diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout-sw600dp/super_status_bar.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout-sw600dp/super_status_bar.xml
index f93dd33c36e5b..c47833448d50c 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout-sw600dp/super_status_bar.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout-sw600dp/super_status_bar.xml
@@ -33,9 +33,8 @@
 
     <include layout="@layout/status_bar_expanded"
         android:layout_width="@dimen/notification_panel_width"
-        android:layout_height="match_parent"
+        android:layout_height="0dp"
         android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal|top"
-        android:visibility="invisible"
         />
 
 </com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.StatusBarWindowView>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/status_bar_expanded.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/status_bar_expanded.xml
index 406ed259569ec..0966a2867ddb8 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/status_bar_expanded.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/status_bar_expanded.xml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 
         <include layout="@layout/status_bar_expanded_header"
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
-            android:layout_height="48dp"
+            android:layout_height="@dimen/notification_panel_header_height"
             />
      
         <ScrollView
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/super_status_bar.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/super_status_bar.xml
index b85686f2d1af3..5bf1a58647f8f 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/super_status_bar.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/super_status_bar.xml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     android:focusable="true"
     android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants"
     android:fitsSystemWindows="true"
+    android:background="@android:color/transparent"
     >
 
     <include layout="@layout/status_bar"
@@ -33,8 +34,7 @@
 
     <include layout="@layout/status_bar_expanded"
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
-        android:layout_height="match_parent"
-        android:visibility="invisible"
+        android:layout_height="0dp"
         />
 
 </com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.StatusBarWindowView>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java
index aab911a0fb496..10bb889cad466 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import android.graphics.PixelFormat;
 import android.graphics.PorterDuff;
 import android.graphics.Rect;
 import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
+import android.graphics.drawable.NinePatchDrawable;
 import android.inputmethodservice.InputMethodService;
 import android.os.IBinder;
 import android.os.Message;
@@ -161,6 +162,7 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
     View mExpandedContents;
     int mNotificationPanelMarginBottomPx, mNotificationPanelMarginLeftPx;
     int mNotificationPanelGravity;
+    int mNotificationPanelMinHeight;
 
     // top bar
     View mClearButton;
@@ -208,6 +210,8 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
     long mAnimLastTimeNanos;
     boolean mAnimatingReveal = false;
     int mViewDelta;
+    float mFlingVelocity;
+    int mFlingY;
     int[] mAbsPos = new int[2];
     Runnable mPostCollapseCleanup = null;
 
@@ -236,6 +240,33 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
         }
     };
 
+    private final Runnable mStartRevealAnimation = new Runnable() {
+        @Override
+        public void run() {
+            mAnimAccel = mExpandAccelPx;
+            mAnimVel = mFlingExpandMinVelocityPx;
+            mAnimY = getStatusBarHeight();
+            updateExpandedViewPos((int)mAnimY);
+
+            mAnimating = true;
+            mAnimatingReveal = true;
+            resetLastAnimTime();
+            mChoreographer.removeCallbacks(Choreographer.CALLBACK_ANIMATION,
+                mAnimationCallback, null);
+            mChoreographer.removeCallbacks(Choreographer.CALLBACK_ANIMATION,
+                mRevealAnimationCallback, null);
+            mChoreographer.postCallback(Choreographer.CALLBACK_ANIMATION,
+                mRevealAnimationCallback, null);
+        }
+    };
+
+    private final Runnable mPerformFling = new Runnable() {
+        @Override
+        public void run() {
+            performFling(mFlingY + mViewDelta, mFlingVelocity, false);
+        }
+    };
+
     private class ExpandedDialog extends Dialog {
         ExpandedDialog(Context context) {
             super(context, com.android.internal.R.style.Theme_Translucent_NoTitleBar);
@@ -321,7 +352,6 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
             mNotificationPanel.setBackground(new FastColorDrawable(context.getResources().getColor(
                     R.color.notification_panel_solid_background)));
         }
-
         if (ENABLE_INTRUDERS) {
             mIntruderAlertView = (IntruderAlertView) View.inflate(context, R.layout.intruder_alert, null);
             mIntruderAlertView.setVisibility(View.GONE);
@@ -1039,14 +1069,13 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
         }
     };
 
-    private void makeExpandedVisible() {
+    private void makeExpandedVisible(boolean revealAfterDraw) {
         if (SPEW) Slog.d(TAG, "Make expanded visible: expanded visible=" + mExpandedVisible);
         if (mExpandedVisible) {
             return;
         }
 
         mExpandedVisible = true;
-        mNotificationPanel.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
         makeSlippery(mNavigationBarView, true);
 
         updateExpandedViewPos(EXPANDED_LEAVE_ALONE);
@@ -1060,6 +1089,12 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
         final WindowManager wm = WindowManagerImpl.getDefault();
         wm.updateViewLayout(mStatusBarWindow, lp);
 
+        // Updating the window layout will force an expensive traversal/redraw.
+        // Kick off the reveal animation after this is complete to avoid animation latency.
+        if (revealAfterDraw) {
+            mHandler.post(mStartRevealAnimation);
+        }
+
         visibilityChanged(true);
     }
 
@@ -1145,7 +1180,7 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
         }
 
         mExpanded = true;
-        makeExpandedVisible();
+        makeExpandedVisible(false);
         updateExpandedViewPos(EXPANDED_FULL_OPEN);
 
         if (false) postStartTracing();
@@ -1160,7 +1195,6 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
         }
         mExpandedVisible = false;
         visibilityChanged(false);
-        mNotificationPanel.setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
         makeSlippery(mNavigationBarView, false);
 
         // Shrink the window to the size of the status bar only
@@ -1241,6 +1275,8 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
     }
 
     void stopTracking() {
+        if (!mTracking)
+            return;
         mTracking = false;
         mPile.setLayerType(View.LAYER_TYPE_NONE, null);
         mVelocityTracker.recycle();
@@ -1265,7 +1301,7 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
         if (SPEW) {
             Slog.d(TAG, "doRevealAnimation: dt=" + (frameTimeNanos - mAnimLastTimeNanos));
         }
-        final int h = getCloseViewHeight() + getStatusBarHeight();
+        final int h = mNotificationPanelMinHeight;
         if (mAnimatingReveal && mAnimating && mAnimY < h) {
             incrementAnim(frameTimeNanos);
             if (mAnimY >= h) {
@@ -1290,20 +1326,7 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
         mPile.setLayerType(View.LAYER_TYPE_HARDWARE, null);
         mVelocityTracker = VelocityTracker.obtain();
         if (opening) {
-            mAnimAccel = mExpandAccelPx;
-            mAnimVel = mFlingExpandMinVelocityPx;
-            mAnimY = getStatusBarHeight();
-            updateExpandedViewPos((int)mAnimY);
-            mAnimating = true;
-            mAnimatingReveal = true;
-            resetLastAnimTime();
-            mChoreographer.removeCallbacks(Choreographer.CALLBACK_ANIMATION,
-                    mAnimationCallback, null);
-            mChoreographer.removeCallbacks(Choreographer.CALLBACK_ANIMATION,
-                    mRevealAnimationCallback, null);
-            mChoreographer.postCallback(Choreographer.CALLBACK_ANIMATION,
-                    mRevealAnimationCallback, null);
-            makeExpandedVisible();
+            makeExpandedVisible(true);
         } else {
             // it's open, close it?
             if (mAnimating) {
@@ -1317,7 +1340,7 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
 
     void performFling(int y, float vel, boolean always) {
         if (CHATTY) {
-            Slog.d(TAG, "panel: will fling, y=" + y + " vel=" + vel);
+            Slog.d(TAG, "panel: will fling, y=" + y + " vel=" + vel + " mExpanded=" + mExpanded);
         }
 
         mAnimatingReveal = false;
@@ -1386,7 +1409,7 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
     boolean interceptTouchEvent(MotionEvent event) {
         if (SPEW) {
             Slog.d(TAG, "Touch: rawY=" + event.getRawY() + " event=" + event + " mDisabled="
-                + mDisabled);
+                + mDisabled + " mTracking=" + mTracking);
         } else if (CHATTY) {
             if (event.getAction() != MotionEvent.ACTION_MOVE) {
                 Slog.d(TAG, String.format(
@@ -1431,9 +1454,8 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
             }
         } else if (mTracking) {
             trackMovement(event);
-            final int minY = statusBarSize + getCloseViewHeight();
             if (action == MotionEvent.ACTION_MOVE) {
-                if (mAnimatingReveal && (y + mViewDelta) < minY) {
+                if (mAnimatingReveal && (y + mViewDelta) < mNotificationPanelMinHeight) {
                     // nothing
                 } else  {
                     mAnimatingReveal = false;
@@ -1467,7 +1489,15 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
                         vel));
                 }
 
-                performFling(y + mViewDelta, vel, false);
+                if (mTrackingPosition == mNotificationPanelMinHeight) {
+                    // start the fling from the tracking position, ignore y and view delta
+                    mFlingY = mTrackingPosition;
+                    mViewDelta = 0;
+                } else {
+                    mFlingY = y;
+                }
+                mFlingVelocity = vel;
+                mHandler.post(mPerformFling);
             }
 
         }
@@ -1870,7 +1900,6 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
                     + " mTrackingPosition=" + mTrackingPosition
                     + " gravity=" + mNotificationPanelGravity);
         }
-
         int panelh = 0;
         final int disph = getExpandedViewMaxHeight();
 
@@ -2156,10 +2185,24 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar {
         if (mNotificationPanelGravity <= 0) {
             mNotificationPanelGravity = Gravity.CENTER_VERTICAL | Gravity.TOP;
         }
+        mNotificationPanelMinHeight =
+              res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.notification_panel_padding_top)
+            + res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.notification_panel_header_height)
+            + res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.close_handle_underlap)
+            + getNinePatchPadding(res.getDrawable(R.drawable.notification_panel_bg)).bottom;
 
         if (false) Slog.v(TAG, "updateResources");
     }
 
+    private static Rect getNinePatchPadding(Drawable d) {
+        Rect padding = new Rect();
+        if (d instanceof NinePatchDrawable) {
+            NinePatchDrawable ninePatch = (NinePatchDrawable) d;
+            ninePatch.getPadding(padding);
+        }
+        return padding;
+    }
+
     //
     // tracing
     //