118 Fresh Emojis on the Block: What iOS 17.4 Brings to Your Keyboard
Dive into the colourful explosion of new emojis from the mythical phoenix to the humble mushroom…
Get ready to spice up your digital conversations with a fresh batch of emojis rolling out to your iPhone with the upcoming iOS 17.4 update, set to brighten our screens this spring. The emoji landscape is getting a vibrant expansion with 118 novel additions that Apple users can start experimenting with soon.
This eclectic mix includes everything from a zesty lime to a majestic phoenix, a cozy brown mushroom, and a symbol of liberation with a broken metal chain. Not stopping there, the update introduces two heads in agreement, shaking, and four inclusive, gender-neutral family silhouettes, ensuring everyone finds a bit of themselves in these digital expressions.
The first beta of iOS 17.4 has introduced a set of new emojis to iOS users including a broken chain, a lime and a mushroom
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But the diversity doesn't end here. Over 100 emojis are getting a makeover to show people from various walks of life, depicted sideways. This lineup is as inclusive as it gets, showcasing different skin tones, genders, individuals with canes, and those navigating life in wheelchairs. These updates are part of Apple's latest software version, iOS 17.4, a successor to the recently launched iOS 17.3 which primarily focused on enhancing device security.
This emoji evolution, dubbed Emoji 15.1, comes courtesy of the emoji authority, Emojipedia, and the Unicode Consortium, which is essentially the emoji world's central governing body. Keith Broni, Emojipedia's editor-in-chief, hints that based on Apple's history with beta releases, we might be welcoming iOS 17.4 around March or April 2024.
In the latest iOS 17.4 beta's emoji keyboard, it seems that emojis facing in alternative directions are now available right next to their counterparts that face left.
The reveal of these designs follows the Unicode Consortium's approval last September, showcasing Apple's unique take on the emoji additions. It's a tradition for tech giants like Apple, Samsung, and Google to craft their versions of these universal symbols, adding a touch of brand identity to each emoji.
Apple's rendition of the gender-neutral families, for instance, stands out with its silhouette design against a light blue backdrop, offering a modern twist to the classic emoji. This is in contrast to Samsung's choice of black figures on a grey background. Apple continues to push the envelope by providing non-binary options for nearly every human emoji since 2019, from mermaids to culinary wizards.
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The detailed comparison between Apple and Samsung's designs highlights the nuances in their emoji interpretations, from the thickness of a chain to the artistic stylization of a lime or the orientation and intricacy of a phoenix's wings.
The bulk of the new emojis enriches our digital lexicon with side-view variations of six existing people emojis, catering to a wide range of identities and experiences without adding any new flags to the mix. This decision reflects the challenges of representing the fluidity and diversity of identities in a universally accepted form.
As we look ahead, the next wave of emojis is expected to be unveiled in the summer, following a rigorous selection process that values versatility, innovation, and widespread appeal. Mark your calendars for World Emoji Day on July 17, likely the date for the next big emoji announcement, as we continue to celebrate the ever-evolving language of digital expression.