diff --git a/sbapp/main.py b/sbapp/main.py
index 09466ae..82c7d11 100644
--- a/sbapp/main.py
+++ b/sbapp/main.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import sys
 import os
 
 from kivy.logger import Logger, LOG_LEVELS
+# Logger.setLevel(LOG_LEVELS["debug"])
 Logger.setLevel(LOG_LEVELS["error"])
 
 if RNS.vendor.platformutils.get_platform() != "android":
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ from kivy.metrics import dp
 from kivymd.uix.button import MDFlatButton
 from kivymd.uix.dialog import MDDialog
 
-__version__ = "0.1.8"
+__version__ = "0.1.9"
 __variant__ = "beta"
 
 if RNS.vendor.platformutils.get_platform() == "android":
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ class SidebandApp(MDApp):
         self.title = "Sideband"
 
         self.sideband = SidebandCore(self)
+
         self.conversations_view = None
 
         self.flag_new_conversations = False
@@ -64,15 +66,18 @@ class SidebandApp(MDApp):
         Window.softinput_mode = "below_target"
         self.icon = self.sideband.asset_dir+"/images/icon.png"
 
+    def start_core(self, dt):
+        self.sideband.start()
+        self.open_conversations()
+        Clock.schedule_interval(self.jobs, 1)
+
     #################################################
     # General helpers                               #
     #################################################
 
     def build(self):
         FONT_PATH = self.sideband.asset_dir+"/fonts"
-        # self.theme_cls.primary_palette = "Green"
         self.theme_cls.theme_style = "Dark"
-        # self.theme_cls.theme_style = "Light"
         screen = Builder.load_string(root_layout)
 
         return screen
@@ -132,9 +137,8 @@ class SidebandApp(MDApp):
 
         self.root.ids.screen_manager.app = self
         self.root.ids.app_version_info.text = "Sideband v"+__version__+" "+__variant__
-        self.open_conversations()
 
-        Clock.schedule_interval(self.jobs, 1)
+        Clock.schedule_once(self.start_core, 3)
     
     # Part of the focus hack fix
     def android_focus_fix(self, sender, val):
diff --git a/sbapp/sideband/core.py b/sbapp/sideband/core.py
index 8ec8c0b..ffafc86 100644
--- a/sbapp/sideband/core.py
+++ b/sbapp/sideband/core.py
@@ -120,9 +120,7 @@ class SidebandCore():
 
         RNS.Transport.register_announce_handler(self)
         RNS.Transport.register_announce_handler(self.propagation_detector)
-
-        self.start()
-
+        
 
     def __init_config(self):
         RNS.log("Creating new Sideband configuration...")
diff --git a/sbapp/ui/layouts.py b/sbapp/ui/layouts.py
index 0eb5211..eeaf0d6 100644
--- a/sbapp/ui/layouts.py
+++ b/sbapp/ui/layouts.py
@@ -1,8 +1,53 @@
 root_layout = """
+#: import NoTransition kivy.uix.screenmanager.NoTransition
+#: import SlideTransition kivy.uix.screenmanager.SlideTransition
+
 MDNavigationLayout:
 
     ScreenManager:
         id: screen_manager
+        # transition: SlideTransition()
+        transition: NoTransition()
+
+        MDScreen:
+            name: "starting_screen"
+                 
+            AnchorLayout:
+                anchor_x: "center"
+                anchor_y: "center"
+                padding: dp(64)
+
+
+                BoxLayout:
+                    spacing: dp(36)
+                    orientation: 'vertical'
+                    size_hint_y: None
+
+                    MDLabel:
+                        id: connecting_info
+                        halign: "center"
+                        text: "Please Wait"
+                        font_size: "32dp"
+                        size_hint_y: None
+                        text_size: self.width, None
+                        height: self.texture_size[1]
+                        # size: self.texture_size
+
+                    MDIconButton:
+                        pos_hint: {"center_x": .5, "center_y": .5}
+                        icon: "transit-connection-variant"
+                        user_font_size: "72dp"
+
+                    MDLabel:
+                        id: connecting_info
+                        halign: "center"
+                        text: "Substantiating Reticulum"
+                        font_size: "32dp"
+                        size_hint_y: None
+                        text_size: self.width, None
+                        height: self.texture_size[1]
+                        # size: self.texture_size
+
 
         MDScreen:
             name: "conversations_screen"
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 241302d..dd1ded6 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -58,6 +58,6 @@ setuptools.setup(
             'sideband=sbapp:main.run',
         ]
     },
-    install_requires=['rns>=0.3.11', 'lxmf>=0.1.7', 'kivy==2.1.0', 'plyer'],
+    install_requires=['rns>=0.3.12', 'lxmf>=0.1.7', 'kivy==2.1.0', 'plyer'],
     python_requires='>=3.6',
 )