Nougat: Google's new Android name divides opinion

Google has announced that the next version of Android, codenamed “N”, will be called Nougat, bitterly dividing opinion among its fans.

Nougat, which has been in developer and early-adopter preview for the last few months since being announced at Google’s I/O developer conference in May, will be the 14th distinct iteration of Android, labeled Android 7.0.

Google announced Android 7 simply as “N” and put out a call for suggestions of names starting with N. Most previous versions of Android have come with a confectionary or sweet-based code name.

The third version of the operating system – Android 1.5 – was called Cupcake followed by Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KikKat, Lollipop and most recently Android 6 Marshmallow.

However, the reaction to the name has been a mixed bag.

After Google had agreed with Nestle to use the KitKat name for Android 4.4, Nutella had become a fan favourite.

Nougat, for those who haven’t had the pleasure, is a chewy sugar or honey-based whipped egg-white sweet that often contains nuts. It isthe main body of a Snickers bar, previously known as a Marathon.

Opinion on whether Nougat is tasty is also divided. Either way, new Android 7 Nougat should start making its way on to devices from September, and features upgraded battery-saving Doze features, more advanced split-screen multitasking and improved notifications.

Although, if Marshmallow’s adoption rate is a predictor, having only just passed 10% of Android devices out there after nine months on the market, it could take over a year to become common, even for new smartphones and tablets.

• Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow review: more polished, greater control and longer battery life