diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-hdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-hdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png
index d4fdbf388a769..17100f773a162 100644
Binary files a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-hdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png and b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-hdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png differ
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-hdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-hdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e969d4c267175
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-hdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png differ
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-mdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-mdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png
index 9fc1a3bffd57a..b53bd8f92a00a 100644
Binary files a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-mdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png and b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-mdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png differ
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-mdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-mdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..657f710ac8d6d
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-mdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png differ
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xhdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xhdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png
index f38de93264d31..09606f629b67e 100644
Binary files a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xhdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png and b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xhdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png differ
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xhdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xhdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..a444c551d430f
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xhdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png differ
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xxhdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xxhdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png
index 8194605e1646a..427cad9f63269 100644
Binary files a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xxhdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png and b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xxhdpi/recents_lower_gradient.9.png differ
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xxhdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xxhdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..29cf44bf381f3
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable-xxhdpi/recents_status_gradient.9.png differ
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_status_bar_scrim.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_status_bar_scrim.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..24928d0c73115
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_status_bar_scrim.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!-- Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+
+     Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+     you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+     You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+          http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+     Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+     distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+     WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+     See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+     limitations under the License.
+-->
+
+<ImageView
+    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    android:layout_width="match_parent"
+    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+    android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal|top"
+    android:scaleType="fitXY"
+    android:src="@drawable/recents_status_gradient" />
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_task_view.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_task_view.xml
index 23f2796ccbff8..e4d7b0ce04972 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_task_view.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_task_view.xml
@@ -32,8 +32,9 @@
             android:id="@+id/application_icon"
             android:layout_width="@dimen/recents_task_view_application_icon_size"
             android:layout_height="@dimen/recents_task_view_application_icon_size"
-            android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
-            android:layout_gravity="center_vertical|start" />
+            android:layout_marginStart="8dp"
+            android:layout_gravity="center_vertical|start"
+            android:padding="8dp" />
         <TextView
             android:id="@+id/activity_description"
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/dimens.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/dimens.xml
index 8b8c126f07d70..bbcc9c13c9ea9 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/dimens.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/dimens.xml
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@
     <dimen name="glowpadview_inner_radius">15dip</dimen>
 
     <!-- The size of the application icon in the recents task view. -->
-    <dimen name="recents_task_view_application_icon_size">32dp</dimen>
+    <dimen name="recents_task_view_application_icon_size">48dp</dimen>
 
     <!-- The size of the activity icon in the recents task view. -->
     <dimen name="recents_task_view_activity_icon_size">60dp</dimen>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsActivity.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsActivity.java
index 75ff2b9f73e3a..88ff726c95512 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsActivity.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsActivity.java
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public class RecentsActivity extends Activity implements RecentsView.RecentsView
     FrameLayout mContainerView;
     RecentsView mRecentsView;
     View mEmptyView;
+    View mStatusBarScrimView;
     View mNavBarScrimView;
     FullScreenTransitionView mFullScreenshotView;
 
@@ -180,13 +181,11 @@ public class RecentsActivity extends Activity implements RecentsView.RecentsView
                 AlternateRecentsComponent.EXTRA_TRIGGERED_FROM_ALT_TAB, false);
         mConfig.launchedWithNoRecentTasks = !root.hasTasks();
 
-        if (mConfig.shouldAnimateNavBarScrim()) {
-            // Hide the scrim if we animate into Recents with window transitions
-            mNavBarScrimView.setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
-        } else {
-            // Show the scrim if we animate into Recents without window transitions
-            mNavBarScrimView.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
-        }
+        // Show the scrim if we animate into Recents without window transitions
+        mNavBarScrimView.setVisibility(mConfig.hasNavBarScrim() &&
+                !mConfig.shouldAnimateNavBarScrim() ? View.VISIBLE : View.INVISIBLE);
+        mStatusBarScrimView.setVisibility(mConfig.hasStatusBarScrim() &&
+                !mConfig.shouldAnimateStatusBarScrim() ? View.VISIBLE : View.INVISIBLE);
 
         // Add the default no-recents layout
         if (mConfig.launchedWithNoRecentTasks) {
@@ -325,6 +324,10 @@ public class RecentsActivity extends Activity implements RecentsView.RecentsView
         // Create the empty view
         LayoutInflater inflater = LayoutInflater.from(this);
         mEmptyView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.recents_empty, mContainerView, false);
+        mStatusBarScrimView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.recents_status_bar_scrim, mContainerView, false);
+        mStatusBarScrimView.setLayoutParams(new FrameLayout.LayoutParams(
+                ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
+                ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, Gravity.TOP));
         mNavBarScrimView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.recents_nav_bar_scrim, mContainerView, false);
         mNavBarScrimView.setLayoutParams(new FrameLayout.LayoutParams(
                 ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
@@ -336,6 +339,7 @@ public class RecentsActivity extends Activity implements RecentsView.RecentsView
         }
 
         mContainerView = new FrameLayout(this);
+        mContainerView.addView(mStatusBarScrimView);
         mContainerView.addView(mRecentsView);
         mContainerView.addView(mEmptyView);
         if (Constants.DebugFlags.App.EnableScreenshotAppTransition) {
@@ -563,8 +567,18 @@ public class RecentsActivity extends Activity implements RecentsView.RecentsView
     }
 
     public void onEnterAnimationTriggered() {
-        // Fade in the scrim
-        if (mConfig.shouldAnimateNavBarScrim() && mConfig.hasNavBarScrim()) {
+        // Fade in the scrims
+        if (mConfig.hasStatusBarScrim() && mConfig.shouldAnimateStatusBarScrim()) {
+            mStatusBarScrimView.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
+            mStatusBarScrimView.setTranslationY(-mStatusBarScrimView.getMeasuredHeight());
+            mStatusBarScrimView.animate()
+                    .translationY(0)
+                    .setStartDelay(mConfig.taskBarEnterAnimDelay)
+                    .setDuration(mConfig.navBarScrimEnterDuration)
+                    .setInterpolator(mConfig.quintOutInterpolator)
+                    .start();
+        }
+        if (mConfig.hasNavBarScrim() && mConfig.shouldAnimateNavBarScrim()) {
             mNavBarScrimView.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
             mNavBarScrimView.setTranslationY(mNavBarScrimView.getMeasuredHeight());
             mNavBarScrimView.animate()
@@ -579,7 +593,7 @@ public class RecentsActivity extends Activity implements RecentsView.RecentsView
     @Override
     public void onExitAnimationTriggered() {
         // Fade out the scrim
-        if (mConfig.shouldAnimateNavBarScrim() && mConfig.hasNavBarScrim()) {
+        if (mConfig.hasNavBarScrim() && mConfig.shouldAnimateNavBarScrim()) {
             mNavBarScrimView.animate()
                     .translationY(mNavBarScrimView.getMeasuredHeight())
                     .setStartDelay(0)
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java
index c1a8ee6cc0dc4..acf4a18f921ab 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsConfiguration.java
@@ -106,12 +106,30 @@ public class RecentsConfiguration {
     public boolean developerOptionsEnabled;
 
     /** Private constructor */
-    private RecentsConfiguration() {}
+    private RecentsConfiguration(Context context) {
+        // Properties that don't have to be reloaded with each configuration change can be loaded
+        // here.
+
+        // Interpolators
+        fastOutSlowInInterpolator = AnimationUtils.loadInterpolator(context,
+                com.android.internal.R.interpolator.fast_out_slow_in);
+        fastOutLinearInInterpolator = AnimationUtils.loadInterpolator(context,
+                com.android.internal.R.interpolator.fast_out_linear_in);
+        linearOutSlowInInterpolator = AnimationUtils.loadInterpolator(context,
+                com.android.internal.R.interpolator.linear_out_slow_in);
+        quintOutInterpolator = AnimationUtils.loadInterpolator(context,
+                com.android.internal.R.interpolator.decelerate_quint);
+
+        // Check if the developer options are enabled
+        ContentResolver cr = context.getContentResolver();
+        developerOptionsEnabled = Settings.Global.getInt(cr,
+                Settings.Global.DEVELOPMENT_SETTINGS_ENABLED, 0) != 0;
+    }
 
     /** Updates the configuration to the current context */
     public static RecentsConfiguration reinitialize(Context context) {
         if (sInstance == null) {
-            sInstance = new RecentsConfiguration();
+            sInstance = new RecentsConfiguration(context);
         }
         sInstance.update(context);
         return sInstance;
@@ -132,16 +150,6 @@ public class RecentsConfiguration {
         animationPxMovementPerSecond =
                 res.getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.recents_animation_movement_in_dps_per_second);
 
-        // Interpolators
-        fastOutSlowInInterpolator = AnimationUtils.loadInterpolator(context,
-                com.android.internal.R.interpolator.fast_out_slow_in);
-        fastOutLinearInInterpolator = AnimationUtils.loadInterpolator(context,
-                com.android.internal.R.interpolator.fast_out_linear_in);
-        linearOutSlowInInterpolator = AnimationUtils.loadInterpolator(context,
-                com.android.internal.R.interpolator.linear_out_slow_in);
-        quintOutInterpolator = AnimationUtils.loadInterpolator(context,
-                com.android.internal.R.interpolator.decelerate_quint);
-
         // Filtering
         filteringCurrentViewsMinAnimDuration =
                 res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_filter_animate_current_views_min_duration);
@@ -217,11 +225,6 @@ public class RecentsConfiguration {
         navBarScrimEnterDuration =
                 res.getInteger(R.integer.recents_nav_bar_scrim_enter_duration);
 
-        // Check if the developer options are enabled
-        ContentResolver cr = context.getContentResolver();
-        developerOptionsEnabled = Settings.Global.getInt(cr,
-                Settings.Global.DEVELOPMENT_SETTINGS_ENABLED, 0) != 0;
-
         if (Console.Enabled) {
             Console.log(Constants.Log.UI.MeasureAndLayout,
                     "[RecentsConfiguration|orientation]", isLandscape ? "Landscape" : "Portrait",
@@ -257,6 +260,16 @@ public class RecentsConfiguration {
         return searchBarAppWidgetId >= 0;
     }
 
+    /** Returns whether the status bar scrim should be animated when shown for the first time. */
+    public boolean shouldAnimateStatusBarScrim() {
+        return launchedFromHome;
+    }
+
+    /** Returns whether the status bar scrim should be visible. */
+    public boolean hasStatusBarScrim() {
+        return !launchedWithNoRecentTasks;
+    }
+
     /** Returns whether the nav bar scrim should be animated when shown for the first time. */
     public boolean shouldAnimateNavBarScrim() {
         return true;