Unicode Consortium Delays Emoji 14 Update for Six Months, Emoji 13 Characters Not Affected

[MacRumors]

The Unicode Consortium today announced that it is delaying version 14 of the Unicode Standard by six months, and the delay will affect emoji that were scheduled to be included as part of the update.

Unicode 13 Emoji image via Emojipedia​

"Under the current circumstances we've heard that our contributors have a lot on their plates at the moment and decided it was in the best interests of our volunteers and the organizations that depend on the standard to push out our release date," said Mark Davis, President of the Consortium. "This year we simply can't commit to the same schedule we've adhered to in the past."

The delay will not impact the Unicode 13 update that includes the Emoji 13 characters that were announced earlier this year. There are 62 new emoji coming in Unicode 13, such as smiling face with tear, polar bear, seal, bubble tea, pickup truck, fondue, teapot, magic wand, beetle, and piñata.

Unicode 13 characters are expected to be adopted by Apple starting this fall, perhaps in an update to iOS 14. It typically takes Apple several months to design new artwork for emoji characters that are approved with each new iteration.

The Unicode Consortium is also considering whether it is feasible to release new emoji sequences in a smaller Emoji 13.1 release as these emoji use combinations of existing emoji and can be implemented on a separate schedule.

The Consortium is considering whether it is feasible to release emoji sequences in an Emoji 13.1 release. These sequences make use of existing characters. An example from Emoji 13.0 is the black cat, which is internally a combination of the cat emoji and black large square emoji. Since sequences rely only on combinations of existing characters in the Unicode Standard, they can be implemented on a separate schedule, and don't require a new version of Unicode or the encoding of new characters. Such an Emoji 13.1 release would be in time for release on mobile phones in 2021.

The Unicode 14 delay means that emoji characters we might have expected Apple to adopt in the fall of 2021 will be pushed back for six months. Because of the delay, the Unicode Consortium is accepting new emoji character proposals for the Emoji 14 update until September 2020.

After Emoji 13 characters are implemented this fall, there will be no new additional emoji on the iPhone until 2022.

Article Link: Unicode Consortium Delays Emoji 14 Update for Six Months, Emoji 13 Characters Not Affected

 

[theapplehead]

Oh no. My day is ruined now😏

 

[dannyyankou]

Not the emojis!!!!!!!

 

[Infinite Vortex]

Yeah, like I really need an emoji with a guy in a wedding dress!

 

[Bryan Bowler]

How kind of them. And there's any wonder as to why most of us have a disdain for emojis?

 

[needfx]

Everybody, please remain CALM

 

[CarlJ]

Oh noes! What will the MacRumors forums do without new emoji to get enraged about?

 

[Kylo83]

Oh my life is ruined lol I can wait longer no rush

 

[now i see it]

coming soon to an iPhone (6 feet away)

 

[bosozoku]

Where is my Ninja?!!

 

[Doctor Q]

It they are concerned that people "have a lot on their plates at the moment," then why make work for implementors with a 13.1 release?

 

[HappyMBAowner]

The team working on these may be used for more important work during the pandemia.

 

[69Mustang]

I wonder if the Unicode Consortium is requiring the update to shelter in place... you know, from an abundance of caution.

 

[Breaking Good]

I don't know what's better. The Macrumors comments when they release new emojis or the Macrumors comments when they don't.

Either way I know that by tomorrow morning I'll have three hours worth of free entertainment. 😀

 

[Eggtastic]

They remove the gun emoji but include the middle finger. Amazing.

 

[nfl46]

Yeah, like I really need an emoji with a guy in a wedding dress!

Hey, hey, now! Lol! 😂

 

[Breaking Good]

After Emoji 13 characters are implemented this fall, there will be no new additional emoji on the iPhone until 2022.

The Humanity!!!!!

 

[entropys]

We must protect the emojis from Covid-19.

i understand they have no immune response whatsoever and are predominately a highly vulnerable demographic.

 

[jclo]

Dr. Clover... calling Dr. Clover. Seems Mr. Stone thinks you should be discussing the coronavirus since that's your area of expertise. He probably thinks you're wasting all that medical school education discussing tech stuff on a tech site.

Just a guess, but most of know where to get our info on the coronavirus. A little light hearted ribbing at the expense of the Unicode Consortium is just what some of us need to break the monotony of 24-7 coronovirus.

What exactly do you think Juli can tell us about the coronavirus or any of the circumstances surrounding it?

On topic: I wonder if the Unicode Consortium is requiring the update to shelter in place... you know, from an abundance of caution.

I should probably be fixing all the bugs in iOS 13 instead. 😂

 

[UltimateSyn]

Alright COVID-19, now you've gone too far.

 

[Analog Kid]

I was expecting a rush release of new emoji better suited to our times. That coronavirus graphic we see everywhere is begging for it's own entry...

 

[Naaaaak]

This is a good thing. Emojis are the biggest waste of time and one of the worst "standards" being pushed.

 

[dazed]

You mean I’ll have to wait 6 months for even more emojis I don’t use?

Hopefully there will be more important current events which will distract me 😄

 

[Naaaaak]

They remove the gun emoji but include the middle finger. Amazing.

Emojis are a political playground / virtue signaling by these companies.

 

[Doctor Q]

Luckily, we already have the THIS ELEVATOR IS FOR MEN ONLY emoji, which comes in handy quite often.