diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_empty.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_empty.xml
index 6268628..ac6450b 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_empty.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_empty.xml
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@
     android:layout_width="wrap_content"
     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
     android:gravity="center"
-    android:textSize="40sp"
+    android:textSize="20sp"
     android:textColor="#ffffffff"
+    android:textStyle="italic"
     android:text="@string/recents_empty_message"
-    android:fontFamily="sans-serif-thin"
+    android:fontFamily="sans-serif-light"
     android:visibility="gone" />
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-land/dimens.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-land/dimens.xml
index 39ce0a2..42c4392 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-land/dimens.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-land/dimens.xml
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@
     <dimen name="status_bar_recents_app_icon_left_margin">8dp</dimen>
     <dimen name="status_bar_recents_app_icon_top_margin">8dp</dimen>
 
+    <!-- The side padding for the task stack as a percentage of the width. -->
+    <item name="recents_stack_width_padding_percentage" format="float" type="dimen">0.2229</item>
+
     <!-- Width of the zen mode interstitial dialog. -->
     <dimen name="zen_mode_dialog_width">384dp</dimen>
 </resources>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw600dp-land/dimens.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw600dp-land/dimens.xml
index b510fef..326f602 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw600dp-land/dimens.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw600dp-land/dimens.xml
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
     <!-- Recent Applications parameters -->
     <dimen name="status_bar_recents_app_label_width">190dip</dimen>
 
+    <!-- The side padding for the task stack as a percentage of the width. -->
+    <item name="recents_stack_width_padding_percentage" format="float" type="dimen">0.25</item>
+
     <fraction name="keyguard_clock_y_fraction_max">37%</fraction>
     <fraction name="keyguard_clock_y_fraction_min">14%</fraction>
 </resources>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw600dp/dimens.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw600dp/dimens.xml
index 5750faa..313e2e8 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw600dp/dimens.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values-sw600dp/dimens.xml
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@
     <!-- On tablets this is just the close_handle_height -->
     <dimen name="peek_height">@dimen/close_handle_height</dimen>
 
+    <!-- The side padding for the task stack as a percentage of the width. -->
+    <item name="recents_stack_width_padding_percentage" format="float" type="dimen">0.075</item>
+
     <!-- Width of the zen mode interstitial dialog. -->
     <dimen name="zen_mode_dialog_width">384dp</dimen>
 
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/colors.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/colors.xml
index e6fa535..757d4ad 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/colors.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/colors.xml
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@
     <color name="recents_task_bar_light_dismiss_color">#ffeeeeee</color>
     <!-- The recents task bar dark dismiss icon color to be drawn on top of light backgrounds. -->
     <color name="recents_task_bar_dark_dismiss_color">#ff333333</color>
+    <!-- The recents task bar highlight color. -->
+    <color name="recents_task_bar_highlight_color">#28ffffff</color>
 
     <color name="keyguard_affordance">#ffffffff</color>
 
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/dimens.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/dimens.xml
index 3523dcc..3646ade 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/dimens.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/dimens.xml
@@ -232,12 +232,21 @@
     <!-- The amount to translate when animating the removal of a task. -->
     <dimen name="recents_task_view_remove_anim_translation_x">100dp</dimen>
 
+    <!-- The amount of highlight to make on each task view. -->
+    <dimen name="recents_task_view_highlight">1dp</dimen>
+
     <!-- The amount of space a user has to scroll to dismiss any info panes. -->
     <dimen name="recents_task_stack_scroll_dismiss_info_pane_distance">50dp</dimen>
 
     <!-- The height of the search bar space. -->
     <dimen name="recents_search_bar_space_height">64dp</dimen>
 
+    <!-- The side padding for the task stack as a percentage of the width. -->
+    <item name="recents_stack_width_padding_percentage" format="float" type="dimen">0.04444</item>
+
+    <!-- The top offset for the task stack. -->
+    <dimen name="recents_stack_top_padding">16dp</dimen>
+
     <!-- Used to calculate the translation animation duration, the expected amount of movement 
          in dps over one second of time. -->
     <dimen name="recents_animation_movement_in_dps_per_second">800dp</dimen>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
index ef3956e..59f1efd 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@
     <string name="quick_settings_notifications_label">Notifications</string>
 
     <!-- Recents: The empty recents string. [CHAR LIMIT=NONE] -->
-    <string name="recents_empty_message">RECENTS</string>
+    <string name="recents_empty_message">No recent apps</string>
     <!-- Recents: The info panel app info button string. [CHAR LIMIT=NONE] -->
     <string name="recents_app_info_button_label">Application Info</string>
     <!-- Recents: Temporary string for the button in the recents search bar. [CHAR LIMIT=NONE] -->
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/Constants.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/Constants.java
index 4db81bf..76e88a5 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/Constants.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/Constants.java
@@ -101,8 +101,6 @@
             public static final int TaskStackOverscrollRange = 150;
             public static final int FilterStartDelay = 25;
 
-            // The padding will be applied to the smallest dimension, and then applied to all sides
-            public static final float StackPaddingPct = 0.085f;
             // The overlap height relative to the task height
             public static final float StackOverlapPct = 0.65f;
             // The height of the peek space relative to the stack height
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java
index 1ae7a0d..6391685 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java
@@ -52,10 +52,12 @@
 
     public int filteringCurrentViewsMinAnimDuration;
     public int filteringNewViewsMinAnimDuration;
-    public int taskBarEnterAnimDuration;
-    public int taskBarExitAnimDuration;
+
     public int taskStackScrollDismissInfoPaneDistance;
     public int taskStackMaxDim;
+    public float taskStackWidthPaddingPct;
+    public int taskStackTopPaddingPx;
+
     public int taskViewInfoPaneAnimDuration;
     public int taskViewRemoveAnimDuration;
     public int taskViewRemoveAnimTranslationXPx;
@@ -63,12 +65,18 @@
     public int taskViewTranslationZIncrementPx;
     public int taskViewShadowOutlineBottomInsetPx;
     public int taskViewRoundedCornerRadiusPx;
+    public int taskViewHighlightPx;
+
     public int searchBarSpaceHeightPx;
 
     public int taskBarViewDefaultBackgroundColor;
     public int taskBarViewDefaultTextColor;
     public int taskBarViewLightTextColor;
     public int taskBarViewDarkTextColor;
+    public int taskBarViewHighlightColor;
+
+    public int taskBarEnterAnimDuration;
+    public int taskBarExitAnimDuration;
 
     public boolean launchedFromAltTab;
     public boolean launchedWithThumbnailAnimation;
@@ -115,13 +123,16 @@
                 res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_filter_animate_current_views_min_duration);
         filteringNewViewsMinAnimDuration =
                 res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_filter_animate_new_views_min_duration);
-        taskBarEnterAnimDuration =
-                res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_animate_task_bar_enter_duration);
-        taskBarExitAnimDuration =
-                res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_animate_task_bar_exit_duration);
+
         taskStackScrollDismissInfoPaneDistance = res.getDimensionPixelSize(
                 R.dimen.recents_task_stack_scroll_dismiss_info_pane_distance);
         taskStackMaxDim = res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_max_task_stack_view_dim);
+
+        TypedValue widthPaddingPctValue = new TypedValue();
+        res.getValue(R.dimen.recents_stack_width_padding_percentage, widthPaddingPctValue, true);
+        taskStackWidthPaddingPct = widthPaddingPctValue.getFloat();
+        taskStackTopPaddingPx = res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.recents_stack_top_padding);
+
         taskViewInfoPaneAnimDuration =
                 res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_animate_task_view_info_pane_duration);
         taskViewRemoveAnimDuration =
@@ -130,11 +141,13 @@
                 res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.recents_task_view_remove_anim_translation_x);
         taskViewRoundedCornerRadiusPx =
                 res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.recents_task_view_rounded_corners_radius);
+        taskViewHighlightPx = res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.recents_task_view_highlight);
         taskViewTranslationZMinPx = res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.recents_task_view_z_min);
         taskViewTranslationZIncrementPx =
                 res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.recents_task_view_z_increment);
         taskViewShadowOutlineBottomInsetPx =
                 res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.recents_task_view_shadow_outline_bottom_inset);
+
         searchBarSpaceHeightPx = res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.recents_search_bar_space_height);
 
         taskBarViewDefaultBackgroundColor =
@@ -145,6 +158,13 @@
                 res.getColor(R.color.recents_task_bar_light_text_color);
         taskBarViewDarkTextColor =
                 res.getColor(R.color.recents_task_bar_dark_text_color);
+        taskBarViewHighlightColor =
+                res.getColor(R.color.recents_task_bar_highlight_color);
+
+        taskBarEnterAnimDuration =
+                res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_animate_task_bar_enter_duration);
+        taskBarExitAnimDuration =
+                res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_animate_task_bar_exit_duration);
 
         fastOutSlowInInterpolator = AnimationUtils.loadInterpolator(context,
                         com.android.internal.R.interpolator.fast_out_slow_in);
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/TaskBarView.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/TaskBarView.java
index 9e6c98e..c10ddd1 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/TaskBarView.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/TaskBarView.java
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.res.Resources;
+import android.graphics.Canvas;
+import android.graphics.Paint;
+import android.graphics.PorterDuff;
+import android.graphics.PorterDuffXfermode;
 import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
 import android.util.AttributeSet;
 import android.widget.FrameLayout;
@@ -41,6 +45,8 @@
     Drawable mLightDismissDrawable;
     Drawable mDarkDismissDrawable;
 
+    static Paint sHighlightPaint;
+
     public TaskBarView(Context context) {
         this(context, null);
     }
@@ -55,9 +61,23 @@
 
     public TaskBarView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyleAttr, int defStyleRes) {
         super(context, attrs, defStyleAttr, defStyleRes);
+        setWillNotDraw(false);
+
+        // Load the dismiss resources
         Resources res = context.getResources();
         mLightDismissDrawable = res.getDrawable(R.drawable.recents_dismiss_light);
         mDarkDismissDrawable = res.getDrawable(R.drawable.recents_dismiss_dark);
+
+        // Configure the highlight paint
+        if (sHighlightPaint == null) {
+            RecentsConfiguration config = RecentsConfiguration.getInstance();
+            sHighlightPaint = new Paint();
+            sHighlightPaint.setStyle(Paint.Style.STROKE);
+            sHighlightPaint.setStrokeWidth(config.taskViewHighlightPx);
+            sHighlightPaint.setColor(config.taskBarViewHighlightColor);
+            sHighlightPaint.setXfermode(new PorterDuffXfermode(PorterDuff.Mode.ADD));
+            sHighlightPaint.setAntiAlias(true);
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -68,6 +88,17 @@
         mDismissButton = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.dismiss_task);
     }
 
+    @Override
+    protected void onDraw(Canvas canvas) {
+        RecentsConfiguration config = RecentsConfiguration.getInstance();
+
+        // Draw the highlight at the top edge (but put the bottom edge just out of view)
+        float offset = config.taskViewHighlightPx / 2f;
+        float radius = config.taskViewRoundedCornerRadiusPx;
+        canvas.drawRoundRect(-offset, 0f, (float) getMeasuredWidth() + offset,
+                getMeasuredHeight() + radius, radius, radius, sHighlightPaint);
+    }
+
     /** Synchronizes this bar view's properties with the task's transform */
     void updateViewPropertiesToTaskTransform(TaskViewTransform animateFromTransform,
                                              TaskViewTransform toTransform, int duration) {
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/TaskStackView.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/TaskStackView.java
index 1fbaf87..053f122 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/TaskStackView.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/TaskStackView.java
@@ -645,6 +645,7 @@
         // Note: We let the stack view be the full height because we want the cards to go under the
         //       navigation bar if possible.  However, the stack rects which we use to calculate
         //       max scroll, etc. need to take the nav bar into account
+        RecentsConfiguration config = RecentsConfiguration.getInstance();
 
         // Compute the stack rects
         mRect.set(0, 0, width, height);
@@ -652,23 +653,21 @@
         mStackRect.left += insetLeft;
         mStackRect.bottom -= insetBottom;
 
-        int smallestDimension = Math.min(width, height);
-        int padding = (int) (Constants.Values.TaskStackView.StackPaddingPct * smallestDimension / 2f);
+        int widthPadding = (int) (config.taskStackWidthPaddingPct * mStackRect.width());
+        int heightPadding = config.taskStackTopPaddingPx;
         if (Constants.DebugFlags.App.EnableSearchLayout) {
-            mStackRect.top += padding;
-            mStackRect.left += padding;
-            mStackRect.right -= padding;
-            mStackRect.bottom -= padding;
+            mStackRect.top += heightPadding;
+            mStackRect.left += widthPadding;
+            mStackRect.right -= widthPadding;
+            mStackRect.bottom -= heightPadding;
         } else {
-            mStackRect.inset(padding, padding);
+            mStackRect.inset(widthPadding, heightPadding);
         }
         mStackRectSansPeek.set(mStackRect);
         mStackRectSansPeek.top += Constants.Values.TaskStackView.StackPeekHeightPct * mStackRect.height();
 
         // Compute the task rect
-        int minHeight = (int) (mStackRect.height() -
-                (Constants.Values.TaskStackView.StackPeekHeightPct * mStackRect.height()));
-        int size = Math.min(minHeight, Math.min(mStackRect.width(), mStackRect.height()));
+        int size = mStackRect.width();
         int left = mStackRect.left + (mStackRect.width() - size) / 2;
         mTaskRect.set(left, mStackRectSansPeek.top,
                 left + size, mStackRectSansPeek.top + size);