diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d1cb48e0b..9c6c2c526 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,37 +53,38 @@ you'll need [homebrew](http://brew.sh/) to install the required dependencies.
 
 ## keyboard shortcuts
 
-the current hotkeys are generally based around holding the alt/meta key with your left thumb, and using the home row with your right hand. 
+the hotkeys listed below can generally be used at any time; however, if an input field is focused some may not work. you can enter command mode by pressing `ESC`, which will highlight the bottom command bar and accept all hotkeys. command mode may be deactivated by pressing `ESC` again.
+
+you may also change hotkeys by editing `~/.mC2/hotkeys.json` and restarting the app. a hotkey tester is provided in the settings screen.
 
 - `TAB` select next window
 - `SHIFT+TAB` select previous window
-- `ALT+~` switch to console view
-- `ALT+a` switch to library view
-- `ALT+s` switch to settings view
-- `ALT+i` volume up 5%
-- `ALT+k` volume down 5%
-- `ALT+j` previous track
-- `ALT+l` next track
-- `ALT+u` back 10 seconds
-- `ALT+o` forward 10 seconds
-- `ALT+r` repaint the screen
-- `ALT+,` toggle repeat mode (off/track/list)
-- `ALT+.` (un)shuffle play queue
+- `~` switch to console view
+- `a` switch to library view
+- `s` switch to settings view
+- `i` volume up 5%
+- `k` volume down 5%
+- `j` previous track
+- `l` next track
+- `u` back 10 seconds
+- `o` forward 10 seconds
+- `r` repaint the screen
+- `,` toggle repeat mode (off/track/list)
+- `.` (un)shuffle play queue
 - `CTRL+p` pause/resume (globally)
 - `CTRL+x` stop (unload streams, free resources)
 - `CTRL+d` quit 
 
 and a couple hotkeys that are specific to the library view: 
 
-- `ESC` toggle between browse and play queue
-- `ALT+b` show browse view
-- `ALT+n` show play queue
-- `ALT+f` show album/artist/genre search
-- `ALT+t` show track search
-- `ALT+1` browse by artist
-- `ALT+2` browse by album
-- `ALT+3` browse by genre
-- `ALT+m` jump to playing artist/album/genre in browse view
+- `b` show browse view
+- `n` show play queue
+- `f` show album/artist/genre search
+- `t` show track search
+- `1` browse by artist
+- `2` browse by album
+- `3` browse by genre
+- `m` jump to playing artist/album/genre in browse view
 - `SPACE` pause/resume
 
 *important*: on OSX make sure you configure your terminal emulator to treat your left alt key as "+Esc" or "Meta".
diff --git a/src/musikbox/app/layout/ConsoleLayout.cpp b/src/musikbox/app/layout/ConsoleLayout.cpp
index 46b2c98c1..3a7cec3ce 100755
--- a/src/musikbox/app/layout/ConsoleLayout.cpp
+++ b/src/musikbox/app/layout/ConsoleLayout.cpp
@@ -43,8 +43,10 @@
 #include <core/plugin/PluginFactory.h>
 
 #include <app/util/Hotkeys.h>
+#include <app/util/Version.h>
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
+#include <boost/format.hpp>
 
 template <class T>
 bool tostr(T& t, const std::string& s) {
@@ -151,6 +153,7 @@ void ConsoleLayout::SetVolume(float volume) {
 
 void ConsoleLayout::Help() {
     int64 s = -1;
+
     this->output->WriteLine("help:\n", s);
     this->output->WriteLine("  <tab> to switch between windows", s);
     this->output->WriteLine("", s);
@@ -168,6 +171,8 @@ void ConsoleLayout::Help() {
     this->output->WriteLine("", s);
     this->output->WriteLine("  plugins: list loaded plugins", s);
     this->output->WriteLine("", s);
+    this->output->WriteLine("  version: show musikbox app version", s);
+    this->output->WriteLine("", s);
     this->output->WriteLine("  <ctrl+d>: quit\n", s);
 }
 
@@ -200,6 +205,10 @@ bool ConsoleLayout::ProcessCommand(const std::string& cmd) {
     else if (name == "clear") {
         this->logs->ClearContents();
     }
+    else if (name == "version") {
+        const std::string v = boost::str(boost::format("build v%s") % VERSION);
+        this->output->WriteLine(v, -1);
+    }
     else if (name == "play" || name == "pl" || name == "p") {
         return this->PlayFile(args);
     }
diff --git a/src/musikbox/app/layout/MainLayout.cpp b/src/musikbox/app/layout/MainLayout.cpp
index f7ed37c24..23e7e305e 100755
--- a/src/musikbox/app/layout/MainLayout.cpp
+++ b/src/musikbox/app/layout/MainLayout.cpp
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ cursespp::IWindowPtr MainLayout::BlurShortcuts() {
 }
 
 bool MainLayout::KeyPress(const std::string& key) {
-    if (prefs->GetBool(box::prefs::keys::EscFocusesShortcuts)) {
+    if (prefs->GetBool(box::prefs::keys::EscFocusesShortcuts, true)) {
         if (key == "^["  ||
            (key == "KEY_ENTER" && this->shortcutsFocused) ||
            (key == "KEY_UP" && this->shortcutsFocused))
diff --git a/src/musikbox/app/layout/SettingsLayout.cpp b/src/musikbox/app/layout/SettingsLayout.cpp
index c357ebfbb..9150027cd 100755
--- a/src/musikbox/app/layout/SettingsLayout.cpp
+++ b/src/musikbox/app/layout/SettingsLayout.cpp
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ void SettingsLayout::OnVisibilityChanged(bool visible) {
 
 void SettingsLayout::LoadPreferences() {
     this->removeCheckbox->SetChecked(this->prefs->GetBool(core::prefs::keys::RemoveMissingFiles, true));
-    this->focusShortcutsCheckbox->SetChecked(this->prefs->GetBool(box::prefs::keys::EscFocusesShortcuts));
+    this->focusShortcutsCheckbox->SetChecked(this->prefs->GetBool(box::prefs::keys::EscFocusesShortcuts, true));
     this->customColorsCheckbox->SetChecked(this->prefs->GetBool(box::prefs::keys::DisableCustomColors));
 }
 
diff --git a/src/musikbox/app/util/Hotkeys.cpp b/src/musikbox/app/util/Hotkeys.cpp
index 1c538ce39..688ed5bb1 100755
--- a/src/musikbox/app/util/Hotkeys.cpp
+++ b/src/musikbox/app/util/Hotkeys.cpp
@@ -84,27 +84,27 @@ static std::unordered_map<std::string, Id> NAME_TO_ID = {
 
 /* default hotkeys */
 static std::unordered_map<Id, std::string, EnumHasher> ID_TO_DEFAULT = {
-    { Id::NavigateLibrary, "M-a" },
-    { Id::NavigateLibraryBrowse, "M-b" },
-    { Id::NavigateLibraryBrowseArtists, "M-1" },
-    { Id::NavigateLibraryBrowseAlbums, "M-2" },
-    { Id::NavigateLibraryBrowseGenres, "M-3" },
-    { Id::NavigateLibraryFilter, "M-f" },
-    { Id::NavigateLibraryTracks, "M-t" },
-    { Id::NavigateLibraryPlayQueue, "M-n" },
-    { Id::NavigateSettings, "M-s" },
-    { Id::NavigateConsole, "M-`" },
-    { Id::NavigateJumpToPlaying, "M-m" },
+    { Id::NavigateLibrary, "a" },
+    { Id::NavigateLibraryBrowse, "b" },
+    { Id::NavigateLibraryBrowseArtists, "1" },
+    { Id::NavigateLibraryBrowseAlbums, "2" },
+    { Id::NavigateLibraryBrowseGenres, "3" },
+    { Id::NavigateLibraryFilter, "f" },
+    { Id::NavigateLibraryTracks, "t" },
+    { Id::NavigateLibraryPlayQueue, "n" },
+    { Id::NavigateSettings, "s" },
+    { Id::NavigateConsole, "`" },
+    { Id::NavigateJumpToPlaying, "m" },
 
     { Id::TogglePause, "^P" },
-    { Id::Next, "M-l" },
-    { Id::Previous, "M-j" },
-    { Id::VolumeUp, "M-i" },
-    { Id::VolumeDown, "M-k" },
-    { Id::SeekForward, "M-o" },
-    { Id::SeekBack, "M-u" },
-    { Id::ToggleRepeat, "M-," },
-    { Id::ToggleShuffle, "M-." },
+    { Id::Next, "l" },
+    { Id::Previous, "j" },
+    { Id::VolumeUp, "i" },
+    { Id::VolumeDown, "k" },
+    { Id::SeekForward, "o" },
+    { Id::SeekBack, "u" },
+    { Id::ToggleRepeat, "," },
+    { Id::ToggleShuffle, "." },
     { Id::Stop, "^X" },
 
     { Id::ViewRefresh, "KEY_F(5)" },
diff --git a/src/musikbox/app/util/Version.h b/src/musikbox/app/util/Version.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f03700dc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/musikbox/app/util/Version.h
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#define VERSION "0.1.0" /* todo: autogen */
\ No newline at end of file