Google sells out, names next version of Android ‘KitKat’

In a move that would make even MC Hammer cringe, Google today unveiled the latest dessert-themed name for its next version of Android (version 4.4). What’s it called? Android KitKat. Yep, Google has sold out the code name to its next operating system, once thought to be called Android ‘Key Lime Pie.’ The new version of Android, which now has a mascot made of KitKat bars, was announced on android.com/kitkat, with several links to Nestle’s KitKat website and a sponsorship promotion giving people the chance to win a Nexus 7 if they buy a bunch of KitKats. … Yay? Previous versions of Android have been code-named Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean. KitKats taste great, but this is a sad move. Google executives claim that no money exchanged hands, but this is a clear ploy to force fans and media websites to write and say “Android KitKat” every time they mention the next version of Google’s OS. Nestle, for its part, plans to milk the hell out of this promotion. It will sell 50 million Android-branded KitKats in 19 countries around the world, including the UK, US, India, Brazil, Russia, and Japan. Google has gotten a lot of praise for making Android an open-source project, but it’s hard not to be a little let down if it’s now willing to sell out the name of its operating systems. What’s next? Will new Nexus 7 devices come in “Hershey’s” Brown? Maybe there will be an educational version of the Nexus called the Lexis Nexus? What isn’t up for sale at Google? Executives at Google have kept the KitKat name a secret since Mobile World Congress this year, lying about the name of Android 4.4 to keep the element of “surprise” intact.  “We kept calling the name Key Lime Pie internally and even when we referred to it with partners,” said John Lagerling, director of Android global partnerships, to the BBC. “If we had said, ‘The K release is, by the way, secret’, then people would have racked their minds trying to work out what it was going to be.” Google has given no hints to the features of the next version of Android, though its number (4.4) indicates that it will probably be an incremental release. On the announcement page, Google says that the “goal with Android KitKat is to make an amazing Android experience available to everybody.” This could mean better support for small-screened or inexpensive devices. Devoted fans of the KitKat, it looks like you’ll have to switch to Android to fully support your favorite crackered snack. Everyone else, do you think this is a fun move or a dumb ploy? What’s happened? Smartphone maker HMD (Human Mobile Devices), has launched a new smartphone designed to protect kids from harmful content online, with an AI feature which blocks nudes. The HMD Fuse comes with a feature called HarmBlock+ 2025’s Made by Google event was a Pixel-packed affair, with Google announcing the Pixel 10 series, Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a. It was a rather different launch event too, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, with a number of celebs joining in throughout the show. What’s happened? Google has announced the Pixel Watch 4 during the Pixel 10 launch, packed with new features, many of which are made possible by the new Qualcomm chip at its heart. But this new chip isn’t just making the Pixel Watch better, Qualcomm claims it’s a huge deal for all wearables. Qualcomm has announced its new Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 and W5+ Gen 2 chipsets, developed specifically for wearable devices. Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks.