diff --git a/include/grabber/V4L2Grabber.h b/include/grabber/V4L2Grabber.h
index 36c2f8a9..3a877eed 100644
--- a/include/grabber/V4L2Grabber.h
+++ b/include/grabber/V4L2Grabber.h
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ private:
 	double   _y_frac_min;
 	double   _x_frac_max;
 	double   _y_frac_max;
+	int      _currentFrame;
 
-	int _currentFrame;
 	QSocketNotifier * _streamNotifier;
 
 	ImageResampler _imageResampler;
diff --git a/include/utils/Image.h b/include/utils/Image.h
index e8c82e48..f4c5183e 100644
--- a/include/utils/Image.h
+++ b/include/utils/Image.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <cstring>
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <cassert>
 #include <utils/ColorRgb.h>
 
 
diff --git a/include/webconfig/WebConfig.h b/include/webconfig/WebConfig.h
index b29c89cb..c9b58bfe 100644
--- a/include/webconfig/WebConfig.h
+++ b/include/webconfig/WebConfig.h
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ public:
 	void start();
 	void stop();
 
+	quint16 getPort() { return _port; };
+
 private:
 	Hyperion*            _hyperion;
 	QString              _baseUrl;
diff --git a/libsrc/grabber/v4l2/V4L2Grabber.cpp b/libsrc/grabber/v4l2/V4L2Grabber.cpp
index d5234530..4bd98509 100644
--- a/libsrc/grabber/v4l2/V4L2Grabber.cpp
+++ b/libsrc/grabber/v4l2/V4L2Grabber.cpp
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ V4L2Grabber::V4L2Grabber(const QString & device
 	, _noSignalThresholdColor(ColorRgb{0,0,0})
 	, _signalDetectionEnabled(true)
 	, _noSignalDetected(false)
+	, _noSignalCounter(0)
 	, _x_frac_min(0.25)
 	, _y_frac_min(0.25)
 	, _x_frac_max(0.75)
 	, _y_frac_max(0.75)
 	, _currentFrame(0)
-	, _noSignalCounter(0)
 	, _streamNotifier(nullptr)
 	, _imageResampler()
 	, _log(Logger::getInstance("V4L2:"+device))
diff --git a/libsrc/hyperion/hyperion-icon_32px.png b/libsrc/hyperion/hyperion-icon_32px.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..12196277
Binary files /dev/null and b/libsrc/hyperion/hyperion-icon_32px.png differ
diff --git a/libsrc/hyperion/resource.qrc b/libsrc/hyperion/resource.qrc
index 8bb420c2..7f0b7528 100644
--- a/libsrc/hyperion/resource.qrc
+++ b/libsrc/hyperion/resource.qrc
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <RCC>
 	<qresource prefix="/">
+		<file alias="hyperion-icon.png">hyperion-icon_32px.png</file>
 		<file alias="hyperion-schema">hyperion.schema.json</file>
 		<file alias="hyperion_default.config">../../config/hyperion.config.json.default</file>
 		<file alias="schema-general.json">schema/schema-general.json</file>
diff --git a/src/hyperiond/CMakeLists.txt b/src/hyperiond/CMakeLists.txt
index 2bf5b991..d99ed863 100644
--- a/src/hyperiond/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/hyperiond/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 
 add_executable(hyperiond
 	hyperiond.h
+	systray.h
 	hyperiond.cpp
+	systray.cpp
 	main.cpp
 )
 
@@ -42,6 +44,8 @@ if (ENABLE_X11)
 	target_link_libraries(hyperiond	x11-grabber	)
 endif ()
 
+qt5_use_modules(hyperiond Core Gui Network Widgets)
+
 install ( TARGETS hyperiond DESTINATION "share/hyperion/bin/" COMPONENT "${PLATFORM}" )
 install ( DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/bin/service DESTINATION "share/hyperion/" COMPONENT  "${PLATFORM}" )
 install ( FILES ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/effects/readme.txt DESTINATION "share/hyperion/effects" COMPONENT  "${PLATFORM}" )
diff --git a/src/hyperiond/hyperiond.cpp b/src/hyperiond/hyperiond.cpp
index 25f200de..ff73e813 100644
--- a/src/hyperiond/hyperiond.cpp
+++ b/src/hyperiond/hyperiond.cpp
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ void HyperionDaemon::run()
 
 void HyperionDaemon::loadConfig(const QString & configFile)
 {
-	Info(_log, "Selected configuration file: %s", configFile.toUtf8().constData());
+	Info(_log, "Selected configuration file: %s", QSTRING_CSTR(configFile));
 	
 	// make sure the resources are loaded (they may be left out after static linking)
 	Q_INIT_RESOURCE(resource);
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ void HyperionDaemon::startInitialEffect()
 		else
 		{
 			int result = hyperion->setEffect(fgEffectConfig, FG_PRIORITY, fg_duration_ms);
-			Info(_log,"Inital foreground effect '%s' %s", fgEffectConfig.toUtf8().constData(), ((result == 0) ? "started" : "failed"));
+			Info(_log,"Inital foreground effect '%s' %s", QSTRING_CSTR(fgEffectConfig), ((result == 0) ? "started" : "failed"));
 		}
 	}
 	// initial background effect/color
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ void HyperionDaemon::startInitialEffect()
 		else
 		{
 			int result = hyperion->setEffect(bgEffectConfig, BG_PRIORITY, DURATION_INFINITY);
-			Info(_log,"Inital background effect '%s' %s", bgEffectConfig.toUtf8().constData(), ((result == 0) ? "started" : "failed"));
+			Info(_log,"Inital background effect '%s' %s", QSTRING_CSTR(bgEffectConfig), ((result == 0) ? "started" : "failed"));
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ void HyperionDaemon::createSystemFrameGrabber()
 				{
 					type = "framebuffer";
 				}
-				Info(  _log, "set screen capture device to '%s'", type.toUtf8().constData());
+				Info(  _log, "set screen capture device to '%s'", QSTRING_CSTR(type));
 			}
 			
 			bool grabberCompState = grabberConfig["enable"].toBool(true);
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ void HyperionDaemon::createSystemFrameGrabber()
 			else if (type == "amlogic")  { createGrabberAmlogic(); createGrabberFramebuffer(grabberConfig); }
 			else if (type == "osx")      createGrabberOsx(grabberConfig);
 			else if (type == "x11")      createGrabberX11(grabberConfig);
-			else { Warning( _log, "unknown framegrabber type '%s'", type.toUtf8().constData()); grabberCompState = false; }
+			else { Warning( _log, "unknown framegrabber type '%s'", QSTRING_CSTR(type)); grabberCompState = false; }
 			
 //			_hyperion->getComponentRegister().componentStateChanged(hyperion::COMP_GRABBER, grabberCompState);
 			_hyperion->setComponentState(hyperion::COMP_GRABBER, grabberCompState );
diff --git a/src/hyperiond/hyperiond.h b/src/hyperiond/hyperiond.h
index 2e69fb98..f774ea9f 100644
--- a/src/hyperiond/hyperiond.h
+++ b/src/hyperiond/hyperiond.h
@@ -48,9 +48,14 @@
 #include <utils/Stats.h>
 #include <QJsonObject>
 
+class SysTray;
+
 class HyperionDaemon : public QObject
 {
 	Q_OBJECT
+	
+	friend SysTray;
+
 public:
 	HyperionDaemon(QString configFile, QObject *parent=nullptr);
 	~HyperionDaemon();
diff --git a/src/hyperiond/main.cpp b/src/hyperiond/main.cpp
index df8a1c37..cee1858c 100644
--- a/src/hyperiond/main.cpp
+++ b/src/hyperiond/main.cpp
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@
 #include <exception>
 
 #include <QCoreApplication>
+#include <QApplication>
 #include <QLocale>
 #include <QFile>
 #include <QString>
 #include <QResource>
 #include <QDir>
 #include <QStringList>
+#include <QSystemTrayIcon>
 
 #include "HyperionConfig.h"
 
@@ -26,7 +28,12 @@
 #include <commandline/Parser.h>
 #include <commandline/IntOption.h>
 
+#ifdef ENABLE_X11
+#include <X11/Xlib.h>
+#endif
+
 #include "hyperiond.h"
+#include "systray.h"
 
 using namespace commandline;
 
@@ -58,6 +65,54 @@ void startNewHyperion(int parentPid, std::string hyperionFile, std::string confi
 	}
 }
 
+QCoreApplication* createApplication(int &argc, char *argv[])
+{
+	bool isGuiApp = false;
+	bool forceNoGui = false;
+	// command line
+	for (int i = 1; i < argc; ++i)
+	{
+		if (qstrcmp(argv[i], "--desktop") == 0)
+		{
+			isGuiApp = true;
+		}
+		else if (qstrcmp(argv[i], "--service") == 0)
+		{
+			isGuiApp = false;
+			forceNoGui = true;
+		}
+	}
+
+	// on osx/windows gui always available
+#if defined(__APPLE__) || defined(__WIN32__)
+	isGuiApp = true && ! forceNoGui;
+#else
+	if (!forceNoGui)
+	{
+		// if x11, then test if xserver is available
+		#ifdef ENABLE_X11
+		Display* dpy = XOpenDisplay(NULL);
+		if (dpy != NULL) 
+		{
+			XCloseDisplay(dpy);
+			isGuiApp = true;
+		}
+	}
+	#endif
+#endif
+
+	if (isGuiApp)
+	{
+		QApplication* app = new QApplication(argc, argv);
+		app->setApplicationDisplayName("Hyperion");
+		return  app;
+	}
+
+	QCoreApplication* app = new QCoreApplication(argc, argv);
+	app->setApplicationName("Hyperion");
+	app->setApplicationVersion(HYPERION_VERSION);
+	return app;
+}
 
 int main(int argc, char** argv)
 {
@@ -68,7 +123,8 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 	Logger::setLogLevel(Logger::WARNING);
 
 	// Initialising QCoreApplication
-	QCoreApplication app(argc, argv);
+    QScopedPointer<QCoreApplication> app(createApplication(argc, argv));
+	bool isGuiApp = (qobject_cast<QApplication *>(app.data()) != 0 && QSystemTrayIcon::isSystemTrayAvailable());
 
 	signal(SIGINT,  signal_handler);
 	signal(SIGTERM, signal_handler);
@@ -88,14 +144,16 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 	BooleanOption &  silentOption       = parser.add<BooleanOption>('s', "silent", "do not print any outputs");
 	BooleanOption & verboseOption       = parser.add<BooleanOption>('v', "verbose", "Increase verbosity");
 	BooleanOption &   debugOption       = parser.add<BooleanOption>('d', "debug", "Show debug messages");
+	parser.add<BooleanOption>(0x0, "desktop", "show systray on desktop");
+	parser.add<BooleanOption>(0x0, "service", "force hyperion to start as console service");
 	Option        & exportConfigOption  = parser.add<Option>       (0x0, "export-config", "export default config to file");
 	Option        & exportEfxOption     = parser.add<Option>       (0x0, "export-effects", "export effects to given path");
 
 	parser.addPositionalArgument("config-files", QCoreApplication::translate("main", "Configuration file"), "config.file");
 
-    parser.process(app);
+    parser.process(*qApp);
 
-	const QStringList configFiles = parser.positionalArguments();
+	QStringList configFiles = parser.positionalArguments();
 
 	int logLevelCheck = 0;
 	if (parser.isSet(silentOption))
@@ -169,23 +227,39 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	
+	// handle default config file
+	if (configFiles.size() == 0)
+	{
+		QString hyperiond_path   = QDir::homePath();
+		QString hyperiond_config = hyperiond_path+"/.hyperion.config.json";
+		QFileInfo hyperiond_pathinfo(hyperiond_path);
+
+		if ( ! hyperiond_pathinfo.isWritable() && ! QFile::exists(hyperiond_config) )
+		{
+			QFileInfo hyperiond_fileinfo(argv[0]);
+			hyperiond_config = hyperiond_fileinfo.absolutePath()+"/hyperion.config.json";
+		}
+
+		configFiles.append(hyperiond_config);
+		Info(log, "No config file given. Standard config file used: %s", QSTRING_CSTR(configFiles[0]));
+	}
+
 	bool exportDefaultConfig = false;
-	bool exitAfterexportDefaultConfig = false;
+	bool exitAfterExportDefaultConfig = false;
 	QString exportConfigFileTarget;
 	if (parser.isSet(exportConfigOption))
 	{
 		exportDefaultConfig = true;
-		exitAfterexportDefaultConfig = true;
+		exitAfterExportDefaultConfig = true;
 		exportConfigFileTarget = exportConfigOption.value(parser);
 	}
-	else if ( configFiles.size() > 0 && ! QFile::exists(configFiles[0]) )
+	else if ( ! QFile::exists(configFiles[0]) )
 	{
 		exportDefaultConfig = true;
 		exportConfigFileTarget = configFiles[0];
 		Warning(log, "Your configuration file does not exist. hyperion writes default config");
 	}
-	
+
 	if (exportDefaultConfig)
 	{
 		Q_INIT_RESOURCE(resource);
@@ -194,21 +268,15 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 		{
 			QFile::setPermissions(exportConfigFileTarget, PERM0664 );
 			Info(log, "export complete.");
-			if (exitAfterexportDefaultConfig) return 0;
+			if (exitAfterExportDefaultConfig) return 0;
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			Error(log, "error while export to %s",exportConfigFileTarget.toLocal8Bit().constData());
-			if (exitAfterexportDefaultConfig) return 1;
+			Error(log, "error while export to %s", QSTRING_CSTR(exportConfigFileTarget) );
+			return 1;
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (configFiles.size() == 0)
-	{
-		Error(log, "Missing required configuration file. Usage: hyperiond <options ...> config.file");
-		parser.showHelp(0);
-		return 1;
-	}
 	if (configFiles.size() > 1)
 	{
 		Warning(log, "You provided more than one config file. Hyperion will use only the first one");
@@ -223,10 +291,11 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 #endif
 	}
 
+
 	HyperionDaemon* hyperiond = nullptr;
 	try
 	{
-		hyperiond = new HyperionDaemon(configFiles[0], &app);
+		hyperiond = new HyperionDaemon(configFiles[0], qApp);
 		hyperiond->run();
 	}
 	catch (std::exception& e)
@@ -238,10 +307,21 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 	WebConfig* webConfig = nullptr;
 	try
 	{
-		webConfig = new WebConfig(&app);
+		webConfig = new WebConfig(qApp);
 		// run the application
-		rc = app.exec();
-		Info(log, "INFO: Application closed with code %d", rc);
+		if (isGuiApp)
+		{
+			Info(log, "start systray");
+			QApplication::setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(false);
+			SysTray tray(hyperiond, webConfig->getPort());
+			tray.hide();
+			rc = (qobject_cast<QApplication *>(app.data()))->exec();
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			rc = app->exec();
+		}
+		Info(log, "Application closed with code %d", rc);
 	}
 	catch (std::exception& e)
 	{
diff --git a/src/hyperiond/systray.cpp b/src/hyperiond/systray.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c307cc7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hyperiond/systray.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+
+#include <list>
+
+#include <QPixmap>
+#include <QWindow>
+#include <QGuiApplication>
+#include <QWidget>
+#include <QColor>
+#include <QDesktopServices>
+
+#include <utils/ColorRgb.h>
+#include <effectengine/EffectDefinition.h>
+
+#include "hyperiond.h"
+#include "systray.h"
+
+SysTray::SysTray(HyperionDaemon *hyperiond, quint16 webPort)
+	: QWidget()
+	, _colorDlg(this)
+	, _hyperiond(hyperiond)
+	, _webPort(webPort)
+{
+	Q_INIT_RESOURCE(resource);
+	_hyperion = Hyperion::getInstance();
+	createTrayIcon();
+
+	connect(_trayIcon, SIGNAL(activated(QSystemTrayIcon::ActivationReason)),
+		this, SLOT(iconActivated(QSystemTrayIcon::ActivationReason)));
+ 
+ 	connect(&_colorDlg, SIGNAL(currentColorChanged(const QColor&)), this, SLOT(setColor(const QColor &)));
+	QIcon icon(":/hyperion-icon.png");
+	_trayIcon->setIcon(icon);
+	_trayIcon->show();
+	setWindowIcon(icon);
+	_colorDlg.setModal(true);
+	_colorDlg.setOptions(QColorDialog::NoButtons);
+}
+
+SysTray::~SysTray()
+{
+}
+
+void SysTray::iconActivated(QSystemTrayIcon::ActivationReason reason)
+{
+	switch (reason)
+	{
+		case QSystemTrayIcon::Trigger:
+			break;
+		case QSystemTrayIcon::DoubleClick:
+			showColorDialog();
+			break;
+		case QSystemTrayIcon::MiddleClick:
+			break;
+		default: ;
+	}
+}
+
+void SysTray::createTrayIcon()
+{
+	quitAction = new QAction(tr("&Quit"), this);
+	connect(quitAction, SIGNAL(triggered()), qApp, SLOT(quit()));
+
+	colorAction = new QAction(tr("&Color"), this);
+	connect(colorAction, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(showColorDialog()));
+
+	settingsAction = new QAction(tr("&Settings"), this);
+	connect(settingsAction, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(settings()));
+
+	clearAction = new QAction(tr("&Clear"), this);
+	connect(clearAction, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(clearEfxColor()));
+
+	const std::list<EffectDefinition> efxs = _hyperion->getEffects();
+	_trayIconMenu = new QMenu(this);
+	_trayIconEfxMenu = new QMenu(_trayIconMenu);
+	_trayIconEfxMenu->setTitle(tr("Effects"));
+	for (auto efx : efxs)
+	{
+		QAction *efxAction = new QAction(efx.name, this);
+		connect(efxAction, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(setEffect()));
+		_trayIconEfxMenu->addAction(efxAction);
+	}
+	
+	_trayIconMenu->addAction(settingsAction);
+	_trayIconMenu->addSeparator();
+	_trayIconMenu->addAction(colorAction);
+	_trayIconMenu->addMenu(_trayIconEfxMenu);
+	_trayIconMenu->addAction(clearAction);
+	_trayIconMenu->addSeparator();
+	_trayIconMenu->addAction(quitAction);
+
+	_trayIcon = new QSystemTrayIcon(this);
+	_trayIcon->setContextMenu(_trayIconMenu);
+}
+
+void SysTray::setColor(const QColor & color)
+{
+	ColorRgb rgbColor;
+	rgbColor.red   = color.red();
+	rgbColor.green = color.green();
+ 	rgbColor.blue  =color.blue();
+ 
+ 	_hyperion->setColor(1 ,rgbColor, 0);
+}
+
+void SysTray::showColorDialog()
+{
+	if(_colorDlg.isVisible())
+	{
+		_colorDlg.hide();
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		_colorDlg.show();
+	}
+}
+
+void SysTray::closeEvent(QCloseEvent *event)
+{
+	event->ignore();
+}
+
+void SysTray::settings()
+{
+	QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl("http://localhost:"+QString::number(_webPort)+"/", QUrl::TolerantMode));
+}
+
+void SysTray::setEffect()
+{
+	QString efxName = qobject_cast<QAction*>(sender())->text();
+	_hyperion->setEffect(efxName, 1);
+}
+
+void SysTray::clearEfxColor()
+{
+	_hyperion->clear(1);
+}
diff --git a/src/hyperiond/systray.h b/src/hyperiond/systray.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..93974dc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hyperiond/systray.h
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <QSystemTrayIcon>
+#include <QMenu>
+#include <QWidget>
+#include <QColorDialog>
+#include <QCloseEvent>
+
+#include <hyperion/Hyperion.h>
+
+class HyperionDaemon;
+
+class SysTray : public QWidget
+{
+	Q_OBJECT
+
+public:
+	SysTray(HyperionDaemon *hyperiond, quint16 webPort);
+	~SysTray();
+
+
+public slots:
+	void showColorDialog();
+	void setColor(const QColor & color);
+	void closeEvent(QCloseEvent *event);
+	void settings();
+	void setEffect();
+	void clearEfxColor();
+
+private slots:
+	void iconActivated(QSystemTrayIcon::ActivationReason reason);
+
+private:
+	void createTrayIcon();
+
+	QAction *quitAction;
+	QAction *startAction;
+	QAction *stopAction;
+	QAction *colorAction;
+	QAction *settingsAction;
+	QAction *clearAction;
+
+	QSystemTrayIcon *_trayIcon;
+	QMenu           *_trayIconMenu;
+	QMenu           *_trayIconEfxMenu;
+	QColorDialog     _colorDlg;
+	HyperionDaemon  *_hyperiond;	
+	quint16          _webPort;
+	Hyperion        *_hyperion;
+};