diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e43b0f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.DS_Store
diff --git a/ATMHud.h b/ATMHud.h
index ebc5476..a1958d0 100644
--- a/ATMHud.h
+++ b/ATMHud.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ typedef enum {
 @property (nonatomic, assign) CGFloat margin;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) CGFloat padding;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) CGFloat alpha;
+@property (nonatomic, assign) CGFloat gray;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) CGFloat appearScaleFactor;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) CGFloat disappearScaleFactor;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) CGFloat progressBorderRadius;
@@ -66,6 +67,8 @@ typedef enum {
 @property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL shadowEnabled;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL blockTouches;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL allowSuperviewInteraction;
+@property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL autocenter; // YES
+@property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL autoBringToFront; // YES
 
 @property (nonatomic, retain) NSString *showSound;
 @property (nonatomic, retain) NSString *updateSound;
@@ -102,6 +105,8 @@ typedef enum {
 - (void)hide;
 - (void)hideAfter:(NSTimeInterval)delay;
 
+- (void)showWithCaption:(NSString *)caption andHideAfter:(NSTimeInterval)delay;
+
 - (void)playSound:(NSString *)soundPath;
 
 @end
diff --git a/ATMHud.m b/ATMHud.m
index 4c29853..c664ef9 100644
--- a/ATMHud.m
+++ b/ATMHud.m
@@ -24,11 +24,14 @@ - (void)construct;
 
 @implementation ATMHud
 @synthesize margin, padding, alpha, appearScaleFactor, disappearScaleFactor, progressBorderRadius, progressBorderWidth, progressBarRadius, progressBarInset;
+@synthesize gray;
 @synthesize delegate, accessoryPosition;
 @synthesize center;
 @synthesize shadowEnabled, blockTouches, allowSuperviewInteraction;
 @synthesize showSound, updateSound, hideSound;
 @synthesize __view, sound, displayQueue, queuePosition;
+@synthesize autocenter;
+@synthesize autoBringToFront;
 
 - (id)init {
 	if ((self = [super init])) {
@@ -109,10 +112,18 @@ - (void)setAlpha:(CGFloat)value {
 	alpha = value;
 	[CATransaction begin];
 	[CATransaction setDisableActions:YES];
-	__view.backgroundLayer.backgroundColor = [UIColor colorWithWhite:0.0 alpha:value].CGColor;
+	__view.backgroundLayer.backgroundColor = [UIColor colorWithWhite:gray alpha:value].CGColor;
 	[CATransaction commit];
 }
 
+- (void)setGray:(CGFloat)value {
+    gray = value;
+    [CATransaction begin];
+    [CATransaction setDisableActions:YES];
+    __view.backgroundLayer.backgroundColor = [UIColor colorWithWhite:gray alpha:alpha].CGColor;
+ 	[CATransaction commit];
+}
+
 - (void)setShadowEnabled:(BOOL)value {
 	shadowEnabled = value;
 	if (shadowEnabled) {
@@ -161,6 +172,11 @@ - (void)setProgress:(CGFloat)progress {
 	[__view.progressLayer setNeedsDisplay];
 }
 
+- (void)setCenter:(CGPoint)p {
+    center = p;
+    __view.center = center;
+}
+
 #pragma mark -
 #pragma mark Queue
 - (void)addQueueItem:(ATMHudQueueItem *)item {
@@ -236,6 +252,15 @@ - (void)showQueueAtIndex:(NSInteger)index {
 #pragma mark -
 #pragma mark Controlling
 - (void)show {
+    if (autocenter) {
+        CGRect svb = self.view.superView.bounds;
+        self.view.center = CGPointMake(svb.origin.x + svb.size.width / 2,
+                                       svb.origin.y + svb.size.height / 2);
+    }
+    
+    if (autoBringToFront)
+        [self.superView bringSubviewToFront:self.view];
+    
 	[__view show];
 }
 
@@ -248,14 +273,25 @@ - (void)hide {
 }
 
 - (void)hideAfter:(NSTimeInterval)delay {
+    [NSObject cancelPreviousPerformRequestsWithTarget:self
+                                             selector:@selector(hide)
+                                               object:nil];
+    
 	[self performSelector:@selector(hide) withObject:nil afterDelay:delay];
 }
 
+- (void)showWithCaption:(NSString *)caption andHideAfter:(NSTimeInterval)delay {
+    [self setCaption:caption];
+    [self show];
+    [self hideAfter:delay];
+}
+
 #pragma mark -
 #pragma mark Internal methods
 - (void)construct {
 	margin = padding = 10.0;
 	alpha = 0.7;
+    gray = 0.0;
 	progressBorderRadius = 8.0;
 	progressBorderWidth = 2.0;
 	progressBarRadius = 5.0;
@@ -274,6 +310,8 @@ - (void)construct {
 	center = CGPointZero;
 	blockTouches = NO;
 	allowSuperviewInteraction = NO;
+    autocenter = YES;
+    autoBringToFront = YES;
 }
 
 - (void)touchesEnded:(NSSet *)touches withEvent:(UIEvent *)event {
diff --git a/ATMHudView.h b/ATMHudView.h
index 6c53f7b..2e4091f 100644
--- a/ATMHudView.h
+++ b/ATMHudView.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ typedef enum {
 @property (nonatomic, retain) UIImage *image;
 @property (nonatomic, retain) UIActivityIndicatorView *activity;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) UIActivityIndicatorViewStyle activityStyle;
-@property (nonatomic, retain) ATMHud *p;
+@property (nonatomic, assign) ATMHud *p;
 
 @property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL showActivity;
 
diff --git a/ATMHudView.m b/ATMHudView.m
index dc8d679..445f1e5 100644
--- a/ATMHudView.m
+++ b/ATMHudView.m
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ - (void)dealloc {
 	[caption release];
 	[image release];
 	[activity release];
-	[p release];
+    p = nil;
 	
 	[backgroundLayer release];
 	[imageLayer release];