Remove Android status bar gradient Is it possible to remove the black-to-transparent gradient that, as of Kit Kat, is now behind the status bar and the home button?

I find it to be rather ugly and would rather it be gone.
Setting the status and navigation bars to have the transparent gradient is handled by applications/launchers themselves in stock 4.4. Some apps and launchers provide a setting to turn the gradients on and off.

The AOSP launcher always uses opaque bars, Google Now launcher always uses transparent bars, and certain 3rd party launchers such as Nova give you a toggle. Regardless of the launcher's setting, apps can and will override it.