Break Me Off a Piece of That: Kit Kat Will Be the Name of the Next Version of Android
The next version of Android has a very sweet name.
Sept. 3, 2013 — -- Give me a break, give me a break, break me off a piece of that … Android. No, that's not quite how the jingle goes, but the next version of Android is in fact going to be named Kit Kat.
Android chief Sundar Pichai announced Tuesday via Twitter and Google Plus that Android had hit 1 billion activations and also added a little treat. The next version of the operating system -- Android 4.4 -- won't be named Key Lime Pie, as rumored, it will be called or codenamed Kit Kat. And don't worry, that's a fully licensed name and partnership too.
Google has worked with Nestle and Hershey, the makers of the chocolatey and crunchy candy bar, to go even further. Nestle will make a number of Android-themed Kit Kat bars. They even made this website to promote it.
According to the company, more than 50 million specially branded chocolate bars will be available in 19 markets, including the U.S, U.K, Canada and the Middle East. When you buy the bar, you will be able to enter to win Google prizes, including the Nexus 7 tablet. According to Nestle's press release, they will also make a limited number of robot-shaped bars. Just like a real-life Willy Wonka.
Nestle did not immediately respond to ABC News' questions about the limited edition bars.
Google has also erected a Kit Kat statue in the shape of the Android robot in front of its Android headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. to join the other Android statues. Google has named each of its Android versions in alphabetical order after desserts, starting with Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean and now Kit Kat.
Google has launched a website about Kit Kat -- the software, not the candy -- though it doesn't reveal much beyond the fact that its goal with the next version of the software is to "make an amazing Android experience available for everyone."
Google's Pichai did not reveal anything specific either in his social media updates, but it's a good bet that he thinks that whatever is coming is pretty sweet.