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The Android logo that never was (thankfully)

21.10.2016

Translation: machine translated

The friendly green robot belongs to Android like a hook belongs to Nike. But before the so-called Bugdroid became official, designers tinkered with the mascot. One of these designers has shown his rejected droids.

Google+, the social network that is a network but not particularly social due to a lack of users and their activity, is always good for a surprise. As in the current case of an almost forgotten Android logo. Google's mobile operating system, which, like Apple's iOS, has become an integral part of everyday life, is only eight years old. Before the first public version, Android Inc. worked on its OS for five years. Android was then bought by Google in 2005. 2008 saw the release of Android 1.5 Cupcake on the HTC Dream.

Also included was Bugdroid, the lovable green Android that somehow resembles a rubbish bin. Bugdroid serves as a mascot for the operating system. Every time a new version is released, a new statue appears on the Google campus. Bugdroid is currently all about Nougat.

The man with the other droids

But that wasn't always the case. Before Android Cupcake shook up the world of mobile devices, not only developers but also designers worked on the software, including Dan Morrill. The designer, who now works at design studio Playground, was working in developer relations in 2007, according to his post. Android wasn't public yet, but the public was interested. "We worked harder than you can imagine. The official announcement of Android was coming on 5 November and the SDK a week later," he writes.

At some point, Dan Morrill needed a break. He sat down and drew in Inkscape. "I then drew these... things". In addition to the many public tasks, there was an internal launch for developers. This then had to be presented. "We simply didn't have any eye candy for the presentation slides. That's why I drew these guys."

The androids that Morrill drew were given the name Dandroids by the developers and were well received. "And then designer Irina Blok presented her design: The Bugdroid we all know and love," which meant the Dandroids disappeared from the scene. However, Morrill is not angry with Blok: "But it's funny how professional design is of far higher quality than my amateur doodles," he writes with a smiley face.

Nevertheless, according to Morrill, the Dandroids are the first known mascots ever drawn for Android.

Win a Bugdroid!

After users The7thM and Felix.egger33 expressed interest in the Android Mini Collectibles, we tracked one down at Digitec. But only one: Only one. It's a Limited Edition Google Analytics Bugdroid in its original packaging.

What do you have to do? Tell us in a comment why the Bugdroid would be best for you and why you need it. The competition runs until Wednesday, 26 October 2016, at 12:00 noon.

Update: The competition is over and the Bugdroid has arrived at its new home. <p

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Dominik Bärlocher

Senior Editor

dominik.baerlocher@digitecgalaxus.ch

Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.

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