diff --git a/app/package-lock.json b/app/package-lock.json
index 87dbc22..44a4e1a 100644
--- a/app/package-lock.json
+++ b/app/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "frame-control",
-  "version": "0.4.43",
+  "version": "0.4.44",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "frame-control",
-      "version": "0.4.43",
+      "version": "0.4.44",
       "license": "MIT",
       "devDependencies": {
         "electron": "^44.4.5",
diff --git a/app/package.json b/app/package.json
index 91f6665..b815f52 100644
--- a/app/package.json
+++ b/app/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "frame-control",
   "productName": "Frame Control",
-  "version": "0.4.43",
+  "version": "0.4.44",
   "description": "Desktop app for managing a Valve Steam Frame over SSH",
   "private": true,
   "main": "main.js",
diff --git a/docs/evidence/v0444-candidate-2026-10-26.md b/docs/evidence/v0444-candidate-2026-10-26.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e30dad9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/evidence/v0444-candidate-2026-10-26.md
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# v0.4.44 candidate gate, 26 October 2026
+
+This candidate starts from main commit
+`c50f96510fdb42a2aee227436a04c0cfe8817919`, which contains PR #312's
+Framey scroll buttons and PR #313's read-only installed-app metadata projection.
+It also carries the documentation-only v0.4.43 release evidence from PR #314.
+The app and lockfile are bumped to 0.4.44. No compatibility label changes:
+the exact-version official Decky catalog remains **4 works / 49 partial /
+52 broken / 11 N/A**. Junk-Store's About and Dependencies pages now render in
+the local Chromium test with its actual ARM64 backend; the plugin remains partial.
+
+## Real Frame checks on the combined code
+
+At 08:37 UTC, `scripts/frame-smoke.sh` ran on that main commit under its own
+`/tmp/frame-test.lock` owner. Locked preflight found SteamVR activity 3
+(standby), proximity 6.25 and battery 99%. On Frame OS 0.5.6 build
+`20261022.6153909`, ARM64 and Proton executables launched; the optional x86_64
+launch was skipped because Steam Linux Runtime 4 is absent. The result was
+**12 passed / 1 skipped / 0 failed**. It removed its test titles, exited 0 and
+released its owned lock. The private result is
+`tests/smoke/results/2026-10-26T083719Z-20261022.6153909.json` on the test
+host.
+
+At 08:45 UTC, `scripts/framey-vr-check.py --exercise` ran the same code under
+a separate unique shared-lock owner, beginning in standby (activity 3,
+proximity 6.3125, battery 99%). Synthetic native OpenVR clicks on the new
+**Scroll plugin down/up** buttons moved a temporary sample region 0 → 120 → 0.
+The sample setting save/reopen, quick action, slider, text and compositor-change
+checks passed. Native synthetic wheel attempts still produced no event or
+movement. Cleanup removed test services and its power watchdog, restored the
+original `false` / `5` power values, read battery 99%, and released its lock
+with no errors. The private report is
+`/tmp/framey-scroll-postmerge-direct-20261026/result.json` on the test host.
+This is an unworn sample panel check. It does not prove physical controller
+scrolling, optical readability or an official-plugin panel in VR.
+
+## Publication boundary
+
+The version-bumped release branch also ran `scripts/frame-smoke.sh` after its
+normal merge of PR #314's documentation. At 08:59 UTC, its locked preflight
+found activity 3, proximity 6.3125 and battery 97%. The result was again
+**12 passed / 1 skipped / 0 failed** on the same Frame OS build; ARM64 and
+Proton launches passed, while the optional x86 launch was skipped for the
+missing Steam Linux Runtime 4. Owned test title/process cleanup passed, the
+command exited 0, and its lock was released. The private result is
+`tests/smoke/results/2026-10-26T085951Z-20261022.6153909.json` on the test
+host. This evidence-only paragraph is the sole change after that smoke.
+
+PR #313's own actual ARM64 backend/library test is documented in
+[installed-context evidence](framey-installed-context-2026-10-26.md). Its
+dependency installation, login, game operations, RSS and optional websocket
+remain unverified. The candidate still needs exact-head CI, tagged builds,
+ten installer digests with `SHA256SUMS`, downloaded package checks, publisher
+dry run and public updater readback before publication. A worn check requires
+activity, proximity and reliable wearer confirmation; none was available, so
+the hourly schedule stays enabled.