start = useCallback(async (): Promise<boolean> => {
+        if (stateRef.current !== 'idle') return true;
+        setState('starting');
+        const ok = await acquireCamera();
+        if (!ok) {
+            setState('idle');
+            return false;
+        }
+        setCameraOn(true);
+        setState('live');
+        return true;
+    }, [acquireCamera]);
+
     /**
      * Share the screen. The main process auto-approves getDisplayMedia with
      * the primary screen (see setDisplayMediaRequestHandler in main.ts), so
@@ -270,5 +301,5 @@ export function useVideoMode() {
     // Release the camera/screen if the component unmounts with video mode on.
     useEffect(() => stop, [stop]);
 
-    return { state, screenState, streamRef, screenStreamRef, start, stop, startScreenShare, stopScreenShare, collectFrames };
+    return { state, screenState, cameraOn, streamRef, screenStreamRef, start, stop, startScreenShare, stopScreenShare, setCameraEnabled, collectFrames };
 }
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/main.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/main.tsx
index 7999061d..ddd4c27e 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/main.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/main.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { PostHogProvider } from 'posthog-js/react'
 import type { CaptureResult } from 'posthog-js'
 import { ThemeProvider } from '@/contexts/theme-context'
 import { configureAnalyticsContext } from './lib/analytics'
+import { VideoPopout } from '@/components/video-popout'
 
 // Fetch the stable installation ID from main so renderer + main share one
 // PostHog distinct_id. Falls back to PostHog's auto-generated anonymous ID
@@ -57,4 +58,14 @@ async function bootstrap() {
   // The loaded callback applies api_url/app_version once PostHog has initialized.
 }
 
-bootstrap()
+// The video-mode popout window loads the same bundle with a hash route and
+// renders only the mini-call UI — no analytics or app bootstrap needed.
+if (window.location.hash === '#video-popout') {
+  createRoot(document.getElementById('root')!).render(
+    <StrictMode>
+      <VideoPopout />
+    </StrictMode>,
+  )
+} else {
+  bootstrap()
+}
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/shared/src/ipc.ts b/apps/x/packages/shared/src/ipc.ts
index a770db7e..69649f52 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/shared/src/ipc.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/shared/src/ipc.ts
@@ -1380,6 +1380,36 @@ const ipcSchemas = {
       granted: z.boolean(),
     }),
   },
+  // Video-mode popout: show/hide a small always-on-top window (user + mascot
+  // tiles) while screen sharing when the main window loses focus, Meet-style.
+  'video:setPopout': {
+    req: z.object({ show: z.boolean() }),
+    res: z.object({}),
+  },
+  // Main-window renderer pushes the current call state; the main process
+  // caches it and relays to the popout window (replayed on popout load).
+  'video:popoutState': {
+    req: z.object({
+      ttsState: z.enum(['idle', 'synthesizing', 'speaking']),
+      status: z.enum(['listening', 'thinking', 'speaking']).nullable(),
+      cameraOn: z.boolean(),
+    }),
+    res: z.object({}),
+  },
+  // Popout window → bring the main app window back to the foreground.
+  'video:focusMain': {
+    req: z.null(),
+    res: z.object({}),
+  },
+  // Push channel: main → popout window with the latest call state.
+  'video:popout-state': {
+    req: z.object({
+      ttsState: z.enum(['idle', 'synthesizing', 'speaking']),
+      status: z.enum(['listening', 'thinking', 'speaking']).nullable(),
+      cameraOn: z.boolean(),
+    }),
+    res: z.null(),
+  },
   'meeting:checkScreenPermission': {
     req: z.null(),
     res: z.object({