diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/people_space_placeholder_layout.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/people_space_placeholder_layout.xml
index 2402bd710eca9..abb771b98667c 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/people_space_placeholder_layout.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/people_space_placeholder_layout.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
         android:orientation="horizontal"
         android:gravity="center"
         android:layout_gravity="top"
-        android:paddingVertical="16dp"
+        android:paddingVertical="8dp"
         android:paddingHorizontal="16dp"
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
         android:layout_height="match_parent">
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
index e55142bcde28e..feee585ac07b4 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -2904,15 +2904,15 @@
     <!-- Status text on the Conversation widget for a birthday today [CHAR LIMIT=20] -->
     <string name="birthday_status">Birthday</string>
     <!-- Content description text on the Conversation widget for a birthday today [CHAR LIMIT=150] -->
-    <string name="birthday_status_content_description">It\’s <xliff:g id="name" example="Anna">%1$s</xliff:g>\’s birthday</string>
+    <string name="birthday_status_content_description">It\'s <xliff:g id="name" example="Anna">%1$s</xliff:g>\’s birthday</string>
     <!-- Status text on the Conversation widget for an upcoming birthday [CHAR LIMIT=20] -->
     <string name="upcoming_birthday_status">Birthday soon</string>
     <!-- Content description text on the Conversation widget for an upcoming birthday [CHAR LIMIT=150] -->
-    <string name="upcoming_birthday_status_content_description">It\’s <xliff:g id="name" example="Anna">%1$s</xliff:g>\’s birthday soon</string>
+    <string name="upcoming_birthday_status_content_description">It\'s <xliff:g id="name" example="Anna">%1$s</xliff:g>\’s birthday soon</string>
     <!-- Status text on the Conversation widget for an anniversary [CHAR LIMIT=20] -->
     <string name="anniversary_status">Anniversary</string>
     <!-- Content description text on the Conversation widget for an anniversary [CHAR LIMIT=150] -->
-    <string name="anniversary_status_content_description">It\’s <xliff:g id="name" example="Anna">%1$s</xliff:g>\’s anniversary</string>
+    <string name="anniversary_status_content_description">It\'s <xliff:g id="name" example="Anna">%1$s</xliff:g>\’s anniversary</string>
     <!-- Status text on the Conversation widget for sharing location [CHAR LIMIT=20] -->
     <string name="location_status">Sharing location</string>
     <!-- Content description text on the Conversation widget for sharing location [CHAR LIMIT=150] -->
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/xml/people_space_widget_info.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/xml/people_space_widget_info.xml
index 68e6ca8f3f216..cce27e71dbd2d 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/xml/people_space_widget_info.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/xml/people_space_widget_info.xml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 <appwidget-provider xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     android:minWidth="136dp"
-    android:minHeight="55dp"
+    android:targetCellHeight="1"
     android:minResizeWidth="60dp"
     android:minResizeHeight="50dp"
     android:maxResizeHeight="207dp"
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleStoryIconFactory.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleStoryIconFactory.java
index 145fee5e762af..81df107836b97 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleStoryIconFactory.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/people/PeopleStoryIconFactory.java
@@ -23,16 +23,17 @@ import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
 import android.graphics.Canvas;
 import android.graphics.ColorFilter;
 import android.graphics.Paint;
+import android.graphics.PixelFormat;
 import android.graphics.Rect;
 import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
 import android.util.IconDrawableFactory;
 import android.util.Log;
 import android.util.TypedValue;
 
-import com.android.launcher3.icons.BaseIconFactory;
+import com.android.settingslib.Utils;
 import com.android.systemui.R;
 
-class PeopleStoryIconFactory extends BaseIconFactory {
+class PeopleStoryIconFactory implements AutoCloseable {
 
     private static final int PADDING = 2;
     private static final int RING_WIDTH = 2;
@@ -44,11 +45,13 @@ class PeopleStoryIconFactory extends BaseIconFactory {
     private int mAccentColor;
     private float mDensity;
     private float mIconSize;
+    private Context mContext;
+
+    private final int mIconBitmapSize;
 
     PeopleStoryIconFactory(Context context, PackageManager pm,
             IconDrawableFactory iconDrawableFactory, int iconSizeDp) {
-        super(context, context.getResources().getConfiguration().densityDpi,
-                (int) (iconSizeDp * context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().density));
+        mIconBitmapSize = (int) (iconSizeDp * context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().density);
         mDensity = context.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().density;
         mIconSize = mDensity * iconSizeDp;
         mPackageManager = pm;
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@ class PeopleStoryIconFactory extends BaseIconFactory {
         TypedValue typedValue = new TypedValue();
         context.getTheme().resolveAttribute(android.R.attr.colorAccent, typedValue, true);
         mAccentColor = context.getColor(typedValue.resourceId);
+        mContext = context;
     }
 
 
@@ -69,7 +73,7 @@ class PeopleStoryIconFactory extends BaseIconFactory {
         try {
             final ApplicationInfo appInfo = mPackageManager.getApplicationInfoAsUser(
                     packageName, PackageManager.GET_META_DATA, userId);
-            badge = mIconDrawableFactory.getBadgedIcon(appInfo, userId);
+            badge = Utils.getBadgedIcon(mContext, appInfo);
         } catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
             badge = mPackageManager.getDefaultActivityIcon();
         }
@@ -209,7 +213,11 @@ class PeopleStoryIconFactory extends BaseIconFactory {
 
         @Override
         public int getOpacity() {
-            return 0;
+            return PixelFormat.TRANSLUCENT;
         }
     }
-}
+
+    @Override
+    public void close() {
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file