Mike Wuerthele
Apple's latest iOS 10 developer beta includes more than 100 new emoji for inclusion in chats and messages, with a number of characters having both male and female options available for the first time.
The latest developer preview of iOS 10 includes Unicode modifications that were decided in June and introduced in July. The additions include both male and female options for previously gender-limited activities like the haircut and massage emoji.
Also added to the list are female athletes, a rainbow flag, a replacement for the controversial gun icon for a colorful water pistol, and more family options. Apple notes that it is working with the Unicode Consortium to "reflect the diversity of people everywhere."
The shift to the full set of icons approved by the Unicode Committee is not yet complete, as some emoji implemented have yet to be included.
The new emoji are for Apple's Messages, which is in the midst of an overhaul for the iOS 10 update. Expected changes include emoji-related enhancements, links with images embedded into chats, and dynamic text bubbles. Changes to emoji presentation including predictive recommendations, and presentation up to three times larger than in previous version of iOS.
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
81 Comments
So they promote a thing that doesn’t exist. Got it.
You knew exactly what you were doing when you wrote this; don’t be surprised at any comments.
Bout time they had more female emojis.
Way too much. Remove the least used emojis.
What a waste of time. Some people's priorities are so screwed up and so deranged, that this is what they choose to waste their time on.
Also, for the sake of diversity, they need to add various pieces of feces floating around in the water with that swimmer, and a dead body too, because that's what's happening in the Olympics.
Well, I can hardly say I'm surprised at the comments on here already. Diversity exists, get over it. Women can ride bicycles, they can swim, surf and run. Why is this such an issue for you?!
Oh, is it because there's a rainbow flag in there? I see. You're annoyed that a chunk of the population who relate to that flag are now being included in your small world. Well, tough.