diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 8225e21517..b6abc86f3b 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -3,22 +3,25 @@
 WLED is a fast and (relatively) secure implementation of an ESP8266 webserver to control NeoPixel (WS2812B) LEDs!
 Now also with experimental ESP32 support.
 
-### Features: (V0.5.0)
+### Features: (V0.6.0)
 - RGB, HSB, and brightness sliders
 - Settings page - configuration over network
 - Access Point and station mode - automatic failsafe AP
 - WS2812FX library integrated for over 50 special effects!
 - Secondary color support lets you use even more effect combinations
+- Alexa smart home device server (including dimming)
+- Beta syncronization to Philips hue lights
 - Support for RGBW strips
 - 25 user presets! Save your favorite colors and effects and apply them easily!
+- HTTP request API for simple integration
+- Macro functions to automatically execute API calls
 - Nightlight function (gradually dims down)
 - Notifier function (multiple ESPs sync color via UDP broadcast)
 - Support for power pushbutton
 - Custom Theater Chase
 - Full OTA software update capability (HTTP and ArduinoOTA)
 - Password protected OTA page for added security (OTA lock)
-- Alexa smart home device server (including dimming)
-- NTP and experimental analog clock function
+- NTP and configurable analog clock function
 - Support for the Cronixie Clock kit by Diamex
 - Realtime UDP Packet Control (WARLS) possible
 - Client HTML UI controlled, customizable themes
diff --git a/wled00/WS2812FX.cpp b/wled00/WS2812FX.cpp
index 7e60af38da..0d6958cee7 100644
--- a/wled00/WS2812FX.cpp
+++ b/wled00/WS2812FX.cpp
@@ -2040,12 +2040,17 @@ void WS2812FX::setBrightness(byte b)
 void WS2812FX::show()
 {
   #ifdef ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32
+  #ifdef WORKAROUND_ESP32_BITBANG
   delay(1);
   portDISABLE_INTERRUPTS(); //this is a workaround to prevent flickering (see https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPixel/issues/139)
+  #endif
+  #endif
   NeoPixelBrightnessBus::Show();
+
+  #ifdef ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32
+  #ifdef WORKAROUND_ESP32_BITBANG
   portENABLE_INTERRUPTS();
-  #else
-  NeoPixelBrightnessBus::Show();
+  #endif
   #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/wled00/WS2812FX.h b/wled00/WS2812FX.h
index 87755e46ef..047df7fd73 100644
--- a/wled00/WS2812FX.h
+++ b/wled00/WS2812FX.h
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
 //#define RGBW
 #define PIN 2 //strip pin. Only change for ESP32
+#define WORKAROUND_ESP32_BITBANG
+//see https://github.com/Aircoookie/WLED/issues/2 for flicker free ESP32 support
 
 //automatically uses the right driver method for each platform
 #ifdef ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32
+#ifdef WORKAROUND_ESP32_BITBANG
 #define PIXELMETHOD NeoEsp32BitBangWs2813Method
 #else
+#define PIXELMETHOD NeoEsp32RmtWS2813_V3Method
+#endif
+#else
 #define PIXELMETHOD NeoEsp8266Uart800KbpsMethod
 #endif
 
diff --git a/wled00/data/settings_leds.htm b/wled00/data/settings_leds.htm
index 44368c827a..324a226d22 100644
Binary files a/wled00/data/settings_leds.htm and b/wled00/data/settings_leds.htm differ
diff --git a/wled00/htmls01.h b/wled00/htmls01.h
index 2bd7b7bdf9..54e0600013 100644
--- a/wled00/htmls01.h
+++ b/wled00/htmls01.h
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ Default Target brightness: <input name="TB" type="number" min="0" max="255" requ
 Fade down: <input type="checkbox" name="TW"><br>
 <h3>Advanced</h3>
 Reverse LED order (rotate 180): <input type="checkbox" name="RV"><br>
+Init LEDs after WiFi: <input type="checkbox" name="EI"><br>
 WARLS offset: <input name="WO" type="number" min="-255" max="255" required><hr>
 <button type="button" onclick="B()">Back</button><button type="submit">Save</button>
 </form>
diff --git a/wled00/wled00.ino b/wled00/wled00.ino
index b1de3ff703..10ea871d2e 100644
--- a/wled00/wled00.ino
+++ b/wled00/wled00.ino
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 #include "WS2812FX.h"
 
 //version in format yymmddb (b = daily build)
-#define VERSION 1803144
+#define VERSION 1803146
 const String versionString = "0.6.0";
 
 //AP and OTA default passwords (change them!)
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ IPAddress staticSubnet(255, 255, 255, 0);
 IPAddress staticDNS(8, 8, 8, 8); //only for NTP
 bool useHSB = false, useHSBDefault = false;
 bool turnOnAtBoot = true;
+bool initLedsLast = false;
 byte bootPreset = 0;
 byte colS[]{255, 159, 0};
 byte colSecS[]{0, 0, 0};
@@ -99,8 +100,7 @@ byte effectSpeedDefault = 75;
 byte effectIntensityDefault = 128;
 //NTP stuff
 bool ntpEnabled = false;
-IPAddress ntpServerIP;
-const char* ntpServerName = "0.wled.pool.ntp.org";
+String ntpServerName = "0.wled.pool.ntp.org";
 //custom chase
 byte ccNumPrimary = 2;
 byte ccNumSecondary = 4;
@@ -123,20 +123,13 @@ unsigned long countdownTime = 1514764800L;
 double transitionResolution = 0.011;
 
 //hue
-long hueLastRequestSent = 0;
 bool huePollingEnabled = false, hueAttempt = false;
 uint16_t huePollIntervalMs = 2500;
-uint32_t huePollIntervalMsTemp = 2500;
 String hueApiKey = "api";
 byte huePollLightId = 1;
 IPAddress hueIP = (0,0,0,0);
 bool notifyHue = true;
 bool hueApplyOnOff = true, hueApplyBri = true, hueApplyColor = true;
-String hueError = "Inactive";
-uint16_t hueFailCount = 0;
-float hueXLast=0, hueYLast=0;
-uint16_t hueHueLast=0, hueCtLast=0;
-byte hueSatLast=0, hueBriLast=0;
 
 //Internal vars
 byte col[]{0, 0, 0};
@@ -176,15 +169,19 @@ String cssFont="Verdana";
 String cssColorString="";
 //NTP stuff
 bool ntpConnected = false;
-unsigned int ntpLocalPort = 2390;
-const uint16_t NTP_PACKET_SIZE = 48; 
-byte ntpPacketBuffer[NTP_PACKET_SIZE];
-unsigned long ntpLastSyncTime = 999000000L;
-unsigned long ntpPacketSentTime = 999000000L;
 byte currentTimezone = 0;
 time_t local;
 int utcOffsetSecs = 0;
 
+//hue
+String hueError = "Inactive";
+uint16_t hueFailCount = 0;
+float hueXLast=0, hueYLast=0;
+uint16_t hueHueLast=0, hueCtLast=0;
+byte hueSatLast=0, hueBriLast=0;
+long hueLastRequestSent = 0;
+uint32_t huePollIntervalMsTemp = huePollIntervalMs;
+
 //overlay stuff
 byte overlayDefault = 0;
 byte overlayCurrent = 0;
@@ -242,6 +239,12 @@ HTTPClient hueClient;
 ESP8266HTTPUpdateServer httpUpdater;
 WiFiUDP notifierUdp;
 WiFiUDP ntpUdp;
+IPAddress ntpServerIP;
+unsigned int ntpLocalPort = 2390;
+const uint16_t NTP_PACKET_SIZE = 48; 
+byte ntpPacketBuffer[NTP_PACKET_SIZE];
+unsigned long ntpLastSyncTime = 999000000L;
+unsigned long ntpPacketSentTime = 999000000L;
 
 WS2812FX strip = WS2812FX(LEDCOUNT);
 
diff --git a/wled00/wled01_eeprom.ino b/wled00/wled01_eeprom.ino
index 78d1aafb58..c91af4be07 100644
--- a/wled00/wled01_eeprom.ino
+++ b/wled00/wled01_eeprom.ino
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@
 #define EEPSIZE 3072
 
 //eeprom Version code, enables default settings instead of 0 init on update
-#define EEPVER 5
+#define EEPVER 6
 //0 -> old version, default
 //1 -> 0.4p 1711272 and up
 //2 -> 0.4p 1711302 and up
 //3 -> 0.4  1712121 and up
 //4 -> 0.5.0 and up
-//5 -> 0.6.0 and up
+//5 -> 0.5.1 and up
+//6 -> 0.6.0 and up
 
 //todo add settings
 void clearEEPROM()
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ void saveSettingsToEEPROM()
   EEPROM.write(394, (abs(utcOffsetSecs) >> 0) & 0xFF);
   EEPROM.write(395, (abs(utcOffsetSecs) >> 8) & 0xFF);
   EEPROM.write(396, (utcOffsetSecs<0)); //is negative
+  EEPROM.write(397, initLedsLast);
 
   for (int k=0;k<6;k++){
     int in = 900+k*8;
@@ -380,6 +382,8 @@ void loadSettingsFromEEPROM(bool first)
     hueApplyBri = EEPROM.read(2104);
     hueApplyColor = EEPROM.read(2105);
     huePollLightId = EEPROM.read(2106);
+  }
+  if (lastEEPROMversion > 5) {
     overlayMin = EEPROM.read(2150);
     overlayMax = EEPROM.read(2151);
     analogClock12pixel = EEPROM.read(2152);
@@ -415,6 +419,7 @@ void loadSettingsFromEEPROM(bool first)
   wifiLock = EEPROM.read(393);
   utcOffsetSecs = ((EEPROM.read(394) << 0) & 0xFF) + ((EEPROM.read(395) << 8) & 0xFF00);
   if (EEPROM.read(396)) utcOffsetSecs = -utcOffsetSecs; //negative
+  initLedsLast = EEPROM.read(397);
 
   //favorite setting memory (25 slots/ each 20byte)
   //400 - 899 reserved
@@ -519,6 +524,7 @@ String loadMacro(byte index)
     if (EEPROM.read(i) == 0) break;
     m += char(EEPROM.read(i));
   }
+  if (m.charAt(0) < 65 || m.charAt(0) > 90) return ""; //do simple check if macro is valid (capital first letter)
   return m;
 }
 
diff --git a/wled00/wled02_xml.ino b/wled00/wled02_xml.ino
index ee7039e1d5..a6cc53c3c0 100644
--- a/wled00/wled02_xml.ino
+++ b/wled00/wled02_xml.ino
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ String getSettings(byte subPage)
     resp += ds + "TL" + v + nightlightDelayMins +";";
     resp += ds + "TW" + c + nightlightFade +";";
     resp += ds + "RV" + c + reverseMode +";";
+    resp += ds + "EI" + c + initLedsLast +";";
     resp += ds + "WO" + v + arlsOffset +";";
   }
 
diff --git a/wled00/wled03_set.ino b/wled00/wled03_set.ino
index 3800d6256c..5f84cebb74 100644
--- a/wled00/wled03_set.ino
+++ b/wled00/wled03_set.ino
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ void handleSettingsSet(byte subPage)
     }
     nightlightFade = server.hasArg("TW");
     reverseMode = server.hasArg("RV");
+    initLedsLast = server.hasArg("EI");
     strip.setReverseMode(reverseMode);
     if (server.hasArg("WO"))
     {
diff --git a/wled00/wled05_init.ino b/wled00/wled05_init.ino
index 2501762a6f..a0c66d8324 100644
--- a/wled00/wled05_init.ino
+++ b/wled00/wled05_init.ino
@@ -4,27 +4,19 @@
 
 void wledInit()
 {
+  EEPROM.begin(EEPSIZE);
+  if (!EEPROM.read(397)) strip.init(); //quick init
+  
   Serial.begin(115200);
-
+  
   #ifdef USEFS
   SPIFFS.begin();
-  {
-    Dir dir = SPIFFS.openDir("/");
-    while (dir.next()) {    
-      String fileName = dir.fileName();
-      size_t fileSize = dir.fileSize();
-      #ifdef DEBUG
-      Serial.printf("FS File: %s, size: %s\n", fileName.c_str(), formatBytes(fileSize).c_str());
-      #endif
-    }
-    DEBUG_PRINTF("\n");
-  }
   #endif
   
-  DEBUG_PRINTLN("Init EEPROM");
-  EEPROM.begin(EEPSIZE);
+  DEBUG_PRINTLN("Load EEPROM");
   loadSettingsFromEEPROM(true);
-  DEBUG_PRINT("CC: SSID: ");
+  if (!initLedsLast) initStrip();
+  DEBUG_PRINT("C-SSID: ");
   DEBUG_PRINT(clientSSID);
   buildCssColorString();
   userBeginPreConnection();
@@ -140,7 +132,7 @@ void wledInit()
   });
   
   server.on("/reset", HTTP_GET, [](){
-    serveMessage(200,"Rebooting now...","(takes ~20 seconds, wait for auto-redirect)",139);
+    serveMessage(200,"Rebooting now...","(takes ~20 seconds, wait for auto-redirect)",79);
     reset();
   });
   
@@ -301,10 +293,15 @@ void wledInit()
     ArduinoOTA.begin();
   }
 
+  if (initLedsLast) initStrip();
   userBegin();
+  if (macroBoot>0) applyMacro(macroBoot);
+}
 
-  // Initialize NeoPixel Strip
-  strip.init();
+void initStrip()
+{
+  // Initialize NeoPixel Strip and button
+  if (initLedsLast) strip.init();
   strip.setLedCount(ledCount);
   strip.setReverseMode(reverseMode);
   strip.setColor(0);
@@ -314,7 +311,6 @@ void wledInit()
   pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLUP);
 
   if (bootPreset>0) applyPreset(bootPreset, turnOnAtBoot, true, true);
-  if (macroBoot>0) applyMacro(macroBoot);
   colorUpdated(0);
   if(digitalRead(buttonPin) == LOW) buttonEnabled = false; //disable button if it is "pressed" unintentionally
 }
@@ -331,17 +327,32 @@ void initCon()
   int fail_count = 0;
   if (clientSSID.length() <1 || clientSSID.equals("Your_Network")) fail_count = apWaitTimeSecs*2;
   WiFi.begin(clientSSID.c_str(), clientPass.c_str());
-  while(WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
-    delay(500);
-    DEBUG_PRINTLN("C_NC");
-    fail_count++;
-    if (!recoveryAPDisabled && fail_count > apWaitTimeSecs*2)
+  unsigned long lastTry = 0;
+  bool con = false;
+  while(!con)
+  {
+    yield();
+    if (!initLedsLast)
     {
-      WiFi.disconnect();
-      DEBUG_PRINTLN("Can't connect. Opening AP...");
-      onlyAP = true;
-      initAP();
-      return;
+      handleTransitions();
+      handleButton();
+      handleOverlays();
+      if (briT) strip.service();
+    }
+    if (millis()-lastTry > 499) {
+      con = (WiFi.status() == WL_CONNECTED);
+      if (con) DEBUG_PRINTLN("rofl");
+      lastTry = millis();
+      DEBUG_PRINTLN("C_NC");
+      if (!recoveryAPDisabled && fail_count > apWaitTimeSecs*2)
+      {
+        WiFi.disconnect();
+        DEBUG_PRINTLN("Can't connect. Opening AP...");
+        onlyAP = true;
+        initAP();
+        return;
+      }
+      fail_count++;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/wled00/wled07_notify.ino b/wled00/wled07_notify.ino
index 3898e580a7..0a96ae220f 100644
--- a/wled00/wled07_notify.ino
+++ b/wled00/wled07_notify.ino
@@ -28,12 +28,14 @@ void notify(byte callMode, bool followUp=false)
   udpOut[8] = effectCurrent;
   udpOut[9] = effectSpeed;
   udpOut[10] = white;
-  udpOut[11] = 3; //compatibilityVersionByte: 0: old 1: supports white 2: supports secondary color 3: supports FX intensity, 24 byte packet
+  udpOut[11] = 4; //compatibilityVersionByte: 0: old 1: supports white 2: supports secondary color 3: supports FX intensity, 24 byte packet 4: supports transitionDelay
   udpOut[12] = colSec[0];
   udpOut[13] = colSec[1];
   udpOut[14] = colSec[2];
   udpOut[15] = whiteSec;
   udpOut[16] = effectIntensity;
+  udpOut[17] = (transitionDelay >> 0) & 0xFF;
+  udpOut[18] = (transitionDelay >> 8) & 0xFF;
   
   IPAddress broadcastIp;
   broadcastIp = ~WiFi.subnetMask() | WiFi.gatewayIP();
diff --git a/wled00/wled10_ntp.ino b/wled00/wled10_ntp.ino
index c9b5fd713b..c3224764f3 100644
--- a/wled00/wled10_ntp.ino
+++ b/wled00/wled10_ntp.ino
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ void handleNetworkTime()
 
 void sendNTPPacket()
 {
-  WiFi.hostByName(ntpServerName, ntpServerIP);
+  const char* ntpsrv = ntpServerName.c_str();
+  WiFi.hostByName(ntpsrv, ntpServerIP);
   DEBUG_PRINTLN("send NTP packet");
 
   memset(ntpPacketBuffer, 0, NTP_PACKET_SIZE);
diff --git a/wled00/wled11_ol.ino b/wled00/wled11_ol.ino
index a6a094fde8..1cdc9cddb6 100644
--- a/wled00/wled11_ol.ino
+++ b/wled00/wled11_ol.ino
@@ -118,19 +118,19 @@ void _nixieNumber(int number, int dur)
 
 void handleOverlays()
 {
-  if (overlayCurrent == 0) return;
-
   if (millis() - overlayRefreshedTime > overlayRefreshMs)
   {
     initCronixie();
     updateLocalTime();
     switch (overlayCurrent)
     {
+      case 0: break;//no overlay
       case 1: _overlaySolid(); break;//solid secondary color
       case 2: _overlayAnalogClock(); break;//2 analog clock
       case 3: _overlayNixieClock(); break;//nixie 1-digit
       case 4: _overlayCronixie();//Diamex cronixie clock kit
     }
+    if (!countdownMode || overlayCurrent < 2) checkCountdown(); //countdown macro activation must work
     overlayRefreshedTime = millis();
   }
 }
diff --git a/wled00/wled15_hue.ino b/wled00/wled15_hue.ino
index 6f3789b528..39ead60467 100644
--- a/wled00/wled15_hue.ino
+++ b/wled00/wled15_hue.ino
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ bool sendHuePoll(bool sAuth)
     st = false;
   }
   if (!st){ //error
-    if (hueFailCount<7) huePollIntervalMsTemp*=2; // only poll every 5min when unable to connect
+    if (huePollIntervalMsTemp<300000) huePollIntervalMsTemp*=2; // only poll every ~5min when unable to connect
     hueFailCount++;
     if (hueFailCount > 150) huePollingEnabled = false; //disable after many hours offline
   }