diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/layout/game_list.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/layout/game_list.xml
index a5f0b947e..e04e62741 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/layout/game_list.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/layout/game_list.xml
@@ -5,29 +5,6 @@
               android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
               android:layout_height="fill_parent"
               >
-  <LinearLayout android:id="@+id/empty_games_list"
-                android:orientation="vertical"
-                android:layout_width="fill_parent"
-                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                > 
-    <TextView android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-              android:layout_width="wrap_content"
-              android:text="@string/empty_games_list"
-              android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
-              android:background="#FF202020"
-              android:gravity="center"
-              android:paddingLeft="8dp"
-              android:paddingRight="8dp"
-              />
-    <TextView android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-              android:layout_width="wrap_content"
-              android:text="@string/empty_games_list2"
-              android:background="#FF202020"
-              android:gravity="center"
-              android:paddingLeft="8dp"
-              android:paddingRight="8dp"
-              />
-  </LinearLayout>
 
   <ExpandableListView android:id="@id/android:list"
                       android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
@@ -35,29 +12,4 @@
                       android:layout_weight="1"
                       android:drawSelectorOnTop="false"
                       />
-  <TextView android:id="@+id/empty_list_msg"
-            android:layout_width="fill_parent" 
-            android:layout_height="fill_parent"
-            android:layout_weight="1"
-            android:gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"
-            android:text="@string/empty_list_msg" 
-            />
-
-  <LinearLayout android:id="@+id/new_buttons"
-                android:orientation="horizontal"
-                android:layout_width="fill_parent"
-                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                android:paddingLeft="8dp"
-                android:paddingRight="8dp"
-                >
-    <Button android:id="@+id/new_game"
-            android:text="@string/button_new_game" 
-            style="@style/spaced_buttons"
-            />
-    <Button android:id="@+id/new_group"
-            android:text="@string/button_new_group" 
-            style="@style/spaced_buttons"
-            />
-  </LinearLayout>
-
 </LinearLayout>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
index 636b10376..983cbb3a0 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@
   <string name="key_notify_sound">key_notify_sound</string>
   <string name="key_notify_vibrate">key_notify_vibrate</string>
   <string name="key_enable_sms">key_enable_sms</string>
-  <string name="key_hide_intro">key_hide_intro</string>
   <string name="key_keep_screenon">key_keep_screenon</string>
   <string name="key_summary_field">key_summary_field</string>
   <string name="key_default_loc">key_default_loc</string>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
index 32482c8d8..6791b3226 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -13,28 +13,11 @@
        # This is the first screen you see when you launch Crosswords
        ############################################################ 
       -->
-    <!-- These two messages appear at the top of the list of games
-         (unless the hide_intro preferences checkbox is checked.)-->
-    <string name="empty_games_list">Use the button below to create a
-      game. Tap an existing game to play it or long-tap it for other
-      options.</string>
-      <!--  -->
-    <string name="empty_games_list2">You can hide this and the buttons
-      below in the Appearance section of Settings (accessed via your
-      device\'s menu key.)</string>
 
-    <!-- Text of button at bottom of main games-list screen and of
-         menuitem in main games-list screen's menu.  (The botton can
-         be hidden in the same way as the above text.) -->
+    <!-- Text of menuitem in main games-list screen's menu -->
     <string name="button_new_game">Add game</string>
     <string name="button_new_group">Add group</string>
 
-    <!-- When the game list is empty and the above messages and button
-         are hidden via preferences, this text is shown -->
-    <string name="empty_list_msg">Use the menu key to add a
-      game.</string>
-
-
     <!-- Used to format game name plus some other information as the
          one-line summary for each game in the main screen.  The name
          of the game is substituted for %1$s.  Something else
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
index 98175f6d0..fb690b6e7 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
@@ -117,11 +117,6 @@
 	   android:entryValues="@array/game_summary_values"
        android:defaultValue="@string/game_summary_field_opponents"
        />
-    <CheckBoxPreference android:key="@string/key_hide_intro"
-                        android:title="@string/hide_intro"
-                        android:summary="@string/hide_intro_summary"
-                        android:defaultValue="false"
-                        />
     <CheckBoxPreference android:key="@string/key_hide_title"
                         android:title="@string/hide_title"
                         android:summary="@string/hide_title_summary"
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
index 5ae2b65a2..c0c980160 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
@@ -352,26 +352,6 @@ public class GamesList extends XWExpandableListActivity
         }
         PreferenceManager.setDefaultValues( this, R.xml.xwprefs, isUpgrade );
 
-        // setDefaultKeyMode(DEFAULT_KEYS_SHORTCUT);
-
-        Button newGameB = (Button)findViewById(R.id.new_game);
-        newGameB.setOnClickListener( new View.OnClickListener() {
-                @Override
-                public void onClick( View v ) {
-                    // addGame( false );
-                    startNewGameActivity();
-                    // showNotAgainDlg( R.string.not_again_newgame, 
-                    //                  R.string.key_notagain_newgame );
-                }
-            });
-        newGameB = (Button)findViewById(R.id.new_group);
-        newGameB.setOnClickListener( new View.OnClickListener() {
-                @Override
-                public void onClick( View v ) {
-                    showDialog( NEW_GROUP );
-                }
-            });
-
         String field = CommonPrefs.getSummaryField( this );
         long[] positions = XWPrefs.getGroupPositions( this );
         m_adapter = new GameListAdapter( this, getExpandableListView(),
@@ -400,29 +380,6 @@ public class GamesList extends XWExpandableListActivity
         tryStartsFromIntent( intent );
     }
 
-    @Override
-    protected void onStart()
-    {
-        super.onStart();
-
-        boolean hide = CommonPrefs.getHideIntro( this );
-        int hereOrGone = hide ? View.GONE : View.VISIBLE;
-        for ( int id : new int[]{ R.id.empty_games_list, 
-                                  R.id.new_buttons } ) {
-            View view = findViewById( id );
-            view.setVisibility( hereOrGone );
-        }
-        View empty = findViewById( R.id.empty_list_msg );
-        empty.setVisibility( hide ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE );
-        getExpandableListView().setEmptyView( hide? empty : null );
-
-        // TelephonyManager mgr = 
-        //     (TelephonyManager)getSystemService( Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE );
-        // m_phoneStateListener = new XWPhoneStateListener();
-        // mgr.listen( m_phoneStateListener,
-        //             PhoneStateListener.LISTEN_DATA_CONNECTION_STATE );
-    }
-
     @Override
     protected void onStop()
     {
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 28f4c868c..c373c37dc 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
@@ -252,11 +252,6 @@ public class CommonPrefs extends XWPrefs {
         return getPrefsBoolean( context, R.string.key_notify_vibrate, false );
     }
 
-    public static boolean getHideIntro( Context context )
-    {
-        return getPrefsBoolean( context, R.string.key_hide_intro, false );
-    }
-
     public static boolean getKeepScreenOn( Context context )
     {
         return getPrefsBoolean( context, R.string.key_keep_screenon, false );