[bitdestroyer]

They are also known as Toasts. I believe that's what the Android SDK refers to that concept as, as well as many other libraries.

[asveikau]

I remember this as a Microsoft term, based on notifications from Outlook and MSN Messenger. The analogy is that it pops up like toast from a toaster.

[masklinn]

Yeah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toast_(computing)

Though they're often known as merely "notifications", that's how Growl calls them and libnotify... well no need to spell it out.

[zackbloom]

I had no idea they had a name, thanks!