Amid the many Google I/O shenanigans, I was especially attuned to the prospective nickname for Android P. Most attendees didn’t seem as concerned about what Android P will be called, but it remains for me a highly entertaining aspect of being an Android fan.
Poptart or nothing!
— Fionna Agomuoh (@techiesupreme) August 24, 2017
I started my #poptartornothing campaign last year shortly after Google announced Android 8.0 Oreo. Likely considering Google’s history of branding collaborations for its Android nicknames, Poptart just seems like the most obvious choice; however, I recently began considering another option for the elusive nickname: pretzel.
I’m sure many have already considered pretzel among the possible names for Android P, but I thought of it one day as I was tinkering with the code for TechViewPRO.com. I got up to grab a snack, and as I looked down at the bag of peanut butter filled pretzels I was about to inhale, I realized I held in my hand the perfect tasty treat. Who doesn’t love a good pretzel? They’re delicious, compact and very easy to eat mindlessly while you’re focused on code.
I stubbornly maintain that Android P should be called Poptart, but I can give Google a pass if it is called pretzel. I spoke to Android head, Dave Burke in passing, mentioning my opinion that if Android P is not Poptart, Google should cancel the entire operating system and move on to Android Q. Laughing, he said Android P is an easy one but Android Q would be the real challenge.
Google dropped some hints about what Android P may be called during I/O. There were freshly-baked Poptarts among the desserts at the Google I/O women tech makers social on Monday, while soft pretzels served in the park during day one of the the conference and popcorn served on day two. There were also dried pineapple snacks offered in the press lounge, adding yet another suggestion to the list.
Similarly, there were Oreo snack packs offered in the press lounge during Google I/O last year.
In the past, Google teasing names for its latests system through treats at I/O was an indication of which names should be crossed off of the prospective list, but this seems to be changing. I’d like to think that the Poptarts being served at the smaller Google I/O gathering is a good indication of what Android P may officially be called. Either way, the truth about Android P will likely remain under wraps (or in the toaster) for several months.