diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
index f1484eaf5..de0412367 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@
   <string name="key_board_size">key_board_size</string>
   <string name="key_initial_game_minutes">key_initial_game_minutes</string>
   <string name="key_default_dict">key_default_dict</string>
+  <string name="key_default_phonies">key_default_phonies</string>
+  <string name="key_default_timerenabled">key_default_timerenabled</string>
+  
   <!-- other -->
   <string name="default_host">eehouse.org</string>
   <string name="dict_url">http://eehouse.org/and_dicts</string>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
index 56d0c06b0..bd6ba35fc 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -232,7 +232,9 @@
     <string name="prefs_defaults_summary">Default settings for new
     games</string>
     <string name="default_dict">Game dictionary</string>
+    <string name="default_phonies">Handle phonies</string>
     <string name="board_size">Initial board size</string>
+    <string name="default_timerenabled">Use game timer</string>
 
     <string name="manage_dicts">Choose</string>
 
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
index 99af7b311..395ff6fa3 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
@@ -6,17 +6,30 @@
     <PreferenceScreen android:title="@string/prefs_defaults"
                       android:summary="@string/prefs_defaults_summary"
                       >
-      <EditTextPreference android:key="@string/key_initial_game_minutes"
-                          android:title="@string/initial_game_minutes"
-                          android:defaultValue="25"
-                          android:numeric="decimal"
-                          />
 
       <org.eehouse.android.xw4.DictListPreference 
          android:key="@string/key_default_dict"
          android:title="@string/default_dict"
          />
 
+      <ListPreference android:key="@string/key_default_phonies"
+                      android:title="@string/default_phonies"
+                      android:entries="@array/phony_names"
+                      android:entryValues="@array/phony_names"
+                      android:defaultValue="0"
+                      />
+
+      <CheckBoxPreference android:key="@string/key_default_timerenabled"
+                          android:title="@string/use_timer"
+                          android:defaultValue="false"
+                          />
+
+      <EditTextPreference android:key="@string/key_initial_game_minutes"
+                          android:title="@string/initial_game_minutes"
+                          android:defaultValue="25"
+                          android:numeric="decimal"
+                          />
+
       <ListPreference android:key="@string/key_board_size"
                       android:title="@string/board_size"
                       android:entries="@array/board_sizes"
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/PrefsActivity.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/PrefsActivity.java
index c171af463..a06fd8b20 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/PrefsActivity.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/PrefsActivity.java
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ public class PrefsActivity extends PreferenceActivity
                              R.string.key_board_size,
                              R.string.key_initial_game_minutes,
                              R.string.key_default_dict,
+                             R.string.key_default_phonies,
         };
 
         SharedPreferences sp
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CommonPrefs.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CommonPrefs.java
index 22afefc70..1a9aed3d6 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CommonPrefs.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CommonPrefs.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences;
 import android.preference.PreferenceManager;
 import android.graphics.Paint;
+import android.content.res.Resources;
 import junit.framework.Assert;
 
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.Utils;
@@ -157,10 +158,7 @@ public class CommonPrefs {
 
     public static boolean getVolKeysZoom( Context context )
     {
-        String key = context.getString( R.string.key_ringer_zoom );
-        SharedPreferences sp = PreferenceManager
-            .getDefaultSharedPreferences( context );
-        return sp.getBoolean( key, false );
+        return getBoolean( context, R.string.key_ringer_zoom, false );
     }
 
     public static int getDefaultBoardSize( Context context )
@@ -178,7 +176,6 @@ public class CommonPrefs {
         SharedPreferences sp = PreferenceManager
             .getDefaultSharedPreferences( context );
         String value = sp.getString( key, "25" );
-        Utils.logf( "value for key_initial_game_minutes: %s", value );
         return Integer.parseInt( value );
     }
 
@@ -194,4 +191,40 @@ public class CommonPrefs {
         return value;
     }
 
+    public static CurGameInfo.XWPhoniesChoice 
+        getDefaultPhonies( Context context )
+    {
+        String key = context.getString( R.string.key_default_phonies );
+        SharedPreferences sp = PreferenceManager
+            .getDefaultSharedPreferences( context );
+        String value = sp.getString( key, "" );
+
+        CurGameInfo.XWPhoniesChoice result = 
+            CurGameInfo.XWPhoniesChoice.PHONIES_IGNORE;
+        Resources res = context.getResources();
+        String[] names = res.getStringArray( R.array.phony_names );
+        for ( int ii = 0; ii < names.length; ++ii ) {
+            String name = names[ii];
+            if ( name.equals( value ) ) {
+                result = CurGameInfo.XWPhoniesChoice.values()[ii];
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        return result;
+    }
+    
+    public static boolean getDefaultTimerEnabled( Context context )
+    {
+        return getBoolean( context, R.string.key_default_timerenabled, false );
+    }
+
+    private static boolean getBoolean( Context context, int keyID,
+                                       boolean defaultValue )
+    {
+        String key = context.getString( keyID );
+        SharedPreferences sp = PreferenceManager
+            .getDefaultSharedPreferences( context );
+        return sp.getBoolean( key, defaultValue );
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CurGameInfo.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CurGameInfo.java
index 52b57369c..d21ef66d9 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CurGameInfo.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CurGameInfo.java
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ public class CurGameInfo {
     public DeviceRole serverRole;
 
     public boolean hintsNotAllowed;
-    public boolean  timerEnabled;
-    public boolean  allowPickTiles;
-    public boolean  allowHintRect;
+    public boolean timerEnabled;
+    public boolean allowPickTiles;
+    public boolean allowHintRect;
     public int robotSmartness;
     public XWPhoniesChoice phoniesAction;
     public boolean confirmBTConnect;   /* only used for BT */
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ public class CurGameInfo {
         serverRole = DeviceRole.SERVER_STANDALONE;
         dictName = CommonPrefs.getDefaultDict( context );
         hintsNotAllowed = false;
-        phoniesAction = XWPhoniesChoice.PHONIES_IGNORE;
-        timerEnabled = false;
+        phoniesAction = CommonPrefs.getDefaultPhonies( context );
+        timerEnabled = CommonPrefs.getDefaultTimerEnabled( context );
         allowPickTiles = false;
         allowHintRect = false;
         robotSmartness = 1;