Apple plans to release more than 70 new emoji with iOS 12.1, which is due to arrive in the coming weeks. However, one of those yet-unreleased emoji has caused quite a stir among New Yorkers and bagel lovers around the world. As you have probably guessed by now, I am talking about the bagel emoji.
What’s the controversy about the bagel emoji?
New Yorkers and bagel lovers have long been waiting for a bagel emoji, but now that it is coming, they don’t seem very impressed with it.
“It’s like they’ve never seen a real bagel on the west coast…” tweeted one user.
Many supported this argument, adding that Apple’s bagel emoji shows the difference between bagels on the East Coast and West Coast. Many users also claimed the bagel emoji reminds them of a bagel from a grocery store’s freezer section. Some also objected to the fact that the bagel in the emoji has nothing on it. One user even threatened Apple with a protest.
I’m organizing a march in New York City against Apple’s just-revealed bagel emoji, which comes out with the next iOS update. It looks like something you get from a cardboard box in the freezer section at Walmart. This insult will not stand. pic.twitter.com/Z44YFBuUlU
— Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker) October 3, 2018
New York Magazine’s Grub Street also criticized the bagel emoji in an article, saying the “disappointment is truly overwhelming. Take a look at this clearly machine-cut monstrosity with its stiff and bready interior, which couldn’t possibly be redeemed by a few minutes in a toaster.”
This is not the first time a food-based emoji has stirred up controversy. Something similar happened with Google last year over the cheeseburger emoji. At the time, users flooded social forums with complaints about the wrong placement of the toppings in the cheeseburger emoji. Following the backlash, Google CEO Sundar Pichai assured users that the company would “drop everything” to fix the topping thing. A month later, the search giant corrected the cheeseburger emoji.
Other new emoji
In addition to the controversial bagel emoji, Apple plans to add several other emoji, like a salt shaker, luggage, compass, hiking boot, softball, Frisbee, red gift envelope, a llama and more. In July, Apple also previewed emojis like a lobster, cupcake, and superheroes and bald and redheaded emoji characters. They will also be coming with iOS 12.1.
In an earlier press release, Apple said emoji are used by people all around the world, and “iOS 12.1 brings even more characters to the keyboard that better represent global users, including new emoji for moon cake, red gift envelope and nazar amulet.” Apple also said it is working with the Unicode Consortium to “add more disability-themed emoji to the keyboard for Unicode 12.0,” which will be out next year.
The Unicode Consortium released its latest list of emoji in February. The consortium is a nonprofit organization which monitors global emoji standards. Each company is free to choose emoji from the list and give their own spin to them.
iOS 12.1 brings new emoji, features and bug fixes
Hopefully Apple will fix the bagel emoji by the time iOS 12.1 is finally pushed out to the public. iOS 12.1 will also address one more major issue new iPhone users are facing. Many have been complaining that their iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are not charging properly. Multiple reports suggest Apple has already fixed this issue in the iOS 12.1 Public Beta. Although the fix is already available to Beta Program participants, the general public will have to wait a few more weeks to get it.
Apart from the new emoji and the fix for the charging issue, iOS 12.1 is bringing some new features as well, like Group FaceTime, Portrait Mode bokeh effects, and eSIM support. Apple removed Group FaceTime from the beta-testing phase of iOS 12, and it was not included in the final release either. Hopefully Apple will release the feature this time with iOS 12.1.
Apple has improved the bokeh effect feature in the Portrait Mode with the new iPhones. Earlier, users were allowed to adjust the blur only after taking a photo. Now after the release of the iOS update, users will be able to adjust the blur in real time when taking the photo. eSIM support for the new iPhones will also arrive with the iOS update. With eSIM support, one can activate a cellular plan without the need for a physical SIM card. However, for the eSIM to work, it is mandatory that your carrier support such settings.
Beta testers and developers already have iOS 12.1, which will be released publicly in the coming weeks.
