diff --git a/lib/core_dom/http.dart b/lib/core_dom/http.dart
index 74126e594..fdae907e8 100644
--- a/lib/core_dom/http.dart
+++ b/lib/core_dom/http.dart
@@ -387,16 +387,6 @@ class Http {
   Http(this._cookies, this._location, this._rewriter, this._backend,
        this.defaults, this._interceptors);
 
-  /**
-   * DEPRECATED
-   */
-  async.Future<String> getString(String url, {bool withCredentials,
-      void onProgress(dom.ProgressEvent e), Cache cache}) =>
-      request(url,
-              withCredentials: withCredentials,
-              onProgress: onProgress,
-              cache: cache).then((HttpResponse xhr) => xhr.responseText);
-
   /**
    * Parse a [requestUrl] and determine whether this is a same-origin request as
    * the application document.
@@ -442,6 +432,7 @@ class Http {
       throw ['timeout not implemented'];
     }
 
+    url = _rewriter(url);
     method = method.toUpperCase();
 
     if (headers == null) headers = {};
@@ -461,8 +452,7 @@ class Http {
     });
 
     var serverRequest = (HttpResponseConfig config) {
-      assert(config.data == null || config.data is String ||
-          config.data is dom.File);
+      assert(config.data == null || config.data is String || config.data is dom.File);
 
       // Strip content-type if data is undefined
       if (config.data == null) {
@@ -471,12 +461,45 @@ class Http {
             .forEach((h) => headers.remove(h));
       }
 
-      return request(null,
-                     config: config,
-                     method: method,
-                     sendData: config.data,
-                     requestHeaders: config.headers,
-                     cache: cache);
+      url = _buildUrl(config.url, config.params);
+
+      if (cache == false) {
+        cache = null;
+      } else if (cache == null) {
+        cache = defaults.cache;
+      }
+
+      // We return a pending request only if caching is enabled.
+      if (cache != null && _pendingRequests.containsKey(url)) {
+        return _pendingRequests[url];
+      }
+      var cachedResponse = (cache != null && method == 'GET') ? cache.get(url) : null;
+      if (cachedResponse != null) {
+        return new async.Future.value(new HttpResponse.copy(cachedResponse));
+      }
+
+      var result = _backend.request(url,
+                                    method: method,
+                                    requestHeaders: config.headers,
+                                    sendData: config.data).then((dom.HttpRequest value) {
+        // TODO: Uncomment after apps migrate off of this class.
+        // assert(value.status >= 200 && value.status < 300);
+
+        var response = new HttpResponse(value.status, value.responseText,
+            parseHeaders(value), config);
+
+        if (cache != null) cache.put(url, response);
+        _pendingRequests.remove(url);
+        return response;
+      }, onError: (error) {
+        if (error is! dom.ProgressEvent) throw error;
+        dom.ProgressEvent event = error;
+        _pendingRequests.remove(url);
+        dom.HttpRequest request = event.currentTarget;
+        return new async.Future.error(
+            new HttpResponse(request.status, request.response, parseHeaders(request), config));
+      });
+      return _pendingRequests[url] = result;
     };
 
     var chain = [[serverRequest, null]];
@@ -632,7 +655,6 @@ class Http {
     });
     return parsed;
   }
-
   /**
    * Returns an [Iterable] of [Future] [HttpResponse]s for the requests
    * that the [Http] service is currently waiting for.
@@ -640,73 +662,6 @@ class Http {
   Iterable<async.Future<HttpResponse> > get pendingRequests =>
       _pendingRequests.values;
 
-  /**
-   * DEPRECATED
-   */
-  async.Future<HttpResponse> request(String rawUrl,
-      { HttpResponseConfig config,
-        String method: 'GET',
-        bool withCredentials: false,
-        String responseType,
-        String mimeType,
-        Map<String, String> requestHeaders,
-        sendData,
-        void onProgress(dom.ProgressEvent e),
-        /*Cache<String, HttpResponse> or false*/ cache }) {
-    String url;
-
-    if (config == null) {
-      url = _rewriter(rawUrl);
-      config = new HttpResponseConfig(url: url);
-    } else {
-      url = _buildUrl(config.url, config.params);
-    }
-
-    if (cache == false) {
-      cache = null;
-    } else if (cache == null) {
-      cache = defaults.cache;
-    }
-    // We return a pending request only if caching is enabled.
-    if (cache != null && _pendingRequests.containsKey(url)) {
-      return _pendingRequests[url];
-    }
-    var cachedResponse = (cache != null && method == 'GET')
-        ? cache.get(url)
-        : null;
-    if (cachedResponse != null) {
-      return new async.Future.value(new HttpResponse.copy(cachedResponse));
-    }
-
-    var result = _backend.request(url,
-        method: method,
-        withCredentials: withCredentials,
-        responseType: responseType,
-        mimeType: mimeType,
-        requestHeaders: requestHeaders,
-        sendData: sendData,
-        onProgress: onProgress).then((dom.HttpRequest value) {
-      // TODO: Uncomment after apps migrate off of this class.
-      // assert(value.status >= 200 && value.status < 300);
-
-      var response = new HttpResponse(value.status, value.responseText,
-          parseHeaders(value), config);
-
-      if (cache != null) cache.put(url, response);
-      _pendingRequests.remove(url);
-      return response;
-    }, onError: (error) {
-      if (error is! dom.ProgressEvent) throw error;
-      dom.ProgressEvent event = error;
-      _pendingRequests.remove(url);
-      dom.HttpRequest request = event.currentTarget;
-      return new async.Future.error(
-          new HttpResponse(request.status, request.response,
-              parseHeaders(request), config));
-    });
-    return _pendingRequests[url] = result;
-  }
-
   _buildUrl(String url, Map<String, dynamic> params) {
     if (params == null) return url;
     var parts = [];
diff --git a/lib/core_dom/view_factory.dart b/lib/core_dom/view_factory.dart
index 574975c47..4a8d2ed94 100644
--- a/lib/core_dom/view_factory.dart
+++ b/lib/core_dom/view_factory.dart
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ class ViewCache {
   }
 
   async.Future<ViewFactory> fromUrl(String url, DirectiveMap directives) {
-    return http.getString(url, cache: templateCache).then(
-        (html) => fromHtml(html, directives));
+    return http.get(url, cache: templateCache).then(
+        (resp) => fromHtml(resp.responseText, directives));
   }
 }
 
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ class _ComponentFactory implements Function {
     var cssUrls = []..addAll(_baseCss.urls)..addAll(component.cssUrls);
     if (cssUrls.isNotEmpty) {
       cssUrls.forEach((css) => cssFutures.add(http
-          .getString(css, cache: templateCache)
-          .catchError((e) => '/*\n$e\n*/\n')
+          .get(css, cache: templateCache).then((resp) => resp.responseText,
+            onError: (e) => '/*\n$e\n*/\n')
       ));
     } else {
       cssFutures.add(new async.Future.value(null));
diff --git a/test/core/templateurl_spec.dart b/test/core/templateurl_spec.dart
index e573f7c66..cf3933c26 100644
--- a/test/core/templateurl_spec.dart
+++ b/test/core/templateurl_spec.dart
@@ -90,11 +90,12 @@ void main() {
       it('should replace element with template from url', async(inject(
           (Http http, Compiler compile, Scope rootScope,  Logger log,
            Injector injector, MockHttpBackend backend, DirectiveMap directives) {
-        backend.expectGET('simple.html').respond('<div log="SIMPLE">Simple!</div>');
+        backend.expectGET('simple.html').respond(200, '<div log="SIMPLE">Simple!</div>');
 
         var element = es('<div><simple-url log>ignore</simple-url><div>');
         compile(element, directives)(injector, element);
 
+        microLeap();
         backend.flush();
         microLeap();
 
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ void main() {
       it('should load template from URL once', async(inject(
           (Http http, Compiler compile, Scope rootScope,  Logger log,
            Injector injector, MockHttpBackend backend, DirectiveMap directives) {
-        backend.whenGET('simple.html').respond('<div log="SIMPLE">Simple!</div>');
+        backend.whenGET('simple.html').respond(200, '<div log="SIMPLE">Simple!</div>');
 
         var element = es(
             '<div>'
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ void main() {
             '<div>');
         compile(element, directives)(injector, element);
 
+        microLeap();
         backend.flush();
         microLeap();
 
@@ -130,12 +132,13 @@ void main() {
           (Http http, Compiler compile, Scope rootScope, Logger log,
            Injector injector, MockHttpBackend backend, DirectiveMap directives) {
         backend
-            ..expectGET('simple.css').respond('.hello{}')
-            ..expectGET('simple.html').respond('<div log="SIMPLE">Simple!</div>');
+            ..expectGET('simple.css').respond(200, '.hello{}')
+            ..expectGET('simple.html').respond(200, '<div log="SIMPLE">Simple!</div>');
 
         var element = e('<div><html-and-css log>ignore</html-and-css><div>');
         compile([element], directives)(injector, [element]);
 
+        microLeap();
         backend.flush();
         microLeap();
 
@@ -152,9 +155,10 @@ void main() {
           (Http http, Compiler compile, Scope rootScope, Injector injector,
            MockHttpBackend backend, DirectiveMap directives) {
         var element = es('<div><inline-with-css log>ignore</inline-with-css><div>');
-        backend.expectGET('simple.css').respond('.hello{}');
+        backend.expectGET('simple.css').respond(200, '.hello{}');
         compile(element, directives)(injector, element);
 
+        microLeap();
         backend.flush();
         microLeap();
         expect(element[0]).toHaveText('.hello{}inline!');
@@ -167,6 +171,7 @@ void main() {
         backend.expectGET('simple.css').respond(500, 'some error');
         compile(element, directives)(injector, element);
 
+        microLeap();
         backend.flush();
         microLeap();
         expect(element.first).toHaveText(
@@ -180,9 +185,10 @@ void main() {
           (Http http, Compiler compile, Scope rootScope, Injector injector,
            MockHttpBackend backend, DirectiveMap directives) {
         var element = es('<div><only-css log>ignore</only-css><div>');
-        backend.expectGET('simple.css').respond('.hello{}');
+        backend.expectGET('simple.css').respond(200, '.hello{}');
         compile(element, directives)(injector, element);
 
+        microLeap();
         backend.flush();
         microLeap();
         expect(element[0]).toHaveText('.hello{}');
@@ -192,12 +198,13 @@ void main() {
           (Http http, Compiler compile, Scope rootScope, Injector injector,
            MockHttpBackend backend, DirectiveMap directives) {
         backend
-            ..expectGET('simple.css').respond('.hello{}')
-            ..expectGET('simple.html').respond('<div>Simple!</div>');
+            ..expectGET('simple.css').respond(200, '.hello{}')
+            ..expectGET('simple.html').respond(200, '<div>Simple!</div>');
 
         var element = es('<html-and-css>ignore</html-and-css>');
         compile(element, directives)(injector, element);
 
+        microLeap();
         backend.flush();
         microLeap();
         expect(element.first).toHaveText('.hello{}Simple!');
@@ -215,13 +222,14 @@ void main() {
           (Http http, Compiler compile, Scope rootScope, Logger log,
            Injector injector, MockHttpBackend backend, DirectiveMap directives) {
         backend
-            ..expectGET('simple.css').respond('.hello{}')
-            ..expectGET('another.css').respond('.world{}')
-            ..expectGET('simple.html').respond('<div log="SIMPLE">Simple!</div>');
+            ..expectGET('simple.css').respond(200, '.hello{}')
+            ..expectGET('another.css').respond(200, '.world{}')
+            ..expectGET('simple.html').respond(200, '<div log="SIMPLE">Simple!</div>');
 
         var element = e('<div><html-and-css log>ignore</html-and-css><div>');
         compile([element], directives)(injector, [element]);
 
+        microLeap();
         backend.flush();
         microLeap();
 
diff --git a/test/core_dom/compiler_spec.dart b/test/core_dom/compiler_spec.dart
index d4874c3c5..346b4ab22 100644
--- a/test/core_dom/compiler_spec.dart
+++ b/test/core_dom/compiler_spec.dart
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ void main() {
         });
 
         it('should fire onTemplate method', async((Compiler compile, Logger logger, MockHttpBackend backend) {
-          backend.whenGET('some/template.url').respond('<div>WORKED</div>');
+          backend.whenGET('some/template.url').respond(200, '<div>WORKED</div>');
           var scope = _.rootScope.createChild({});
           scope.context['isReady'] = 'ready';
           scope.context['logger'] = logger;
@@ -503,6 +503,7 @@ void main() {
           expect(logger).toEqual(expected);
           logger.clear();
 
+          microLeap();
           backend.flush();
           microLeap();
           expect(logger).toEqual(['templateLoaded', _.rootScope.context['shadowRoot']]);
diff --git a/test/core_dom/http_spec.dart b/test/core_dom/http_spec.dart
index 7db14adcf..333076559 100644
--- a/test/core_dom/http_spec.dart
+++ b/test/core_dom/http_spec.dart
@@ -940,8 +940,8 @@ void main() {
 
         var called = 0;
         zone.run(() {
-          http.getString('a[not sent to backed]').then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(VALUE);
+          http.get('a[not sent to backed]').then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(VALUE);
             called += 1;
           });
         });
@@ -959,12 +959,12 @@ void main() {
 
         var called = 0;
         zone.run(() {
-          http.getString('a[some string]', cache: cache).then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(VALUE);
+          http.get('a[some string]', cache: cache).then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(VALUE);
             called += 1;
           });
-          http.getString('a[different string]', cache: cache).then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(VALUE);
+          http.get('a[different string]', cache: cache).then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(VALUE);
             called += 10;
           });
         });
@@ -979,8 +979,8 @@ void main() {
       it('should support caching', async((Http http, VmTurnZone zone) {
         var called = 0;
         zone.run(() {
-          http.getString('fromCache', cache: cache).then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(CACHED_VALUE);
+          http.get('fromCache', cache: cache).then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(CACHED_VALUE);
             called += 1;
           });
         });
@@ -995,12 +995,12 @@ void main() {
 
         var called = 0;
         zone.run(() {
-          http.getString('a').then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(VALUE);
+          http.get('a').then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(VALUE);
             called += 1;
           });
-          http.getString('a').then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(VALUE);
+          http.get('a').then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(VALUE);
             called += 10;
           });
         });
@@ -1018,12 +1018,12 @@ void main() {
 
         var called = 0;
         zone.run(() {
-          http.getString('a', cache: cache).then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(VALUE);
+          http.get('a', cache: cache).then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(VALUE);
             called += 1;
           });
-          http.getString('a', cache: cache).then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(VALUE);
+          http.get('a', cache: cache).then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(VALUE);
             called += 10;
           });
         });
@@ -1040,8 +1040,8 @@ void main() {
 
         var called = 0;
         zone.run(() {
-          http.getString('a', cache: cache).then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(VALUE);
+          http.get('a', cache: cache).then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(VALUE);
             called += 1;
           });
         });
@@ -1050,8 +1050,8 @@ void main() {
         flush();
 
         zone.run(() {
-          http.getString('a', cache: cache).then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(VALUE);
+          http.get('a', cache: cache).then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(VALUE);
             called += 10;
           });
         });
@@ -1067,8 +1067,8 @@ void main() {
         var called = 0;
         // The URL string 'f' is primed in the FakeCache
         zone.run(() {
-          http.getString('f', cache: cache).then((v) {
-            expect(v).toEqual(CACHED_VALUE);
+          http.get('f', cache: cache).then((v) {
+            expect(v.responseText).toEqual(CACHED_VALUE);
             called += 1;
           });
           expect(called).toEqual(0);
@@ -1085,7 +1085,7 @@ void main() {
 
         var response = null;
         zone.run(() {
-          http.getString('404.html').then(
+          http.get('404.html').then(
                   (v) => response = 'FAILED',
               onError:(v) { assert(v != null); return response = v; });
         });
diff --git a/test/directive/ng_base_css_spec.dart b/test/directive/ng_base_css_spec.dart
index d6d3862b9..4944b8760 100644
--- a/test/directive/ng_base_css_spec.dart
+++ b/test/directive/ng_base_css_spec.dart
@@ -16,13 +16,14 @@ main() => describe('NgBaseCss', () {
 
   it('should load css urls from ng-base-css', async((TestBed _, MockHttpBackend backend) {
     backend
-      ..expectGET('base.css').respond('.base{}')
-      ..expectGET('simple.css').respond('.simple{}')
-      ..expectGET('simple.html').respond('<div>Simple!</div>');
+      ..expectGET('base.css').respond(200, '.base{}')
+      ..expectGET('simple.css').respond(200, '.simple{}')
+      ..expectGET('simple.html').respond(200, '<div>Simple!</div>');
 
     var element = e('<div ng-base-css="base.css"><html-and-css>ignore</html-and-css></div>');
     _.compile(element);
 
+    microLeap();
     backend.flush();
     microLeap();
 
@@ -33,13 +34,14 @@ main() => describe('NgBaseCss', () {
 
   it('ng-base-css should overwrite parent ng-base-csses', async((TestBed _, MockHttpBackend backend) {
     backend
-      ..expectGET('base.css').respond('.base{}')
-      ..expectGET('simple.css').respond('.simple{}')
-      ..expectGET('simple.html').respond('<div>Simple!</div>');
+      ..expectGET('base.css').respond(200, '.base{}')
+      ..expectGET('simple.css').respond(200, '.simple{}')
+      ..expectGET('simple.html').respond(200, '<div>Simple!</div>');
 
     var element = e('<div ng-base-css="hidden.css"><div ng-base-css="base.css"><html-and-css>ignore</html-and-css></div></div>');
     _.compile(element);
 
+    microLeap();
     backend.flush();
     microLeap();
 
@@ -55,13 +57,14 @@ main() => describe('NgBaseCss', () {
 
     it('ng-base-css should be available from the injector', async((TestBed _, MockHttpBackend backend) {
       backend
-        ..expectGET('injected.css').respond('.injected{}')
-        ..expectGET('simple.css').respond('.simple{}')
-        ..expectGET('simple.html').respond('<div>Simple!</div>');
+        ..expectGET('injected.css').respond(200, '.injected{}')
+        ..expectGET('simple.css').respond(200, '.simple{}')
+        ..expectGET('simple.html').respond(200, '<div>Simple!</div>');
 
       var element = e('<div><html-and-css>ignore</html-and-css></div></div>');
       _.compile(element);
 
+      microLeap();
       backend.flush();
       microLeap();