It's official: Android O is now Android Oreo

Was there ever any doubt it'd be called anything else?
 By 
Raymond Wong
 on 
It's official: Android O is now Android Oreo
Looks like the perfect match Credit: UNCREDITED/AP/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK, wikipedia, mashable composite

Google has finally revealed what the "O" in Android O stands for, and it's exactly what we all predicted: the "O" is for...Oreo.

The announcement was made shortly after the solar eclipse on Monday, Aug. 21. Google is pushing Android Oreo out through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

Google Pixel, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P devices will be the first to receive the Android Oreo update, followed by the Pixel C and the Nexus Player.

This is only the second time in history Google is partnering up with a popular snack company to market its new mobile operating system. Previously, Google partnered up with Nestlé to brand Android 4.4 as Kit Kat.

Though Google reportedly didn't pay Nestlé any money for the branding — the partnership was to do something "fun and unexpected" according to John Lagerling, director of Android global partnerships — the company was still able to use the KitKat brand for Android 4.4.

It was basically a win-win for both companies. Google got to use a recognizable snack as the nickname of its new version of Android and Nestlé got free advertising.

Google's decision to go with Oreo isn't a surprise at all. Prior to Android O's announcement, I polled my Twitter followers to see what they'd like the OS version to be called and the result was overwhelmingly in favor of Oreo:

Now that the name's been settled, what about Oreo's features? Though a public release is still forthcoming, the developer beta has been available since February, and the public beta version was just announced at I/O.

Android Oreo will come with a number of under-the-hood improvements, including tidier notifications, better battery life that automatically limits background activities, picture-in-picture support, upgraded keyboard support, 60+ new emoji, and more.

Topics Android Google

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Raymond Wong

Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.

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