Android gets an Emoji overhaul: Google reveals redesigned icons will include different skin tones (along with bacon, selfie, and facepalm pictures)
- Blog post revealed new features coming to Android N Developer Preview 2
- This includes support for Unicode 9 emojis, including bacon and selfie
- Update will also allow people to change emoji skin tones, as iOS users can
- So far, it is only available as a beta program to be tested by developers
Android emojis are about to get a much awaited makeover.
Some of the personified yellow blobs currently found on the emoji keyboard are set to be swapped for a more human-looking set of characters, Android N developers revealed this week.
The changes will be seen on Google Android devices and will support the designs from Unicode 9, meaning the face-palm and bacon emojis may finally be on the way.
Android emojis are about to get a much awaited makeover. Some of the personified yellow blobs currently found on the emoji keyboard are set to be swapped for a more human-looking set of characters, Android N developers revealed this week
In a recent post from Android Developers Blog, engineers revealed the new features coming with the release of the second Android N Developer Preview.
Among these will be the new emoji design, which supports Unicode 9.
This update will give Android N users the ability to change emoji skin tones, which iOS users can already do, and will include a slew of sought-after characters, including bacon, a selfie arm, and face-palm.
'We are introducing a new emoji design for people emoji that moves away from our generic look in favour of a more human-looking design,' the post says.
'If you're a keyboard or messaging app developer, you should start incorporating these emoji into your apps.
'The update also introduces support for skin tone variations and Unicode 9 glyphs, like the bacon, selfie, and face palm. You can dynamically check for the new emoji characters using Paint.hasGlyph ( ).'
The post gives a glimpse at what the new emojis will look like.
Straying far from the bulbous slugs featured in the current emoji set, the new designs bear similarity to those seen on iOS devices.
The new human and activity emojis feature human-looking characters each with a nose, a defined head, and even a chin.
Developers who use Android N can access the preview updates by enrolling in the Android Beta Program.
Straying far from the bulbous slugs (pictured above) featured in the current emoji set, the new designs bear similarity to those seen on iOS devices. This update will give users the ability to change emoji skin tones, and will include a slew of sought-after characters, including bacon, a selfie arm, and face-palm
Otherwise, those already in the program will soon receive the update automatically.
According to the post, the N Developer Preview works with Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, and Pixel C devices, as well as General Mobile 4G [Android One] devices.
The program is intended for developers, so it is not yet built for optimal performance and battery life.
But, the blog explains that feedback from the developers will help speed the progress in bringing these features to life.
'The sooner we're able to get your feedback,' the post says, 'the more of it we will be able to incorporate in the next release of Android.'
Along with the launch of the new emojis, Developer Preview 2 will also fix bugs pointed out by the community, and will include Multi-window, bundled notifications.
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