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Android 4.4 Named 'KitKat'

Today Google revealed that the next major version of the Android mobile operating system will be called 'KitKat.' The naming convention has always used sugary snacks in alphabetical order — Jelly Bean (4.1 - 4.3) followed Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0), which followed Honeycomb (3.1 - 3.2), which followed Gingerbread (2.3), and so on. Unlike the previous releases, KitKat is named after an actual product, rather than a generic treat. Thus, Google contacted Nestle, who was happy to jump on board and take advantage of the cross-marketing opportunities. According to an article at the BBC, the Android team was originally going to use 'Key Lime Pie,' but they decided it wasn't familiar enough to most people. After finding some KitKat bars in the company fridge, they made the choice to switch. Nestle was on board 'within an hour' of hearing the idea.

4 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. Meh by Niris · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's fine and all, but I really don't care about the OS name. There's multiple articles out there and people going crazy _just for the name_. I want to know what's new in the OS for developers, not what their next marketing strategy is.

  2. Advertising Company by TheNinjaroach · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is the result of what happens when an advertising company makes an operating system.

    --
    I went to eat some animal crackers and the box said, "Do not eat if seal is broken." I opened the box and sure enough..
  3. Re:Alphabet by X0563511 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... and yet they thought "key lime pie" was too unfamiliar?

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
  4. Re:Google: Not Evil, Just Cosying Up With Evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yup, I'm sure Apple's really excited that perhaps 0.00000001% of the population (that probably are pretentious enough they use iPhones already), might not buy an Android phone. And they'll share the news among themselves on their blogs.