diff --git a/src/app/components/RenderMessageContent.tsx b/src/app/components/RenderMessageContent.tsx
index 5da62e0..672dc70 100644
--- a/src/app/components/RenderMessageContent.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/RenderMessageContent.tsx
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import {
   VideoContent,
   VideoFrameThumbnail,
 } from './message';
-import { UrlPreviewCard, UrlPreviewHolder, YouTubeEmbed, isYouTubeUrl, TikTokEmbed, isTikTokUrl } from './url-preview';
+import { UrlPreviewCard, UrlPreviewHolder, YouTubeEmbed, isYouTubeUrl, TikTokEmbed, isTikTokUrl, GiphyEmbed, isGiphyUrl } from './url-preview';
 import { Image, MediaControl, Video } from './media';
 import { ImageViewer } from './image-viewer';
 import { PdfViewer } from './Pdf-viewer';
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ export function RenderMessageContent({
     // Separate special URLs from generic ones
     const youtubeUrls = filteredUrls.filter(isYouTubeUrl);
     const tiktokUrls = filteredUrls.filter(isTikTokUrl);
-    const otherUrls = filteredUrls.filter((url) => !isYouTubeUrl(url) && !isTikTokUrl(url));
+    const giphyUrls = filteredUrls.filter(isGiphyUrl);
+    const otherUrls = filteredUrls.filter((url) => !isYouTubeUrl(url) && !isTikTokUrl(url) && !isGiphyUrl(url));
 
     return (
       <>
@@ -83,6 +84,10 @@ export function RenderMessageContent({
         {tiktokUrls.map((url) => (
           <TikTokEmbed key={url} url={url} />
         ))}
+        {/* Render Giphy embeds */}
+        {giphyUrls.map((url) => (
+          <GiphyEmbed key={url} url={url} />
+        ))}
         {/* Render standard URL previews for other links */}
         {otherUrls.length > 0 && (
           <UrlPreviewHolder>
@@ -247,6 +252,7 @@ export function RenderMessageContent({
                 mimeType={mimeType}
                 url={url}
                 encInfo={encInfo}
+                autoPlay={mediaAutoLoad}
                 {...props}
                 renderThumbnail={
                   mediaAutoLoad
diff --git a/src/app/components/create-room/utils.ts b/src/app/components/create-room/utils.ts
index a0ca748..86091bf 100644
--- a/src/app/components/create-room/utils.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/create-room/utils.ts
@@ -82,6 +82,16 @@ export const createRoomEncryptionState = () => ({
   },
 });
 
+export const createRoomPowerLevelsState = () => ({
+  type: StateEvent.RoomPowerLevels,
+  state_key: '',
+  content: {
+    events: {
+      'org.matrix.msc3401.call.member': 0,
+    },
+  },
+});
+
 export type CreateRoomData = {
   version: string;
   type?: RoomType;
@@ -98,6 +108,8 @@ export type CreateRoomData = {
 export const createRoom = async (mx: MatrixClient, data: CreateRoomData): Promise<string> => {
   const initialState: ICreateRoomStateEvent[] = [];
 
+  initialState.push(createRoomPowerLevelsState());
+
   if (data.encryption) {
     initialState.push(createRoomEncryptionState());
   }
diff --git a/src/app/components/media/Video.tsx b/src/app/components/media/Video.tsx
index 3018347..15d49f3 100644
--- a/src/app/components/media/Video.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/media/Video.tsx
@@ -96,7 +96,14 @@ export const Video = forwardRef<HTMLVideoElement, VideoProps>(
     if (disableControls) {
       return (
         // eslint-disable-next-line jsx-a11y/media-has-caption
-        <video className={classNames(css.Video, className)} {...props} ref={videoRef} />
+        <video 
+          className={classNames(css.Video, className)} 
+          {...props} 
+          ref={videoRef} 
+          loop={props.autoPlay} 
+          muted={props.autoPlay} 
+          playsInline 
+        />
       );
     }
 
@@ -108,7 +115,14 @@ export const Video = forwardRef<HTMLVideoElement, VideoProps>(
         onMouseLeave={() => setShowControls(false)}
       >
         {/* eslint-disable-next-line jsx-a11y/media-has-caption */}
-        <video className={classNames(css.Video, className)} {...props} ref={videoRef} />
+        <video 
+          className={classNames(css.Video, className)} 
+          {...props} 
+          ref={videoRef} 
+          loop={props.autoPlay} 
+          muted={props.autoPlay} 
+          playsInline 
+        />
         
         {showControls && (
           <Box className={videoCss.VideoControlsOverlay} gap="200">
diff --git a/src/app/components/message/MsgTypeRenderers.tsx b/src/app/components/message/MsgTypeRenderers.tsx
index 8dc3bb3..544b7ce 100644
--- a/src/app/components/message/MsgTypeRenderers.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/message/MsgTypeRenderers.tsx
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ export function MVideo({ content, renderAsFile, renderVideoContent, outlined }:
   const filename = content.filename ?? content.body ?? 'Video';
 
   return (
-    <Attachment outlined={outlined}>
+    <Attachment outlined={outlined} transparent>
       <AttachmentHeader>
         <FileHeader
           body={filename}
diff --git a/src/app/components/message/attachment/Attachment.css.ts b/src/app/components/message/attachment/Attachment.css.ts
index 41fedc9..6aa114c 100644
--- a/src/app/components/message/attachment/Attachment.css.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/message/attachment/Attachment.css.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ export const Attachment = recipe({
         boxShadow: `inset 0 0 0 ${config.borderWidth.B300} ${color.SurfaceVariant.ContainerLine}`,
       },
     },
+    transparent: {
+      true: {
+        backgroundColor: 'transparent',
+      },
+    },
   },
 });
 
diff --git a/src/app/components/message/attachment/Attachment.tsx b/src/app/components/message/attachment/Attachment.tsx
index 4b0b71f..1f05598 100644
--- a/src/app/components/message/attachment/Attachment.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/message/attachment/Attachment.tsx
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ import classNames from 'classnames';
 import * as css from './Attachment.css';
 
 export const Attachment = as<'div', css.AttachmentVariants>(
-  ({ className, outlined, ...props }, ref) => (
+  ({ className, outlined, transparent, ...props }, ref) => (
     <Box
       display="InlineFlex"
       direction="Column"
-      className={classNames(css.Attachment({ outlined }), className)}
+      className={classNames(css.Attachment({ outlined, transparent }), className)}
       {...props}
       ref={ref}
     />
diff --git a/src/app/components/url-preview/GiphyEmbed.css.tsx b/src/app/components/url-preview/GiphyEmbed.css.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..606b8d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/components/url-preview/GiphyEmbed.css.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { style } from '@vanilla-extract/css';
+import { DefaultReset, toRem } from 'folds';
+
+export const GiphyEmbed = style([
+  DefaultReset,
+  {
+    width: toRem(480),
+    maxWidth: '100%',
+    display: 'block',
+  },
+]);
+
+export const GiphyVideo = style([
+  DefaultReset,
+  {
+    width: '100%',
+    height: 'auto',
+    border: 'none',
+    display: 'block',
+    backgroundColor: 'transparent',
+  },
+]);
diff --git a/src/app/components/url-preview/GiphyEmbed.tsx b/src/app/components/url-preview/GiphyEmbed.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ddb6fcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/components/url-preview/GiphyEmbed.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { as } from 'folds';
+import * as css from './GiphyEmbed.css';
+
+const GIPHY_URL_PATTERNS = [
+  /(?:https?:\/\/)?(?:www\.)?giphy\.com\/gifs\/(?:[\w-]+-)([a-zA-Z0-9]+)(?:\?|$)/,
+  /(?:https?:\/\/)?(?:www\.)?giphy\.com\/embed\/([a-zA-Z0-9]+)(?:\?|$)/,
+  /(?:https?:\/\/)?(?:media\.)?giphy\.com\/media\/([a-zA-Z0-9]+)/,
+];
+
+export function isGiphyUrl(url: string): boolean {
+  return GIPHY_URL_PATTERNS.some((pattern) => pattern.test(url));
+}
+
+export function extractGiphyId(url: string): string | null {
+  let gifId: string | null = null;
+  GIPHY_URL_PATTERNS.some((pattern) => {
+    const match = url.match(pattern);
+    if (match) {
+      const [, id] = match;
+      if (id) {
+        gifId = id;
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+    return false;
+  });
+  return gifId;
+}
+
+type GiphyEmbedProps = {
+  url: string;
+};
+
+export const GiphyEmbed = as<'div', GiphyEmbedProps>(({ url, ...props }, ref) => {
+  const gifId = extractGiphyId(url);
+  const [mediaUrl, setMediaUrl] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!gifId) return;
+
+    // Try to get the direct media URL from Giphy
+    // Format: https://i.giphy.com/media/{ID}/giphy.mp4 or giphy.gif
+    const mp4Url = `https://i.giphy.com/media/${gifId}/giphy.mp4`;
+    setMediaUrl(mp4Url);
+  }, [gifId]);
+
+  if (!gifId || !mediaUrl) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className={css.GiphyEmbed} {...props} ref={ref}>
+      <video
+        className={css.GiphyVideo}
+        src={mediaUrl}
+        autoPlay
+        loop
+        muted
+        playsInline
+      />
+    </div>
+  );
+});
diff --git a/src/app/components/url-preview/index.ts b/src/app/components/url-preview/index.ts
index dc55f00..94e59c2 100644
--- a/src/app/components/url-preview/index.ts
+++ b/src/app/components/url-preview/index.ts
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@ export * from './UrlPreview';
 export * from './UrlPreviewCard';
 export * from './YouTubeEmbed';
 export * from './TikTokEmbed';
+export * from './GiphyEmbed';
diff --git a/src/app/features/call/CallService.ts b/src/app/features/call/CallService.ts
index 452ea24..fd1aaae 100644
--- a/src/app/features/call/CallService.ts
+++ b/src/app/features/call/CallService.ts
@@ -182,6 +182,25 @@ export class CallService {
   ): Promise<void> {
     const stateKey = this.config.userId;
 
+    // Check if user has permission to send this state event
+    const room = this.matrixClient.getRoom(roomId);
+    if (room) {
+      const powerLevelsEvent = room.currentState.getStateEvents('m.room.power_levels', '');
+      const powerLevelsContent = powerLevelsEvent?.getContent() || {};
+      
+      const myPower = powerLevelsContent.users?.[this.config.userId] ?? powerLevelsContent.users_default ?? 0;
+      const requiredPower = powerLevelsContent.events?.[CALL_MEMBER_EVENT_TYPE] ?? powerLevelsContent.state_default ?? 50;
+      
+      if (myPower < requiredPower) {
+        console.warn(
+          `Cannot send call member event: insufficient permissions. ` +
+          `User power level (${myPower}) < required power level (${requiredPower}). ` +
+          `Call will work locally but room members won't see your call status.`
+        );
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+
     if (active) {
       const content: CallMemberEventContent = {
         'm.calls': [
diff --git a/src/app/features/create-chat/CreateChat.tsx b/src/app/features/create-chat/CreateChat.tsx
index faa4511..92e20a0 100644
--- a/src/app/features/create-chat/CreateChat.tsx
+++ b/src/app/features/create-chat/CreateChat.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { useMatrixClient } from '../../hooks/useMatrixClient';
 import { AsyncStatus, useAsyncCallback } from '../../hooks/useAsyncCallback';
 import { ErrorCode } from '../../cs-errorcode';
 import { millisecondsToMinutes } from '../../utils/common';
-import { createRoomEncryptionState } from '../../components/create-room';
+import { createRoomEncryptionState, createRoomPowerLevelsState } from '../../components/create-room';
 import { useAlive } from '../../hooks/useAlive';
 import { getDirectRoomPath } from '../../pages/pathUtils';
 
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export function CreateChat({ defaultUserId }: CreateChatProps) {
       async (userId, encrypted) => {
         const initialState: ICreateRoomStateEvent[] = [];
 
+        initialState.push(createRoomPowerLevelsState());
         if (encrypted) initialState.push(createRoomEncryptionState());
 
         const result = await mx.createRoom({
diff --git a/src/app/features/room/RoomView.tsx b/src/app/features/room/RoomView.tsx
index ae3cab0..6d7a7f7 100644
--- a/src/app/features/room/RoomView.tsx
+++ b/src/app/features/room/RoomView.tsx
@@ -88,7 +88,13 @@ export function RoomView({ room, eventId }: { room: Room; eventId?: string }) {
         if (portalContainer && portalContainer.children.length > 0) {
           return;
         }
-        if (shouldFocusMessageField(evt) || isKeyHotkey('mod+v', evt)) {
+        if (shouldFocusMessageField(evt)) {
+          evt.preventDefault();
+          ReactEditor.focus(editor);
+          if (evt.key.length === 1) {
+            editor.insertText(evt.key);
+          }
+        } else if (isKeyHotkey('mod+v', evt)) {
           ReactEditor.focus(editor);
         }
       },
diff --git a/src/app/features/room/ThreadView.tsx b/src/app/features/room/ThreadView.tsx
index 5f6b26a..a32615f 100644
--- a/src/app/features/room/ThreadView.tsx
+++ b/src/app/features/room/ThreadView.tsx
@@ -31,8 +31,11 @@ import {
 import { HTMLReactParserOptions } from 'html-react-parser';
 import { Opts as LinkifyOpts } from 'linkifyjs';
 import { ReactEditor } from 'slate-react';
+import { isKeyHotkey } from 'is-hotkey';
 
 import { useMatrixClient } from '../../hooks/useMatrixClient';
+import { useKeyDown } from '../../hooks/useKeyDown';
+import { editableActiveElement } from '../../utils/dom';
 import {
   useEditor,
   createMentionElement,
@@ -100,6 +103,37 @@ type ThreadViewProps = {
   threadRootId: string;
 };
 
+const FN_KEYS_REGEX = /^F\d+$/;
+const shouldFocusMessageField = (evt: KeyboardEvent): boolean => {
+  const { code } = evt;
+  if (evt.metaKey || evt.altKey || evt.ctrlKey) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (FN_KEYS_REGEX.test(code)) return false;
+
+  if (
+    code.startsWith('OS') ||
+    code.startsWith('Meta') ||
+    code.startsWith('Shift') ||
+    code.startsWith('Alt') ||
+    code.startsWith('Control') ||
+    code.startsWith('Arrow') ||
+    code.startsWith('Page') ||
+    code.startsWith('End') ||
+    code.startsWith('Home') ||
+    code === 'Tab' ||
+    code === 'Space' ||
+    code === 'Enter' ||
+    code === 'NumLock' ||
+    code === 'ScrollLock'
+  ) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  return true;
+};
+
 /**
  * Renders a thread inline, replacing the main room timeline.
  * Structured as direct flex siblings of `Page` to match the RoomView layout contract.
@@ -285,6 +319,29 @@ export function ThreadView({ room, threadRootId }: ThreadViewProps) {
   const inputRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const editor = useEditor();
 
+  useKeyDown(
+    window,
+    useCallback(
+      (evt) => {
+        if (editableActiveElement()) return;
+        const portalContainer = document.getElementById('portalContainer');
+        if (portalContainer && portalContainer.children.length > 0) {
+          return;
+        }
+        if (shouldFocusMessageField(evt)) {
+          evt.preventDefault();
+          ReactEditor.focus(editor);
+          if (evt.key.length === 1) {
+            editor.insertText(evt.key);
+          }
+        } else if (isKeyHotkey('mod+v', evt)) {
+          ReactEditor.focus(editor);
+        }
+      },
+      [editor]
+    )
+  );
+
   // Subscribe to thread and room timeline events.
   useEffect(() => {
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
diff --git a/src/app/hooks/useCommands.ts b/src/app/hooks/useCommands.ts
index c02b0e9..d116661 100644
--- a/src/app/hooks/useCommands.ts
+++ b/src/app/hooks/useCommands.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import { useRoomNavigate } from './useRoomNavigate';
 import { Membership, StateEvent } from '../../types/matrix/room';
 import { getStateEvent } from '../utils/room';
 import { splitWithSpace } from '../utils/common';
-import { createRoomEncryptionState } from '../components/create-room';
+import { createRoomEncryptionState, createRoomPowerLevelsState } from '../components/create-room';
 
 export const SHRUG = '¯\\_(ツ)_/¯';
 export const TABLEFLIP = '(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻';
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ export const useCommands = (mx: MatrixClient, room: Room): CommandRecord => {
             invite: userIds,
             visibility: Visibility.Private,
             preset: Preset.TrustedPrivateChat,
-            initial_state: [createRoomEncryptionState()],
+            initial_state: [createRoomPowerLevelsState(), createRoomEncryptionState()],
           });
           addRoomIdToMDirect(mx, result.room_id, userIds[0]);
           navigateRoom(result.room_id);