diff --git a/api/current.txt b/api/current.txt
index 1a882ac..746d31a 100644
--- a/api/current.txt
+++ b/api/current.txt
@@ -21854,6 +21854,7 @@
     method public android.os.Bundle getData();
     method public android.os.Handler getTarget();
     method public long getWhen();
+    method public boolean isAsynchronous();
     method public static android.os.Message obtain();
     method public static android.os.Message obtain(android.os.Message);
     method public static android.os.Message obtain(android.os.Handler);
@@ -21865,6 +21866,7 @@
     method public android.os.Bundle peekData();
     method public void recycle();
     method public void sendToTarget();
+    method public void setAsynchronous(boolean);
     method public void setData(android.os.Bundle);
     method public void setTarget(android.os.Handler);
     method public void writeToParcel(android.os.Parcel, int);
diff --git a/core/java/android/os/Handler.java b/core/java/android/os/Handler.java
index 52db060..878b7a0 100644
--- a/core/java/android/os/Handler.java
+++ b/core/java/android/os/Handler.java
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@
      * one that is strictly asynchronous.
      *
      * Asynchronous messages represent interrupts or events that do not require global ordering
-     * with represent to synchronous messages.  Asynchronous messages are not subject to
+     * with respect to synchronous messages.  Asynchronous messages are not subject to
      * the synchronization barriers introduced by {@link MessageQueue#enqueueSyncBarrier(long)}.
      *
      * @param async If true, the handler calls {@link Message#setAsynchronous(boolean)} for
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@
      * one that is strictly asynchronous.
      *
      * Asynchronous messages represent interrupts or events that do not require global ordering
-     * with represent to synchronous messages.  Asynchronous messages are not subject to
+     * with respect to synchronous messages.  Asynchronous messages are not subject to
      * the synchronization barriers introduced by {@link MessageQueue#enqueueSyncBarrier(long)}.
      *
      * @param callback The callback interface in which to handle messages, or null.
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@
      * one that is strictly asynchronous.
      *
      * Asynchronous messages represent interrupts or events that do not require global ordering
-     * with represent to synchronous messages.  Asynchronous messages are not subject to
+     * with respect to synchronous messages.  Asynchronous messages are not subject to
      * the synchronization barriers introduced by {@link MessageQueue#enqueueSyncBarrier(long)}.
      *
      * @param looper The looper, must not be null.
diff --git a/core/java/android/os/Message.java b/core/java/android/os/Message.java
index 6a0bddc..8c75847 100644
--- a/core/java/android/os/Message.java
+++ b/core/java/android/os/Message.java
@@ -417,38 +417,42 @@
     }
 
     /**
-     * Returns true if the message is asynchronous.
-     *
-     * Asynchronous messages represent interrupts or events that do not require global ordering
-     * with represent to synchronous messages.  Asynchronous messages are not subject to
-     * the synchronization barriers introduced by {@link MessageQueue#enqueueSyncBarrier(long)}.
+     * Returns true if the message is asynchronous, meaning that it is not
+     * subject to {@link Looper} synchronization barriers.
      *
      * @return True if the message is asynchronous.
      *
      * @see #setAsynchronous(boolean)
-     * @see MessageQueue#enqueueSyncBarrier(long)
-     * @see MessageQueue#removeSyncBarrier(int)
-     *
-     * @hide
      */
     public boolean isAsynchronous() {
         return (flags & FLAG_ASYNCHRONOUS) != 0;
     }
 
     /**
-     * Sets whether the message is asynchronous.
-     *
-     * Asynchronous messages represent interrupts or events that do not require global ordering
-     * with represent to synchronous messages.  Asynchronous messages are not subject to
-     * the synchronization barriers introduced by {@link MessageQueue#enqueueSyncBarrier(long)}.
+     * Sets whether the message is asynchronous, meaning that it is not
+     * subject to {@link Looper} synchronization barriers.
+     * <p>
+     * Certain operations, such as view invalidation, may introduce synchronization
+     * barriers into the {@link Looper}'s message queue to prevent subsequent messages
+     * from being delivered until some condition is met.  In the case of view invalidation,
+     * messages which are posted after a call to {@link android.view.View#invalidate}
+     * are suspended by means of a synchronization barrier until the next frame is
+     * ready to be drawn.  The synchronization barrier ensures that the invalidation
+     * request is completely handled before resuming.
+     * </p><p>
+     * Asynchronous messages are exempt from synchronization barriers.  They typically
+     * represent interrupts, input events, and other signals that must be handled independently
+     * even while other work has been suspended.
+     * </p><p>
+     * Note that asynchronous messages may be delivered out of order with respect to
+     * synchronous messages although they are always delivered in order among themselves.
+     * If the relative order of these messages matters then they probably should not be
+     * asynchronous in the first place.  Use with caution.
+     * </p>
      *
      * @param async True if the message is asynchronous.
      *
      * @see #isAsynchronous()
-     * @see MessageQueue#enqueueSyncBarrier(long)
-     * @see MessageQueue#removeSyncBarrier(int)
-     *
-     * @hide
      */
     public void setAsynchronous(boolean async) {
         if (async) {