now the notification view looks good and has useful information

res/layout/notification.xml

@@ -3,10 +3,15 @@
     android:orientation="horizontal"
     android:layout_width="fill_parent"
     android:layout_height="wrap_content">
-    <TextView android:id="@+id/notification_text"
+    <ImageView android:id="@+id/n_icon"
+	android:layout_width="60dp"
+	android:layout_height="60dp"
+	android:scaleType="fitCenter" />
+    <TextView android:id="@+id/n_text"
 	android:layout_width="1dp"
 	android:layout_height="wrap_content"
 	android:layout_weight="1"
+	android:layout_gravity="center_vertical|left"
 	android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"
 	android:text="SimpleSSHD is running" />
 </LinearLayout>

src/org/galexander/sshd/SimpleSSHDService.java

@@ -70,6 +70,12 @@ public class SimpleSSHDService extends Service {
 
 			n.contentView = new RemoteViews(getPackageName(),
 					R.layout.notification);
+			/* for some reason icon cannot be defined in xml: */
+			n.contentView.setImageViewResource(R.id.n_icon,
+					R.drawable.icon);
+			n.contentView.setTextViewText(R.id.n_text,
+				"SimpleSSHD listening on "+SimpleSSHD.get_ip()+
+				":"+Prefs.get_port());
 
 			startForeground(1, n);
 		}