I don't get why people are extrapolating corporate stuff out of this. Google needed a candy/desert that began with 'K'. KitKats are delicious, and its pretty hard to think of anything else that fits the pattern (I saw 'key lime pie' thrown around a bunch, but I think that's more of a stretch.)
At any other company, the marketers or whoever would have said "well, we obviously can't call it KitKat, 'cause that's trademarked". At Google, they know they're big enough that they might actually get KitKat to agree. But would another big company even have tried? I gotta give them credit, in a weird sort of way, for having the arrogance/self-confidence necessary to do it.
If you scroll to the bottom you will find two buttons labelled "Learn more about Kit Kat" and "Learn more about Nexus". If you click on the first button you are taken to a page about the candy bar, not the new OS version. This was clearly a paid product placement.
It's google award for KitKat for being very active on G+ (it's the first thing i thought about checking after i saw this, and i was right) - also, haven't found such big "communities" except Google's own.
Probably they also were joining G+ from the start and i couldn't find any article about the default smartphone the employees of KitKat receive :) .
PS. I believe KitKat's competitors aren't really happy about this :)
Whatever happened behind the scenes, two things are clear:
1. Nestle gave Google permission to use the trademark
2. Google is providing advertising for Kit Kat
So I see only two possibilities:
1. Google asked Nestle for permission to use the trademark for no compensation, Nestle agreed, and Google subsequently decided out of the goodness of their heart to advertise the candy bar in a manner that is unprecedented in the history of the company, or
2. Google asked Nestle for permission to use the trademark, and Nestle agreed in exchange for the aforementioned advertising, i.e. a quid pro quo.
I'll leave it to you to decide which is more plausible. But the Google+ thing is a red herring (except insofar as it might provide some insight into why Google decided to give Nestle such a sweetheart deal).
[UPDATE] Just to be clear, I don't think there's anything at all sinister about this deal. In fact, I think the coordinated campaign is rather clever.
Both have an advantage with one promotion, so it's not really this for that.
Both have the same advantage, but to different people.
Google shows KitKat to other companies (Here is a business active on our community - ecosphere) and KitKat is shown to other people (hey look, we love Android to and we are social - looking at their page, they really are ;-) ).
I'm actually curious about any difference in KitKat's sales because of this action...
I hope that KitKat would show that in the future, as a return to Android enthousiasts.
We are all aware of a multitude of things, but it would be nice for a corporation just to share something... (and like it or not, that's the most used action on my Android phone :-P)
My post describes exactly what is "scammy" about it, hint: there's other links. Though you could also argue click here to learn about KitKat should give you an Android 5.0 info page since this is android.com
Yes. iPhone was a registered trademark of Cisco's, and this was something that Apple was fully aware of[1]. They pulled the same thing a couple of years later with iOS. If anything, it's much more likely that the KitKat name was done with Nestle's approval, given that they're at least getting recognition/a product tie-in.
Apple Inc. (née Apple Computer) has a pattern of willful trademark infringement. After several litigated disputes with the Beatles' Apple Corps, Apple Computer agreed not to enter the music business but reneged when they launched iTunes[1].
It should be noted, though, that a judge did not find them in breach of the agreement, and ordered Apple Corps to pay Apple Computer.
Furthermore, Apple offered money beforehand, despite believing (and being able to convince a judge) that they didn't have to. So it seems at least in that case they aren't the bad guys.
Personally, I feel like KitKat is a better name. I wish it was as simple as naming the version that and then moving along, but with a trademarked it can't be. If Nestle is going to agree to a deal where no money is exchanged, they need to get something out of it. So it seems like it makes sense for a couple of initial publicity things and then it will be just the same as any other name.
It is being offered by Hershey's and not Nestle. KitKat is made and distributed by The Hershey's company in US and this marketing campaign is only happening in the US.
Whoa, buddy. I'm taking that as disrespect! How can you compare a soggy breaded ice cream "sandwich" to a chocolaty coated; ice cream loaded, big and thick; no room for a stick Klondike!? :-D
Doesn't Japan have a huge variety of all sorts of food and drink, in general? Something about the huge amount of vending machines, and needing to grab attention with something different?
I was excited to learn about a new Android release but all I got was a transfer to the KitKat candybar site at the bottom and a manipulative "See if you have won!!! aka go buy some kitkats" at the top.
KitKats aren't a dessert item, they're a cheap brand of candy people buy at gas stations or at the grocery store checkout line either because they want some no-thrills candy to snack on, or because their kids won't shut up.
If given the choice between a delicious eclair, or the frozen yogurt, and a plain old package of KitKats, I would choose eclair or the froyo. Quite a few people probably would too. This is because KitKats are inferior. Some people will even add crumpled KitKats to their frozen yogurt much in the same way they might add sprinkles.
Anyway, you guys get what I'm saying. I basically think it was a bad idea to name the latest version of android "KitKat". Key Lime Pie is classier.
You could apply the same criticism to Jellybean. Or, for that matter, Ice Cream Sandwich. (Ice cream is a dessert, but ICS can only be interpreted as cheap prepackaged food.)
I don't know, I used to go out of my way to buy those Jelly Belly brand Jellybeans, but I do agree that ice cream sandwichs and for that matter donuts are a cheap food, kinda realized that while I was thinking about the post.
Still, KitKats really stood out to me as just less wholesome compared to the other dessert items Google has chosen for android versions, if that makes any sense. I've had some fun experiences with trying out weird flavors of jelly beans, or eating ice cream sandwiches during the summer.
As for donuts, I got the wild idea a few years back to to be an organic farmer, to the point where I dropped out of school and actually worked as a sort of vegetable grower/manager for a while. If I was running behind and didn't have time to cook, I would visit any one of the locally-owned donut shops, occasionally run by some owner of Czech heritage (something about Czechs and really good pastries), and pick something up. So despite donuts being ridiculously unhealthy, they bring back interesting feelings.
KitKats, they don't quite have that emotional effect on me.
You do realize that if current trends continue, there will be Android KitKat phones on sale right next to or behind the gas station / convenience store counters with the chocolate Kit Kats, right? And that this has been an explicit goal of Google's since the beginning?
I have a very nice Bluetooth keyboard that simply does not work on Nexus devices because 4.3 broke Bluetooth keyboard mappings. It's fixable by rooting and renaming a certain file, but dammit, it should work out of the box.
Can't forget that GOOG just added AVRCP 1.3 support, after 2+ years and hundreds of comments on the issue https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=5450. Also, Bluetooth Low Energy support, again, greatly delayed.
I don't see why his viewpoint causes so much controversy - from an entepreneurial standpoint, which should be welcomed here - you can't deny him credit for rationality.
As I see it, KitKat is lowering their brand by associating with Android. Nestle doesn't provide the NSA with location data of where I'm eating candy. Besides, KitKats are baller.
Actually, each KitKat bar contains a radioactive isotope that's compared with the chemical traces left on your fingers after handling coins and paper money to uniquely identify you. So while you're right that Nestle doesn't provide the NSA with location data of where you're eating candy, they're actually providing the NSA with location data of where you go after eating candy. Such as the toilet.
Is the deal with Nestle, or Hershey's (which represents KitKat in the USA.) The Android.com/KitKat page points to http://www.hersheys.com/kitkat.aspx, at least for me in the US.
I assume with Nestle, the IP holder. Hershey's makes KitKats under license; I'd be amazed if they have the right to use the trademark any way they feel like as a part of that.
This deal with KitKat may well set the precedent for that to happen! In fact, wouldn't be surprised if the marketing/branding folks at M & M and other candy manufacturers are already thinking along these lines.
Well this guarantees my sister isn't getting an Android (she's part of the Nestlé boycott since they continue to push breast milk replacements on people living in poverty)
For those worried about Google coming to blows with Nestle (How we still lament the demise of Rowntrees)...
From Wikipedia 'kit kat':
Use of the name "Kit Kat" or "Kit Cat" for a type of food goes back to the 18th century, when mutton pies known as a Kit-Kat were served at meetings of the political Kit-Cat Club in London.
Now a mutton pie doesn't quite sound as sweet a desert.
This is just a reminder how "hidden scroll" content is such bad UX, how many of you noticed the little triangle / scrolled down and found out there is more? I found out only accidentally.
I predict that the name "KitKat" was selected not only for cross marketing purposes, but also to serve as a handy metaphor for the key enhancement to Android 4.4. I suspect Google has reengineered Android to allow for modular system-level updates, while leaving user-space modifications, (such as carrier and manufacturer-added software,) untouched, similar to how Canonical has stated Ubuntu Touch updates will work.
We've already seen Google take a more modular approach to adding Android enhancements via individual application updates to the Play Store, GMail, YouTube, etc. This has allowed users running older versions of Android to take advantage of more up-to-date software, despite the lack of manufacturer-provided updates. Given the degree to which the Play Store service can modify the OS in the current version of Android, it seems reasonable to suspect that these modular updates could be extended to include the kernel, system services, and low-level run times. Google may have decided that they will own and update key portions of the operating system, and leave their partners to focus on updates to their device-specific "enhancements."
This prediction is consistent with the tag line associated with Android 4.4 on the linked page: "It's our goal with Android KitKat to make an amazing Android experience available for everybody."
How to explain the value behind such a "behind-the-scenes" feature to the technologically illiterate masses? A KitKat is a modular candy bar. All the fingers are the same. You can swap out a single finger without fundamentally altering the integrity of the whole. Perhaps Eric Schmidt will explain it better on-stage.
I assume KitKat has a trick up its sleeve to solve the notorious fragmentation issues that plague Android. Why else would they say "available for everybody"?
Most likely what they mean by that is an optimization of the system so that it runs better or low-end (i.e. cheap) devices (think: india, africa, china markets) as currently you need relatively high-end hardware for smooth operation.
"everybody" in this context means "large numbers of people who can't afford high-end hardware"
Google was talking about those optimization plans during last I/O, I believe.
Don't sweat it too much. I disagree with that comment too, but I think it's a valid opinion and I bet a lot of people feel that way. The comments immediately below it present an alternate view. Diversity of opinions is a good thing.
"We’re naming the next version of Android after one of our favorite chocolate treats, KitKat. Look for specially branded KitKat bars in a store near you that give you a chance to win a Nexus 7 or Google Play credit."
This is a tiny bit embarrassing for Google, honestly.
I guess because it's a bit like they're selling out, even though the BBC article a bunch of people have linked here says otherwise.
But really, imagine if Apple called OS X 10.10 "Pepsi" and you got a free upgrade with every Pepsi you bought. It just feels… I dunno, it feels kinda corporate and sketchy to me, and I think others as well.
I thought you were kidding, but then I checked. Indeed, on Google, android.com/kitkat comes up first, then kitkat.com. On DDG and Bing, search results are still all about the snack.
I'm having a harder time telling the natural hits from the ads these days but in mine it's kitkat.com first followed by "news for kitkat", then wikipedia, hershey's, and finally android.
(The Kitkat.com listing has a different description than it did an hour a go, because of the Android tie-in. But even then, the Google Android page was higher up the list.)
it's not Android 5.0 but 4.4. I am curious what functions are still left before we don't need anything new. I mean, with Windows XP, Microsoft had already reached the upper limit of what is enough for anybody. But, somehow I am expecting a surprise on Chrome, ChromeOS, Android integration, but can't guess.
Software gets me more excited for new hardware than the software itself. I can't wait to get a nexus with kitkat. At this rate we would see Android Whatchamacallit by 2022.
They are promoting Google+ with it, as it seems that KitKat is an active user (on G+) and has a lot of members on it.
They are trying to get more bussiness on g+ and refering to the new Android as chocolat. Which probably means they want to create the whole Android experience a lot smoother and unified (judging from the description on http://www.android.com/kitkat/ )
I would guess they came up with the idea of kitkat and contacted Nestle for permission to use the name and likely Nestle saw a good opportunity to use it as marketing.
Obviously just speculation on my part, but seems more likely (to me) than Google actively trying to get sponsorship on a code name.
This takes silly version names to a whole new level.
I guess it makes sense for an ad company to sell naming rights to some extent, but I can't think of another occurrence of google mixing it's branding like this before. Google historically set themselves apart by keeping ads somewhat separate.
More likely is someone chose this name, that conveniently starts with a K, and then they sought out the owners of KitKat to make sure they were okay with it. I'm sure they were, free advertising.
It's a cross-promotion. Google gets to promote its devices on the Kit Kat label and Nestle gets Google pumping its candy. No reason to assume any money changed hands. Google may well have paid Nestle.
The explanation might be simpler than you're suggesting. When a registered trademark is used by someone other than the person holding the trademark, it's often allowed if the use is in an unrelated domain -- in this case, computer software, not candy. Because this doesn't confuse the public or hurt the originator's business, often there's no complaint.
But the fact that Google has been favoring food names doesn't change the basic idea, that those uses won't confuse the public who are in the market for the other kind of ice cream sandwich.
I wonder how comprehensive Google's agreement with Nestle is?
Today's marketing stunt is fun, but this is an OS name - it is going to live on in history for a decade or more, it is going to be checked into the android git repository. There will be reviews calling "KitKat" a smoking turd, people trashing and trolling it all over the internet. Tim Cook will probably get up on stage and lay into it at some point. People will be making icons and fan art based around it, and pulling all kinds of stunts that would normally catch the ire and get a swift cease and desist from a major company like Nestle.
So has Google negotiated with Nestle that they are not going to suddenly get "uncool" with this and go with the flow? If not, fun as it is, I feel like this could be something that ends badly. Proprietary trademarks and open source don't generally mix well, and when they do you need pretty robust agreements in place.
This is different from the generic names of sweets. This is a specific product, which isn't sold at Whole Foods, and is cheaper, more unhealthy, and less satisfying than what Googlers are likely to buy.
Also just realised that "froyo" is not just a made-up name but stands for "frozen yoghurt" [mental process: why's "froyo" got a dish of ice-cream? ah?].
Android 4.3 was only release a few days ago. I'm surprised they're announcing 4.4 already. Both this link and the BBC article don't have any information about what new features are in this release. Seems pointless to just announce a name.
The next Nexus phone should be out in November. They often introduce the newest version of Android on those (all except the Nexus 4, which came with 4.2 introduced on the Nexus 7).
My first thought was continuing the anti-fragmentation push with more Play Services stuff. I can definitely see an optimisation push though, the spec wars are getting ridiculous and it's still worthy of mention in a review that a phone doesn't lag.
Posted this in the other thread but I'd really like to know :)
Does anyone know if Kit Kat will be available for the Nexus 4? I ordered one a few days ago and it will be my first smartphone so I have next to no idea how Google deals with providing newer Android releases to "older" phones.
One of the main selling points of nexus devices is that they tend to get timely updates (or at least much more timely than other phones). Particularly if you bought through Google Play, Nexus phones tend to get OS updates damn near immediately.
I would assume so. Part of the Nexus experience is getting the new versions. I might have some doubts if the Nexus 4 was a couple of years older, but it is still a relatively new Nexus device.
Really? What does that even mean? Why is it that the only analogy that people can find for "smooth" is "butter"? I actually find butter kind of gooey and greasy.
Wonder if the success of this tie-up may start a new marketing/branding trend? That is more companies may start doing cross-brand tie ups among non-competing products.
They do have KitKats in the mini kitchens at google so at least they are not lying about being fans. Although they are on the bottom red shelf for unhealthy snacks.
Android is not a FOSS product, there's just parts of it that are open source ("AOSP"). There's a big heap of proprietary parts starting from the kernel level going up to Play Services that are required for a functional Android experience.
And to be able to use it, you'll need to buy the next Nexus phone! Or wait till your OEM releases its crapware loaded version in 6-12 months (or never, actually).
Thanks, but I'll stick with iphone/iOS, at least I can update it. (iPhone 4 from 2010 running iOS 6).
