Android and Dessert Names

Revised 03SEP-2013

Google's Android division certainly has a sense of humor: It named all of its version codenames after
desserts (just as Intel names all of its CPUs after rivers). To celebrate a new version, a giant mock-
up of the dessert that matches the codename is usually delivered to the Google Campus and put on
display.

So what are the different versions of Android OS and the desserts associated with them? Let us go
over a short history.

Android 1.0 and 1.1: Unnamed

There appears to be no codename assigned to versions 1.0 and 1.1 of Android OS.

Google bought a company called Android back in July 2005. Android was headed by several mobile
big shots, including the former head of a big carrier, ex-owner of a phone maker, and more. After
their buyout, Android went into stealth mode, and rumors spread that Google was working on a
mobile phone.

The dam finally broke in November 2007, when Google suddenly announced that they were indeed
working on a phone (Google Phone). More than that, they were also working on a brand-new mobile
operating system called Android, based on the Linux kernel, to be used by the Open Handset
Alliance, a group of 65 different hardware makers, carriers, and other mobile-related companies.

HTC was the first phone maker to get a real consumer phone out, the T-Mobile G1 (also known as
the HTC Dream outside of US), on October 2008.

An update of Android, version 1.1, was released in February 2009. However, the first significant
version of Android OS that really showcased the power of the platform was V1.5, codenamed
"Cupcake."

As Cupcake starts with letter "C", many have suspected that 1.0 had a codename starting with "A"
and 1.1 had one starting with "B," but no actual codenames were ever assigned.

Android 1.5: Cupcake

 The Android cupcake on Google's campus | Source

Technically Android 1.5 wasn't the first version, but versions before it don't seem to have received
any codenames. Stories were told that it was supposed to be version 1.2, but Google decided to
make it a major revision and made it 1.5 instead. Among the many changes with Cupcake, third-
party keyboard and Widgets were enabled and phone could upload directly to YouTube and Picasa.
The company codenamed the version "cupcake," which is how the trend of dessert names began.

A cupcake is a small, individually-sized cake baked in a cup-shaped mold. It is usually served with
frosting on top.

Android 1.6: Donut

The Android donut on Google's campus | Source

Android V1.6, codenamed "Donut," was released in September 2009. It fixed reboot errors in the
OS, revamped photo and video features (i.e. camera interface), and featured better search
integration. It also added support for larger screen sizes and is the first version to offer Google's
turn-by-turn navigation feature.

A donut is a small ring-shaped friedcake. The ring is made of rich, light dough and deep-fried.
Various sweet coatings can be added. Donuts are not to be mistaken for bagels, which are baked,
much denser, and usually salty.
Android 2.0 and 2.1: Eclair

The Android eclair on Google's campus | Source

Android 2.0 was released in October 2009, with a bugfix version (2.0.1) coming out in December
2009. Android 2.1 was released January of 2010. Most people consider them a single release.
Added features include Bluetooth 2.1 support, flash and digital zoom for the camera, multi-touch
support, live wallpapers, and more.

Eclairs are usually described as oblong cream puffs. They are baked pastries with cream filling and
chocolate coating on top.

Android 2.2: Froyo

The Android froyo on Google's campus | Source

Android 2.2 mainly improved speed by adopting the Javascript "just-in-time" compiler engine from
Google's browser, Chrome. It also improved browser support by adding animated GIF support and
Flash 10.1 plug-in support, along with USB tethering and Wi-Fi Hotspot capability (for those with
supporting hardware).

Froyo is short for "frozen yogurt." It is a frozen dessert made from yogurt, so it is slightly more sour
than soft serve, but also lower in fat.

Android 2.3, 2.4: Gingerbread

The Android gingerbread man on Google's campus | Source

Gingerbread was officially released in December 2010.

On December 6th, 2010, Google officially announced the first phone with Android OS 2.3
Gingerbread. The phone was the Nexus S, which Google co-developed with Samsung. The phone
was originally only available for T-Mobile, but was later made for Sprint and AT&T as well.

Gingerbread supports SIP internet calling, NFC wireless transaction capability (if hardware is
present), more than one camera, and gyroscopes and other sensors (barometers, gravimeters, and
others are possible). It also features a download manager, some tweaks to allow usage on Tablets,
and other system level tweaks for programmers.

As a dessert, gingerbread is basically a ginger-flavored cookie. It is often made to celebrate end-of-

year holidays in the US. The cookies are cut into festive shapesoften the shape of a manand
decorated with icing and candy.

Android 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2: Honeycomb

 The Android honeycomb on Google's campus | Source

Honeycomb was released in February 2011, and was rapidly followed by 3.1 and 3.2 in July and
August of 2011. Google posted a lot of previews and highlights on Honeycomb.

Honeycomb was made for tablets, which implied that Android OS 2.X was not. That did not stop
Samsung and a slew of smaller manufacturers from putting out an army of Android 2.X tablets of
various sizes before the end of 2010 as they tried to ride the wave of the iPad's success in time for
the Christmas shopping season.

Motorola Xoom was the first Android 3.X tablet to be released. It has since been followed by many
others.

Dessert-wise, honeycomb is a sheet of hexagonal cells bees build out of wax and fill with honey.
Fresh honeycomb can be consumed as a dessertsome people chew or even consume the wax
with the honey.

Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich

The Android ice cream sandwich on Google's campus | Source

Ice Cream Sandwich was Google's attempt to synthesize Honeycomb, it's tablet-only platform, with
its mobile platform. Released in October 2011, it featured a new design and default font, as well as
the ability to monitor and limit mobile data usage and other upgrades. Many devices were slow to
adopt Ice Cream Sandwich. Three months after Ice Cream Sandwich, only one phone (Samsung
Galaxy Nexus) had been released to run it.

In real life, an ice cream sandwich is a layer of ice cream, usually vanilla, sandwiched between two
cookies, usually chocolate. They are often rectangular in shape.

Android 4.1: Jelly Bean

The JellyBean mascot on Google's campus

Jelly Bean came out in 2012. Biggest changes included "Google Now," an AI assistant that
anticipates your needs and better, more interactive notifications. Jelly Bean also allows "voice
typing," a built-in speech-to-text engine that does not rely on Internet or data.

Android 4.4: KitKat

The Android 4.4 KitKat mascot on Google Campus | Source

Google announced that Android 4.4 would be named KitKat on September 3, 2013. KitKat's parent
company, Nestl, was fully on board with the naming of operating system and launched an
advertising campaign during KitKat's release. As part of the campaign, specially marked packages of
Kitkat with Andy the Green Android on the package each contained a sweepstakes code that could
win a new Nexus 7 Android tablet or Google Play store credit.

KitKat took the Google Now feature and took it a step further with "Ok Google." Ok Google allows
people to access Google Now without even touching their phonesjust verbally saying the phrase
opens up the artificial intelligence assistant. KitKat also introduced Emoji to Google's keyboard.

Android 5.X: Lollipop

The Android lollipop on Google's campus | Source

Android 5 is called Lollipop, and it featured a brand new runtime called ART that no longer relies on
the older DALVIK runtime (which is somewhat based on Sun/Oracle specs). Lollipop also contains
other UI improvements and has an excellent battery life on some devices.

Android 6: Marshmallow mascot on Google Campus

Android 6.X: Marshmallow

Android 6: Marshmallow is already out for the Nexus devices and is believed to be coming soon to
all flagship devices before end of the year, and to other devices by mid 2016.

Marshmallow introduced several changes that can have significant impact. App permission model is
now opt-in (grant specific permission as requested) rather than opt-out (all is permitted, then use
App Ops to run off individual permissions). Doze mode allows the device to go into hibernation when
idle, cutting power consumption to virtually nil. Fingerprint sensor support is now baked into the OS
rather the vendor support, and USB C is now fully supported. Finally, Marshmallow allows one to
format a microSD card and adopt it as if it's internal storage and share the same internal security
level.