diff --git a/js/angular/directive/item.js b/js/angular/directive/item.js
index 29e9092740c..8556cb9bef1 100644
--- a/js/angular/directive/item.js
+++ b/js/angular/directive/item.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 var ITEM_TPL_CONTENT_ANCHOR =
-  '<a class="item-content" ng-href="{{$href()}}"></a>';
+  '<a class="item-content" ng-href="{{$href()}}" target="{{$target()}}"></a>';
 var ITEM_TPL_CONTENT =
   '<div class="item-content"></div>';
 /**
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ function($animate, $compile) {
           $scope.$href = function() {
             return $attrs.href || $attrs.ngHref;
           };
+          $scope.$target = function() {
+            return $attrs.target || '_self';
+          };
         };
     }
   };
diff --git a/test/unit/angular/directive/item.unit.js b/test/unit/angular/directive/item.unit.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ee40d2dccc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/angular/directive/item.unit.js
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+describe('ionItem directive', function() {
+  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
+  function setup(attrs, content) {
+    var el;
+    inject(function($rootScope, $compile) {
+      el = angular.element('<ion-item '+(attrs||'')+'>').html(content || '');
+      el.data('$ionListController', {});
+      $compile(el)($rootScope);
+      $rootScope.$apply();
+    });
+    return el;
+  }
+
+  it('should be simple item by default', function() {
+    var el = setup('', '{{1}} <b>2</b>');
+    expect(el.html()).toBe('1 <b>2</b>');
+    expect(el.hasClass('item')).toBe(true);
+    expect(el.hasClass('item-complex')).toBe(false);
+  });
+  it('should be complex if ui-sref', function() {
+    var el = setup('ui-sref="something"');
+    expect(el.hasClass('item item-complex')).toBe(true);
+    expect(el.children()[0].tagName).toBe('A');
+    expect(el.children().hasClass('item-content')).toBe(true);
+  });
+  ['href', 'ng-href'].forEach(function(attr) {
+    it('should be complex anchor if '+attr+' is defined', function() {
+      var el = setup(attr+'="something/{{foo}}"');
+      expect(el.hasClass('item item-complex')).toBe(true);
+      expect(el.children()[0].tagName).toBe('A');
+      expect(el.children().hasClass('item-content')).toBe(true);
+      expect(el.children().attr('href')).toBe('something/');
+      el.scope().$apply('foo = 44');
+      expect(el.children().attr('href')).toBe('something/44');
+    });
+  });
+  it('complex item should have target self by default', function() {
+    var el = setup('href="foo"');
+    expect(el.find('a').attr('target')).toBe('_self');
+  });
+  it('complex item should have target if specified', function() {
+    var el = setup('href="foo" target="bar"');
+    expect(el.find('a').attr('target')).toBe('bar');
+  });
+  ['ion-option-button','ion-reorder-button','ion-delete-button'].forEach(function(tag) {
+    it('should be complex div if '+tag+' is found', function() {
+      var el = setup('', tag);
+      expect(el.hasClass('item item-complex')).toBe(true);
+      expect(el.children()[0].tagName).toBe('DIV');
+      expect(el.children().hasClass('item-content')).toBe(true);
+      expect(el.children().html()).toBe(tag);
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('ionDeleteButton directive', function() {
+  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
+  it('should have delete button', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setDeleteButton');
+    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-delete-button></ion-delete-button></ion-item>');
+    el.data('$ionListController', {
+      showDelete: function() { return false; }
+    });
+    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
+    $rootScope.$apply();
+
+    var deleteContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-left-edit.item-delete.ng-hide'));
+    expect(deleteContainer.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(deleteContainer.children().hasClass('button icon button-icon')).toBe(true);
+  }));
+  it('should unhide if delete is shown', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setDeleteButton');
+    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-delete-button></ion-delete-button></ion-item>');
+    el.data('$ionListController', {
+      showDelete: function() { return true; }
+    });
+    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
+    $rootScope.$apply();
+
+    var deleteContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-left-edit.item-delete'));
+    expect(deleteContainer.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(deleteContainer.hasClass('ng-hide')).toBe(false);
+  }));
+});
+
+describe('ionReorderButton directive', function() {
+  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
+  it('should have reorder button', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setReorderButton');
+    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-reorder-button></ion-reorder-button></ion-item>');
+    el.data('$ionListController', {
+      showReorder: function() { return false; }
+    });
+    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
+    $rootScope.$apply();
+
+    var reorderContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-right-edit.item-reorder.ng-hide'));
+    expect(reorderContainer.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(reorderContainer.children().hasClass('button icon button-icon')).toBe(true);
+    expect(reorderContainer.attr('data-prevent-scroll')).toBe('true');
+    expect(reorderContainer.children().attr('data-prevent-scroll')).toBe('true');
+  }));
+  it('should remove ng-hide if reorder is already active', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setReorderButton');
+    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-reorder-button></ion-reorder-button></ion-item>');
+    el.data('$ionListController', {
+      showReorder: function() { return true; }
+    });
+    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
+    $rootScope.$apply();
+    var reorderContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-right-edit.item-reorder'));
+    expect(reorderContainer.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(reorderContainer.hasClass('ng-hide')).toBe(false);
+  }));
+});
+
+describe('ionOptionButton directive', function() {
+  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
+  it('should have option button', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setOptionButton');
+    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-option-button></ion-option-button></ion-item>');
+    el.data('$ionListController', {
+      showDelete: function() { return false; }
+    });
+    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
+    $rootScope.$apply();
+
+    var optionContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-options'));
+    expect(optionContainer.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(optionContainer.children().hasClass('button')).toBe(true);
+  }));
+});
diff --git a/test/unit/angular/directive/list.unit.js b/test/unit/angular/directive/list.unit.js
index 83191f10c0a..7b4583ef517 100644
--- a/test/unit/angular/directive/list.unit.js
+++ b/test/unit/angular/directive/list.unit.js
@@ -1,70 +1,3 @@
-describe('$ionicList controller', function() {
-  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
-  function setup(attrs) {
-    var ctrl;
-    inject(function($controller, $rootScope) {
-      var scope = $rootScope.$new();
-      ctrl = $controller('$ionicList', {
-        $scope: scope,
-        $attrs: attrs || {},
-      });
-      ctrl.$scope = scope;
-    });
-    return ctrl;
-  }
-
-  it('should register with handle', inject(function($ionicListDelegate) {
-    spyOn($ionicListDelegate, '_registerInstance');
-    var ctrl = setup({delegateHandle: 'foobar'});
-    expect($ionicListDelegate._registerInstance)
-      .toHaveBeenCalledWith(ctrl, 'foobar');
-  }));
-
-  it('should register with given handle and deregister on destroy', inject(function($ionicListDelegate) {
-    var deregisterSpy = jasmine.createSpy('deregister');
-    spyOn($ionicListDelegate, '_registerInstance').andCallFake(function() {
-      return deregisterSpy;
-    });
-    var ctrl = setup({
-      delegateHandle: 'something'
-    });
-    expect($ionicListDelegate._registerInstance)
-      .toHaveBeenCalledWith(ctrl, 'something');
-
-    expect(deregisterSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    ctrl.$scope.$destroy();
-    expect(deregisterSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
-  }));
-
-  it('.showReorder sets/gets', function() {
-    var ctrl = setup();
-    expect(ctrl.showReorder()).toBe(false);
-    ctrl.showReorder(true);
-    expect(ctrl.showReorder()).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it('.showDelete sets/gets', function() {
-    var ctrl = setup();
-    expect(ctrl.showDelete()).toBe(false);
-    ctrl.showDelete(true);
-    expect(ctrl.showDelete()).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it('.canSwipeItems sets/gets', function() {
-    var ctrl = setup();
-    expect(ctrl.canSwipeItems()).toBe(true);
-    ctrl.canSwipeItems(false);
-    expect(ctrl.canSwipeItems()).toBe(false);
-  });
-
-  it('.closeOptionButtons closes calls clearDragEffects', function() {
-    var ctrl = setup();
-    ctrl.listView = { clearDragEffects: jasmine.createSpy('clearDragEffects') };
-    ctrl.closeOptionButtons();
-    expect(ctrl.listView.clearDragEffects).toHaveBeenCalled();
-  });
-});
-
 describe('ionList directive', function() {
   beforeEach(module('ionic'));
 
@@ -228,127 +161,3 @@ describe('ionList directive', function() {
   }));
 });
 
-describe('ionItem directive', function() {
-  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
-  function setup(attrs, content) {
-    var el;
-    inject(function($rootScope, $compile) {
-      el = angular.element('<ion-item '+(attrs||'')+'>').html(content || '');
-      el.data('$ionListController', {});
-      $compile(el)($rootScope);
-      $rootScope.$apply();
-    });
-    return el;
-  }
-
-  it('should be simple item by default', function() {
-    var el = setup('', '{{1}} <b>2</b>');
-    expect(el.html()).toBe('1 <b>2</b>');
-    expect(el.hasClass('item')).toBe(true);
-    expect(el.hasClass('item-complex')).toBe(false);
-  });
-  it('should be complex if ui-sref', function() {
-    var el = setup('ui-sref="something"');
-    expect(el.hasClass('item item-complex')).toBe(true);
-    expect(el.children()[0].tagName).toBe('A');
-    expect(el.children().hasClass('item-content')).toBe(true);
-  });
-  ['href', 'ng-href'].forEach(function(attr) {
-    it('should be complex anchor if '+attr+' is defined', function() {
-      var el = setup(attr+'="something/{{foo}}"');
-      expect(el.hasClass('item item-complex')).toBe(true);
-      expect(el.children()[0].tagName).toBe('A');
-      expect(el.children().hasClass('item-content')).toBe(true);
-      expect(el.children().attr('href')).toBe('something/');
-      el.scope().$apply('foo = 44');
-      expect(el.children().attr('href')).toBe('something/44');
-    });
-  });
-  ['ion-option-button','ion-reorder-button','ion-delete-button'].forEach(function(tag) {
-    it('should be complex div if '+tag+' is found', function() {
-      var el = setup('', tag);
-      expect(el.hasClass('item item-complex')).toBe(true);
-      expect(el.children()[0].tagName).toBe('DIV');
-      expect(el.children().hasClass('item-content')).toBe(true);
-      expect(el.children().html()).toBe(tag);
-    });
-  });
-});
-
-describe('ionDeleteButton directive', function() {
-  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
-  it('should have delete button', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
-    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setDeleteButton');
-    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-delete-button></ion-delete-button></ion-item>');
-    el.data('$ionListController', {
-      showDelete: function() { return false; }
-    });
-    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
-    $rootScope.$apply();
-
-    var deleteContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-left-edit.item-delete.ng-hide'));
-    expect(deleteContainer.length).toBe(1);
-    expect(deleteContainer.children().hasClass('button icon button-icon')).toBe(true);
-  }));
-  it('should unhide if delete is shown', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
-    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setDeleteButton');
-    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-delete-button></ion-delete-button></ion-item>');
-    el.data('$ionListController', {
-      showDelete: function() { return true; }
-    });
-    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
-    $rootScope.$apply();
-
-    var deleteContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-left-edit.item-delete'));
-    expect(deleteContainer.length).toBe(1);
-    expect(deleteContainer.hasClass('ng-hide')).toBe(false);
-  }));
-});
-
-describe('ionReorderButton directive', function() {
-  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
-  it('should have reorder button', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
-    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setReorderButton');
-    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-reorder-button></ion-reorder-button></ion-item>');
-    el.data('$ionListController', {
-      showReorder: function() { return false; }
-    });
-    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
-    $rootScope.$apply();
-
-    var reorderContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-right-edit.item-reorder.ng-hide'));
-    expect(reorderContainer.length).toBe(1);
-    expect(reorderContainer.children().hasClass('button icon button-icon')).toBe(true);
-    expect(reorderContainer.attr('data-prevent-scroll')).toBe('true');
-    expect(reorderContainer.children().attr('data-prevent-scroll')).toBe('true');
-  }));
-  it('should remove ng-hide if reorder is already active', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
-    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setReorderButton');
-    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-reorder-button></ion-reorder-button></ion-item>');
-    el.data('$ionListController', {
-      showReorder: function() { return true; }
-    });
-    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
-    $rootScope.$apply();
-    var reorderContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-right-edit.item-reorder'));
-    expect(reorderContainer.length).toBe(1);
-    expect(reorderContainer.hasClass('ng-hide')).toBe(false);
-  }));
-});
-
-describe('ionOptionButton directive', function() {
-  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
-  it('should have option button', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
-    var setSpy = jasmine.createSpy('setOptionButton');
-    var el = angular.element('<ion-item><ion-option-button></ion-option-button></ion-item>');
-    el.data('$ionListController', {
-      showDelete: function() { return false; }
-    });
-    $compile(el)($rootScope.$new());
-    $rootScope.$apply();
-
-    var optionContainer = angular.element(el[0].querySelector('.item-options'));
-    expect(optionContainer.length).toBe(1);
-    expect(optionContainer.children().hasClass('button')).toBe(true);
-  }));
-});
diff --git a/test/unit/controllers/listController.unit.js b/test/unit/controllers/listController.unit.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ffd01c5d2bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/controllers/listController.unit.js
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+describe('$ionicList controller', function() {
+  beforeEach(module('ionic'));
+  function setup(attrs) {
+    var ctrl;
+    inject(function($controller, $rootScope) {
+      var scope = $rootScope.$new();
+      ctrl = $controller('$ionicList', {
+        $scope: scope,
+        $attrs: attrs || {},
+      });
+      ctrl.$scope = scope;
+    });
+    return ctrl;
+  }
+
+  it('should register with handle', inject(function($ionicListDelegate) {
+    spyOn($ionicListDelegate, '_registerInstance');
+    var ctrl = setup({delegateHandle: 'foobar'});
+    expect($ionicListDelegate._registerInstance)
+      .toHaveBeenCalledWith(ctrl, 'foobar');
+  }));
+
+  it('should register with given handle and deregister on destroy', inject(function($ionicListDelegate) {
+    var deregisterSpy = jasmine.createSpy('deregister');
+    spyOn($ionicListDelegate, '_registerInstance').andCallFake(function() {
+      return deregisterSpy;
+    });
+    var ctrl = setup({
+      delegateHandle: 'something'
+    });
+    expect($ionicListDelegate._registerInstance)
+      .toHaveBeenCalledWith(ctrl, 'something');
+
+    expect(deregisterSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    ctrl.$scope.$destroy();
+    expect(deregisterSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  }));
+
+  it('.showReorder sets/gets', function() {
+    var ctrl = setup();
+    expect(ctrl.showReorder()).toBe(false);
+    ctrl.showReorder(true);
+    expect(ctrl.showReorder()).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('.showDelete sets/gets', function() {
+    var ctrl = setup();
+    expect(ctrl.showDelete()).toBe(false);
+    ctrl.showDelete(true);
+    expect(ctrl.showDelete()).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('.canSwipeItems sets/gets', function() {
+    var ctrl = setup();
+    expect(ctrl.canSwipeItems()).toBe(true);
+    ctrl.canSwipeItems(false);
+    expect(ctrl.canSwipeItems()).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('.closeOptionButtons closes calls clearDragEffects', function() {
+    var ctrl = setup();
+    ctrl.listView = { clearDragEffects: jasmine.createSpy('clearDragEffects') };
+    ctrl.closeOptionButtons();
+    expect(ctrl.listView.clearDragEffects).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+