Android users have been patiently waiting for more news regarding Android N for many reasons – updated features, API changes, bug fixes.
But now, Android friends will have one other things to look forward to.
A new set of emoji.
Google has long suffered from awfully designed emoji that are worlds apart from other mobile operating systems. What are those creepy yellow slugs anyway? Your guess is as good as ours. And if you’ve always disliked the way they looked on your Android gadget, then you’d be glad to know that soon, those blobs that look like microwaved LEGO minifigs will be a thing of the past.
According to the Android Developers Blog, Google is finally introducing a new emoji design for people emoji that moves away from our generic look in favour of a more human-looking design. The update will also add the ability to choose skin tone variations (a feature that Apple added to their iOS about a year ago) and include emoji from upcoming Unicode 9 release, like the bacon, selfie, and face palm. Check out some of the new Unicode 9 glyphs here.
Android N is expected to be released sometime in October this year, if there are no delays. While this is great news for our friends on Android, it’s important to remember that not all Android fans across the board will get the host of new emoji because this is only for Google-released keyboards. LG and Samsung, for example, have their own unique set of emoji.
This emoji update will certainly bridge the gap between Android users and users of other mobile operating systems. It’s a huge relief to know that Android users will no longer have to suffer from the awkwardness of lost-in-translation communication (messages, social media posts) because of silly emojis.
Sources: Android Developers Blog, The Verge, Gizmodo, Android Central / Featured image from Android Developers Blog.
