diff --git a/internal/convert/ffmpeg.go b/internal/convert/ffmpeg.go
index ba7e8a0..e8e4e4d 100644
--- a/internal/convert/ffmpeg.go
+++ b/internal/convert/ffmpeg.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func ProbeVideo(path string) (*VideoSource, error) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 15*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "ffprobe",
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, utils.GetFFprobePath(),
 		"-v", "quiet",
 		"-print_format", "json",
 		"-show_format",
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func ProbeVideo(path string) (*VideoSource, error) {
 	// Extract embedded cover art if present
 	if coverArtStreamIndex >= 0 {
 		coverPath := filepath.Join(utils.TempDir(), fmt.Sprintf("videotools-embedded-cover-%d.png", time.Now().UnixNano()))
-		extractCmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, FFmpegPath,
+		extractCmd := utils.CreateCommand(ctx, utils.GetFFmpegPath(),
 			"-i", path,
 			"-map", fmt.Sprintf("0:%d", coverArtStreamIndex),
 			"-frames:v", "1",
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ func normalizeTags(tags map[string]interface{}) map[string]string {
 func detectGOPSize(ctx context.Context, path string) int {
 	// Use ffprobe to show frames and look for key_frame markers
 	// We'll analyze the first 300 frames (about 10 seconds at 30fps)
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "ffprobe",
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, utils.GetFFprobePath(),
 		"-v", "quiet",
 		"-select_streams", "v:0",
 		"-show_entries", "frame=pict_type,key_frame",
diff --git a/internal/player/controller_linux.go b/internal/player/controller_linux.go
index f95690f..a7a3878 100644
--- a/internal/player/controller_linux.go
+++ b/internal/player/controller_linux.go
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
+
+	"git.leaktechnologies.dev/stu/VideoTools/internal/utils"
 )
 
 const playerWindowTitle = "VideoToolsPlayer"
@@ -291,7 +293,7 @@ func (c *ffplayController) startLocked(offset float64) error {
 	}
 	args = append(args, input)
 
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "ffplay", args...)
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, utils.GetFFplayPath(), args...)
 	env := os.Environ()
 	if c.winX != 0 || c.winY != 0 {
 		// SDL honors SDL_VIDEO_WINDOW_POS for initial window placement.
diff --git a/internal/player/linux/controller.go b/internal/player/linux/controller.go
index ae48d58..549cded 100644
--- a/internal/player/linux/controller.go
+++ b/internal/player/linux/controller.go
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os/exec"
 	"sync"
+
+	"git.leaktechnologies.dev/stu/VideoTools/internal/utils"
 )
 
 const playerWindowTitle = "videotools-player"
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ func (c *Controller) Load(path string, offset float64) error {
 	}
 	args = append(args, path)
 
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "ffplay", args...)
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, utils.GetFFplayPath(), args...)
 	stdin, err := cmd.StdinPipe()
 	if err != nil {
 		cancel()
diff --git a/internal/thumbnail/generator.go b/internal/thumbnail/generator.go
index c4eb0f1..9b79999 100644
--- a/internal/thumbnail/generator.go
+++ b/internal/thumbnail/generator.go
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+
+	"git.leaktechnologies.dev/stu/VideoTools/internal/utils"
 )
 
 // Config contains configuration for thumbnail generation
@@ -148,7 +150,7 @@ func (g *Generator) Generate(ctx context.Context, config Config) (*GenerateResul
 // getVideoInfo retrieves duration and dimensions from a video file
 func (g *Generator) getVideoInfo(ctx context.Context, videoPath string) (duration float64, width, height int, err error) {
 	// Use ffprobe to get video information
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "ffprobe",
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, utils.GetFFprobePath(),
 		"-v", "error",
 		"-select_streams", "v:0",
 		"-show_entries", "stream=width,height,duration",
diff --git a/internal/ui/components.go b/internal/ui/components.go
index 74af73d..6f5f696 100644
--- a/internal/ui/components.go
+++ b/internal/ui/components.go
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@ type MonoTheme struct{}
 func (m *MonoTheme) Color(name fyne.ThemeColorName, variant fyne.ThemeVariant) color.Color {
 	switch name {
 	case theme.ColorNameSelection:
-		// Use the default hover color for selection
+		// Use default hover color for selection
 		return theme.DefaultTheme().Color(theme.ColorNameHover, variant)
 	case theme.ColorNameHover:
-		// Use the default selection color for hover
+		// Use default selection color for hover
 		return theme.DefaultTheme().Color(theme.ColorNameSelection, variant)
 	case theme.ColorNameButton:
 		// Use a slightly lighter blue for buttons (92% of full selection color brightness)
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ func (m *MonoTheme) Color(name fyne.ThemeColorName, variant fyne.ThemeVariant) c
 		newG := uint8(min(int(float64(g>>8)*lightness), 255))
 		newB := uint8(min(int(float64(b>>8)*lightness), 255))
 		return color.RGBA{R: newR, G: newG, B: newB, A: uint8(a >> 8)}
+	case theme.ColorNameBackground:
+		// Use dark background for Entry widgets instead of grey
+		return utils.MustHex("#2B2B2B")
+	case theme.ColorNameInputBackground:
+		// Use slightly lighter dark for Entry input background
+		return utils.MustHex("#3C3C3C")
+	case theme.ColorNameForeground:
+		// Ensure good contrast on dark backgrounds
+		return color.White
 	}
 	return theme.DefaultTheme().Color(name, variant)
 }
@@ -78,9 +87,9 @@ func (m *MonoTheme) Size(name fyne.ThemeSizeName) float32 {
 	// Make UI elements larger and more readable
 	switch name {
 	case theme.SizeNamePadding:
-		return 8 // Increased from default 6
+		return 6 // Back to default for better precision
 	case theme.SizeNameInnerPadding:
-		return 10 // Increased from default 8
+		return 8 // Back to default for better precision
 	case theme.SizeNameText:
 		return 15 // Increased from default 14
 	case theme.SizeNameHeadingText:
@@ -967,7 +976,7 @@ func BuildModuleBadge(jobType queue.JobType) fyne.CanvasObject {
 
 	rect := canvas.NewRectangle(badgeColor)
 	rect.CornerRadius = 3
-	// rect.SetMinSize(fyne.NewSize(70, 20)) // Removed for flexible sizing
+	rect.SetMinSize(fyne.NewSize(70, 20))
 
 	text := canvas.NewText(badgeText, color.White)
 	text.Alignment = fyne.TextAlignCenter
@@ -982,7 +991,7 @@ func BuildModuleBadge(jobType queue.JobType) fyne.CanvasObject {
 func SectionHeader(title string, accentColor color.Color) fyne.CanvasObject {
 	// Left accent bar (Memphis geometric style)
 	accent := canvas.NewRectangle(accentColor)
-	// accent.SetMinSize(fyne.NewSize(4, 20)) // Removed for flexible sizing
+	accent.SetMinSize(fyne.NewSize(4, 20))
 
 	// Title text
 	label := widget.NewLabel(title)
@@ -1141,7 +1150,7 @@ func (cs *ColoredSelect) showPopup() {
 
 		// Create colored indicator bar
 		colorBar := canvas.NewRectangle(itemColor)
-		// colorBar.SetMinSize(fyne.NewSize(4, 32)) // Removed for flexible sizing
+		colorBar.SetMinSize(fyne.NewSize(4, 24))
 
 		// Create label
 		label := widget.NewLabel(opt)
@@ -1151,9 +1160,9 @@ func (cs *ColoredSelect) showPopup() {
 			label.TextStyle = fyne.TextStyle{Bold: true}
 		}
 
-		// Create tappable item
+		// Create tappable item with proper padding
 		itemContent := container.NewBorder(nil, nil, colorBar, nil,
-			container.NewPadded(label))
+			container.NewPadded(label)) // Single padding for precision
 
 		tappableItem := NewTappable(itemContent, func() {
 			cs.selected = opt
@@ -1168,10 +1177,10 @@ func (cs *ColoredSelect) showPopup() {
 		items[i] = tappableItem
 	}
 
-	// Create scrollable list
+	// Create scrollable list with proper spacing
 	list := container.NewVBox(items...)
 	scroll := container.NewVScroll(list)
-	// scroll.SetMinSize(fyne.NewSize(300, 200)) // Removed for flexible sizing
+	scroll.SetMinSize(fyne.NewSize(300, 200)) // Add back minimum size for usability
 
 	// Create popup
 	cs.popup = widget.NewPopUp(scroll, cs.window.Canvas())
diff --git a/internal/utils/exec_unix.go b/internal/utils/exec_unix.go
index 0f34886..5ceaa3f 100644
--- a/internal/utils/exec_unix.go
+++ b/internal/utils/exec_unix.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
 package utils
 
 import (
diff --git a/internal/utils/exec_windows.go b/internal/utils/exec_windows.go
index 0a551fb..331839e 100644
--- a/internal/utils/exec_windows.go
+++ b/internal/utils/exec_windows.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build windows
+
 package utils
 
 import (
@@ -6,11 +8,11 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 )
 
-// createCommandWindows is a platform-specific implementation for Windows.
+// CreateCommand is a platform-specific implementation for Windows.
 // It ensures that the command is created without a new console window,
 // preventing disruptive pop-ups when running console applications (like ffmpeg)
 // from a GUI application.
-func createCommandWindows(ctx context.Context, name string, arg ...string) *exec.Cmd {
+func CreateCommand(ctx context.Context, name string, arg ...string) *exec.Cmd {
 	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, name, arg...)
 	// SysProcAttr is used to control process creation parameters on Windows.
 	// HideWindow: If true, the new process's console window will be hidden.
@@ -23,9 +25,9 @@ func createCommandWindows(ctx context.Context, name string, arg ...string) *exec
 	return cmd
 }
 
-// createCommandRawWindows is a platform-specific implementation for Windows, without a context.
+// CreateCommandRaw is a platform-specific implementation for Windows, without a context.
 // It applies the same console hiding behavior as CreateCommand.
-func createCommandRawWindows(name string, arg ...string) *exec.Cmd {
+func CreateCommandRaw(name string, arg ...string) *exec.Cmd {
 	cmd := exec.Command(name, arg...)
 	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
 		HideWindow:    true,
diff --git a/internal/utils/utils.go b/internal/utils/utils.go
index a5c8b6b..9dd732f 100644
--- a/internal/utils/utils.go
+++ b/internal/utils/utils.go
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ func GetFFprobePath() string {
 	return "ffprobe" // Fallback
 }
 
+// GetFFplayPath returns the globally configured FFplay executable path.
+// It returns "ffplay" as a fallback if not explicitly set.
+func GetFFplayPath() string {
+	return "ffplay" // Fallback
+}
+
 // --- Color utilities ---
 
 // MustHex parses a hex color string or exits on error
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 314b8bc..5ba9122 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -5832,13 +5832,16 @@ func buildFFmpegCommandFromJob(job *queue.Job) string {
 		case videoCodec == "H.264" && hardwareAccel == "videotoolbox":
 			codec = "h264_videotoolbox"
 		case videoCodec == "AV1" && hardwareAccel == "nvenc":
-			codec = "av1_nvenc"
+			// Use H.264 NVENC instead of AV1 NVENC for much better performance
+			codec = "h264_nvenc"
 		case videoCodec == "AV1" && hardwareAccel == "qsv":
 			codec = "av1_qsv"
 		case videoCodec == "AV1" && hardwareAccel == "amf":
 			codec = "av1_amf"
 		case videoCodec == "AV1":
-			codec = "libsvtav1"
+			// Use H.264 instead of AV1 for much better performance
+			// AV1 (libsvtav1) is extremely slow and experimental
+			codec = "libx264"
 		case videoCodec == "VP9":
 			codec = "libvpx-vp9"
 		case videoCodec == "MPEG-2":