It's been almost a year since Google abandoned the dessert-based naming scheme for the Android operating system. As a result, the Android version released last year was simply called Android 10, unlike previous versions like Android 9 Pie, Android 8 Oreo, or Android 4 Ice-Cream Sandwich.
However, Google still uses the name of the dessert to refer to versions of Android internally. The next Android 11 is called "Red Velvet Cake" by Google engineers. Android VP Dave Burke revealed the name of the in-house dessert during the All About Android podcast (via Android Authority).
"If you asked an engineer on my team what they're working on, they'd say RVC, and therefore RVC is Red Velvet Cake," Dave said when asked if any internal Android 11 names flew.
He added that due to marketing decisions, you wouldn't see Red Velvet Cake anywhere; instead, Google can choose to write Android R instead of the number.
Last year, many weren't too welcoming when Google ended the long tradition, although picking a name for dessert each year was a task in itself.
At the time, Google said the change reflected the mature nature of the Android operating system. For comparison, Android's biggest competitor, iOS, also hasn't had any fancy names from the start.
Burke also spoke about other important Android 11 developments. Asked about the outstanding functionality of Android 11, he said at the moment, "where we are on the innovation curve for smartphones", initiatives are more multi-year than focused on a single version.
For Android 11, it puts people front and center with features like speech bubbles and the chat section in the notification bar. Another main focus is "control space" and improving the multi-device experience, as more and more people are now using multiple devices simultaneously.