Today, we reported that Google was opening up a contest to allow people the opportunity to suggest a name for the next version of Android, currently known as Android N. In the past, Google has named consumer-facing versions of the operating system after a dessert with examples such as Android 2.2 Froyo, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Android 5.1 Lollipop. In recent years, a new version of the operating system is announced with a letter rather than a name and a title. For the longest time, Android 5.0 Lollipop was simply known as “Android L.” Google unveiled the name (although a number of manufacturers let slip that it was Lollipop before the official unveiling, such as Lenovo) only a few weeks before the software was rolled out to customers all over the world.
For 2016 and Android N, the latest version of Android still currently running as a developer preview version (and not ready for primetime), Google alluded that they were having difficulties coming up with a new name for it. Around the world, the Internet has suggested that Android Nutella was the favorite, but this is a brand name as owned by an Italian business, Ferrero. We don’t know if Google has approached Ferrero to ask about using the Nutella name for the next version of Android, or if they did, what Ferrero said. Android 4.4 KitKat used a brand name with the blessing of Nestle, the owners of the KitKat brand. Regardless, we’ve seen other names suggested such as Napoleon (after the ice cream, rather than the historical French general), New York Cheesecake (perhaps too long), Nut Brittle, Nori, Nougat or Neapolitan Ice Cream.
We already understood that Google reserve the right to pick the name of the next version of Android, and when the company promised a contest to allow customers to pick a name for the next version of Android, we were excited to see it! However, the website contains some fine print, which contains the following: “This is solely intended to be for entertainment purposes; the name(s) you submit will not be judged and there will be no prizes or compensation awarded to any participant.” Either, Google has picked out a name for Android N and is generating some interest in the next version of Android, or somebody somewhere is playing a cruel joke on Android fans.