Google Android 8.0 finally has a name. The operating system formerly called Android O will henceforth be known as be Android 8.0 Oreo.
During an event timed to coincide with the peak of the solar eclipse in New York City today, Google unveiled a statue of the newest Tasty Treat that will be on display at the company’s headquarters in Mountain View California.
It’s basically an Android character in a cape with Oreo cookie in its center… or maybe the bugdroid character is in the center, where it’s the creamy filling of the cookie.
Anyway, the name doesn’t really matter as much as the new features in Android 8.0 (which include multitasking, notification dots, a new autofill framework, and battery life improvements and much more). But ever since Google started giving its Android versions code-names based on “tasty treats,” the unveiling of new names has started to become buzzworthy in its own right.
Android 8.0 should begin rolling out to Pixel smartphones soon, followed by recent Nexus devices and then eventually to third-party phones and tablets.
Google says Motorola, LG, Samsung, HTC, Sharp, Sony,Huawei, HMD, Essential, General Mobile, and Kyocera all plan to launch new devices with Android 8.0 Oreo and/or upgrade existing devices to the new OS by the end of the year.
Update: Android O system images are now available for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel CL, Pixel, and Pixel XL.
The update also rolls out the Android Open Source Project starting today.
Damn it, it was a double-bluff.
I knew Oreo, but it seemed too obvious and there were codes referencing several alternatives.
Good game Google, you win this round!
> Android 8.0 should begin rolling out to Pixel smartphones soon
Thank you for continuing to refer to this latest release as Android 8.0 (with or without the Oreo part). I don’t know what kind of deal Google and Oreo worked out but I really dislike how the mascot looks. It’s such a blatant advertising character for Oreos.
Even cereal box characters like Capt Crunch, Trix, Lucky Charms, Tony the Tiger, etal… aren’t hammering you over the head like this new mascot does. They’re actually fun to see. This Android 8.0 mascot just turns my stomach.
The thought that most users, technical or otherwise, will continue to do free advertising work for these companies is and will be… disappointing.
I remember with KitKat there was an actual announcement of the deal, and at least the design want que so crappy.
As for advertising. I think you can’t include most users in that since they don’t refer to the OS version all that much, phone seekers on the other hand might opt to advertise the inclusion of Oreo. Heck, they could even get chest about it and include a pack of Oreos with the purchase of an Oreo phone.
Agreed, as it has that in your face type shit that really just turns me away completely as well.