diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardCanvas.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardCanvas.java
index 8e1d7ae2e..ba89a4ddc 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardCanvas.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardCanvas.java
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.DrawScoreInfo;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.JNIThread;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.XwJNI;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.XwJNI.DictWrapper;
+import org.eehouse.android.xw4.loc.LocUtils;
 
 import junit.framework.Assert;
 
@@ -526,7 +527,7 @@ public class BoardCanvas extends Canvas implements DrawCtx {
         drawCentered( text, rect, null );
 
         rect.offset( 0, rect.height() );
-        drawCentered( m_context.getResources().getString( R.string.pts ), 
+        drawCentered( LocUtils.getString( m_context, R.string.pts ), 
                       rect, null );
     }
 
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DBUtils.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DBUtils.java
index d46146fc8..dd952f7c3 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DBUtils.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DBUtils.java
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ import junit.framework.Assert;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.*;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.CommsAddrRec.CommsConnType;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.DictUtils.DictLoc;
-
+import org.eehouse.android.xw4.loc.LocUtils;
 
 public class DBUtils {
     public static final int ROWID_NOTFOUND = -1;
@@ -947,7 +947,8 @@ public class DBUtils {
     {
         HistoryPair[] result = null;
         if ( BuildConstants.CHAT_SUPPORTED ) {
-            final String localPrefix = context.getString( R.string.chat_local_id );
+            final String localPrefix =
+                LocUtils.getString( context, R.string.chat_local_id );
             String history = getChatHistoryStr( context, rowid );
             if ( null != history ) {
                 String[] msgs = history.split( "\n" );
@@ -1351,7 +1352,7 @@ public class DBUtils {
         if ( BuildConstants.CHAT_SUPPORTED ) {
             Assert.assertNotNull( msg );
             int id = local ? R.string.chat_local_id : R.string.chat_other_id;
-            msg = context.getString( id ) + msg;
+            msg = LocUtils.getString( context, id ) + msg;
 
             String cur = getChatHistoryStr( context, rowid );
             if ( null != cur ) {
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DbgUtils.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DbgUtils.java
index 6ea233550..4fd01b2dd 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DbgUtils.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DbgUtils.java
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.Set;
 import junit.framework.Assert;
 
+import org.eehouse.android.xw4.loc.LocUtils;
+
 public class DbgUtils {
     private static final String TAG = "XW4";
     private static boolean s_doLog = BuildConfig.DEBUG;
@@ -85,7 +87,7 @@ public class DbgUtils {
 
     public static void showf( Context context, int formatid, Object... args )
     {
-        showf( context, context.getString( formatid ), args );
+        showf( context, LocUtils.getString( context, formatid ), args );
     } // showf
 
     public static void loge( Exception exception )
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DictsActivity.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DictsActivity.java
index 55f062fe8..a069d8cc3 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DictsActivity.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DictsActivity.java
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.XwJNI;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.JNIUtilsImpl;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.GameSummary;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.DictUtils.DictLoc;
+import org.eehouse.android.xw4.loc.LocUtils;
 
 public class DictsActivity extends ExpandableListActivity {
 
@@ -165,9 +166,10 @@ public class DictsActivity extends ExpandableListActivity {
                 .setOnMenuItemClickListener( listener );
 
             // Add at top but save until have dal info
-            MenuItem curItem = 
-                menu.add( context.getString( R.string.cur_menu_marker_fmt, 
-                                             curDict ) );
+            MenuItem curItem =
+                menu.add( LocUtils.getString( context, 
+                                              R.string.cur_menu_marker_fmt, 
+                                              curDict ) );
 
             DictAndLoc[] dals = DictUtils.dictList( context );
             for ( DictAndLoc dal : dals ) {
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameNamer.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameNamer.java
index 303e14949..6b49fe763 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameNamer.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameNamer.java
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ import android.widget.TextView;
 
 import junit.framework.Assert;
 
+import org.eehouse.android.xw4.loc.LocUtils;
+
 public class GameNamer extends LinearLayout {
 
     private Context m_context;
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ public class GameNamer extends LinearLayout {
 
     public void setLabel( int id )
     {
-        setLabel( m_context.getString( id ) );
+        setLabel( LocUtils.getString( getContext(), id ) );
     }
 
     public void setName( String text )
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameUtils.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameUtils.java
index b43b81964..a4c7c011f 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameUtils.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameUtils.java
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ public class GameUtils {
 
                 int fmtId = choseEmail? R.string.invite_htm_fmt : R.string.invite_txt_fmt;
                 int choiceID;
-                String message = activity.getString( fmtId, msgString );
+                String message = LocUtils.getString( activity, fmtId, msgString );
 
                 Intent intent = new Intent();
                 if ( choseEmail ) {
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ public class GameUtils {
                     if ( null == attach ) { // no attachment
                         intent.setType( "message/rfc822");
                     } else {
-                        String mime = activity.getString( R.string.invite_mime );
+                        String mime = LocUtils.getString( activity, R.string.invite_mime );
                         intent.setType( mime );
                         Uri uri = Uri.fromFile( attach );
                         intent.putExtra( Intent.EXTRA_STREAM, uri );
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ public class GameUtils {
                     choiceID = R.string.invite_chooser_sms;
                 }
 
-                String choiceType = activity.getString( choiceID );
+                String choiceType = LocUtils.getString( activity, choiceID );
                 String chooserMsg = 
                     LocUtils.getString( activity, R.string.invite_chooser_fmt, 
                                         choiceType );
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/MultiService.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/MultiService.java
index 2d15e4796..e1707c6e0 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/MultiService.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/MultiService.java
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ public class MultiService {
         String inviter = intent.getStringExtra( INVITER );
         int msgID = (null == inviter) ? R.string.invite_dict_missing_body_noname_fmt
             : R.string.invite_dict_missing_body_fmt;
-        String msg = context.getString( msgID, inviter, dict, langStr );
+        String msg = LocUtils.getString( context, msgID, inviter, dict, langStr );
 
         return LocUtils.makeAlertBuilder( context )
             .setTitle( R.string.invite_dict_missing_title )
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/NFCUtils.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/NFCUtils.java
index a4a0d98b5..aaa412b49 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/NFCUtils.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/NFCUtils.java
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ public class NFCUtils {
 
     private static NdefMessage makeMessage( Activity activity, String data )
     {
-        String mimeType = activity.getString( R.string.xwords_nfc_mime );
+        String mimeType = LocUtils.getString( activity, R.string.xwords_nfc_mime );
         NdefMessage msg = new NdefMessage( new NdefRecord[] {
                 new NdefRecord(NdefRecord.TNF_MIME_MEDIA, 
                                mimeType.getBytes(), new byte[0], 
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/NetLaunchInfo.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/NetLaunchInfo.java
index 1b4d1934e..30c1792aa 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/NetLaunchInfo.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/NetLaunchInfo.java
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import java.io.InputStream;
 import org.json.JSONObject;
 import junit.framework.Assert;
 
+import org.eehouse.android.xw4.loc.LocUtils;
 
 public class NetLaunchInfo {
     public String room;
@@ -137,8 +138,8 @@ public class NetLaunchInfo {
         Uri.Builder ub = new Uri.Builder()
             .scheme( "http" )
             .path( String.format( "//%s%s", 
-                                  context.getString(R.string.invite_host),
-                                  context.getString(R.string.invite_prefix) ) )
+                                  LocUtils.getString(context, R.string.invite_host),
+                                  LocUtils.getString(context, R.string.invite_prefix) ) )
             .appendQueryParameter( "lang", String.format("%d", lang ) )
             .appendQueryParameter( "np", String.format( "%d", nPlayersT ) )
             .appendQueryParameter( "room", room )
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RefreshNamesTask.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RefreshNamesTask.java
index fe98d8157..a37d61529 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RefreshNamesTask.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/RefreshNamesTask.java
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import java.io.DataOutputStream;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.net.Socket;
 
+import org.eehouse.android.xw4.loc.LocUtils;
+
 public class RefreshNamesTask extends AsyncTask<Void, Void, String[]> {
 
     public interface NoNameFound {
@@ -55,8 +57,8 @@ public class RefreshNamesTask extends AsyncTask<Void, Void, String[]> {
         m_lang = lang;
         m_nInGame = nInGame;
 
-        String msg = context.getString( R.string.public_names_progress_fmt,
-                                        nInGame, 
+        String msg = LocUtils.getString( context, R.string.public_names_progress_fmt,
+                                         nInGame, 
                                         DictLangCache.getLangName(context,lang) );
         m_progress = ProgressDialog.show( context, msg, null, true, 
                                           true );
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/SMSService.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/SMSService.java
index c5664ce92..0fb6f3ac9 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/SMSService.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/SMSService.java
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ public class SMSService extends XWService {
         if ( null == s_showToasts ) {
             SharedPreferences sp
                 = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences( context );
-            String key = context.getString( R.string.key_show_sms );
+            String key = LocUtils.getString( context, R.string.key_show_sms );
             s_showToasts = sp.getBoolean( key, false );
         }
 
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/UpdateCheckReceiver.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/UpdateCheckReceiver.java
index beff4c2be..14b471f1c 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/UpdateCheckReceiver.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/UpdateCheckReceiver.java
@@ -335,7 +335,8 @@ public class UpdateCheckReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
                                 LocUtils.getString( m_context, R.string.new_app_avail_fmt,
                                                     label );
                             String body = 
-                                m_context.getString( R.string.new_app_avail );
+                                LocUtils.getString( m_context, 
+                                                    R.string.new_app_avail );
                             Utils.postNotification( m_context, intent, title, 
                                                     body, url.hashCode() );
                             gotOne = true;
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWThumbListPreference.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWThumbListPreference.java
index 404911de8..2fdf74c5c 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWThumbListPreference.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWThumbListPreference.java
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ package org.eehouse.android.xw4;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.util.AttributeSet;
 
+import org.eehouse.android.xw4.loc.LocUtils;
+
 public class XWThumbListPreference extends XWListPreference {
     private Context m_context;
 
@@ -39,8 +41,8 @@ public class XWThumbListPreference extends XWListPreference {
 
         CharSequence[] newEntries = new CharSequence[7];
         int indx = 0;
-        newEntries[indx++] = m_context.getString( R.string.thumb_off );
-        String suffix = m_context.getString( R.string.pct_suffix );
+        newEntries[indx++] = LocUtils.getString( m_context, R.string.thumb_off );
+        String suffix = LocUtils.getString( m_context, R.string.pct_suffix );
         for ( int pct = 20; pct <= 45; pct += 5 ) {
             newEntries[indx++] = String.format( "%d%s", pct, suffix );
         }
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 d1bdf364b..3cc05d760 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
@@ -120,13 +120,13 @@ public class CommonPrefs extends XWPrefs {
     private boolean getBoolean( Context context, SharedPreferences sp, 
                                 int id, boolean dflt )
     {
-        String key = context.getString( id );
+        String key = LocUtils.getString( context, id );
         return sp.getBoolean( key, dflt );
     }
 
     private int prefToColor( Context context, SharedPreferences sp, int id )
     {
-        String key = context.getString( id );
+        String key = LocUtils.getString( context, id );
         return 0xFF000000 | sp.getInt( key, 0 );
     }
 
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 6702ca968..922b8dcdf 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
@@ -250,7 +250,8 @@ public class CurGameInfo {
 
     public String[] visibleNames( boolean withDicts )
     {
-        String nameFmt = withDicts? m_context.getString( R.string.name_dict_fmt )
+        String nameFmt = withDicts?
+            LocUtils.getString( m_context, R.string.name_dict_fmt )
             : "%s";
         String[] names = new String[nPlayers];
         for ( int ii = 0; ii < nPlayers; ++ii ) {