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WhatsApp finally pushes new Unicode 15.0 emoji to beta testers
The new emoji were first spotted on WhatsApp beta in December
WhatsApp has been around for a while and continues to rank among the best social apps out there. The Meta-owned platform's feature set is rapidly expanding, too, with the decent success of Communities and the imminent release of Newsetters. We're now getting info on some new emoji popping up on the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.23.5.13. We first learned about the feature's arrival back in December.
WhatsApp is working to support new Unicode 15 emoji
The latest beta also tweaks the appearance of eight existing emoji
We know WhatsApp as one of the most popular messaging services today, and for good reason. It may not always be the first to add the latest features, but there are plenty of modes of expression available in its arsenal, like Communities, support for large groups, and even messaging yourself to remedy forgetfulness. Now, WhatsApp is working on adding support for new emoji recently approved by the Unicode Consortium, helping you express yourself better — and with fewer words.
31 new emoji get Unicode approval, and Google's letting you try them out early
Support for the new characters is already starting to arrive
Emoji have become so essential to how many of us communicate online, that it's a little hard to remember life without them. Just as written language evolves, emoji themselves need to keep abreast of the times, and the Unicode Consortium shoulders the responsibility of screening candidates and updating the library annually. With September upon us, just like clockwork, the Consortium has given the green light for Unicode 15.0, complete with 31 new emoji — and if that weren't enough, it's also being joined by Google with some emoji news of its own.
Get ready to high-five a donkey with these Unicode 15 emoji previews
Pink hearts, pea pods, and jellyfish round out the list
Emoji are a simply indispensable part of how we communicate everyday, thanks to their sheer efficacy at relaying emotions, reactions on WhatsApp, expressions, and thoughts — all without lots of unnecessary exposition. The library of available emoji has been swelling over the years, thanks to the Unicode Consortium’s efforts and even Google’s Emoji Kitchen initiative. New emoji have been submitted to the Consortium for approval in September and inclusion in the Unicode 15 standard later this year, and now we're getting an early look at what to expect from them.
Think you can design an emoji everyone will use? Now’s your chance
The future of texting is on the line!
History is filled with examples of humans telling stories and conveying ideas through detailed imagery rather than written words. It began with early cave paintings and Egyptian hieroglyphs, but we have since evolved to the more nuanced and unassailable dominance of emoji as our preferred pictograph; and why wouldn’t we, those others don’t even have a way to tell people it’s time for a burrito 🌯⏰. But like any language, emoji must evolve, and the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee — or little picture gods — are preparing to look over 👁👁 suggestions from the internet to determine our texting 📱 future.
Check out 37 new emoji to annoy your friends with arriving in Unicode 14.0
Coming soon to a phone near you
We've been waiting on Unicode 14.0 since it was delayed last year due to the ongoing pandemic. After giving us an early preview in time for World Emoji Day in July, the Unicode Consortium is officially unveiling its newly-added emoji for 2021 — with a few long-awaited additions.
Back in 2020, the Unicode Consortium decided it was better to delay the release of Unicode 14.0, potentially meaning there wouldn't be any new emojis in 2021. Thankfully, Emoji 13.1 was created as an interim release, bringing 217 new ones to our devices. We're getting closer to the release of Unicode 14.0, which, thanks to Emoji 14.0, would bring a handful of new ones on our phones.
2021 will bring 217 new emoji to your devices
It's a relatively minor update, thanks to the pandemic
We have good news for the emoji enthusiasts among you all: 217 new emoji have made it to the final Emoji 13.1 list, meaning that you'll soon have some more faces to send to your friends in text messages. Many of these are just skin tone variations, but there are some completely new emoji.
Despite delays, there will be new emoji in 2021
Because we couldn't keep using the same old ones for so long
Back in April, we were reporting the coronavirus pandemic would delay Unicode 14.0's release by six months, implying no new emoji would be released in 2021. Thankfully, a minor update called Emoji 13.1 is said to be in the making, which should bring some new additions next year.
Like almost any new Android version, Android 11 ships with a selection of new emoji — 117, to be exact. If you currently want to use them in texts and messages, you need to copy and paste them from resources like Emojipedia, but that's finally changing. The latest Gboard beta is adding initial support for the new Emoji 13 set on Android 11.
A new Android version would never be complete without a selection of new emoji. While keyboards and apps can take advantage of the emoji support library introduced with Android O and display any emoji independently, having new smilies in the system itself means you can see them in notifications and in those applications that don't rely on the EmojiCompat library. Subsequently, the Android 11 Beta packs all of the emoticons from the latest Unicode Emoji 13 update.
It's not just events and product releases being delayed due to the impact of coronavirus. Clearly, human lives are at stake too, but almost as importantly, the emoji are also being affected. The Unicode Consortium has just decided to postpone the release of v14.0 of the Unicode standard for six months, upon which a future round of Emoji is set to be based.
The Unicode Consortium has released Emoji 12.1, and with it, 168 new emoji. Well, they're not entirely new; the majority are variations on existing emoji to provide greater flexibility when selecting characters. Many of the new additions come by way of additional hair styles.
The Unicode Consortium codified 230 new symbols — well, 65 new symbols plus many skin tone, color, and gender variants — as part of its Emoji 12.0 update released back in March. But it does takes a good long while for tech companies to draw up and deploy unique designs for concepts such as "pinching hand," "otter," and "razor." Fortunately for people who use Google products, that particular company has published its final drafts to the public in time for World Emoji Day and they're all ready to be officially rolled out for use in Android Q.
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- Unicode v12.0 has passed muster, and is now "available" from the Unicode Consortium, though it may be a bit longer until the new emoji like flamingo and waffle show up on your Android phone. Notably, Emojipedia says that Twitter will be rolling out its own support as part of Twemoji 12.0 this month.
Roughly nine months after announcing a list of 104 candidates for Emoji 12.0, the Unicode Consortium has revealed its 59 final selections, which will release March 5th. As with its predecessors, the main focus for this update is broadening the diversity of emoji. New options include a guide dog, a hindu temple, and an emoji of two people holding hands that features 171 gender and skin tone variants.