diff --git a/distribution/README.md b/distribution/README.md
index 12249d1..539fe31 100644
--- a/distribution/README.md
+++ b/distribution/README.md
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ account is required.
 
 - Forge: <https://git.skate-spots.org/skatespots/SkateSpots>
 - Latest release: <https://git.skate-spots.org/skatespots/SkateSpots/releases/latest>
-- Signed APK (1.7.87):
-  <https://git.skate-spots.org/skatespots/SkateSpots/releases/download/v1.7.87/SkateSpots-1.7.87.apk>
+- Signed APK (1.7.88):
+  <https://git.skate-spots.org/skatespots/SkateSpots/releases/download/v1.7.88/SkateSpots-1.7.88.apk>
 - SHA-256:
-  `269be76e9e7c67bd0d7167137c9a5767765a46c1f7e6459a126092ad9de5fe7e`
+  `d7e713618c4c57105fc690a42f3c0845536d05491bbf1b5f925d8d7b8d272450`
 
 The APK is signed with the same key as the Zapstore build. Installing an
 F-Droid-signed build over it would require uninstalling SkateSpots and losing
diff --git a/docs/QA_MATRIX.md b/docs/QA_MATRIX.md
index 8989f0d..4e6e27a 100644
--- a/docs/QA_MATRIX.md
+++ b/docs/QA_MATRIX.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # SkateSpots QA matrix
 
 Last updated: 2026-11-02  
-App release under test: **1.7.87** (versionCode 10787)
+App release under test: **1.7.88** (versionCode 10788)
 
 This is a best-effort test record, not a certification. “PASS” means the named
 check was actually run in this environment. Physical-device and real-money
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ checks are explicitly marked untested until someone runs them.
 
 | Channel | Version | Result | Notes |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
-| Web | 1.7.87 | PASS | Production deploy from `06c1d64` |
-| Zapstore | 1.7.87 | PASS | Release event + current icon on relay |
-| Forgejo | 1.7.87 | PASS | APK + `.sha256` assets |
-| F-Droid self-hosted repo | 1.7.87 | PASS | `index-v2.json` lists versionCode 10787 |
-| Download page | dynamic | PASS | Live `/api/latest-release` returns 1.7.87; static fallback is 1.7.87 |
+| Web | 1.7.88 | PASS | Production deploy from `06c1d64` |
+| Zapstore | 1.7.88 | PASS | Release event + current icon on relay |
+| Forgejo | 1.7.88 | PASS | APK + `.sha256` assets |
+| F-Droid self-hosted repo | 1.7.88 | PASS | `index-v2.json` lists versionCode 10788 |
+| Download page | dynamic | PASS | Live `/api/latest-release` returns 1.7.88; static fallback is 1.7.88 |
 
 ## Still requires a real device
 
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 8853cbf..f516da4 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
     <meta charset="UTF-8" />
     <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, viewport-fit=cover" />
     <meta name="referrer" content="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" />
+    <link rel="preconnect" href="https://a.tile.openstreetmap.org" crossorigin />
+    <link rel="preconnect" href="https://tile.openstreetmap.org" crossorigin />
+    <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//tile.openstreetmap.org" />
     <title>SkateSpots — Open-sourced Skate Community App</title>
 
     <!--
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index a84191d..edf1518 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "skate-spots",
-  "version": "1.7.87",
+  "version": "1.7.88",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "skate-spots",
-      "version": "1.7.87",
+      "version": "1.7.88",
       "license": "AGPL-3.0-only",
       "dependencies": {
         "@bitcoinerlab/secp256k1": "^1.2.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ea3e34f..b387da5 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "skate-spots",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "1.7.87",
+  "version": "1.7.88",
   "license": "AGPL-3.0-only",
   "type": "module",
   "homepage": "https://skate-spots.org",
diff --git a/public/download/index.html b/public/download/index.html
index 7d775d1..c364158 100644
--- a/public/download/index.html
+++ b/public/download/index.html
@@ -99,16 +99,16 @@
       <a
         class="download"
         id="download-link"
-        href="https://git.skate-spots.org/skatespots/SkateSpots/releases/download/v1.7.87/SkateSpots-1.7.87.apk"
+        href="https://git.skate-spots.org/skatespots/SkateSpots/releases/download/v1.7.88/SkateSpots-1.7.88.apk"
         rel="noopener"
       >
-        <span id="download-label">Download SkateSpots-1.7.87.apk · 60 MB</span>
+        <span id="download-label">Download SkateSpots-1.7.88.apk · 60 MB</span>
         <span aria-hidden="true">↓</span>
       </a>
 
       <div class="meta">
         <span>Requires Android 7.0 or newer.</span>
-        <span>SHA-256: <code id="download-sha256">269be76e9e7c67bd0d7167137c9a5767765a46c1f7e6459a126092ad9de5fe7e</code></span>
+        <span>SHA-256: <code id="download-sha256">d7e713618c4c57105fc690a42f3c0845536d05491bbf1b5f925d8d7b8d272450</code></span>
         <span>Only install APKs from a source you trust. Android will ask you to allow installs from your browser.</span>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/release-notes.txt b/release-notes.txt
index 2cce4ec..8b9aee9 100644
--- a/release-notes.txt
+++ b/release-notes.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+🛹 Faster open + community chat recovery
+- Shortened the branded splash: reveal is capped at 0.48s and the previous artificial waits are gone.
+- Added early connections to OpenStreetMap tiles and the SkateSpots relay so the map starts warming sooner.
+- Cordn join/check/device-link actions now have a short local cooldown, so repeated taps cannot flood the coordinator or Amber and trigger rate limits.
+- Restarted the community room bot; existing members who are adding a new phone should use "Link this device" from an already-joined device, or ask to join again once.
+
+---
+
 🛹 Channel and QA cleanup
 - The download page now reads the latest Forgejo release automatically, so its APK link, version and SHA-256 cannot drift from the actual release.
 - The self-hosted F-Droid repository is back in sync at 1.7.86.
diff --git a/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx b/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx
index 941c99b..fded0b3 100644
--- a/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/components/SplashScreen.tsx
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ import { useTranslation } from '@/contexts/language';
  */
 
 const SESSION_KEY = 'splash-shown-session';
-const MIN_MS = 380;        // keep the brand beat, lose the artificial wait
-const WARM_GRACE_MS = 180; // a short breath after relays connect
-const MAX_MS = 900;        // hard cap — reveal the shell even on a dead network
-const FADE_MS = 280;       // iris-close exit
-const READY_HOLD_MS = 120; // show the ready check, then move
+const MIN_MS = 140;        // keep a brand beat, not an artificial wait
+const WARM_GRACE_MS = 70;  // a short breath after relays connect
+const MAX_MS = 480;        // hard cap — reveal the shell even on a dead network
+const FADE_MS = 170;       // iris-close exit
+const READY_HOLD_MS = 0;   // reveal immediately once ready
 
 const SPARKS = [
   { sx: '-8px', sy: '18px', ex: '-54px', ey: '44px', delay: '0ms' },
diff --git a/src/components/crew/CordnNativePanel.tsx b/src/components/crew/CordnNativePanel.tsx
index ccd6b9c..96a3657 100644
--- a/src/components/crew/CordnNativePanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/crew/CordnNativePanel.tsx
@@ -212,6 +212,18 @@ export function CordnNativePanel({
   const fileRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
   const checkingRef = useRef(false);
   const loadedRequestsRef = useRef(false);
+  // A short local cooldown prevents a manual double-tap (or repeated retries)
+  // from flooding the coordinator/Amber and triggering rate limits.
+  const [cooldownUntil, setCooldownUntil] = useState(0);
+  const [, setCooldownTick] = useState(0);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (cooldownUntil <= Date.now()) return;
+    const id = window.setInterval(() => setCooldownTick(Date.now()), 1000);
+    return () => window.clearInterval(id);
+  }, [cooldownUntil]);
+
+  const coolingDown = cooldownUntil > Date.now();
   const { mutateAsync: uploadFile, isPending: uploading } = useUploadFile();
 
   const inviteUrl = useMemo(() => {
@@ -575,10 +587,12 @@ export function CordnNativePanel({
   }, [deviceLinkCode]);
 
   const addScannedDevice = useCallback(async (raw: string) => {
+    if (coolingDown) return;
+    setCooldownUntil(Date.now() + 20_000);
     setNotice(null);
     const ok = await native.addDevice(raw);
     setNotice(ok ? t('cordnUi.deviceLinked') : t('cordnUi.deviceLinkFailed'));
-  }, [native, t]);
+  }, [native, t, coolingDown]);
 
   const checkNow = useCallback(async () => {
     if (checkingRef.current) return false;
@@ -591,12 +605,14 @@ export function CordnNativePanel({
   }, [checkInviteNative]);
 
   const handleRequestJoin = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (coolingDown) return;
+    setCooldownUntil(Date.now() + 20_000);
     setNotice(null);
     const requested = await native.requestJoin();
     if (!requested || !user?.pubkey) return;
     writePendingJoin(user.pubkey, native.groupId);
     setAwaiting(true);
-  }, [native, user?.pubkey]);
+  }, [native, user?.pubkey, coolingDown]);
 
   const handleApprove = useCallback(async (request: { pk: string; kp_ref: string; at: number }) => {
     const ok = await native.approve(
@@ -611,7 +627,8 @@ export function CordnNativePanel({
   }, [native, t]);
 
   const handleCheckInvite = useCallback(async () => {
-    if (native.busy) return;
+    if (native.busy || coolingDown) return;
+    setCooldownUntil(Date.now() + 10_000);
     setNotice(null);
     const joined = await checkNow();
     if (joined) {
@@ -620,7 +637,7 @@ export function CordnNativePanel({
       return;
     }
     if (!awaiting) setNotice(t(noInviteKey));
-  }, [checkNow, awaiting, t, noInviteKey, native.busy, user?.pubkey, native.groupId]);
+  }, [checkNow, awaiting, t, noInviteKey, native.busy, user?.pubkey, native.groupId, coolingDown]);
 
   // Keep the latest checker in a ref: the poll must not restart just because a
   // parent re-render gave the hook callbacks new identities.
@@ -939,7 +956,7 @@ export function CordnNativePanel({
                 <>
                   <Button
                     size="sm"
-                    disabled={!native.ready || native.busy || awaiting}
+                    disabled={!native.ready || native.busy || awaiting || coolingDown}
                     onClick={() => void handleRequestJoin()}
                     className="gap-1.5 bg-teal-500 font-semibold text-black hover:bg-teal-400"
                   >
@@ -949,7 +966,7 @@ export function CordnNativePanel({
                   <Button
                     size="sm"
                     variant="outline"
-                    disabled={!native.ready || native.busy}
+                    disabled={!native.ready || native.busy || coolingDown}
                     onClick={() => void handleCheckInvite()}
                     className="gap-1.5"
                   >
@@ -960,7 +977,7 @@ export function CordnNativePanel({
               <Button
                 size="sm"
                 variant="outline"
-                disabled={!native.ready || native.busy}
+                disabled={!native.ready || native.busy || coolingDown}
                 onClick={() => void openDeviceLink()}
                 className="gap-1.5"
               >
@@ -989,7 +1006,7 @@ export function CordnNativePanel({
             {awaiting && !deviceLinkPending && (
               <button
                 type="button"
-                disabled={!native.ready || native.busy}
+                disabled={!native.ready || native.busy || coolingDown}
                 onClick={() => void handleRequestJoin()}
                 className="mx-auto block text-[11px] text-teal-300 underline underline-offset-2 hover:text-teal-200 disabled:opacity-50"
               >