Google Android N Is Officially Nougat

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Google has revealed the name of its newest mobile operating system. The upcoming Android N will be called Nougat, the company announced June 30. The new version is expected to roll out sometime this summer.

For the past several years, Google has adhered to the pattern of naming its Android operating systems after sugary treats. The names have also progressed in alphabetical order, a tradition the company is continuing with the Nougat moniker.

However, Google deviated from its usual habits in the process of naming Android N. Instead of choosing internally, it decided to let users have a say. The company launched a website to crowdsource nickname suggestions.

[Read: Google simplifies sign-on with 2-step authentication update]

The codename for Android N was New York Cheesecake, reported VentureBeat, so that was out of the running for the final selection. According to a Google Opinion Rewards Survey conducted in March, other potential name selections included Napoleon, Nut brittle, Noodles, Nachos, Nori, and Neapolitan ice cream.

Some suspected Google might go with Nutella as part of a brand partnership, as it did with Android 4.4 KitKat, which launched in October 2013. Aside from KitKat, the rest of Android's nicknames -- such as Cupcake, Gingerbread, Jelly Bean, and Lollipop -- have been generic.

It seems Google opted to sidestep the trademarking difficulties with Nougat.

Google released the developer preview for Android N earlier than anticipated on March 9, 2016. It had traditionally released the test version of its mobile OS at the Google I/O developer conference.

Some of the new features arriving in Nougat include the Vulkan 3D rendering API, which will give developers more control over the phone's processor. It promises to improve 3D graphics. It will also bring split-screen multitasking and picture-in-picture to Android smartphones and tablets.

On the security front, Android N will be able to automatically download system updates in the background to boost protection across the platform. Some messaging features will also get end-to-end protection and file-level encryption.

Android Instant Apps are another interesting feature coming to mobile. These will allow people to view certain content, even if doing so requires an app they don't currently have. If they need to watch a YouTube video and don't have YouTube, for example, Instant Apps will temporarily install the components needed.

Nougat will also give a foundation to Google's new virtual reality platform Daydream. With this platform, developers will have a set of rules for creating virtual reality apps that will be able to work on a range of devices.

Over the course of its testing period, Google has launched four developer previews of Android N. As part of the fourth version, developers were given the option to begin sending their revised apps to the Google Play store.

News of the Android Nougat nickname did not come with a version number or official release date for the new mobile OS. Industry watchers predict this will be version 7.0.

Nougat will be the successor to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which was released in fall 2015. Marshmallow hit 10.1% adoption on Android devices earlier in June, after eight months on the market.