diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/Android.mk b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/Android.mk
index 84e0f686f..45bef2dcb 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/Android.mk
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/Android.mk
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ local_SRC_FILES +=         \
 	xportwrapper.c         \
 	anddict.c              \
 	andutils.c             \
+	jniutlswrapper.c       \
 
 
 COMMON_PATH=../../../common
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/anddict.c b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/anddict.c
index 0c8a8561e..2431c90f6 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/anddict.c
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/anddict.c
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@
 #include "xptypes.h"
 #include "dictnry.h"
 #include "strutils.h"
+#include "andutils.h"
 #include "utilwrapper.h"
 
 typedef struct _AndDictionaryCtxt {
     DictionaryCtxt super;
-    XW_UtilCtxt* util;
+    JNIUtilCtxt* jniutil;
     JNIEnv *env;
     XP_U8* bytes;
 } AndDictionaryCtxt;
@@ -22,7 +23,8 @@ dict_splitFaces( DictionaryCtxt* dict, const XP_U8* bytes,
                  XP_U16 nBytes, XP_U16 nFaces )
 {
     XP_UCHAR* faces = (XP_UCHAR*)XP_CALLOC( dict->mpool, nBytes + nFaces );
-    XP_UCHAR** ptrs = (XP_UCHAR**)XP_CALLOC( dict->mpool, nFaces * sizeof(ptrs[0]));
+    const XP_UCHAR** ptrs = (const XP_UCHAR**)
+        XP_CALLOC( dict->mpool, nFaces * sizeof(ptrs[0]));
     XP_U16 ii;
     XP_UCHAR* next = faces;
 
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ andMakeBitmap( AndDictionaryCtxt* ctxt, XP_U8** ptrp )
         }
 
         JNIEnv* env = ctxt->env;
-        bitmap = and_util_makeJBitmap( ctxt->util, nCols, nRows, colors );
+        bitmap = and_util_makeJBitmap( ctxt->jniutil, nCols, nRows, colors );
         jobject tmp = (*env)->NewGlobalRef( env, bitmap );
         XP_ASSERT( tmp == bitmap );
         (*env)->DeleteLocalRef( env, bitmap );
@@ -176,7 +178,7 @@ splitFaces_via_java( JNIEnv* env, AndDictionaryCtxt* ctxt, const XP_U8* ptr,
     int nBytes;
     int ii;
 
-    jobject jstrarr = and_util_splitFaces( ctxt->util, ptr, nFaceBytes );
+    jobject jstrarr = and_util_splitFaces( ctxt->jniutil, ptr, nFaceBytes );
     XP_ASSERT( (*env)->GetArrayLength( env, jstrarr ) == nFaces );
 
     for ( ii = 0; ii < nFaces; ++ii ) {
@@ -204,8 +206,8 @@ splitFaces_via_java( JNIEnv* env, AndDictionaryCtxt* ctxt, const XP_U8* ptr,
     (*env)->DeleteLocalRef( env, jstrarr );
 
     XP_UCHAR* faces = (XP_UCHAR*)XP_CALLOC( ctxt->super.mpool, indx );
-    XP_UCHAR** ptrs = (XP_UCHAR**)XP_CALLOC( ctxt->super.mpool, 
-                                             nFaces * sizeof(ptrs[0]));
+    const XP_UCHAR** ptrs = (const XP_UCHAR**)
+        XP_CALLOC( ctxt->super.mpool, nFaces * sizeof(ptrs[0]));
 
     XP_MEMCPY( faces, facesBuf, indx );
     for ( ii = 0; ii < nFaces; ++ii ) {
@@ -373,6 +375,20 @@ and_dictionary_destroy( DictionaryCtxt* dict )
     LOG_RETURN_VOID();
 }
 
+jobject
+and_dictionary_getChars( JNIEnv* env, DictionaryCtxt* dict )
+{
+    AndDictionaryCtxt* anddict = (AndDictionaryCtxt*)dict;
+    XP_ASSERT( env == anddict->env );
+
+    /* This is cheating: specials will be rep'd as 1,2, etc.  But as long as
+       java code wants to ignore them anyway that's ok.  Otherwise need to
+       use dict_tilesToString() */
+    XP_U16 nFaces = dict_numTileFaces( dict );
+    jobject jstrs = makeStringArray( env, nFaces, dict->facePtrs );
+    return jstrs;
+}
+
 DictionaryCtxt* 
 and_dictionary_make_empty( MPFORMAL_NOCOMMA )
 {
@@ -384,7 +400,7 @@ and_dictionary_make_empty( MPFORMAL_NOCOMMA )
 }
 
 DictionaryCtxt* 
-makeDict( MPFORMAL JNIEnv *env, XW_UtilCtxt* util, jbyteArray jbytes )
+makeDict( MPFORMAL JNIEnv *env, JNIUtilCtxt* jniutil, jbyteArray jbytes )
 {
     XP_Bool formatOk = XP_TRUE;
     XP_Bool isUTF8 = XP_FALSE;
@@ -392,7 +408,6 @@ makeDict( MPFORMAL JNIEnv *env, XW_UtilCtxt* util, jbyteArray jbytes )
     AndDictionaryCtxt* anddict = NULL;
 
     jsize len = (*env)->GetArrayLength( env, jbytes );
-    XP_LOGF( "%s: got %d bytes", __func__, len );
 
     XP_U8* localBytes = XP_MALLOC( mpool, len );
     jbyte* src = (*env)->GetByteArrayElements( env, jbytes, NULL );
@@ -406,7 +421,7 @@ makeDict( MPFORMAL JNIEnv *env, XW_UtilCtxt* util, jbyteArray jbytes )
 
     anddict->bytes = localBytes;
     anddict->env = env;
-    anddict->util = util;
+    anddict->jniutil = jniutil;
     
     parseDict( anddict, localBytes, len );
     setBlankTile( &anddict->super );
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/anddict.h b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/anddict.h
index 42a865537..c5395d196 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/anddict.h
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/anddict.h
@@ -5,14 +5,17 @@
 
 #include "dictnry.h"
 #include "comtypes.h"
+#include "jniutlswrapper.h"
 
 void
 dict_splitFaces( DictionaryCtxt* dict, const XP_U8* bytes,
                  XP_U16 nBytes, XP_U16 nFaces );
 
-DictionaryCtxt* makeDict( MPFORMAL JNIEnv *env, XW_UtilCtxt* util, 
+DictionaryCtxt* makeDict( MPFORMAL JNIEnv *env, JNIUtilCtxt* jniutil, 
                           jbyteArray bytes );
 
 DictionaryCtxt* and_dictionary_make_empty( MPFORMAL_NOCOMMA );
 
+jobject and_dictionary_getChars( JNIEnv* env, DictionaryCtxt* dict );
+
 #endif
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/andglobals.h b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/andglobals.h
index 79f82c969..b8466b1e0 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/andglobals.h
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/andglobals.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ typedef struct _AndGlobals {
     CurGameInfo* gi;
     DrawCtx* dctx;
     XW_UtilCtxt* util;
+    struct JNIUtilCtxt* jniutil;
     TransportProcs* xportProcs;
     struct JNIState* state;
 } AndGlobals;
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/drawwrapper.c b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/drawwrapper.c
index 62631c2eb..582ec4410 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/drawwrapper.c
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/drawwrapper.c
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ makeDSI( AndDraw* draw, int indx, const DrawScoreInfo* dsi )
 #define DRAW_CBK_HEADER(nam,sig)                                \
     AndDraw* draw = (AndDraw*)dctx;                             \
     JNIEnv* env = *draw->env;                                   \
+    XP_ASSERT( !!draw->jdraw );                                 \
     jmethodID mid = getMethodID( env, draw->jdraw, nam, sig );
 
 static void 
@@ -209,7 +210,9 @@ and_draw_score_drawPlayer( DrawCtx* dctx,
 static XP_Bool
 and_draw_boardBegin( DrawCtx* dctx, const XP_Rect* rect, DrawFocusState dfs )
 {
-    return XP_TRUE;
+    AndDraw* draw = (AndDraw*)dctx;
+    XP_Bool result = NULL != draw->jdraw;
+    return result;
 }
 
 static XP_Bool 
@@ -380,7 +383,11 @@ and_draw_objFinished( DrawCtx* dctx, BoardObjectType typ,
 static void
 and_draw_dictChanged( DrawCtx* dctx, const DictionaryCtxt* dict )
 {
-    LOG_FUNC();
+    AndDraw* draw = (AndDraw*)dctx;
+    if ( NULL != draw->jdraw ) {
+        DRAW_CBK_HEADER( "dictChanged", "(I)V" );
+        (*env)->CallVoidMethod( env, draw->jdraw, mid, (jint)dict );
+    }
 }
 
 static const XP_UCHAR* 
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/jniutlswrapper.c b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/jniutlswrapper.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aa733527a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/jniutlswrapper.c
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+/* -*-mode: C; compile-command: "../../scripts/ndkbuild.sh"; -*- */
+/* 
+ * Copyright 2001-2010 by Eric House (xwords@eehouse.org).  All rights
+ * reserved.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
+ */
+
+#include "strutils.h"
+#include "jniutlswrapper.h"
+#include "andutils.h"
+
+
+struct JNIUtilCtxt {
+    JNIEnv** envp;
+    jobject jjniutil;
+    MPSLOT;
+};
+
+JNIUtilCtxt* 
+makeJNIUtil( MPFORMAL JNIEnv** envp, jobject jniutls )
+{
+    JNIUtilCtxt* ctxt = (JNIUtilCtxt*)XP_CALLOC( mpool, sizeof( *ctxt ) );
+    JNIEnv* env = *envp;
+    ctxt->envp = envp;
+    ctxt->jjniutil = (*env)->NewGlobalRef( env, jniutls );
+    MPASSIGN( ctxt->mpool, mpool );
+    return ctxt;
+}
+
+void
+destroyJNIUtil( JNIUtilCtxt** ctxtp )
+{
+    JNIUtilCtxt* ctxt = *ctxtp;
+    if ( !!ctxt ) {
+        JNIEnv* env = *ctxt->envp;
+        (*env)->DeleteGlobalRef( env, ctxt->jjniutil );
+        XP_FREE( ctxt->mpool, ctxt );
+        *ctxtp = NULL;
+    }
+}
+
+/* These are called from anddict.c, not via vtable */
+jobject
+and_util_makeJBitmap( JNIUtilCtxt* jniutil, int nCols, int nRows, 
+                      const jboolean* colors )
+{
+    jobject bitmap;
+    JNIEnv* env = *jniutil->envp;
+    jmethodID mid
+        = getMethodID( env, jniutil->jjniutil, "makeBitmap", 
+                       "(II[Z)Landroid/graphics/drawable/BitmapDrawable;" );
+
+    jbooleanArray jcolors = makeBooleanArray( env, nCols*nRows, colors );
+
+    bitmap = (*env)->CallObjectMethod( env, jniutil->jjniutil, mid,
+                                       nCols, nRows, jcolors );
+    (*env)->DeleteLocalRef( env, jcolors );
+
+    return bitmap;
+}
+
+jobject
+and_util_splitFaces( JNIUtilCtxt* jniutil, const XP_U8* bytes, jsize len )
+{
+    jobject strarray = NULL;
+    JNIEnv* env = *jniutil->envp;
+    jmethodID mid
+        = getMethodID( env, jniutil->jjniutil, "splitFaces",
+                       "([B)[Ljava/lang/String;" );
+
+    jbyteArray jbytes = (*env)->NewByteArray( env, len );
+
+    jbyte* jp = (*env)->GetByteArrayElements( env, jbytes, NULL );
+    XP_MEMCPY( jp, bytes, len );
+    (*env)->ReleaseByteArrayElements( env, jbytes, jp, 0 );
+
+    strarray = (*env)->CallObjectMethod( env, jniutil->jjniutil, mid, jbytes );
+    (*env)->DeleteLocalRef( env, jbytes );
+    return strarray;
+}
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/jniutlswrapper.h b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/jniutlswrapper.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..83f8776f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/jniutlswrapper.h
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/* -*-mode: C; fill-column: 76; c-basic-offset: 4; -*- */
+/* 
+ * Copyright 2001-2010 by Eric House (xwords@eehouse.org).  All rights
+ * reserved.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
+ */
+
+#ifndef _JNIUTLSWRAPPER_H_
+#define _JNIUTLSWRAPPER_H_
+
+#include <jni.h>
+
+#include "util.h"
+#include "andglobals.h"
+
+typedef struct JNIUtilCtxt JNIUtilCtxt;
+
+JNIUtilCtxt* makeJNIUtil( MPFORMAL JNIEnv** env, jobject jniutls );
+void destroyJNIUtil( JNIUtilCtxt** jniu );
+
+jobject and_util_makeJBitmap( JNIUtilCtxt* jniu, int nCols, int nRows, 
+                              const jboolean* colors );
+jobject and_util_splitFaces( JNIUtilCtxt* jniu, const XP_U8* bytes, int len );
+
+#endif
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/utilwrapper.c b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/utilwrapper.c
index 744600a62..c4de5b079 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/utilwrapper.c
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/utilwrapper.c
@@ -287,13 +287,11 @@ and_util_getUserString( XW_UtilCtxt* uc, XP_U16 stringCode )
         const char* jchars = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars( env, jresult, NULL );
         XP_MEMCPY( buf, jchars, len );
         buf[len] = '\0';
-        XP_LOGF( "got string from java: %s", buf );
         (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars( env, jresult, jchars );
         (*env)->DeleteLocalRef( env, jresult );
         util->userStrings[index] = buf;
     }
 
-    LOG_RETURNF( "%s", util->userStrings[index] );
     result = util->userStrings[index];
     UTIL_CBK_TAIL();
     return result;
@@ -350,42 +348,6 @@ and_util_engineStopping( XW_UtilCtxt* uc )
 }
 #endif
 
-/* These are called from anddict.c, not via vtable */
-jobject
-and_util_makeJBitmap( XW_UtilCtxt* uc, int nCols, int nRows, 
-                      const jboolean* colors )
-{
-    jobject bitmap;
-    UTIL_CBK_HEADER( "makeBitmap", 
-                     "(II[Z)Landroid/graphics/drawable/BitmapDrawable;" );
-    jbooleanArray jcolors = makeBooleanArray( env, nCols*nRows, colors );
-
-    bitmap = (*env)->CallObjectMethod( env, util->jutil, mid,
-                                       nCols, nRows, jcolors );
-    (*env)->DeleteLocalRef( env, jcolors );
-    UTIL_CBK_TAIL();
-    return bitmap;
-}
-
-jobject
-and_util_splitFaces( XW_UtilCtxt* uc, const XP_U8* bytes, jsize len )
-{
-    jobject strarray;
-    UTIL_CBK_HEADER( "splitFaces", "([B)[Ljava/lang/String;" );
-
-    jbyteArray jbytes = (*env)->NewByteArray( env, len );
-
-    jbyte* jp = (*env)->GetByteArrayElements( env, jbytes, NULL );
-    XP_MEMCPY( jp, bytes, len );
-    (*env)->ReleaseByteArrayElements( env, jbytes, jp, 0 );
-
-    strarray = (*env)->CallObjectMethod( env, util->jutil, mid, jbytes );
-    (*env)->DeleteLocalRef( env, jbytes );
-    UTIL_CBK_TAIL();
-    return strarray;
-}
-
-
 XW_UtilCtxt*
 makeUtil( MPFORMAL JNIEnv** envp, jobject jutil, CurGameInfo* gi, 
           AndGlobals* closure )
@@ -447,7 +409,6 @@ makeUtil( MPFORMAL JNIEnv** envp, jobject jutil, CurGameInfo* gi,
 void
 destroyUtil( XW_UtilCtxt** utilc )
 {
-    LOG_FUNC();
     AndUtil* util = (AndUtil*)*utilc;
     JNIEnv *env = *util->env;
 
@@ -465,5 +426,4 @@ destroyUtil( XW_UtilCtxt** utilc )
     XP_FREE( util->util.mpool, util->util.vtable );
     XP_FREE( util->util.mpool, util );
     *utilc = NULL;
-    LOG_RETURN_VOID();
 }
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/utilwrapper.h b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/utilwrapper.h
index cb22c532b..f8f20b778 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/utilwrapper.h
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/utilwrapper.h
@@ -33,8 +33,4 @@ void destroyUtil( XW_UtilCtxt** util );
 
 bool utilTimerFired( XW_UtilCtxt* util, XWTimerReason why, int handle );
 
-jobject and_util_makeJBitmap( XW_UtilCtxt* util, int nCols, int nRows, 
-                              const jboolean* colors );
-jobject and_util_splitFaces( XW_UtilCtxt* uc, const XP_U8* bytes, int len );
-
 #endif
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/xportwrapper.c b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/xportwrapper.c
index f531e01e9..ee5bedeba 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/xportwrapper.c
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/xportwrapper.c
@@ -102,8 +102,6 @@ makeXportProcs( MPFORMAL JNIEnv** envp, jobject jxport )
 {
     AndTransportProcs* aprocs = NULL;
 
-    XP_LOGF( "%s: jxport=%p", __func__, jxport );
-
     JNIEnv* env = *envp;
     aprocs = (AndTransportProcs*)XP_CALLOC( mpool, sizeof(*aprocs) );
     if ( NULL != jxport ) {
@@ -119,7 +117,6 @@ makeXportProcs( MPFORMAL JNIEnv** envp, jobject jxport )
     aprocs->tp.rerror = and_xport_relayError;
     aprocs->tp.closure = aprocs;
 
-    LOG_RETURNF( "%p", aprocs );
     return (TransportProcs*)aprocs;
 }
 
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/xwjni.c b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/xwjni.c
index 43a65ebe2..55362da5a 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/xwjni.c
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/jni/xwjni.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "xportwrapper.h"
 #include "anddict.h"
 #include "andutils.h"
+#include "jniutlswrapper.h"
 
 static CurGameInfo*
 makeGI( MPFORMAL JNIEnv* env, jobject j_gi )
@@ -219,6 +220,32 @@ Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_comms_1getInitialAddr
     setJAddrRec( env, jaddr, &addr );
 }
 
+/* Dictionary methods: don't use gamePtr */
+JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL
+Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_dict_1tilesAreSame
+( JNIEnv* env, jclass C, jint dictPtr1, jint dictPtr2 )
+{
+    LOG_FUNC();
+    jboolean result;
+    const DictionaryCtxt* dict1 = (DictionaryCtxt*)dictPtr1;
+    const DictionaryCtxt* dict2 = (DictionaryCtxt*)dictPtr2;
+    result = dict_tilesAreSame( dict1, dict2 );
+    LOG_RETURNF( "%d", result );
+    return result;
+}
+
+JNIEXPORT jobjectArray JNICALL
+Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_dict_1getChars
+( JNIEnv* env, jclass C, jint dictPtr )
+{
+    LOG_FUNC();
+    jobject result = NULL;
+    result = and_dictionary_getChars( env, (DictionaryCtxt*)dictPtr );
+    (*env)->DeleteLocalRef( env, result );
+    LOG_RETURNF( "%p", result );
+    return result;
+}
+
 typedef struct _JNIState {
     XWGame game;
     JNIEnv* env;
@@ -262,15 +289,16 @@ Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_initJNI
 
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL
 Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_game_1makeNewGame
-( JNIEnv* env, jclass C, jint gamePtr, jobject j_gi, jobject j_util,
-  jobject j_draw, jobject j_cp, jobject j_procs, jbyteArray jDictBytes )
+( JNIEnv* env, jclass C, jint gamePtr, jobject j_gi, jobject j_util, 
+  jobject jniu, jobject j_draw, jobject j_cp, jobject j_procs, 
+  jbyteArray jDictBytes )
 {
     XWJNI_START();
     CurGameInfo* gi = makeGI( MPPARM(mpool) env, j_gi );
     globals->gi = gi;
-    XW_UtilCtxt* util = makeUtil( MPPARM(mpool) &state->env, j_util, gi, 
-                                  globals );
-    globals->util = util;
+    globals->util = makeUtil( MPPARM(mpool) &state->env, j_util, gi, 
+                              globals );
+    globals->jniutil = makeJNIUtil( MPPARM(mpool) &state->env, jniu );
     DrawCtx* dctx = makeDraw( MPPARM(mpool) &state->env, j_draw );
     globals->dctx = dctx;
     globals->xportProcs = makeXportProcs( MPPARM(mpool) &state->env, j_procs );
@@ -278,10 +306,11 @@ Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_game_1makeNewGame
     loadCommonPrefs( env, &cp, j_cp );
 
     XP_LOGF( "calling game_makeNewGame" );
-    game_makeNewGame( MPPARM(mpool) &state->game, gi, util, dctx, &cp,
+    game_makeNewGame( MPPARM(mpool) &state->game, gi, globals->util, dctx, &cp,
                       globals->xportProcs );
 
-    DictionaryCtxt* dict = makeDict( MPPARM(mpool) env, util, jDictBytes );
+    DictionaryCtxt* dict = makeDict( MPPARM(mpool) env, globals->jniutil,
+                                     jDictBytes );
 #ifdef STUBBED_DICT
     if ( !dict ) {
         XP_LOGF( "falling back to stubbed dict" );
@@ -312,6 +341,7 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_game_1dispose
     destroyDraw( &globals->dctx );
     destroyXportProcs( &globals->xportProcs );
     destroyUtil( &globals->util );
+    destroyJNIUtil( &globals->jniutil );
     vtmgr_destroy( MPPARM(mpool) globals->vtMgr );
 
     state->env = oldEnv;
@@ -323,8 +353,8 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_game_1dispose
 JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL
 Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_game_1makeFromStream
 ( JNIEnv* env, jclass C, jint gamePtr, jbyteArray jstream, 
-  jobject /*out*/jgi, jbyteArray jdict, jobject jutil, jobject jdraw, 
-  jobject jcp, jobject jprocs )
+  jobject /*out*/jgi, jbyteArray jdict, jobject jutil, jobject jniu, 
+  jobject jdraw, jobject jcp, jobject jprocs )
 {
     jboolean result;
     XWJNI_START();
@@ -332,7 +362,8 @@ Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_game_1makeFromStream
     globals->gi = (CurGameInfo*)XP_CALLOC( mpool, sizeof(*globals->gi) );
     globals->util = makeUtil( MPPARM(mpool) &state->env, 
                               jutil, globals->gi, globals );
-    DictionaryCtxt* dict = makeDict( MPPARM(mpool) env, globals->util, jdict );
+    globals->jniutil = makeJNIUtil( MPPARM(mpool) &state->env, jniu );
+    DictionaryCtxt* dict = makeDict( MPPARM(mpool) env, globals->jniutil, jdict );
     globals->dctx = makeDraw( MPPARM(mpool) &state->env, jdraw );
     globals->xportProcs = makeXportProcs( MPPARM(mpool) &state->env, jprocs );
 
@@ -357,6 +388,7 @@ Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_game_1makeFromStream
         dict_destroy( dict );
         dict = NULL;
         destroyUtil( &globals->util );
+        destroyJNIUtil( &globals->jniutil );
         destroyGI( MPPARM(mpool) &globals->gi );
     }
 
@@ -371,12 +403,19 @@ Java_org_eehouse_android_xw4_jni_XwJNI_game_1saveToStream
     jbyteArray result;
     XWJNI_START();
 
-    CurGameInfo* gi = makeGI( MPPARM(mpool) env, jgi );
+    /* Use our copy of gi if none's provided.  That's because only the caller
+       knows if its gi should win -- user has changed game config -- or if
+       ours should -- changes like remote players being added. */
+    CurGameInfo* gi = 
+        (NULL == jgi) ? globals->gi : makeGI( MPPARM(mpool) env, jgi );
     XWStreamCtxt* stream = mem_stream_make( MPPARM(mpool) globals->vtMgr,
                                             NULL, 0, NULL );
 
     game_saveToStream( &state->game, gi, stream );
-    destroyGI( MPPARM(mpool) &gi );
+
+    if ( NULL != jgi ) {
+        destroyGI( MPPARM(mpool) &gi );
+    }
 
     int nBytes = stream_getSize( stream );
     result = (*env)->NewByteArray( env, nBytes );
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
index a11b686f5..df731a3d8 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../; ant reinstall"; -*- */
+/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../; ant install"; -*- */
 
 package org.eehouse.android.xw4;
 
@@ -9,12 +9,10 @@ import android.view.MenuItem;
 import android.view.MenuInflater;
 import android.content.res.AssetManager;
 import java.io.InputStream;
-import java.io.InputStreamReader;
 import android.os.Handler;
 import android.os.Message;
 import java.io.FileOutputStream;
 import java.io.FileInputStream;
-import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
 import android.content.res.Configuration;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import java.util.concurrent.Semaphore;
@@ -22,9 +20,6 @@ import android.net.Uri;
 import android.app.Dialog;
 import android.app.AlertDialog;
 import android.content.DialogInterface;
-import android.graphics.drawable.BitmapDrawable;
-import android.graphics.Bitmap;
-import java.util.ArrayList;
 import android.content.res.Resources;
 
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.*;
@@ -51,6 +46,7 @@ public class BoardActivity extends Activity implements UtilCtxt {
     private int m_dlgTitle;
     private boolean m_dlgResult;
     private CommonPrefs m_cp;
+    private JNIUtils m_jniu;
 
     // call startActivityForResult synchronously
 	private Semaphore m_forResultWait = new Semaphore(0);
@@ -113,6 +109,7 @@ public class BoardActivity extends Activity implements UtilCtxt {
         super.onCreate( savedInstanceState );
 
         m_cp = CommonPrefs.get();
+        m_jniu = JNIUtilsImpl.get();
 
         setContentView( R.layout.board );
         m_handler = new Handler();
@@ -147,9 +144,9 @@ public class BoardActivity extends Activity implements UtilCtxt {
             if ( null == stream ||
                  ! XwJNI.game_makeFromStream( m_jniGamePtr, stream, 
                                               m_gi, dictBytes, this,
-                                              m_view, m_cp, m_xport ) ) {
-                XwJNI.game_makeNewGame( m_jniGamePtr, m_gi, this, m_view, 
-                                        m_cp, m_xport, dictBytes );
+                                              m_jniu, m_view, m_cp, m_xport ) ) {
+                XwJNI.game_makeNewGame( m_jniGamePtr, m_gi, this, m_jniu, 
+                                        m_view, m_cp, m_xport, dictBytes );
             }
 
             m_jniThread = new 
@@ -193,7 +190,7 @@ public class BoardActivity extends Activity implements UtilCtxt {
 
     protected void onDestroy() 
     {
-        byte[] state = XwJNI.game_saveToStream( m_jniGamePtr, m_gi );
+        byte[] state = XwJNI.game_saveToStream( m_jniGamePtr, null );
         Utils.saveGame( this, state, m_path );
 
         if ( null != m_xport ) {
@@ -596,63 +593,4 @@ public class BoardActivity extends Activity implements UtilCtxt {
         m_jniThread.handle( JNIThread.JNICmd.CMD_POST_OVER, 
                             R.string.finalscores_title );
     }
-
-    public BitmapDrawable makeBitmap( int width, int height, boolean[] colors )
-    {
-        Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap( width, height, 
-                                             Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888 );
-
-        int indx = 0;
-        for ( int yy = 0; yy < height; ++yy ) {
-            for ( int xx = 0; xx < width; ++xx ) {
-                boolean pixelSet = colors[indx++];
-                bitmap.setPixel( xx, yy, pixelSet? 0xFF000000 : 0x00FFFFFF );
-            }
-        }
-
-        // Doesn't compile if pass getResources().  Maybe the
-        // "deprecated" API is really the only one?
-        return new BitmapDrawable( /*getResources(), */bitmap );
-    }
-
-    /** Working around lack of utf8 support on the JNI side: given a
-     * utf-8 string with embedded small number vals starting with 0,
-     * convert into individual strings.  The 0 is the problem: it's
-     * not valid utf8.  So turn it and the other nums into strings and
-     * catch them on the other side.
-     */
-    public String[] splitFaces( byte[] chars )
-    {
-        ArrayList<String> al = new ArrayList<String>();
-        int ii = 0;
-        ByteArrayInputStream bais = new ByteArrayInputStream( chars );
-        InputStreamReader isr = new InputStreamReader( bais );
-
-        int[] codePoints = new int[1];
-
-        for ( ; ; ) {
-            int chr = -1;
-            try {
-                chr = isr.read();
-            } catch ( java.io.IOException ioe ) {
-                Utils.logf( ioe.toString() );
-            }
-            if ( -1 == chr ) {
-                break;
-            } else {
-                String letter;
-                if ( chr < 32 ) {
-                    letter = String.format( "%d", chr );
-                } else {
-                    codePoints[0] = chr;
-                    letter = new String( codePoints, 0, 1 );
-                }
-                al.add( letter );
-            }
-        }
-        
-        String[] result = al.toArray( new String[al.size()] );
-        return result;
-    }
-
 } // class BoardActivity
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardView.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardView.java
index 89066cd0e..a858aca8c 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardView.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardView.java
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../; ant reinstall"; -*- */
+/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../; ant install"; -*- */
 
 package org.eehouse.android.xw4;
 
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ public class BoardView extends View implements DrawCtx,
     private String[] m_scores;
     private Rect m_boundsScratch;
     private String m_remText;
+    private int m_dictPtr = 0;
 
     private static final int BLACK = 0xFF000000;
     private static final int WHITE = 0xFFFFFFFF;
@@ -359,6 +360,22 @@ public class BoardView extends View implements DrawCtx,
         }
     }
 
+    public void dictChanged( int dictPtr )
+    {
+        Utils.logf( "BoardView::dictChanged" );
+        if ( m_dictPtr != dictPtr ) {
+            if ( m_dictPtr == 0 || !XwJNI.dict_tilesAreSame( m_dictPtr, dictPtr ) ) {
+                String[] chars = XwJNI.dict_getChars( dictPtr );
+                for ( String str : chars ) {
+                    if ( str.length() > 0 && str.charAt(0) >= 32 ) {
+                        Utils.logf( "got " + str );
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            m_dictPtr = dictPtr;
+        }
+    }
+
     private void drawTileImpl( Rect rect, String text, 
                                   BitmapDrawable[] bitmaps, int val, 
                                   int flags, boolean clearBack )
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameConfig.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameConfig.java
index 72937c977..a4a1ca3d0 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameConfig.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameConfig.java
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../; ant reinstall"; -*- */
+/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../; ant install"; -*- */
 
 /*
  * Copyright (C) 2007 The Android Open Source Project
@@ -241,9 +241,10 @@ public class GameConfig extends Activity implements View.OnClickListener {
         byte[] dictBytes = Utils.openDict( this, m_gi.dictName );
 
         int gamePtr = XwJNI.initJNI();
-        if ( !XwJNI.game_makeFromStream( gamePtr, stream, m_gi, dictBytes, 
-                                         m_cp ) ) {
-             XwJNI.game_makeNewGame( gamePtr, m_gi, m_cp, dictBytes );
+        if ( !XwJNI.game_makeFromStream( gamePtr, stream, JNIUtilsImpl.get(),
+                                         m_gi, dictBytes, m_cp ) ) {
+             XwJNI.game_makeNewGame( gamePtr, m_gi, JNIUtilsImpl.get(), 
+                                     m_cp, dictBytes );
         }
 
         int curSel = listAvailableDicts( m_gi.dictName );
@@ -616,7 +617,8 @@ public class GameConfig extends Activity implements View.OnClickListener {
 
         byte[] dictBytes = Utils.openDict( this, m_gi.dictName );
         int gamePtr = XwJNI.initJNI();
-        XwJNI.game_makeNewGame( gamePtr, m_gi, m_cp, dictBytes );
+        XwJNI.game_makeNewGame( gamePtr, m_gi, JNIUtilsImpl.get(), 
+                                m_cp, dictBytes );
 
         if ( null != m_car ) {
             XwJNI.comms_setAddr( gamePtr, m_car );
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 187802100..648255436 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
@@ -77,7 +77,11 @@ public class CommonPrefs {
     {
         String key = s_context.getString( id );
         String val = sp.getString( key, "" );
-        return 0xFF000000 | Integer.decode( val );
+        try {
+            return 0xFF000000 | Integer.decode( val );
+        } catch ( java.lang.NumberFormatException nfe ) {
+            return 0xFF7F7F7F;
+        }
     }
 
     /*
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/DrawCtx.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/DrawCtx.java
index 7fd3b4948..5d455ead4 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/DrawCtx.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/DrawCtx.java
@@ -47,4 +47,6 @@ public interface DrawCtx {
 
     void objFinished( /*BoardObjectType*/int typ, Rect rect, int dfs );
 
+    void dictChanged( int dictPtr );
+
 }
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIThread.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIThread.java
index 0c6f5efa1..2198a5fcb 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIThread.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIThread.java
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ public class JNIThread extends Thread {
     }
 
     public JNIThread( int gamePtr, CurGameInfo gi, Handler handler ) {
-        Utils.logf( "in JNIThread()" );
         m_jniGamePtr = gamePtr;
         m_gi = gi;
         m_handler = handler;
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIUtils.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIUtils.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..63cd12286
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIUtils.java
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../../; ant install"; -*- */
+
+package org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni;
+
+import android.graphics.drawable.BitmapDrawable;
+
+public interface JNIUtils {
+
+    // Stuff I can't do in C....
+    BitmapDrawable makeBitmap( int width, int height, boolean[] colors );
+    String[] splitFaces( byte[] chars );
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIUtilsImpl.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIUtilsImpl.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5f8094617
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/JNIUtilsImpl.java
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../../; ant install"; -*- */
+
+package org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni;
+
+import android.graphics.drawable.BitmapDrawable;
+import android.graphics.Bitmap;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.InputStreamReader;
+
+import org.eehouse.android.xw4.*;
+
+public class JNIUtilsImpl implements JNIUtils {
+
+    private static JNIUtils s_impl = null;
+
+    private JNIUtilsImpl(){}
+
+    public static JNIUtils get()
+    {
+        if ( null == s_impl ) {
+            s_impl = new JNIUtilsImpl();
+        }
+        return s_impl;
+    }
+
+    public BitmapDrawable makeBitmap( int width, int height, boolean[] colors )
+    {
+        Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap( width, height, 
+                                             Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888 );
+
+        int indx = 0;
+        for ( int yy = 0; yy < height; ++yy ) {
+            for ( int xx = 0; xx < width; ++xx ) {
+                boolean pixelSet = colors[indx++];
+                bitmap.setPixel( xx, yy, pixelSet? 0xFF000000 : 0x00FFFFFF );
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Doesn't compile if pass getResources().  Maybe the
+        // "deprecated" API is really the only one?
+        return new BitmapDrawable( /*getResources(), */bitmap );
+    }
+
+    /** Working around lack of utf8 support on the JNI side: given a
+     * utf-8 string with embedded small number vals starting with 0,
+     * convert into individual strings.  The 0 is the problem: it's
+     * not valid utf8.  So turn it and the other nums into strings and
+     * catch them on the other side.
+     */
+    public String[] splitFaces( byte[] chars )
+    {
+        ArrayList<String> al = new ArrayList<String>();
+        int ii = 0;
+        ByteArrayInputStream bais = new ByteArrayInputStream( chars );
+        InputStreamReader isr = new InputStreamReader( bais );
+
+        int[] codePoints = new int[1];
+
+        for ( ; ; ) {
+            int chr = -1;
+            try {
+                chr = isr.read();
+            } catch ( java.io.IOException ioe ) {
+                Utils.logf( ioe.toString() );
+            }
+            if ( -1 == chr ) {
+                break;
+            } else {
+                String letter;
+                if ( chr < 32 ) {
+                    letter = String.format( "%d", chr );
+                } else {
+                    codePoints[0] = chr;
+                    letter = new String( codePoints, 0, 1 );
+                }
+                al.add( letter );
+            }
+        }
+        
+        String[] result = al.toArray( new String[al.size()] );
+        return result;
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/UtilCtxt.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/UtilCtxt.java
index 6c6ce749a..3287c235d 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/UtilCtxt.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/UtilCtxt.java
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../../; ant reinstall"; -*- */
+/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../../; ant install"; -*- */
 
 package org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni;
 
@@ -81,12 +81,6 @@ public interface UtilCtxt {
     void userError( int id );
 
     void notifyGameOver();
-
-    BitmapDrawable makeBitmap( int width, int height, boolean[] colors );
-
-    String[] splitFaces( byte[] chars );
-
     // Don't need this unless we have a scroll thumb to indicate position
     //void yOffsetChange( int oldOffset, int newOffset );
-
 }
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/XwJNI.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/XwJNI.java
index a3a6b741e..eb9932328 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/XwJNI.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/XwJNI.java
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../../; ant reinstall"; -*- */
+/* -*- compile-command: "cd ../../../../../../; ant install"; -*- */
 
 package org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni;
 
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ public class XwJNI {
     public static native void game_makeNewGame( int gamePtr,
                                                 CurGameInfo gi, 
                                                 UtilCtxt util,
+                                                JNIUtils jniu,
                                                 DrawCtx draw, CommonPrefs cp, 
                                                 TransportProcs procs, 
                                                 byte[] dict );
@@ -37,25 +38,29 @@ public class XwJNI {
                                                       CurGameInfo gi, 
                                                       byte[] dict, 
                                                       UtilCtxt util, 
+                                                      JNIUtils jniu,
                                                       DrawCtx draw,
                                                       CommonPrefs cp,
                                                       TransportProcs procs );
 
     // leave out options params for when game won't be rendered or
     // played
-    public static void game_makeNewGame( int gamePtr, CurGameInfo gi, 
-                                         CommonPrefs cp, byte[] dict ) {
-        game_makeNewGame( gamePtr, gi, (UtilCtxt)null,
+    public static void game_makeNewGame( int gamePtr, CurGameInfo gi,
+                                         JNIUtils jniu, CommonPrefs cp, 
+                                         byte[] dict ) {
+        game_makeNewGame( gamePtr, gi, (UtilCtxt)null, jniu,
                           (DrawCtx)null, cp, (TransportProcs)null, dict );
     }
 
     public static boolean game_makeFromStream( int gamePtr,
                                                byte[] stream, 
+                                               JNIUtils jniu,
                                                CurGameInfo gi, 
                                                byte[] dict, 
                                                CommonPrefs cp ) {
         return game_makeFromStream( gamePtr, stream, gi, dict, (UtilCtxt)null, 
-                                    (DrawCtx)null, cp, (TransportProcs)null );
+                                    jniu, (DrawCtx)null, cp, 
+                                    (TransportProcs)null );
     }
 
     public static native boolean game_receiveMessage( int gamePtr, 
@@ -119,4 +124,8 @@ public class XwJNI {
     public static native void comms_start( int gamePtr );
     public static native void comms_getAddr( int gamePtr, CommsAddrRec addr );
     public static native void comms_setAddr( int gamePtr, CommsAddrRec addr );
+
+    // Dicts
+    public static native boolean dict_tilesAreSame( int dictPtr1, int dictPtr2 );
+    public static native String[] dict_getChars( int dictPtr );
 }
diff --git a/xwords4/common/dictnry.h b/xwords4/common/dictnry.h
index 5bacd1a81..e2bbc8d01 100644
--- a/xwords4/common/dictnry.h
+++ b/xwords4/common/dictnry.h
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ struct DictionaryCtxt {
                          necessarily the entry point for search!! */
     XP_UCHAR* name;
     XP_UCHAR* faces;
-    XP_UCHAR** facePtrs;
+    const XP_UCHAR** facePtrs;
     XP_U8* countsAndValues;
 
     SpecialBitmaps* bitmaps;