No flicker for me.

page.html

<iframe src="loader.html"
        style='display:none'
        >

</iframe>

<h1>parent</h1>


<script>

  var version=9;
  document.writeln("Version "+version+" loaded at "+ Date());

</script>
[download]

loader.html

<h3>loader</h3>

<script>
setTimeout(
    function () {
        window.location.reload(true)
    }, 1000);


var date=Date();
var version=9;
document.writeln(date);

if (parent.version<version){
    parent.location.reload(true);
}

</script>
[download]

Though in the next step,I would try to get rid of the version number in the source and try to put the load state into the #searchstring

YMMV

update

Works with FF and IE.

For local files not with Chrome, because of same origin policy with file:// protocol

Possible Workarounds:

change security settings

Is also creating flicker in Chrome tab bar

Possible Workarounds:

use AJAX XML-HTTP-request request instead of iframe

Comment on Re^4: How can I tell a browser to refresh from perl? Select or Download Code