diff --git a/artwork/ic_send_holo_light_encrypted.psd b/artwork/ic_send_holo_light_encrypted.psd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b9efb7b145
Binary files /dev/null and b/artwork/ic_send_holo_light_encrypted.psd differ
diff --git a/res/drawable-hdpi/ic_send_encrypted_holo_light.png b/res/drawable-hdpi/ic_send_encrypted_holo_light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3fd0b00fef
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/drawable-hdpi/ic_send_encrypted_holo_light.png differ
diff --git a/res/drawable-hdpi/ic_send_holo_light.png b/res/drawable-hdpi/ic_send_holo_light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1e78a347dd
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/drawable-hdpi/ic_send_holo_light.png differ
diff --git a/res/drawable-mdpi/ic_send_encrypted_holo_light.png b/res/drawable-mdpi/ic_send_encrypted_holo_light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c7b51a0995
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/drawable-mdpi/ic_send_encrypted_holo_light.png differ
diff --git a/res/drawable-mdpi/ic_send_holo_light.png b/res/drawable-mdpi/ic_send_holo_light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..47272f0739
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/drawable-mdpi/ic_send_holo_light.png differ
diff --git a/res/drawable-xhdpi/ic_send_encrypted_holo_light.png b/res/drawable-xhdpi/ic_send_encrypted_holo_light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aebd0a7d75
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/drawable-xhdpi/ic_send_encrypted_holo_light.png differ
diff --git a/res/drawable-xhdpi/ic_send_holo_light.png b/res/drawable-xhdpi/ic_send_holo_light.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..be98080c5e
Binary files /dev/null and b/res/drawable-xhdpi/ic_send_holo_light.png differ
diff --git a/res/drawable/send_button_background.xml b/res/drawable/send_button_background.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5d1fcdbe91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/res/drawable/send_button_background.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
+    <!-- pressed -->
+    <item android:state_pressed="true" >
+        <shape>
+            <solid android:color="#FF33B5E5" />
+        </shape>
+    </item>
+
+    <!-- focused -->
+    <item android:state_focused="true" >
+        <shape>
+            <solid android:color="#FF33B5E5" />
+        </shape>
+    </item>
+
+    <!-- default -->
+    <item>
+        <shape>
+            <solid android:color="#00ffffff" />
+        </shape>
+    </item>
+
+</selector>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/res/layout/conversation_activity.xml b/res/layout/conversation_activity.xml
index fb24b3405f..645e605078 100644
--- a/res/layout/conversation_activity.xml
+++ b/res/layout/conversation_activity.xml
@@ -74,42 +74,46 @@
                 android:layout_width="match_parent"
                 android:layout_height="1dp" />
 
-
                 <LinearLayout
                     android:id="@+id/bottom_panel"
-                    android:orientation="horizontal"
                     android:layout_width="fill_parent"
                     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                    android:paddingTop="5dip"
+                    android:orientation="horizontal"
                     android:paddingLeft="5dip"
-                    android:paddingRight="5dip"
-                    >
+                    android:paddingRight="0dp"
+                    android:paddingTop="0dp" >
 
                     <EditText
-                            android:id="@+id/embedded_text_editor"
-                            android:textColor="@android:color/black"
-                            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
-                            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                            android:layout_weight="1.0"
-                            android:autoText="true"
-                            android:capitalize="sentences"
-                            android:nextFocusRight="@+id/send_button"
-                            android:hint="@string/conversation_activity__type_message"
-                            android:maxLines="4"
-                            android:inputType="textShortMessage|textAutoCorrect|textCapSentences|textMultiLine"
-                            android:imeOptions="actionSend|flagNoEnterAction"
-                            android:maxLength="1000"
-                        />
+                        android:id="@+id/embedded_text_editor"
+                        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+                        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+                        android:layout_marginTop="5dip"
+                        android:layout_weight="1.0"
+                        android:autoText="true"
+                        android:capitalize="sentences"
+                        android:hint="@string/conversation_activity__type_message"
+                        android:imeOptions="actionSend|flagNoEnterAction"
+                        android:inputType="textShortMessage|textAutoCorrect|textCapSentences|textMultiLine"
+                        android:maxLength="1000"
+                        android:maxLines="4"
+                        android:nextFocusRight="@+id/send_button"
+                        android:textColor="@android:color/black" />
 
-                    <Button android:id="@+id/send_button"
-                        android:layout_marginLeft="5dip"
+                    <ImageButton
+                        android:id="@+id/send_button"
                         android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                         android:layout_height="fill_parent"
                         android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
+                        android:background="@drawable/send_button_background"
+                        android:contentDescription="@string/conversation_activity__send"
                         android:nextFocusLeft="@+id/embedded_text_editor"
-                        android:text="@string/conversation_activity__send"
-                        android:padding="8dip"
-                    />
+                        android:padding="12dp"
+                        android:src="@drawable/ic_send_holo_light"
+                        android:clickable="false"
+                        android:enabled="false"
+                        android:tint="#66ffffff" />
+
+"
                 </LinearLayout>
                        <TextView android:id="@+id/space_left"
                                     android:paddingLeft="5dip"
diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationActivity.java b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationActivity.java
index 8b07b0ce40..a28561b540 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationActivity.java
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/ConversationActivity.java
@@ -16,34 +16,9 @@
  */
 package org.thoughtcrime.securesms;
 
-import android.app.Activity;
-import android.app.AlertDialog;
-import android.content.BroadcastReceiver;
-import android.content.Context;
-import android.content.DialogInterface;
-import android.content.Intent;
-import android.content.IntentFilter;
-import android.net.Uri;
-import android.os.AsyncTask;
-import android.os.Build;
-import android.os.Bundle;
-import android.preference.PreferenceManager;
-import android.telephony.PhoneNumberUtils;
-import android.text.Editable;
-import android.text.TextWatcher;
-import android.util.Log;
-import android.view.ContextMenu;
-import android.view.KeyEvent;
-import android.view.View;
-import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
-import android.view.View.OnKeyListener;
-import android.view.WindowManager;
-import android.view.inputmethod.EditorInfo;
-import android.widget.Button;
-import android.widget.EditText;
-import android.widget.ImageButton;
-import android.widget.TextView;
-import android.widget.Toast;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.LinkedList;
+import java.util.List;
 
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.components.RecipientsPanel;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.crypto.AuthenticityCalculator;
@@ -75,15 +50,38 @@ import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.util.MemoryCleaner;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.util.Util;
 
 import ws.com.google.android.mms.MmsException;
+import android.app.Activity;
+import android.app.AlertDialog;
+import android.content.BroadcastReceiver;
+import android.content.Context;
+import android.content.DialogInterface;
+import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.IntentFilter;
+import android.net.Uri;
+import android.os.AsyncTask;
+import android.os.Build;
+import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.preference.PreferenceManager;
+import android.telephony.PhoneNumberUtils;
+import android.text.Editable;
+import android.text.TextWatcher;
+import android.util.Log;
+import android.view.ContextMenu;
+import android.view.KeyEvent;
+import android.view.View;
+import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
+import android.view.View.OnKeyListener;
+import android.view.WindowManager;
+import android.view.inputmethod.EditorInfo;
+import android.widget.EditText;
+import android.widget.ImageButton;
+import android.widget.TextView;
+import android.widget.Toast;
 
 import com.actionbarsherlock.view.Menu;
 import com.actionbarsherlock.view.MenuInflater;
 import com.actionbarsherlock.view.MenuItem;
 
-import java.io.IOException;
-import java.util.LinkedList;
-import java.util.List;
-
 /**
  * Activity for displaying a message thread, as well as
  * composing/sending a new message into that thread.
@@ -111,7 +109,7 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends PassphraseRequiredSherlockFragmentActi
   private RecipientsPanel recipientsPanel;
   private EditText composeText;
   private ImageButton addContactButton;
-  private Button sendButton;
+  private ImageButton sendButton;
   private TextView charactersLeft;
 
   private AttachmentTypeSelectorAdapter attachmentAdapter;
@@ -466,12 +464,11 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends PassphraseRequiredSherlockFragmentActi
     if (isSingleConversation() &&
         KeyUtil.isSessionFor(this, getRecipients().getPrimaryRecipient()))
     {
-      sendButton.setCompoundDrawablesWithIntrinsicBounds(0, 0, R.drawable.ic_menu_lock_holo_light, 0);
-      sendButton.setCompoundDrawablePadding(15);
+      sendButton.setImageResource(R.drawable.ic_send_encrypted_holo_light);
       this.isEncryptedConversation = true;
       this.characterCalculator     = new EncryptedCharacterCalculator();
     } else {
-      sendButton.setCompoundDrawablesWithIntrinsicBounds(0, 0, 0, 0);
+      sendButton.setImageResource(R.drawable.ic_send_holo_light);
       this.isEncryptedConversation = false;
       this.characterCalculator     = new CharacterCalculator();
     }
@@ -498,7 +495,7 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends PassphraseRequiredSherlockFragmentActi
     recipients          = getIntent().getParcelableExtra("recipients");
     threadId            = getIntent().getLongExtra("thread_id", -1);
     addContactButton    = (ImageButton)findViewById(R.id.contacts_button);
-    sendButton          = (Button)findViewById(R.id.send_button);
+    sendButton          = (ImageButton)findViewById(R.id.send_button);
     composeText         = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.embedded_text_editor);
     masterSecret        = (MasterSecret)getIntent().getParcelableExtra("master_secret");
     charactersLeft      = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.space_left);
@@ -510,6 +507,7 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends PassphraseRequiredSherlockFragmentActi
 
     recipientsPanel.setPanelChangeListener(new RecipientsPanelChangeListener());
     sendButton.setOnClickListener(sendButtonListener);
+    sendButton.setEnabled(false);
     addContactButton.setOnClickListener(new AddRecipientButtonListener());
     composeText.setOnKeyListener(new ComposeKeyPressedListener());
     composeText.addTextChangedListener(new OnTextChangedListener());
@@ -820,6 +818,15 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends PassphraseRequiredSherlockFragmentActi
     @Override
     public void afterTextChanged(Editable s) {
       calculateCharactersRemaining();
+      if (s == null || s.length() == 0) {
+        sendButton.setClickable(false);
+        sendButton.setEnabled(false);
+        sendButton.setColorFilter(0x66FFFFFF);
+      } else {
+        sendButton.setClickable(true);
+        sendButton.setEnabled(true);
+        sendButton.setColorFilter(null);
+      }
     }
     @Override
     public void beforeTextChanged(CharSequence s, int start, int count,int after) {}