Apple Cracking Down on Emoji Icon Easter Egg

[Cody Overcash]

If you aren't familiar with Emoji icons they are popular pictures/emotions used in Japanese wireless messages. The iPhone (2.2 +) comes pre-loaded with these little icons but the menus are disabled.

Aside from the Cydia download to enable them there are many applications on the AppStore like Typing Genius ($0.99) and Spell Number (free) that enable these Emoji icons. Apple doesn't seem to like developers on the AppStore enabling this Easter egg on its devices. Apple removed the application Miscalculator from the store with no warning to the developer because it was enabling the Emoji easter egg. Since then the developers of the other Emoji-enabling applications have received notices that their applications need to become Emoji-free or risk being removed from the AppStore.

If you want to get Emoji icons enabled via the AppStore rather than Cydia this is your last chance to grab one of the many applications that enable it. I recommend Spell Number (because it is free).

Instructions

1. Have firmware 2.2 or above
2. Download Spell Number
3. Launch it
4. Type in 9876543.21
5. Exit Spell number
6. Go to General->Keyboard->International Keyboards->Japanese and enable Emoji

thanks Justin for the tip

EDIT: I almost forgot to mention that if you use iChat on your Mac all of the Emoji icons have been converted for use with iChat. You can grab them here.

[MetallicaFan1991]

The iPhone comes pre-loaded with these little icons but the menus are disabled.

Does that mean the Japanese don't get the Emoji either? If not why did Apple put them in the iPhone?

Btw, you've misspelt Emoji a couple of times in the post.

[TheOrioles33]

Why would Apple not give everyone emoji and why would they give a rats arse if we enable it. I dont get Apple sometimes.

[JazJon]

what is the big deal, they should enable it for everyone by default. What is so special about Japan?

Japan doesnt even like the iPhone!
http://digg.com/apple/Why_the_Japanese_Hate_the_iPhone
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/0...he-iphone.html

[Cody Overcash]

Does that mean the Japanese don't get the Emoji either? If not why did Apple put them in the iPhone?

Btw, you've misspelt Emoji a couple of times in the post.

I have no idea. I have never been to Japan and don't personally know any Japanese iPhone users (maybe someone will post the answer)

also yes, someday I will learn to type

[blazingangel1986]

because what big daddy apple says goes or so they think we will listen, I don't get them you have a feature in the phone and suddenly because you decide we shouldn't have it you aim to shut it down sigh.

[sziklassy]

Strange... is there possibly a copyright issue involved? (I am not sure if there is copyright on such a thing...)

[Mes]

...big daddy...

Big brother, big daddy..... same old bull. From the very beginning, Apple's 'holier-than-though', 'we know better than you' attitude kept them out of the business environment. This is just another in a long-list. Corporations won't put up with Apples bull-crap.

Apple would have been king PC generations ago if big-bro really tried to open up and satisfy more then just the ultra-hippo silicon-valley types.

[nhreminh]

would enabling these allow us to use them in texts? and if so, what would other cell phones receive?

[iMack007]

Yes you can use them in text messages, but unfortunately not all mobile phones support emoji. I use it anyway. and hope the receiving end can see them.

[Labluver]

Just what I've been looking for!

Thanks!!

[adsonjustin]

I use it too!! 

[babydol]

spell number is gone. well, it shows up but when you try to access it for DL it gives a "The item you've requested is not available." popup.

Glad I got it while I could!

[Carrbone]

they're morons, they shouldnt approved the apps in the first place.
They are such Nazi's about other apps yet they let that slip through?

They are full of s hit.

[imagine engine]

Who is actually running the App Store? Is it children or adults with no common sense? I ask this since I can't understand why Apple will approve several useless apps such as fart apps but will block third party developers from providing useful features such as Emoji icons, background push, copy/paste, tethering, etc.

[thetoothfairy]

This is so stupid of Apple.... I just love this! I was able to get Spell Number... it is still up there as of right now and it is Saturday 12:27 a.m. right now....

Ok if Apple takes this down then there will be no updates etc..... so say you need to restore your phone and they took this app down then how can we still keep it? Or do you just loose it unless you jailbreak?

Thanks so much I love this kinda of stuff for my phone!

[alek]

the emoji mess up txting in the USA, if i put one in my friends dont get the sms

[thetoothfairy]

Tried emailing myself and using emoji and when I put the emotion icons in the email message when I got it there were squares in their places....

[ctt1wbw]

Apple is getting all emo over emoji.

[eballesq]

It appears the Cydia app QuickSMS enables emoji as well.