diff --git a/api/res/values/strings.xml b/api/res/values/strings.xml
index 934835327..178a739e7 100644
--- a/api/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/api/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -92,6 +92,12 @@
   <!-- today -->
   <string name="yesterday">Yesterday</string>
   
+  <!-- tomorrow abbreviated -->
+  <string name="tmrw">Tmrw</string>
+  
+  <!-- today abbreviated -->
+  <string name="yest">Yest</string>
+  
   <!-- ================================================== Generic Dialogs == -->
   
   <!-- confirmation dialog title -->
diff --git a/api/src/com/todoroo/andlib/utility/DateUtilities.java b/api/src/com/todoroo/andlib/utility/DateUtilities.java
index 464981476..cf97ba3eb 100644
--- a/api/src/com/todoroo/andlib/utility/DateUtilities.java
+++ b/api/src/com/todoroo/andlib/utility/DateUtilities.java
@@ -99,7 +99,10 @@ public class DateUtilities {
         String value;
         if (is24HourFormat(context)) {
             value = "H:mm";
-        } else {
+        } else if (date.getMinutes() == 0){
+            value = "h a";
+        }
+        else {
             value = "h:mm a";
         }
         return new SimpleDateFormat(value).format(date);
@@ -124,6 +127,29 @@ public class DateUtilities {
         return new SimpleDateFormat(value).format(date).replace("#", month);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @param context android context
+     * @param date date to format
+     * @return date, with month, day, and year
+     */
+    @SuppressWarnings("nls")
+    public static String getDateStringHideYear(Context context, Date date) {
+        String month = DateUtils.getMonthString(date.getMonth() +
+                Calendar.JANUARY, DateUtils.LENGTH_MEDIUM);
+        String value;
+        // united states, you are special
+        if (Locale.US.equals(Locale.getDefault())
+                || Locale.CANADA.equals(Locale.getDefault()))
+            value = "'#' d";
+        else
+            value = "d '#'";
+
+        if (date.getYear() !=  (new Date()).getYear()) {
+            value = value + "\nyyyy";
+        }
+        return new SimpleDateFormat(value).format(date).replace("#", month);
+    }
+
     /**
      * @return date format as getDateFormat with weekday
      */
@@ -141,6 +167,15 @@ public class DateUtilities {
                 DateUtils.LENGTH_LONG);
     }
 
+
+    /**
+     * @return weekday
+     */
+    public static String getWeekdayShort(Date date) {
+        return DateUtils.getDayOfWeekString(date.getDay() + Calendar.SUNDAY,
+                DateUtils.LENGTH_MEDIUM);
+    }
+
     /**
      * @return date format as getDateFormat with weekday
      */
@@ -168,16 +203,16 @@ public class DateUtilities {
             return context.getString(R.string.today).toLowerCase();
 
         if(today + ONE_DAY == input)
-            return context.getString(R.string.tomorrow).toLowerCase();
+            return context.getString(R.string.tmrw).toLowerCase();
 
         if(today == input + ONE_DAY)
-            return context.getString(R.string.yesterday).toLowerCase();
+            return context.getString(R.string.yest).toLowerCase();
 
         if(today + DateUtilities.ONE_WEEK >= input &&
                 today - DateUtilities.ONE_WEEK <= input)
-            return DateUtilities.getWeekday(new Date(date));
+            return DateUtilities.getWeekdayShort(new Date(date));
 
-        return DateUtilities.getDateString(context, new Date(date));
+        return DateUtilities.getDateStringHideYear(context, new Date(date));
     }
 
     private static long clearTime(Date date) {
diff --git a/astrid/res/layout/task_adapter_row.xml b/astrid/res/layout/task_adapter_row.xml
index 7f1b1de8c..ed007bb13 100644
--- a/astrid/res/layout/task_adapter_row.xml
+++ b/astrid/res/layout/task_adapter_row.xml
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@
         <!-- completion check-box -->
         <CheckBox android:id="@+id/completeBox"
             android:layout_width="45dip"
-            android:layout_height="45dip"
+            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
             android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
             android:layout_marginTop="10dip"          
             android:layout_marginRight="5dip"
             android:scaleType="fitCenter"
+            android:gravity="center_horizontal|center_vertical"
             android:button="@drawable/btn_check"/>
         <!-- assignee photo -->
         <greendroid.widget.AsyncImageView 
@@ -39,8 +40,8 @@
             android:layout_toRightOf="@id/completeBox"
             android:layout_alignTop="@id/completeBox"
             android:paddingLeft="5dip"
-            android:paddingTop="4dip"
             android:paddingBottom="4dip"
+            android:paddingTop="4dip"
             android:orientation="horizontal">
         
             <!-- task name -->
@@ -48,13 +49,15 @@
                 android:layout_width="fill_parent"
                 android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                 android:layout_weight="100"
+                android:maxLines="2"
                 style="@style/TextAppearance.TAd_ItemTitle"/>
             
 	        <!-- due date -->
 	        <TextView android:id="@+id/dueDate"
 	            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
-	            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-	            android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
+	            android:layout_height="fill_parent"
+	            android:layout_alignParentRight ="true"
+    			android:gravity="center_vertical|right"
 	            android:layout_marginRight="4dip"/>
     
         </LinearLayout>
diff --git a/astrid/res/values/keys.xml b/astrid/res/values/keys.xml
index 7ad0a63d2..08d60497c 100644
--- a/astrid/res/values/keys.xml
+++ b/astrid/res/values/keys.xml
@@ -263,6 +263,12 @@
     <item>-1</item>
   </string-array>
 
+  <!-- show task details (corresponds to showing repeat and tag details in the task adapter) -->
+  <string name="p_default_showdetails_key">p_show_details</string>
+  
+  <!-- show task decorations (corresponds to showing notes icon in the task adapter) -->
+  <string name="p_default_showdecorations_key">p_show_decorations</string>
+  
   <!-- ============================================================ SYNC == -->
   
     <string-array name="sync_SPr_interval_values">
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/adapter/TaskAdapter.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/adapter/TaskAdapter.java
index 0a9f2a57f..a57424424 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/adapter/TaskAdapter.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/adapter/TaskAdapter.java
@@ -202,8 +202,10 @@ public class TaskAdapter extends CursorAdapter implements Filterable {
         displayMetrics = new DisplayMetrics();
         fragment.getActivity().getWindowManager().getDefaultDisplay().getMetrics(displayMetrics);
 
-        detailLoader = new DetailLoaderThread();
-        detailLoader.start();
+        if (Preferences.getBoolean(R.string.p_default_showdetails_key, false)) {
+            detailLoader = new DetailLoaderThread();
+            detailLoader.start();
+        }
 
         decorationManager = new DecorationManager();
         taskActionManager = new TaskActionManager();
@@ -409,7 +411,7 @@ public class TaskAdapter extends CursorAdapter implements Filterable {
             if(TextUtils.isEmpty(details) || DETAIL_SEPARATOR.equals(details) || task.isCompleted()) {
                 viewHolder.details1.setVisibility(View.GONE);
                 viewHolder.details2.setVisibility(View.GONE);
-            } else {
+            } else if (Preferences.getBoolean(R.string.p_default_showdetails_key, false)) {
                 viewHolder.details1.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
                 if (details.startsWith(DETAIL_SEPARATOR)) {
                     StringBuffer buffer = new StringBuffer(details);
@@ -426,7 +428,12 @@ public class TaskAdapter extends CursorAdapter implements Filterable {
             mostRecentlyMade = task.getId();
 
         //        // details and decorations, expanded
-        decorationManager.request(viewHolder);
+
+
+        if (Preferences.getBoolean(R.string.p_default_showdecorations_key, false)) {
+            decorationManager.request(viewHolder);
+        }
+
     }
 
     @SuppressWarnings("nls")