Apple is trading a pistol emoji for a green squirt gun in the latest version of its iPhone and iPad operating system, according to a new report.
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This update adds more gender options to existing emojis, more family options, a new rainbow flag, and handsome redesigns of popular emojis. The flag joins a lineup that includes more female athletes and professionals as well as images for single-parent families.
The pistol emoji, however, has been replaced by a water gun emoji. Apple says it is working with the Unicode Consortium to make sure the popular emoji characters reflect the diversity of people everywhere. Earlier this year Apple and Microsoft successfully argued against the addition of a rifle emoji.
The redesign of the gun emoji has come as a welcome move for groups such as New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, which spearheaded the #DisarmTheIphone movement calling for the removal of the emoji.
The swap will be made when iOS 10 is released.
And one teen was arrested for posting a police emoji with pistol emoticons pointing at its head.
In France, a court sentenced a man to three months in prison for texting the pistol emoji to his ex-girlfriend after ruling the character could constitute a death threat.
It may have been ridiculed on social media by some but anti-gun campaigners were delighted to see the change.
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Apple has released a sneak preview of some of the new emoji it will be introducing as part of its iOS 10 update – and there’s one very notable change. If you’re a registered developer deciding to start testing iOS 10 with beta 4, head over to the Apple’s developer page to install the beta profile.
