While much has been made of the more diverse emoji Apple added to iOS 8.3 and OS X 10.10.3, some users may not know how to easily access them from the iOS or Mac keyboard.
Using Diverse Emoji in iOS 8.3
Before we start, make sure you have the emoji keyboard activated on your iOS device. Go to: “Settings” -> “General” -> “Keyboard.” Tap the “Keyboards” option, and if you don’t see “Emoji” in the list there, tap “Add New Keyboard…” and tap “Emoji” in the “OTHER IPHONE KEYBOARDS” list.
When entering a message, if you wish to include a diverse emoji in your message, simply tap the emoji symbol on your iOS device’s virtual keyboard, that’s the second key from the left at the bottom of the default iOS virtual keyboard, it looks like a happy face), and scroll until you reach the vaguely jaundiced looking characters as show below.
Now, tap and hold on the emoji, as seen above, and you’ll see the diverse versions of that particular emoji appear. Tap the emoji you want to use, and it will be inserted into your message. Easy, right?
Apple included diverse characters for some of the activity emoji, as seen below, along with thumbs-up, OK, and other such hand gestures. However, oddly enough they did NOT include them for the couples and family emojis, although they are now more lifestyle diverse – including all the various kinds of families and couples in the world around us – as long as they’re jaundiced.
Try your favorite emoji, and see if there are diverse options for them.
Using Diverse Emoji in OS X 10.10.3
Entering a diverse emoji to your message in OS X 10.10.3 is just as easy as doing it in iOS 8.3. When entering a message in the Messages app, simply click the emoji button on the right side of your message field, (it looks like a happy face), and click on an emoji. If diverse versions of the emoji are available, they’ll appear, as seen below. Click on the emoji you want to use, and it will be inserted into your message.
Again, try various emoji and see which ones offer diverse options.
