Don't create a canonical id for every character typed.

// FREEBIE

res/layout/contact_selection_activity.xml

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
                       android:layout_marginLeft="5dp"
                       android:hint="Enter name or number"
                       android:inputType="textPersonName"
-                      android:theme="@style/TextSecure.TitleTextStyle"
+                      style="@style/TextSecure.TitleTextStyle"
                       android:background="@android:color/transparent"
                       android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
                       android:gravity="center_vertical"/>

src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/contacts/ContactSelectionListItem.java

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import android.widget.TextView;
 
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.R;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.components.AvatarImageView;
+import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.recipients.Recipient;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.recipients.RecipientFactory;
 import org.thoughtcrime.securesms.recipients.Recipients;
 
@@ -50,7 +51,10 @@ public class ContactSelectionListItem extends RelativeLayout implements Recipien
     this.id     = id;
     this.number = number;
 
-    if (number != null) {
+    if (type == ContactsDatabase.NEW_TYPE) {
+      this.recipients = null;
+      this.contactPhotoImage.setAvatar(Recipient.getUnknownRecipient(), false);
+    } else if (number != null) {
       this.recipients = RecipientFactory.getRecipientsFromString(getContext(), number, true);
       this.recipients.addListener(this);
     }

src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/contacts/ContactsDatabase.java

@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ public class ContactsDatabase {
 
   public static final int NORMAL_TYPE = 0;
   public static final int PUSH_TYPE   = 1;
+  public static final int NEW_TYPE    = 2;
 
   private final Context context;
 
@@ -226,7 +227,7 @@ public class ContactsDatabase {
     MatrixCursor newNumberCursor = new MatrixCursor(new String[] {ID_COLUMN, NAME_COLUMN, NUMBER_COLUMN, NUMBER_TYPE_COLUMN, LABEL_COLUMN, CONTACT_TYPE_COLUMN}, 1);
     newNumberCursor.addRow(new Object[]{-1L, context.getString(R.string.contact_selection_list__unknown_contact),
                                         filter, ContactsContract.CommonDataKinds.Phone.TYPE_CUSTOM,
-                                        "\u21e2", NORMAL_TYPE});
+                                        "\u21e2", NEW_TYPE});
 
     return newNumberCursor;
   }

src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/recipients/Recipient.java

@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ public class Recipient {
 
   public static Recipient getUnknownRecipient() {
     return new Recipient(-1, new RecipientDetails("Unknown", "Unknown", null,
-                                                  ContactPhotoFactory.getDefaultContactPhoto("Unknown"), null));
+                                                  ContactPhotoFactory.getDefaultContactPhoto(null), null));
   }
 
   @Override