diff --git a/res/values/strings.xml b/res/values/strings.xml
index 01ca4e46f..48ab3ef5b 100644
--- a/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ Welcome to K-9 Mail setup.  K-9 is an open source mail client for Android origin
     <string name="account_settings_notify_summary">Notify in status bar when mail arrives</string>
     <string name="account_settings_notify_sync_summary">Notify in status bar while mail is checked</string>
     <string name="account_settings_show_combined_label">Show combined Inbox</string>
-    <string name="account_settings_left_handed_label">Widgets on the left</string>
+    <string name="account_settings_star_label">Star flagged messages</string>
     <string name="account_settings_touchable_label">Touch-friendly view</string>
     <string name="account_settings_notify_self_label">Notify for mail I sent</string>
     <string name="account_settings_notify_self_summary">Notify even for mail sent from an account identity</string>
diff --git a/res/xml/global_preferences.xml b/res/xml/global_preferences.xml
index 9b52f56cb..2d54de085 100644
--- a/res/xml/global_preferences.xml
+++ b/res/xml/global_preferences.xml
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@
             android:title="@string/account_settings_touchable_label"/>
 
          <CheckBoxPreference
-            android:key="messagelist_lefthanded_widgets"
-            android:title="@string/account_settings_left_handed_label"/>
+            android:key="messagelist_stars"
+            android:title="@string/account_settings_star_label"/>
     
     </PreferenceCategory>
     <PreferenceCategory android:title="@string/operational_preferences" android:key="operational_preferences">
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/Account.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/Account.java
index 96fb6ce69..d8a0d73d0 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/Account.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/Account.java
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ public class Account implements Serializable
     boolean mNotifySync;
     HideButtons mHideMessageViewButtons;
     boolean mIsSignatureBeforeQuotedText;
-    boolean mLeftHanded;
     private String mExpungePolicy = EXPUNGE_IMMEDIATELY;
     private int mMaxPushFolders;
 
@@ -100,7 +99,6 @@ public class Account implements Serializable
         mVibrate = false;
         mRing = true;
         mNotifySelfNewMail = true;
-        mLeftHanded = false;
         mFolderDisplayMode = FolderMode.NOT_SECOND_CLASS;
         mFolderSyncMode = FolderMode.FIRST_CLASS;
         mFolderPushMode = FolderMode.FIRST_CLASS;
@@ -181,7 +179,6 @@ public class Account implements Serializable
         mTransportUri = Utility.base64Decode(preferences.getPreferences().getString(mUuid
                                              + ".transportUri", null));
         mDescription = preferences.getPreferences().getString(mUuid + ".description", null);
-        mLeftHanded = preferences.getPreferences().getBoolean(mUuid + ".leftHanded", false);
         mAlwaysBcc = preferences.getPreferences().getString(mUuid + ".alwaysBcc", mAlwaysBcc);
         mAutomaticCheckIntervalMinutes = preferences.getPreferences().getInt(mUuid
                                          + ".automaticCheckIntervalMinutes", -1);
@@ -445,17 +442,6 @@ public class Account implements Serializable
         identities.get(0).setEmail(email);
     }
 
-
-    public boolean getLeftHanded()
-    {
-        return mLeftHanded;
-    }
-
-    public void setLeftHanded(boolean leftie)
-    {
-        mLeftHanded = leftie;
-    }
-
     public String getAlwaysBcc()
     {
         return mAlwaysBcc;
@@ -521,7 +507,6 @@ public class Account implements Serializable
         editor.remove(mUuid + ".name");
         editor.remove(mUuid + ".email");
         editor.remove(mUuid + ".alwaysBcc");
-        editor.remove(mUuid + ".mLeftHanded");
         editor.remove(mUuid + ".automaticCheckIntervalMinutes");
         editor.remove(mUuid + ".lastAutomaticCheckTime");
         editor.remove(mUuid + ".notifyNewMail");
@@ -593,7 +578,6 @@ public class Account implements Serializable
         editor.putString(mUuid + ".transportUri", Utility.base64Encode(mTransportUri));
         editor.putString(mUuid + ".description", mDescription);
         editor.putString(mUuid + ".alwaysBcc", mAlwaysBcc);
-        editor.putBoolean(mUuid + ".leftHanded", mLeftHanded);
         editor.putInt(mUuid + ".automaticCheckIntervalMinutes", mAutomaticCheckIntervalMinutes);
         editor.putInt(mUuid + ".displayCount", mDisplayCount);
         editor.putLong(mUuid + ".lastAutomaticCheckTime", mLastAutomaticCheckTime);
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
index bc1093f4b..95a1db073 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/K9.java
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public class K9 extends Application
     private static boolean mAnimations = true;
 
 
-    private static boolean mMessageListLefthandedWidgets = false;
+    private static boolean mMessageListStars = true;
     private static boolean mMessageListTouchable = false;
 
 
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ public class K9 extends Application
         editor.putBoolean("enableSensitiveLogging", K9.DEBUG_SENSITIVE);
         editor.putString("backgroundOperations", K9.backgroundOps.toString());
         editor.putBoolean("animations", mAnimations);
-        editor.putBoolean("messageListLefthandedWidgets",mMessageListLefthandedWidgets);
+        editor.putBoolean("messageListStars",mMessageListStars);
         editor.putBoolean("messageListTouchable",mMessageListTouchable);
         editor.putInt("theme", theme);
     }
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ public class K9 extends Application
         DEBUG = sprefs.getBoolean("enableDebugLogging", false);
         DEBUG_SENSITIVE = sprefs.getBoolean("enableSensitiveLogging", false);
         mAnimations = sprefs.getBoolean("animations", true);
-        mMessageListLefthandedWidgets = sprefs.getBoolean("messageListLefthandedWidgets",false);
+        mMessageListStars = sprefs.getBoolean("messageListStars",true);
         mMessageListTouchable = sprefs.getBoolean("messageListTouchable",false);
 
 
@@ -454,14 +454,14 @@ public class K9 extends Application
         mMessageListTouchable = touchy;
     }
 
-    public static boolean messageListLefthandedWidgets()
+    public static boolean messageListStars()
     {
-        return mMessageListLefthandedWidgets;
+        return mMessageListStars;
     }
 
-    public static void setMessageListLefthandedWidgets(boolean lefty)
+    public static void setMessageListStars(boolean stars)
     {
-        mMessageListLefthandedWidgets = lefty;
+        mMessageListStars = stars;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.java
index f13dbd87f..e1b4498d7 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/MessageList.java
@@ -74,16 +74,11 @@ public class MessageList
     private static final String STATE_KEY_SELECTION = "com.fsck.k9.activity.messagelist_selection";
     private static final String STATE_KEY_SELECTED_COUNT = "com.fsck.k9.activity.messagelist_selected_count";
 
-    private static final int WIDGET_NONE = 1;
-    private static final int WIDGET_FLAG = 2;
-
 
     private ListView mListView;
 
     private boolean mTouchView = true;
 
-    private int mSelectedWidget = WIDGET_FLAG;
-
     private MessageListAdapter mAdapter;
 
     private FolderInfoHolder mCurrentFolder;
@@ -113,7 +108,7 @@ public class MessageList
     private boolean sortAscending = true;
     private boolean sortDateAscending = false;
 
-    private boolean mLeftHanded = false;
+    private boolean mStars = true;
     private int mSelectedCount = 0;
 
     private View mBatchButtonArea;
@@ -308,8 +303,8 @@ public class MessageList
             mController.loadMoreMessages(mAccount, mFolderName, mAdapter.mListener);
             return;
         }
-        
-        
+
+
         MessageInfoHolder message = (MessageInfoHolder) mAdapter.getItem(position);
         if (mSelectedCount > 0)
         {
@@ -362,14 +357,7 @@ public class MessageList
         mBatchFlagButton.setOnClickListener(this);
         mBatchDoneButton = (Button) findViewById(R.id.batch_done_button);
 
-        if (mTouchView == true)
-        {
-            mBatchDoneButton.setOnClickListener(this);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            mBatchDoneButton.setVisibility(View.GONE);
-        }
+        mBatchDoneButton.setOnClickListener(this);
 
         Intent intent = getIntent();
         mAccount = (Account)intent.getSerializableExtra(EXTRA_ACCOUNT);
@@ -476,7 +464,7 @@ public class MessageList
     {
         super.onResume();
 
-        mLeftHanded = K9.messageListLefthandedWidgets();
+        mStars = K9.messageListStars();
         mTouchView = K9.messageListTouchable();
 
         sortType = mController.getSortType();
@@ -537,34 +525,23 @@ public class MessageList
 
             case KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT:
             {
-                if (mQueryString != null)
-                { // no widget customization in search results yet
-                    return false;
-                }
-                else if (mBatchButtonArea.hasFocus())
+                if (mBatchButtonArea.hasFocus())
                 {
                     return false;
                 }
                 else
                 {
-
-                    cycleVisibleWidgets(true);
                     return true;
                 }
             }
             case KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_RIGHT:
             {
-                if (mQueryString != null)
-                { // no widget customization in search results yet
-                    return false;
-                }
-                else if (mBatchButtonArea.hasFocus())
+                if (mBatchButtonArea.hasFocus())
                 {
                     return false;
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    cycleVisibleWidgets(false);
                     return true;
                 }
             }
@@ -712,97 +689,6 @@ public class MessageList
 
     }
 
-    public void cycleVisibleWidgets(boolean ascending)
-    {
-        if (mTouchView == true)
-        {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        if (ascending)
-        {
-
-            switch (mSelectedWidget)
-            {
-                case WIDGET_FLAG:
-                {
-                    mSelectedWidget = WIDGET_NONE;
-                    break;
-                }
-                case WIDGET_NONE:
-                {
-                    mSelectedWidget = WIDGET_FLAG;
-                    break;
-                }
-
-            }
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            switch (mSelectedWidget)
-            {
-                case WIDGET_FLAG:
-                {
-                    mSelectedWidget=WIDGET_NONE;
-                    break;
-                }
-                case WIDGET_NONE:
-                {
-                    mSelectedWidget=WIDGET_FLAG;
-                    break;
-                }
-
-            }
-
-        }
-
-        configureWidgets();
-
-    }
-
-    private void configureWidgets()
-    {
-        switch (mSelectedWidget)
-        {
-            case WIDGET_FLAG:
-                hideBatchButtons();
-                break;
-            case WIDGET_NONE:
-                hideBatchButtons();
-                break;
-        }
-
-        int count = mListView.getChildCount();
-        for (int i=0; i<count; i++)
-        {
-            setVisibleWidgetsForListItem(mListView.getChildAt(i), mSelectedWidget);
-        }
-    }
-
-
-    private void setVisibleWidgetsForListItem(View v, int showWidget)
-    {
-
-        Button flagged = (Button) v.findViewById(R.id.flagged);
-        CheckBox selected = (CheckBox) v.findViewById(R.id.selected_checkbox);
-
-        if (mTouchView == true || flagged == null || selected == null)
-        {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        if (showWidget == WIDGET_NONE)
-        {
-            flagged.setVisibility(View.GONE);
-            return;
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            flagged.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
-        }
-
-    }
-
     private void onAccounts()
     {
         Accounts.listAccounts(this);
@@ -1259,16 +1145,6 @@ public class MessageList
                 flagSelected(Flag.FLAGGED, false);
                 return true;
 
-            case R.id.batch_plain_mode:
-                mSelectedWidget = WIDGET_NONE;
-                configureWidgets();
-                return true;
-
-            case R.id.batch_flag_mode:
-                mSelectedWidget = WIDGET_FLAG;
-                configureWidgets();
-                return true;
-
             case R.id.expunge:
                 if (mCurrentFolder != null)
                 {
@@ -1286,7 +1162,6 @@ public class MessageList
                                       R.id.batch_select_all, R.id.batch_deselect_all
                                     };
 
-    private final int[] batch_modes = { R.id.batch_flag_mode, R.id.batch_plain_mode };
 
     private void setOpsState(Menu menu, boolean state, boolean enabled)
     {
@@ -1297,13 +1172,6 @@ public class MessageList
         }
     }
 
-    private void setOpsMode(Menu menu, int currentModeId)
-    {
-        for (int id : batch_modes)
-        {
-            menu.findItem(id).setVisible(id != currentModeId);
-        }
-    }
 
     @Override
     public boolean onPrepareOptionsMenu(Menu menu)
@@ -1318,33 +1186,22 @@ public class MessageList
             menu.findItem(R.id.list_folders).setVisible(false);
             menu.findItem(R.id.expunge).setVisible(false);
         }
-        if (mSelectedWidget ==  WIDGET_FLAG)
-        {
-            setOpsState(menu, false, false);
-            setOpsMode(menu, R.id.batch_flag_mode);
-        }
-        else if (mSelectedWidget == WIDGET_NONE)
-        {
-            setOpsState(menu, false, false);
-            setOpsMode(menu, R.id.batch_plain_mode);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            boolean anySelected = anySelected();
-            setOpsState(menu, true, anySelected);
 
-            boolean newFlagState = computeBatchDirection(true);
-            boolean newReadState = computeBatchDirection(false);
-            menu.findItem(R.id.batch_flag_op).setVisible(newFlagState);
-            menu.findItem(R.id.batch_unflag_op).setVisible(!newFlagState);
-            menu.findItem(R.id.batch_mark_read_op).setVisible(newReadState);
-            menu.findItem(R.id.batch_mark_unread_op).setVisible(!newReadState);
-            menu.findItem(R.id.batch_deselect_all).setEnabled(anySelected);
-            menu.findItem(R.id.batch_select_all).setEnabled(true);
-            // TODO: batch move and copy not yet implemented
-            menu.findItem(R.id.batch_move_op).setVisible(false);
-            menu.findItem(R.id.batch_copy_op).setVisible(false);
-        }
+        boolean anySelected = anySelected();
+        setOpsState(menu, true, anySelected);
+
+        boolean newFlagState = computeBatchDirection(true);
+        boolean newReadState = computeBatchDirection(false);
+        menu.findItem(R.id.batch_flag_op).setVisible(newFlagState);
+        menu.findItem(R.id.batch_unflag_op).setVisible(!newFlagState);
+        menu.findItem(R.id.batch_mark_read_op).setVisible(newReadState);
+        menu.findItem(R.id.batch_mark_unread_op).setVisible(!newReadState);
+        menu.findItem(R.id.batch_deselect_all).setEnabled(anySelected);
+        menu.findItem(R.id.batch_select_all).setEnabled(true);
+        // TODO: batch move and copy not yet implemented
+        menu.findItem(R.id.batch_move_op).setVisible(false);
+        menu.findItem(R.id.batch_copy_op).setVisible(false);
+
 
         if (mCurrentFolder != null && mCurrentFolder.outbox)
         {
@@ -1996,7 +1853,10 @@ public class MessageList
                     }
                 });
 
-
+                if (mStars == false)
+                {
+                    holder.flagged.setVisibility(View.GONE);
+                }
 
                 holder.selected = (CheckBox) view.findViewById(R.id.selected_checkbox);
 
@@ -2014,7 +1874,6 @@ public class MessageList
 
                 holder.subject.setTypeface(null, message.read ? Typeface.NORMAL  : Typeface.BOLD);
 
-                setVisibleWidgetsForListItem(view, mSelectedWidget);
                 // XXX TODO there has to be some way to walk our view hierarchy and get this
                 holder.flagged.setTag((Integer)position);
 
@@ -2410,18 +2269,14 @@ public class MessageList
                     //We must set the flag before showing the buttons
                     //as the buttons text depends on what is selected
                     message.selected = isChecked;
-                    if (mTouchView == true)
+                    if (isChecked == true)
                     {
-                        if (isChecked == true)
-                        {
-                            selected.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
-                        }
-                        else
-                        {
-                            selected.setVisibility(View.GONE);
-                        }
+                        selected.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        selected.setVisibility(View.GONE);
                     }
-
                     toggleBatchButtons();
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/AccountSettings.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/AccountSettings.java
index ffc1e0503..5bba4ac60 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/AccountSettings.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/AccountSettings.java
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ public class AccountSettings extends K9PreferenceActivity
         SharedPreferences prefs = mAccountRingtone.getPreferenceManager().getSharedPreferences();
         String currentRingtone = (!mAccount.isRing() ? null : mAccount.getRingtone());
         prefs.edit().putString(PREFERENCE_RINGTONE, currentRingtone).commit();
-        
+
         mAccountVibrate = (CheckBoxPreference) findPreference(PREFERENCE_VIBRATE);
         mAccountVibrate.setChecked(mAccount.isVibrate());
 
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ public class AccountSettings extends K9PreferenceActivity
         mAccount.setFolderTargetMode(Account.FolderMode.valueOf(mTargetMode.getValue()));
         mAccount.setDeletePolicy(Integer.parseInt(mDeletePolicy.getValue()));
         mAccount.setExpungePolicy(mExpungePolicy.getValue());
-        
+
         SharedPreferences prefs = mAccountRingtone.getPreferenceManager().getSharedPreferences();
         String newRingtone = prefs.getString(PREFERENCE_RINGTONE, null);
         if (newRingtone != null)
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ public class AccountSettings extends K9PreferenceActivity
                 mAccount.setRingtone(null);
             }
         }
-        
+
         mAccount.setHideMessageViewButtons(Account.HideButtons.valueOf(mAccountHideButtons.getValue()));
         mAccount.setAutoExpandFolderName(reverseTranslateFolder(mAutoExpandFolder.getSummary().toString()));
         mAccount.save(Preferences.getPreferences(this));
diff --git a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java
index 33c3dcbca..7fe83d3cc 100644
--- a/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java
+++ b/src/com/fsck/k9/activity/setup/Prefs.java
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity
     private static final String PREFERENCE_SENSITIVE_LOGGING = "sensitive_logging";
 
     private static final String PREFERENCE_ANIMATIONS = "animations";
-    private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_LEFTHANDED_WIDGETS = "messagelist_lefthanded_widgets";
+    private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_STARS = "messagelist_stars";
     private static final String PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_TOUCHABLE = "messagelist_touchable";
 
     private ListPreference mTheme;
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity
     private CheckBoxPreference mDebugLogging;
     private CheckBoxPreference mSensitiveLogging;
     private CheckBoxPreference mAnimations;
-    private CheckBoxPreference mLefthandedWidgets;
+    private CheckBoxPreference mStars;
     private CheckBoxPreference mTouchable;
 
 
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity
         mAnimations = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(PREFERENCE_ANIMATIONS);
         mAnimations.setChecked(K9.isAnimations());
 
-        mLefthandedWidgets = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_LEFTHANDED_WIDGETS);
-        mLefthandedWidgets.setChecked(K9.messageListLefthandedWidgets());
+        mStars = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_STARS);
+        mStars.setChecked(K9.messageListStars());
 
         mTouchable = (CheckBoxPreference)findPreference(PREFERENCE_MESSAGELIST_TOUCHABLE);
         mTouchable.setChecked(K9.messageListTouchable());
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ public class Prefs extends K9PreferenceActivity
         K9.setBackgroundOps(newBackgroundOps);
 
         K9.setAnimations(mAnimations.isChecked());
-        K9.setMessageListLefthandedWidgets(mLefthandedWidgets.isChecked());
+        K9.setMessageListStars(mStars.isChecked());
 
         K9.setMessageListTouchable(mTouchable.isChecked());