diff --git a/data/etc/android.hardware.vr.high_performance.xml b/data/etc/android.hardware.vr.high_performance.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..776f4f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/etc/android.hardware.vr.high_performance.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!-- Copyright (C) 2016 The Android Open Source Project
+
+     Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+     you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+     You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+          http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+     Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+     distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+     WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+     See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+     limitations under the License.
+-->
+
+<!-- This is the set of features required for a VR-compatible device -->
+<permissions>
+    <feature name="android.software.vr.mode" />
+    <feature name="android.hardware.vr.high_performance" />
+</permissions>
diff --git a/data/etc/handheld_core_hardware.xml b/data/etc/handheld_core_hardware.xml
index 5edf0e8..9cb4d6d 100644
--- a/data/etc/handheld_core_hardware.xml
+++ b/data/etc/handheld_core_hardware.xml
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@
 
     <!-- Feature to specify if the device supports a VR mode. -->
     <feature name="android.software.vr.mode" />
+    <!-- Devices with all optimizations required to be a "VR Ready" device that
+         pass all CTS tests for this feature must include feature
+         android.hardware.vr.high_performance -->
 
     <!-- devices with GPS must include android.hardware.location.gps.xml -->
     <!-- devices with an autofocus camera and/or flash must include either
diff --git a/include/binder/Parcel.h b/include/binder/Parcel.h
index 0abf8f3..5956e13 100644
--- a/include/binder/Parcel.h
+++ b/include/binder/Parcel.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #ifndef ANDROID_PARCEL_H
 #define ANDROID_PARCEL_H
 
+#include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
 #include <cutils/native_handle.h>
@@ -119,6 +120,10 @@
     status_t            writeChar(char16_t val);
     status_t            writeByte(int8_t val);
 
+    // Take a UTF8 encoded string, convert to UTF16, write it to the parcel.
+    status_t            writeUtf8AsUtf16(const std::string& str);
+    status_t            writeUtf8AsUtf16(const std::unique_ptr<std::string>& str);
+
     status_t            writeByteVector(const std::unique_ptr<std::vector<int8_t>>& val);
     status_t            writeByteVector(const std::vector<int8_t>& val);
     status_t            writeInt32Vector(const std::unique_ptr<std::vector<int32_t>>& val);
@@ -136,6 +141,9 @@
     status_t            writeString16Vector(
                             const std::unique_ptr<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<String16>>>& val);
     status_t            writeString16Vector(const std::vector<String16>& val);
+    status_t            writeUtf8VectorAsUtf16Vector(
+                            const std::unique_ptr<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::string>>>& val);
+    status_t            writeUtf8VectorAsUtf16Vector(const std::vector<std::string>& val);
 
     status_t            writeStrongBinderVector(const std::unique_ptr<std::vector<sp<IBinder>>>& val);
     status_t            writeStrongBinderVector(const std::vector<sp<IBinder>>& val);
@@ -230,6 +238,10 @@
     int8_t              readByte() const;
     status_t            readByte(int8_t *pArg) const;
 
+    // Read a UTF16 encoded string, convert to UTF8
+    status_t            readUtf8FromUtf16(std::string* str) const;
+    status_t            readUtf8FromUtf16(std::unique_ptr<std::string>* str) const;
+
     const char*         readCString() const;
     String8             readString8() const;
     String16            readString16() const;
@@ -274,6 +286,9 @@
     status_t            readString16Vector(
                             std::unique_ptr<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<String16>>>* val) const;
     status_t            readString16Vector(std::vector<String16>* val) const;
+    status_t            readUtf8VectorFromUtf16Vector(
+                            std::unique_ptr<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::string>>>* val) const;
+    status_t            readUtf8VectorFromUtf16Vector(std::vector<std::string>* val) const;
 
     template<typename T>
     status_t            read(Flattenable<T>& val) const;
diff --git a/libs/binder/IPCThreadState.cpp b/libs/binder/IPCThreadState.cpp
index a237684..1f6bda2 100644
--- a/libs/binder/IPCThreadState.cpp
+++ b/libs/binder/IPCThreadState.cpp
@@ -287,12 +287,18 @@
         return new IPCThreadState;
     }
     
-    if (gShutdown) return NULL;
+    if (gShutdown) {
+        ALOGW("Calling IPCThreadState::self() during shutdown is dangerous, expect a crash.\n");
+        return NULL;
+    }
     
     pthread_mutex_lock(&gTLSMutex);
     if (!gHaveTLS) {
-        if (pthread_key_create(&gTLS, threadDestructor) != 0) {
+        int key_create_value = pthread_key_create(&gTLS, threadDestructor);
+        if (key_create_value != 0) {
             pthread_mutex_unlock(&gTLSMutex);
+            ALOGW("IPCThreadState::self() unable to create TLS key, expect a crash: %s\n",
+                    strerror(key_create_value));
             return NULL;
         }
         gHaveTLS = true;
diff --git a/libs/binder/Parcel.cpp b/libs/binder/Parcel.cpp
index 6893e39..d3fe158 100644
--- a/libs/binder/Parcel.cpp
+++ b/libs/binder/Parcel.cpp
@@ -749,6 +749,37 @@
     return NULL;
 }
 
+status_t Parcel::writeUtf8AsUtf16(const std::string& str) {
+    const uint8_t* strData = (uint8_t*)str.data();
+    const size_t strLen= str.length();
+    const ssize_t utf16Len = utf8_to_utf16_length(strData, strLen);
+    if (utf16Len < 0 || utf16Len> std::numeric_limits<int32_t>::max()) {
+        return BAD_VALUE;
+    }
+
+    status_t err = writeInt32(utf16Len);
+    if (err) {
+        return err;
+    }
+
+    // Allocate enough bytes to hold our converted string and its terminating NULL.
+    void* dst = writeInplace((utf16Len + 1) * sizeof(char16_t));
+    if (!dst) {
+        return NO_MEMORY;
+    }
+
+    utf8_to_utf16(strData, strLen, (char16_t*)dst);
+
+    return NO_ERROR;
+}
+
+status_t Parcel::writeUtf8AsUtf16(const std::unique_ptr<std::string>& str) {
+  if (!str) {
+    return writeInt32(-1);
+  }
+  return writeUtf8AsUtf16(*str);
+}
+
 status_t Parcel::writeByteVector(const std::unique_ptr<std::vector<int8_t>>& val)
 {
     if (!val) {
@@ -852,6 +883,15 @@
     return writeNullableTypedVector(val, &Parcel::writeString16);
 }
 
+status_t Parcel::writeUtf8VectorAsUtf16Vector(
+                        const std::unique_ptr<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::string>>>& val) {
+    return writeNullableTypedVector(val, &Parcel::writeUtf8AsUtf16);
+}
+
+status_t Parcel::writeUtf8VectorAsUtf16Vector(const std::vector<std::string>& val) {
+    return writeTypedVector(val, &Parcel::writeUtf8AsUtf16);
+}
+
 status_t Parcel::writeInt32(int32_t val)
 {
     return writeAligned(val);
@@ -1491,6 +1531,14 @@
     return readTypedVector(val, &Parcel::readString16);
 }
 
+status_t Parcel::readUtf8VectorFromUtf16Vector(
+        std::unique_ptr<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::string>>>* val) const {
+    return readNullableTypedVector(val, &Parcel::readUtf8FromUtf16);
+}
+
+status_t Parcel::readUtf8VectorFromUtf16Vector(std::vector<std::string>* val) const {
+    return readTypedVector(val, &Parcel::readUtf8FromUtf16);
+}
 
 status_t Parcel::readInt32(int32_t *pArg) const
 {
@@ -1649,6 +1697,46 @@
     return int8_t(readInt32());
 }
 
+status_t Parcel::readUtf8FromUtf16(std::string* str) const {
+    size_t utf16Size = 0;
+    const char16_t* src = readString16Inplace(&utf16Size);
+    if (!src) {
+        return UNEXPECTED_NULL;
+    }
+
+    // Save ourselves the trouble, we're done.
+    if (utf16Size == 0u) {
+        str->clear();
+       return NO_ERROR;
+    }
+
+    ssize_t utf8Size = utf16_to_utf8_length(src, utf16Size);
+    if (utf8Size < 0) {
+        return BAD_VALUE;
+    }
+    // Note that while it is probably safe to assume string::resize keeps a
+    // spare byte around for the trailing null, we're going to be explicit.
+    str->resize(utf8Size + 1);
+    utf16_to_utf8(src, utf16Size, &((*str)[0]));
+    str->resize(utf8Size);
+    return NO_ERROR;
+}
+
+status_t Parcel::readUtf8FromUtf16(std::unique_ptr<std::string>* str) const {
+    const int32_t start = dataPosition();
+    int32_t size;
+    status_t status = readInt32(&size);
+    str->reset();
+
+    if (status != OK || size < 0) {
+        return status;
+    }
+
+    setDataPosition(start);
+    str->reset(new std::string());
+    return readUtf8FromUtf16(str->get());
+}
+
 const char* Parcel::readCString() const
 {
     const size_t avail = mDataSize-mDataPos;