Android L: Google Hints At Possible Nickname For Upcoming OS; 16th Anniversary Celebrated With A Candy Topped Birthday Cake

Google Inc. is sweet 16, having commemorated its anniversary on Saturday. Amid celebrations, the Mountain View, California, company may have given a hint to the nickname of its next Android operating system.

Google is known for naming its operating systems alphabetically after various sweets. Thus far we've had cupcake, donut, éclair, froyo, gingerbread, honeycomb, ice cream sandwich, jelly bean and Kit Kat. Google is expected to continue its Android naming sequence with a number and a dessert themed nickname that begins with the letter L. The software giant showcased its next operating system, which it called Android L at its I/O conference in June, but few details about the software have surfaced since then. Google shared a graphic via social media Saturday, featuring a birthday cake with lollipops and other candies instead of candles, which has been interpreted as a hint that the next Android OS may be called "Android Lollipop."

"OK Google, why do we put candles on birthday cakes," the graphic reads, even though there are no candles on the cake. Lollipops are the most prominent candy on the cake, which is why pundits believe the next Android operating system may be called lollipop. But some also note there are pieces of licorice on the cake. Licorice is another proposed name for the upcoming Android operating system.

Google has been quite sneaky in the past when it comes to Android system nicknames. For more than a year before the release of Android 4.4 KitKat, rumors suggested the system would be called Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Google even played into the speculation by putting little key lime pie theme teasers within its presentations at the 2013 I/O conference. However, Google announced the system's name as Android 4.4 KitKat a month prior to its launch, as part of a cross-promotional deal with Nestle, the maker of the KitKat chocolate bar. Google said the system was originally to be called key lime pie, but the company felt that too few people actually knew the taste of key lime pie. In comparison, most people are very familiar with KitKat bars. The candy is reportedly a staple snack among the coding crew at Android.

This ultimately leaves Android fans uncertain as to whether the next Android system will be named lollipop or licorice, or something else that has already been long suggested. Various Android code has surfaced in recent weeks referencing "LMP," which some believe could stand for lemon meringue pie. There is also the possibility Google could do another cross promotional deal with a candy company, perhaps using a trademarked name like Lemonhead, Lifesaver or Laffy Taffy. Or, Google could simply stick with the name it's already been using, Android L.

Current reports indicate that Google may launch new devices in mid-October that should run the new Android operating system. Rumors suggest a tablet called the Nexus 9 by HTC Corp. and a smartphone called the Nexus 6 or Nexus X by Motorola.