Google has announced that the next version of Android, codenamed “N”, will be called Nougat, bitterly dividing opinion among its fans.
Nougat, which has been in developer and early-adopter preview for the last few months since being announced at Google’s I/O developer conference in May, will be the 14th distinct iteration of Android, labeled Android 7.0.
Google announced Android 7 simply as “N” and put out a call for suggestions of names starting with N. Most previous versions of Android have come with a confectionary or sweet-based code name.
That moment when... #AndroidNougat 🤗 #AndroidNReveal pic.twitter.com/dzWYeiW0gk
— Android (@Android) June 30, 2016
The third version of the operating system – Android 1.5 – was called Cupcake followed by Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KikKat, Lollipop and most recently Android 6 Marshmallow.
However, the reaction to the name has been a mixed bag.
After Google had agreed with Nestle to use the KitKat name for Android 4.4, Nutella had become a fan favourite.
Android N is called Android Nougat?
— 火野志季 (@milkboxed) July 1, 2016
But i wanted android nutella 😞
Sighhhh the new software update for Android its gonna be called as Nougat not Nutella sighh 😪😪
— Fannyfanfan (@IrfanVanHaris) July 1, 2016
Why Nougat? WHY NOT NUTELLA???
— Shawarma (@phasesofdepth) July 1, 2016
I hope N turns out better than Nougat tastes. Yikes.
— Chainfire XDA (@ChainfireXDA) July 1, 2016
Nougat, for those who haven’t had the pleasure, is a chewy sugar or honey-based whipped egg-white sweet that often contains nuts. It isthe main body of a Snickers bar, previously known as a Marathon.
Opinion on whether Nougat is tasty is also divided. Either way, new Android 7 Nougat should start making its way on to devices from September, and features upgraded battery-saving Doze features, more advanced split-screen multitasking and improved notifications.
Although, if Marshmallow’s adoption rate is a predictor, having only just passed 10% of Android devices out there after nine months on the market, it could take over a year to become common, even for new smartphones and tablets.
