THIS WEEK IN BRIMSTONE · 19–24 OCTOBER 2026
Albums that stay together. Queues that follow the programme. A Rip workspace that keeps the next disc moving.
This week's work has focused on using Core and Control every day: listening, importing discs, correcting metadata and watching concert videos. Here is what changed and where each build stands.
CORE, MAC CONTROL & IPHONE / IPAD
The current Core, Mac and iOS listening updates separate Albums, Bootlegs, Playlists and Radio Recordings. Bootlegs and saved radio recordings stay off the ordinary Home album shelf. Mac and iOS album actions centre on Play and Add to Queue, with the best complete available edition selected for normal playback.
Selecting a podcast or audiobook queues the programme and starts at the selected episode or chapter. Playing opens automatically so the selection is visible. Podcasts play on the device being used; audiobook preparation, resume, available metadata, queue display and lyrics have also received fixes.
Mac and iOS now use Core's station directory, with search and personal radio lists kept distinct. Available station and now-playing metadata is shown. Eligible non-commercial streams can be recorded through Core; paid subscription services are excluded. Saved files live in Radio Recordings, with a simple Delete → Yes action.
Bootleg selections have a durable Core download queue with queued, downloading and downloaded states, duplicate prevention, and recovery after a crash or restart. Clear All Queues and supported Core service Start/Restart controls have been repaired. Core's Home screen now includes speaker selection.
DISCS, COVERS & COLLECTIONS
Mac Control brings Audio Rip, Video Rip, MiniDisc Rip, Import and Burn together, with Recording Studio kept separate. Core's Rip navigation follows the same arrangement.
This week's fixes cover USB optical access, disc changes, stale metadata, artwork preview before ripping and choosing the original album from an Original Album Series disc. Disc and format support still depends on the connected drive and the media.
Rip and Core processing are separated so completed jobs can upload and publish while the next disc is prepared. Completed imports trigger a library update. Long single-track albums and large transfers are supported without treating each track as a separate album.
Concert imports prepare one verified Apple-compatible playback file. Video browsing is grouped by band, with available titles, artwork and other metadata carried through to the player.
Various Artists releases and albums with guest performers received grouping repairs. Existing artist credits and explicit album metadata are retained. The fixes cover both publication after import and the Core web album shelf.
Core revision 40 fixes artwork requests left behind when the album grid is filtered or redrawn. Loading, unavailable and retry states are clearer, and Refresh actually retries missing images. The artwork repair preserves existing choices; a few unmatched releases still need a suitable provider match.
ON YOUR SCREENS
The iPhone and iPad work includes simpler navigation, Radio inside Streaming, and Podcasts and Audiobooks under Spoken Word. The iPad Playing screen is more compact for an 11-inch tablet in landscape. Adaptive Duo layouts and CarPlay album browsing have also been worked on during the week.
Streaming is the default for iOS music and supported iPad video. Optional download storage is bounded. Video startup, buffering, seeking and format handling have received updates; device and media compatibility still matter.
Apple TV Control keeps sound and picture on the HDMI path for R1. Connect onwards through the television or AV receiver as appropriate for the system. Alternative network audio outputs remain work for R2.
The TV work includes band-based video browsing, metadata and branding, simpler music actions, a separate Bootlegs submenu and smaller Playing controls. HD and 4K playback remain dependent on the source, network and display.
BUILDS & AVAILABILITY
Status checked on 24 October 2026. Apple processing and review may change after this update; TestFlight shows the latest availability.
| Product | Build | Release status |
|---|---|---|
| Debian Core R1 | Revision 40 | Published patch Existing R1 installations use the revision 40 patch. New installations use the revision 29 ISO, then apply the patch. |
| Mac Core · Intel & Apple Silicon | 0.4.3 (51) | Signed website QA The website package is not notarised. The separate TestFlight delivery is uploaded; export compliance and tester release checks are in progress. |
| Mac Control | 2.5.0 (40) | Apple beta review Uploaded and waiting for review when last checked. |
| iPhone / iPad Control | 2.5.0 (31) | Testing in TestFlight Includes the current listening, radio, queue and recording fixes. CarPlay is part of the supported iPhone app. |
| Apple TV Control | 2.5.0 (31) | Testing in TestFlight R1 HDMI playback build. Further parity with the latest Mac and iOS listening changes remains to be completed. |
| Windows Control | 2.0.3 (2013) | Published beta installer R1 revision 29 layout. The newest listening fixes are follow-up work. |
| Android Control | 2.0.1 (2008) | Existing beta APK Bringing Android to the current listening specification is next, alongside Windows follow-up and Xbox Control preparation. |
WHAT HELPS NEXT
Try the things you normally do: change discs, play a compilation, pick a podcast episode, clear a queue or open a concert. For a problem report, include the app and build, device, output, source and the album or programme involved.
Thank you to everyone testing. The fixes above are becoming the R1 release, with remaining platform and release checks still being worked through.
A paste-ready UBBCode version of this week's update follows the format of our existing forum posts.
Open the forum update →Support and feedback →