Signed-off-by: Matt Bruce <mbrucedogs@gmail.com>

PRD.md

@@ -563,7 +563,8 @@ The following changes **automatically require** PRD updates:
 4. **Auto-stop**: Automatically stops current sound when selecting new one
 5. **Play/Stop Controls**: Simple button with visual feedback
 6. **Continuous playback**: Sounds loop until stopped
-7. **Responsive layout**: Optimized for portrait and landscape orientations
+7. **Empty state guidance**: Prompt shown when no sound is selected
+8. **Responsive layout**: Optimized for portrait and landscape orientations
 
 ## Technical Requirements
 

TheNoiseClock/App/ContentView.swift

@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             }
             .tag(Tab.settings)
         }
+        .onChange(of: selectedTab) { oldValue, newValue in
+            if oldValue == .clock && newValue != .clock {
+                clockViewModel.setDisplayMode(false)
+            }
+        }
         .accentColor(AppAccent.primary)
         .background(Color.Branding.primary.ignoresSafeArea())
     }

TheNoiseClock/Features/Clock/State/ClockViewModel.swift

@@ -69,6 +69,14 @@ class ClockViewModel {
         updateWakeLockState()
     }
 
+    func setDisplayMode(_ enabled: Bool) {
+        guard isDisplayMode != enabled else { return }
+        withAnimation(Design.Animation.spring(bounce: Design.Animation.springBounce)) {
+            isDisplayMode = enabled
+        }
+        updateWakeLockState()
+    }
+    
     func updateStyle(_ newStyle: ClockStyle) {
         
         // Update properties of the existing style object instead of replacing it

TheNoiseClock/Features/Noise/Views/NoiseView.swift

@@ -74,15 +74,23 @@ struct NoiseView: View {
         VStack(spacing: 0) {
             // Fixed header
             VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: Design.Spacing.medium) {
-                if !isPad {
-                    Text("Ambient Sounds")
-                        .sectionTitleStyle()
-                }
-                
                 // Playback controls - always visible when sound is selected
                 if selectedSound != nil {
                     soundControlView
                         .centered()
+                } else {
+                    // Placeholder when no sound selected
+                    VStack(spacing: Design.Spacing.small) {
+                        Image(systemName: "music.note")
+                            .font(.largeTitle)
+                            .foregroundColor(.secondary)
+                        
+                        Text("Select a sound to begin")
+                            .font(.subheadline)
+                            .foregroundColor(.secondary)
+                    }
+                    .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
+                    .padding(.vertical, Design.Spacing.large)
                 }
             }
             .contentPadding(horizontal: Design.Spacing.large)