Google's annual I/O conference kicked off Wednesday with an announcement that everyone's been waiting for: a new version of Android. The verdict? It looks impressive.

Following Google's history of naming new versions of Android after sweets (4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.3 Jelly Bean, 4.4 KitKat), the new version of Android has may be puzzling, as it has thus far been dubbed "L." Unlike previous Android reveals, where Google pulled the curtains back and shot the firmware out to the public, Google is beginning with a developer's preview. The changes are major, and Google is hoping to give developers time to tweak before it goes live.

Google L (what the "L" stands for is still a mystery although the historically logical moniker "Lollipop" has been thrown around quite a bit) is going to change Android, plain and simple. From the aesthetic UI down to its core, L is one of the biggest overhauls to the mobile operating system yet.

The most obvious change users will notice is going to be the look. Google is using a new wrapper it calls "Material Design," aimed at streamlining the Android experience, as well as giving it more depth. Animations have been overhauled and effects such as shadows, ripples, and colors have all been beefed up. The Material Design wrapper also allows for developers to program apps to run on a variety of devices such as phones, tablets, and televisions with more ease. Notifications, swipes, the whole nine yards -- everything looks more intuitive, as layers of actionable screen items, menus, and buttons show their depth and interactability seemlessly.

Underneath the shiny exterior, however, lies some nifty new enhancements. Android L will be the first Android to process in the new runtime ART ("Android Run Time"), the successor to the previously used Dalvik. ART improves battery performance and adds full 64-bit compatibility to the plate, keeping it relevant in the months and years to come.

Android L also takes wearables into consideration. The new operating system will be aware of devices around it and acts accordingly. For example, the lockscreen can be bypassed if the phone detects the user's smartwatch nearby, rather than always having to swipe in an unlock combination or pin on the screen.

Google is also taking on Android fragmentation by patching in the new Android ecosystem to Google Play. While most current Android users have to wait for their device manufacturer to tweak and roll out an update (a process that can take months after Google initially releases the code), Google will be providing security updates, and more, directly through Google Play. It's still up in the air how in-depth Google will get with these updates, but it should help some Android users feel like they're not always behind the pack.

Google is releasing the L developer preview Thursday, with a public rollout following at an unspecified date in the fall of 2014. Here's the whole Google I/O Keynote speech, where you can catch a preview of the new Android system, along with a lot more. 

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