Let's face it: emoji, once the realm of tweens, have gone mainstream. They're popping up everywhere in society, from speech therapy to the debate over gun control. So it comes as little surprise that Google spent more than a year redesigning every one of the hundreds of emoji it offers in an attempt to make more of its users happy.
The redesign process, detailed in an article in Fast Company this week, took so long in part because Google's current set of emoji appear very different from the round ones you'll find on the internet or messages on your iPhone. To many people, Google's current blob-shaped emoji, which you'll find everywhere from Hangouts conversations to the Android keyboard, look ugly.
Plus, Google says, their asymmetric shape makes it increasingly difficult to implement new emoji from the Unicode Consortium, which is the de facto authority for deciding which emoji should exist.
Related
- How to Get the Best Emoji on Your Android PhoneHow to Get the Best Emoji on Your Android Phone
"Our design system wasn't equipped to provide standards that unified the look and feel of all the illustrations across the many emoji categories," Google explained in a blog post. So its designers came up with a new grid-based design that more closely resembles the emoji you currently see outside of the Google ecosystem. That means classic emoji like smiley faces are circular, and even the ones that aren't still fit into the same grid space, without the divisive spillover effect of the old blobs.
The new emoji are also more compatible with other operating systems. Google explained that "we wanted to assure the user that when they sent an emoji to a friend, the message was clearly communicated regardless of whether they are on iOS, Windows, Samsung, or any other platform."
Even though the design work is mostly completed, it'll still be a while before Google customers get to use the new emoji. They'll be coming first to the new Android O operating system, which just entered its public beta phase and is several months away from a commercial rollout. In the meantime, apps like Textra offer options for people who really want to get rid of the blobs as soon as possible
The chill snowboarding game 'Alto's Adventure' already has this implemented. Hopefully you want a $50 plush llama.
All marijuana legally for sale in Colorado will be deemed medical if the Trump Administration turns against recreational sales legal in eight states.
Relax The End Is Near for Google's Blob Emoji stories
Google pulled back the curtain on both visible and behind-the-scenes improvements to its next mobile OS, Android O.
The new Daydream headsets, which go on sale this fall, won't require smartphones and will offer built-in position tracking.
iPhone users can now say 'OK, Google' to get access to an expanded Assistant feature set. Meanwhile, Google Home gets voice calls and more.
Thousands of software and hardware developers will descend on the Googleplex to hear about the company's latest products. Here's what they might be.
Google wants automakers to install a full copy of the Android OS—not just Android Auto—in their cars to control windows, air conditioning, and more.
Waymo is not playing around: as the New York Times first reported, Waymo is teaming up with Uber's chief rival, Lyft, on autonomous vehicle technology.
Google is working with chip makers to create code that doesn't need to be updated for each Android OS release.
Code-named 'Armadillo,' the new UI is available on Github; install it as an Android app to catch a glimpse of Google's mysterious next-gen OS.
Easier and more intuitive offline reading options as well as performance improvements, bug fixes, and download management in the latest version of Chrome.
The 'highly sophisticated' phishing campaign appears to have hit a number of journalists, along with individuals from other industries.
The Mercedes Benz S-Class is inching closer to full autonomy.
It replicates the ransomware's encryption key, but it will only work if you haven't rebooted your computer since it became infected.
Waymo will show messages to 'help ease passengers' concerns' when they're no longer in control.
Sit tight for "Destiny 2," PC gamers.
A new study reveals that YouTube is the 'most positive' social media site for young people, while Instagram and Snapchat are 'the most detrimental' to their mental health.
Garmin makes the best car GPS navigator, according to our friends at The Wirecutter.
Picture-in-picture animations lead the way to exclusive original content.
Google has been getting serious about security, as evidenced by some new features in Android O.
CNBC on Thursday reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook was spotted at the company's campus wearing 'a prototype glucose tracker on the Apple Watch.'
This Android Wear 2 device is one of the most comfortable yet.
