Enable bounded FFmpeg reconnection for recorded range-seekable HTTP inputs, preserving compressed cache, byte offset and playback intent. A five-second socket timeout leaves recovery room inside the existing fifteen-second I/O deadline. Keep live/non-range replay and signed-URL refresh disabled.
Native regression failed before the fix with Reading network media: Input/output error. Real combined/split playback now survives dropped responses and socket timeout; persistent failures remain visible and retries are cancellable by seek, close, replacement and destruction.
Release, network, adaptive, media, reporting, runtime, relocated bundle and local playback checks passed. Packaged CLI/GUI playback started successfully; the full-suite keyboard smoke stopped because macOS refused foreground focus for its transparent check window.
Resolve public YouTube URLs through external yt-dlp and play selected streams in the existing native window.
Independent bounded network readers keep one authored timeline. Successful seeks clear FFmpeg's sticky aborted-read AVIO error; manifest seekability uses native format flags rather than a top-level I/O handle.
Verified real YouTube playback, seeking, frame stepping, compact mode, cancellation, and the complete native regression checks.
hl-valdemar