diff --git a/pinenote-shell/src/main.js b/pinenote-shell/src/main.js
index 034c9ce..8ee64f1 100644
--- a/pinenote-shell/src/main.js
+++ b/pinenote-shell/src/main.js
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import { execAsync } from "ags/process"
 import { readFile } from "ags/file"
 import { createBinding, createState, createComputed, createEffect } from "ags"
 import Hyprland from "gi://AstalHyprland"
-import Brightness from "gi://AstalBrightness"
 
 const { TOP, BOTTOM, LEFT, RIGHT } = Astal.WindowAnchor
 
@@ -32,20 +31,34 @@ function einkRefresh() {
 
 class BrightnessController {
     constructor() {
-        this.astal = Brightness.get_default()
-        this.screen = this.astal?.screen
+        const [level, setLevel] = createState(100)
+        this.level = level
+        this.setLevel = setLevel
+        this.updateFromSystem()
     }
 
-    get current() {
-        if (!this.screen) return 0
-        return Math.round(this.screen.brightness * 100)
+    async updateFromSystem() {
+        try {
+            const info = await execAsync(["brightnessctl", "-m"])
+            const parts = info.split(",")
+            // brightnessctl -m output: device,class,current%,value,max
+            const percent = parseInt(parts[2], 10)
+            this.setLevel(Number.isNaN(percent) ? 100 : percent)
+        } catch (err) {
+            console.log(`Could not read brightness: ${err.message}`)
+        }
     }
 
-    set(level) {
-        if (!this.screen) return
-        this.screen.brightness = level / 100
-        // PineNote: force an e-ink refresh so the brightness change is visible
-        einkRefresh()
+    async set(level) {
+        try {
+            await execAsync(["brightnessctl", "set", `${level}%`])
+            this.setLevel(level)
+            notify(`Brightness set to ${level}%`)
+            // PineNote: force an e-ink refresh so the brightness change is visible
+            einkRefresh()
+        } catch (err) {
+            notify(`Failed to set brightness: ${err.message}`)
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -110,9 +123,9 @@ class PowerManager {
 class LauncherManager {
     launch(appType) {
         const launchers = {
-            terminal: "alacritty",
-            browser: "brave-browser",
-            "e-reader": "calibre",
+            terminal: "foot",
+            browser: "firefox",
+            "e-reader": "koreader",
         }
 
         const cmd = launchers[appType]
@@ -126,7 +139,7 @@ class LauncherManager {
 class RefreshController {
     async triggerRefresh() {
         try {
-            await execAsync(["pdlc-cli", "--refresh"])
+            await execAsync(["bash", "-c", "/home/fegger/.local/bin/pinenote-refresh"])
             notify("E-ink display refreshed")
         } catch (err) {
             console.log(`Failed to refresh display: ${err.message}`)
@@ -176,9 +189,14 @@ function PinenoteShell() {
         if (visible()) einkRefresh()
     })
 
-    const brightnessLevel = brightness.screen
-        ? createBinding(brightness.screen, "brightness")((v) => Math.round((v || 0) * 100))
-        : createState(100)[0]
+    const brightnessLevel = brightness.level
+
+    // Keep the reactive value in sync with the system whenever the widget opens.
+    createEffect(() => {
+        if (visible()) {
+            brightness.updateFromSystem()
+        }
+    })
 
     const currentWaveform = waveform.current[0]