Have a break, Have a KitKat

On September 3rd, 2013 Google without much fanfare announced the latest version of its Android operating system. Android has a rich heritage of naming its operating systems with desserts (or confectionery products) and has been alphabetically followed ever since its inception. 

Here is the brief and accurate information on the different code names of Android. Read more about the Android story here

·         Android milestone builds (with Astro Boy and Bender floating around in here somewhere)

·         Android 1.0 (No codename)

·         Android 1.1 - Petit Four

·         Android 1.5 - Cupcake

·         Android 1.6 - Donut

·         Android 2.0 - Éclair

·         Android 2.1 - Éclair

·         Android 2.2 - Froyo

·         Android 2.3 - Gingerbread

·         Android 3.0 - Honeycomb

·         Android 4.0 - Ice Cream Sandwich

·         Android 4.1 - Jelly Bean

·         Android 4.3 - Jelly Bean

The latest one to be added is the world famous ubiquitous chocolate bars which is produced by Nestle known as KitKat. Rumor has it that Google and Nestle went on non-monetary agreement to strike a deal and everything was done and dusted within a time span of one hour!

But there is a significant promotional element: 50 million KitKat bars in 19 countries including India will have prominent Android branding and offer buyers the chance to win a Nexus 7 tablet and Google Play gift cards. All those wrappers started production two months ago in secret so they would be ready for the promotion.  

The whole tech world was taken by storm as everybody expected the new OS to be Key lime Pie, but then other sources say that due to the insufficient popularity of KLP, another popular product was decided. Internal sources also say that the programmers at the Goggle headquarters used to take KitKat breaks at midnight which adds more credibility to the name chosen.

In fact Key Lime Pie was a decoy code name for the next Android OS. It was a deliberate attempt and strategically planned to confuse people. The naming of the new OS was such a clandestine and hush-hush affair that even the Google employees actually fell for it.   

According to the Verge, it says "adding to the air of intrigue, Nestle is commemorating the partnership with 500 specially-produced KitKats in the shape of the Android logo that the company claims took "weeks" to create in "a secret location in Europe."

We also have a video where KitKat mocks Apple with a 4.4 parody video

Meanwhile back in India, some IIT grads are making a compelling case for Android head honcho, Mr. Sunder Pichai to name the next Android OS as ladoo or lassi. Well it might sound amusing but then you never know,the world might take a liking towards Indian sweets.There are also rumor mills churning around that Google might strike a deal with Haldiram’s to come up with something similar to what Nestle is doing but I guess that will never see the light of the day anytime soon.

Sources: The Verge, Techradar