Apple may include new 'iMessage' emoji in iOS 9.1, OS X 10.11.1

By Joseph Keller
last updated

It looks like, as part of the upcoming iOS 9.1 and OS X 10.11.1 update, Apple is including a new emoji character that's not part of the standard Unicode set. Part of the "Symbols" set, the new character is apparently formed by joining two previous characters, "Eye" and "Left Speech Bubble". The result is an eye inside of a message bubble.

As Jeremy Burge explains, this character is not a standard Unicode addition:

But the strange thing about this character (which Apple calls "eye in speech bubble") is that it's not a standard Unicode addition. It can't be found in Unicode 1.1, or any other version right through to the Unicode 9.0 candidates.

There's a simple reason for Apple including a non-standard character with the addition of new emoji: the combination of "Eye" and "Left Speech Bubble" can also be read as "eye-message". Get it?

iOS 9.1 is currently in beta for both developers and public testers, while OS X 10.11.1 is also in developer beta. Aside from new emoji characters, not much is known about these updates just yet.

Source: Jeremy Burge

Joseph Keller
Joseph Keller

Joseph Keller is the former Editor in Chief of iMore. An Apple user for almost 20 years, he spends his time learning the ins and outs of iOS and macOS, always finding ways of getting the most out of his iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.

11 Comments
  • Who cares Sent from the iMore App
  • Me Sent from the iMore App
  • Yup middle finger and all Sent from the iMore App
  • I hope it means some surprise in final release of ios 9.1 and OS X 10.11.1. I bet on Siri in OS X and new languages fo Siri in iOS.
  • I think it's clearly related to the Illuminati. :D Sent from the iMore App
  • Emoji are so stupid. But this is kind of interesting. Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • I noticed nobody on here is talking about Apple getting hacked in their app store and a bunch apps been filled with malware Sent from the iMore App
  • I would be happy if one simple feature was included in iMessage. If I delete a conversation, or message, or contact on my iPhone, it deletes it on all Apple devices. It can not be that hard to do. That is a feature long over due. Sent from the iMore App
  • I see no talk about Apple's App Store getting hacked and all of the malware on the apps!! Sent from the iMore App
  • Except it wasn't hacked and not all apps were infected only those made by Chinese companies and not even all of them haha. But yep first malware infiltration of the iOS app store of course iMore wouldn't talk about it. Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • I was a public beta tests and there are new emojis Sent from the iMore App