Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich... Google Android OS Code Names and History

Revised 04-MAR-2012

Google's Android division certainly has a sense of humor as it named all their version codenames after desserts (just as Intel name all its CPUs after rivers). To celebrate new version release of Android, a giant mock-up of the dessert that matches the codename is usually delivered to the Google Campus and put on display.

So what are the different versions of Android OS, and the desserts associated with them? Let us go over a short history of when's what.

There appears to be no codename assigned to Versions 1.0 and 1.1 of Android OS.

Google bought a company called Android back in July 2005. Android was headed by several mobile bigshots, including former head of a big carrier, ex-owner of a phone maker, and more. After their buyout, Android went into stealth mode, and rumors spread that Google is working on a mobile phone.

The dam finally broke in November 2007, when Google suddenly announced that they are indeed working on a phone (Google Phone), but also a brand-new mobile operating system called Android, based on the Linux kernel, to be used by the Open Handset Alliance, a group of 65 different hardware maker, carriers, and other mobile-related companies.

HTC was the first phone maker to get a real consumer phone out, the T-Mobile G1 (also known as the HTC Dream outside of US), on October 2008.

An update of Android, version 1.1, was released in February 2009. However, the first significant version of Android OS that really showcased the power of the platform is V1.5, codename "Cupcake".

As Cupcake starts with letter "C", it's is widely suspected that 1.0 would start with "A", and 1.1 would start with "B", but no actual codenames were ever assigned.

Technically Android 1.5 wasn't the first version, but versions before that doesn't seem to have received any codenames. Stories were told that it was supposed to be version 1.2, but Google decided to make it a major revision and made it 1.5 instead, and gave it the dessert name "cupcake" as a codename, and that's when the "dessert series" got started.

A cupcake is a small cake, the size of an individual portion, baked in a cup-shaped mold, usually served with frosting on top.

Android V1.6, codename Donut, was released in September 2009. It fixed reboot errors in the OS as well as revamped photo and video features (i.e. camera interface) and better search integration. It also added support for larger screen size, and is the first version to offer Google turn-by-turn navigation feature.

Donut is usually defined as a small ring-shaped friedcake, is actually spelled doughnut, made out of rich, light dough and deep fried, then various sweet coating can be added. Please don't mistake this with bagel, which is baked, much denser, and usually salty.

Android 2.0 was released in October 2009, with a bugfix version 2.0.1 in December 2009. Android 2.1 was released January of 2010. Most people consider them a single release. Added features include Bluetooth 2.1 support, flash and digital zoom for the camera, multi-touch support, live wallpapers, and more.

Eclair the dessert is usually describe as an oblong "cream puff", a baked pastry with cream filling and chocolate coating on top.

Android 2.2 mainly improved speed by adopting the Javascript "just-in-time" compiler engine from the Google browser "Chrome", as well as improved browser support by adding animated GIF support, Flash 10.1 plug-in support, along with USB tethering and Wi-Fi Hotspot capability (for those with supporting hardware).

Froyo is actually concatenated from "frozen yogurt", but is also a brand name. It is a frozen dessert made from yogurt, so it is slightly more sour, but also lower in fat.

Gingerbread man on Google campus has been reported in early November 2010, and Gingerbread is officially released in December 2010.

On December 7th, 2010, Google officially announced the Nexus S (made by Samsung) to be released on T-Mobile, the first phone with Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread. SDK has been released. Nexus S has since also appeared on Sprint and AT&T.

Gingerbread features support for SIP internet calling, NFC wireless transaction capability (if hardware is present), support for more than one camera, support for gyroscope and other sensors (barometer, gravimeter, and others are possible), download manager, some tweaks to allow usage on Tablets, and other system level tweaks for programmers.

In desserts, gingerbread is basically ginger-flavored "cake" or "cookie". It is often made to celebrate end-of-year holidays in the US, and often in the shape of a man.

TechCrunch just revealed that there will be "Ice Cream Sandwich" after Honeycomb.

A version of Android 2.4 was found on Sony Ericssen Xperia Arc at CES 2011. The phone maker claims wrong version, but later Google source confirmed that "Ice Cream" will be announced at Google I/O event in May 2011 and released June or July 2011.

But wait, Pocket Lint quotes Viewsonic (an Android tablet maker, among other things) that 2.4 will retain the "Gingerbread" moniker, and "Ice Cream" (or "Ice Cream Sandwich") will be 3.1!

Well, 2.4 being Ice Cream doesn't make sense, as it violates the existing order, as the dessert names are in alphabetical order, and I is after H, not before. It does make sense to make it after Honeycomb (3.0)

Honeycomb was released in February 2011, and was rapidly followed by 3.1 and 3.2 which only came out in July / August 2011. Google posted a lot of previews and highlights on Honeycomb.

Android-based tablets should be running 3.X as that will be optimized for tablets, (implying current Android OS 2.X are not really designed for tablets) That did not stop a slew of smaller manufacturers as well as Samsung from putting out an army of Android tablets of various sizes before the end of 2010 with Android 2.X hoping to catch the Christmas shopping season and success of Apple's iPad.

Motorola Xoom is the first Android 3.X tablet to be released, It has since been followed by a ton of Tablets.

Dessert-wise... Honeycomb is a sweetened breakfast cereal that has been made since 1965 by Post Cereals. It consists of honey-flavored corn cereal bits in a honeycomb shape.

It appears now that Honeycomb (3.X) will remain a tablet-only OS, while the phones will keep getting Gingerbread (2.x) updates until the unified codebase, i.e. Android OS 4.0, which will be "Ice Cream Sandwich" launch some time in the future.

And it turns out, the future is... October 2011. Wow, that's fast. I actually said 12-18 months just a few months ago. I guess I'll have to eat my words.

Will your device run it? I have no idea. And I STILL don't. I'm guessing the dual-core machines will have no problem. But older devices? Don't bet on it. Even now, January 2012, only ONE phone (Samsung Galaxy Nexus) has been released to run it, and a few more are expected to get updates (Motorola Droid RAZR and Droid Bionic, Samsung Galaxy S2 series, HTC ReZound?) later.

In real life, ice cream sandwich is a layer of ice cream, usually vanilla, sandwiched between two chocolate cookies, and usually rectangular in shape. (see illustration)

It is now certain that next version of Android OS will be named Jelly Bean.

However, there is no known feature set.

Recent reports have surfaced that claim the next version AFTER Jelly Bean will be Key Lime Pie.

The problem with Android OS is each phone maker and/or carrier customize the phone somewhat, and those tweaks means each carrier / maker will need to retest the OS completely before it can be released. The process often takes several months, and ExtremeTech article explains why.

Even then it is not guaranteed that your device can be updated to the latest version of Android OS. Devices that came with V1.5 (Cupcake) or V1.6 (Donut) can be upgraded to V2.1 or V2.2, but does NOT fully support all the features of the OS due to hardware limitations. Some examples:

• Some of the earliest HTC Android phones, such as Legend, Desire, Hero, do NOT support live wallpapers despite upgraded to Eclair (2.1) or later.
• The original Google phone, the T-Mobile G1 (i.e. HTC Dream) only officially received V1.5 or V1.6 update. Some have developed later Android OS ROMs for the phone, but requires the phone to be rooted to use.
• Motorola Droid, even when upgraded to Froyo (2.2), does not support mobile hotspot.

In general, you will need to wait for the carrier to release the OTA (over-the-air) updates, or wait for a ROM developer, such as Cyanogen, to get a ROM version working for your phone.

The way the process works is Google have to release the "SDK" for the latest OS, and the ROM itself. THEN each carrier and phone maker will go off and test it on their phones, add any local improvements, and eventually release it over the air and push it to your phone. The process takes several months.

Android OS itself don't have any *hard* requirements, but there are practical requirements. I would expect a device with less than 512MB of RAM and 1 GHz CPU to run Gingerbread, but anything less may be problematic. The "recommended" device specs will only go up with future futures of Android OS.

As of now, Honeycomb will only appear on Tablets. All of the specifics for Honeycomb indicate it is tablet only.

Presumably Honeycomb will launch with the Gen2 Android tablets later in 2011 starting with the Motorola Xoom, and other Android tablets will follow.

I honest have no idea. The SDK seem to be out, so presumably the Cyanogen Mod team and other mod ROM teams are busy studying it. Stay tuned!

I hope you have enjoyed our little excursion into Android history.

So what's the next desert named after J? So far, the favorite seems to be Jelly. (I'd pick "Jello", but that's a registered trademark). Next popular choice is "jelly bean" (which is a type of candy).

Wonder what sort of dessert Google will pick next for its Android version codename? Stay tuned.