chore(release): prepare v0.18.1 (#926)

Prepares the v0.18.1 patch release: version bump, changelog and docs sync, native-package and web metadata, and release notes crediting every reporter and PR author.

docs/RELEASE_PROCESS.md

@@ -477,6 +477,7 @@ git push origin v0.5.1-beta
 | 0.16.0 | 2026-08-23 | Stable | Update checker + tray notify, Right Alt PTT default (new installs), searchable language list, delete unused models, Voca tone picker (family preview WAVs), About page, AGPL-3.0, family mic icons, installer/just/uv pinning, Test Dictation missing-model message, IBus/audio/clipboard/GPU/AppImage reliability, vocalinux.com family workbench restyle |
 | 0.17.0 | 2026-09-16 | Stable | Faster Whisper + Parakeet engines, Speech Model simple setup, first-run system language, Snap with ydotool/uinput, Flatpak bundles on the GitHub Release, XWayland/layout paste and settings/audio fixes |
 | 0.18.0 | 2026-10-02 | Stable | Dictation Pad, evdev hotkey suppression, PipeWire capture + system audio, RemoteDesktop portal injection, per-language shortcuts + tray history, TinyDiarize file transcription, D-Bus activation, custom dictionary, postprocessing hook, floating overlay, audio ducking, AUR -bin + self-hosted Flatpak remote + snap-promote |
+| 0.18.1 | 2026-10-08 | Stable | Settings Proxy page, opt-in JSONL transcript persistence, .deb/.rpm release packages, slimmer tray menu, dictation-pad Wayland ghost fix, evdev keyboard-discovery tightening, KWin 6 case fix, staged model picker |
 | 0.16.2 | 2026-09-05 | Stable | Patch: KDE leftover IBus skip, Wayland/IBus shortcuts via wtype/ydotool, BackSpace delete that, installer glslc on Fedora/Arch, nightly version stamp, release integrity pins, AUR PKGBUILD CI gate, distro CI/docs drift, Gateway Beta on site |
 | 0.16.1 | 2026-08-30 | Stable | Patch: per-engine model at startup, leftover tray idle, terminal Ctrl+Shift+V paste, GNOME XWayland layout after IBus, Python 3.11 floor + verified downloads, AppImage glibc that boots on Debian 12, Settings/About polish |