Google is abandoning its tradition of naming each new version of the Android operating system after a sweet or dessert. The upcoming version Android Q will be known simply as Android 10. In addition, the company has refreshed the Android logo to improve visibility.
Google said the Android names had started to become confusing for users in some parts of the world, where things like 'Pie' are not considered sweets, or tastes like 'Marshmallow' are unpopular. This also made it difficult for some users to see which version of Android their device was using. A numbering system - as Android's main rival Apple iOS uses - will be "simpler and more intuitive for our global community", Google said.
The Android logo was also updated to a "more modern, accessible look" that features the Android robot and the new colours green and black for improved visibility.
The new logo and numbering system will start rolling out with the launch of the final version of Android Q in the coming weeks.
New Play design
Google also announced a refresh of the Play storefront for Android apps. The visual redesign introduces a new navigation bar at the bottom of the screen for phones and on the left of the screen for tablets and Chrome OS. This offers quick access to content categories such as games, apps, movies or books.
The individual app or game pages have also been refreshed to provide more detailed information and feature a more prominent 'call-to-action' button to encourage purchase or download.
