diff --git a/res/layout/notification_expanded.xml b/res/layout/notification_expanded.xml
index 92c20a15..e19a364e 100644
--- a/res/layout/notification_expanded.xml
+++ b/res/layout/notification_expanded.xml
@@ -19,110 +19,112 @@ along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 	android:layout_width="match_parent"
 	android:layout_height="match_parent"
 	android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
-	android:orientation="vertical">
+	android:orientation="horizontal">
+
+	<ImageView
+		android:id="@+id/cover"
+		android:scaleType="fitCenter"
+		android:layout_width="128dip"
+		android:layout_height="128dip"
+		android:layout_marginRight="8dip"
+		android:contentDescription="@string/cover_art" />
 
 	<LinearLayout
 		android:layout_width="match_parent"
-		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-		android:layout_weight="2"
-		android:orientation="horizontal">
-
-		<ImageView
-			android:id="@+id/cover"
-			android:scaleType="fitCenter"
-			android:layout_width="96dip"
-			android:layout_height="96dip"
-			android:layout_marginRight="8dip"
-			android:contentDescription="@string/cover_art" />
+		android:layout_height="match_parent"
+		android:orientation="vertical">
 
 		<LinearLayout
-			android:layout_width="0dp"
+			android:layout_width="match_parent"
+			android:layout_height="0dp"
 			android:layout_weight="1"
-			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-			android:layout_gravity="center"
-			android:orientation="vertical">
-			<TextView
-				android:id="@+id/title"
-				android:layout_width="match_parent"
-				android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-				android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.EventContent.Title"
-				android:singleLine="true"
-				android:ellipsize="marquee" />
-			<TextView
-				android:id="@+id/album"
-				android:layout_width="match_parent"
-				android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-				android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.EventContent"
-				android:singleLine="true"
-				android:ellipsize="marquee" />
-			<TextView
-				android:id="@+id/artist"
-				android:layout_width="match_parent"
-				android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-				android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.EventContent"
-				android:singleLine="true"
-				android:ellipsize="marquee" />
+			android:orientation="horizontal">
+			<LinearLayout
+				android:layout_marginTop="4dip"
+				android:layout_width="0px"
+				android:layout_height="match_parent"
+				android:layout_weight="1"
+				android:layout_gravity="center"
+				android:orientation="vertical">
+				<TextView
+					android:id="@+id/title"
+					android:layout_width="match_parent"
+					android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+					android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.EventContent.Title"
+					android:singleLine="true"
+					android:ellipsize="marquee" />
+				<TextView
+					android:id="@+id/artist"
+					android:layout_width="match_parent"
+					android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+					android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.EventContent"
+					android:singleLine="true"
+					android:ellipsize="marquee" />
+				<TextView
+					android:id="@+id/album"
+					android:layout_width="match_parent"
+					android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+					android:textAppearance="@android:style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.EventContent"
+					android:singleLine="true"
+					android:ellipsize="marquee" />
+			</LinearLayout>
+
+			<ImageButton
+				android:id="@+id/close"
+				android:padding="5dip"
+				android:layout_width="32dp"
+				android:layout_height="32dp"
+				android:scaleType="fitCenter"
+				android:background="?android:attr/selectableItemBackground"
+				android:src="@drawable/notification_close"
+				android:contentDescription="@string/close_notification" />
 		</LinearLayout>
 
-		<ImageButton
-			android:id="@+id/close"
-			android:padding="5dip"
+		<!-- start controll buttons -->
+		<LinearLayout
+			android:layout_width="match_parent"
 			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-			android:layout_width="24dip"
-			android:layout_gravity="top"
-			android:scaleType="fitCenter"
-			android:src="@drawable/notification_close"
-			android:background="?android:attr/selectableItemBackground"
-			android:contentDescription="@string/close_notification" />
+			android:orientation="horizontal">
+			<ImageButton
+				android:id="@+id/previous"
+				android:paddingTop="5dip"
+				android:paddingBottom="5dip"
+				android:layout_height="42dip"
+				android:layout_width="match_parent"
+				android:layout_gravity="center"
+				android:layout_weight="1"
+				android:background="?android:attr/selectableItemBackground"
+				android:scaleType="fitCenter"
+				android:src="@drawable/previous"
+				android:contentDescription="@string/next_song" />
+			<ImageButton
+				android:id="@+id/play_pause"
+				android:paddingTop="5dip"
+				android:paddingBottom="5dip"
+				android:layout_height="42dip"
+				android:layout_width="match_parent"
+				android:layout_gravity="center"
+				android:layout_weight="1"
+				android:background="?android:attr/selectableItemBackground"
+				android:scaleType="fitCenter"
+				android:src="@drawable/play"
+				android:contentDescription="@string/play_pause" />
+			<ImageButton
+				android:id="@+id/next"
+				android:paddingTop="5dip"
+				android:paddingBottom="5dip"
+				android:layout_height="42dip"
+				android:layout_width="match_parent"
+				android:layout_gravity="center"
+				android:layout_weight="1"
+				android:background="?android:attr/selectableItemBackground"
+				android:scaleType="fitCenter"
+				android:src="@drawable/next"
+				android:contentDescription="@string/next_song" />
+		</LinearLayout>
+		<!-- end controll buttons -->
 
 	</LinearLayout>
 
-	<LinearLayout
-		android:layout_width="match_parent"
-		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-		android:layout_weight="1"
-		android:orientation="horizontal">
-
-		<ImageButton
-			android:id="@+id/previous"
-			android:paddingTop="5dip"
-			android:paddingBottom="5dip"
-			android:layout_height="42dip"
-			android:layout_width="match_parent"
-			android:layout_gravity="center"
-			android:layout_weight="1"
-			android:background="?android:attr/selectableItemBackground"
-			android:scaleType="fitCenter"
-			android:src="@drawable/previous"
-			android:contentDescription="@string/next_song" />
-
-		<ImageButton
-			android:id="@+id/play_pause"
-			android:paddingTop="5dip"
-			android:paddingBottom="5dip"
-			android:layout_height="42dip"
-			android:layout_width="match_parent"
-			android:layout_gravity="center"
-			android:layout_weight="1"
-			android:background="?android:attr/selectableItemBackground"
-			android:scaleType="fitCenter"
-			android:src="@drawable/play"
-			android:contentDescription="@string/play_pause" />
-
-		<ImageButton
-			android:id="@+id/next"
-			android:paddingTop="5dip"
-			android:paddingBottom="5dip"
-			android:layout_height="42dip"
-			android:layout_width="match_parent"
-			android:layout_gravity="center"
-			android:layout_weight="1"
-			android:background="?android:attr/selectableItemBackground"
-			android:scaleType="fitCenter"
-			android:src="@drawable/next"
-			android:contentDescription="@string/next_song" />
-
-
-	</LinearLayout>
 
 </LinearLayout>
diff --git a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/PlaybackService.java b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/PlaybackService.java
index c1f78f05..e779856d 100644
--- a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/PlaybackService.java
+++ b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/PlaybackService.java
@@ -1880,7 +1880,9 @@ public final class PlaybackService extends Service
 		notification.flags |= Notification.FLAG_ONGOING_EVENT;
 		notification.contentIntent = mNotificationAction;
 		if(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN) {
-			notification.bigContentView = expanded; // expanded view is available since 4.1
+			// expanded view is available since 4.1
+			notification.bigContentView = expanded;
+			notification.priority = 42;
 		}
 		return notification;
 	}