One More Tap

UPDATE: If you are looking for an emoji enabler, look no further than XEmoji, my very own app in the iTunes Store. XEmoji not only enables the emoji keyboard, it even tells you what each of these cute little icon means.

One of the featured updates that came with firmware 2.2 for the iPhone and iPod touch is the ability to use something called ‘emoji icons’ when composing messages. Emoji icons is the Japanese version of smileys (some call it emoticons) that we MSN/AIM/Yahoo! Messenger users are very familiar with.

However, its only available to iPhone customers in Japan.

Bummer no more. There are now a few methods to get Emoji icons on your iPhone and iPod touch. Yes, it’s available on the iPod touch too, all thanks to the almost similar firmware that Apple utilizes on both devices.

The easiest method is also a paid method. Well, I know some of you might be turned down when hearing the word ‘paid’, especially during these trying times. But then, paid also means that its an easier path.

Here’s what you do: get this $0.99 app called Frostyplace from the iTunes App Store. The app is a Traditional Chinese (other sites say its Japanese, but no, it isn’t) Macintosh news website RSS Reader. Play around with the app by tapping around everywhere, including the bottom two icon tabs. Next, activate the Settings app and go to General > International > Keyboards > Japanese. You should now see the Emoji option enabled. Turn it on, quick! The next time you are in the SMS application, tap on the globe button on the keyboard and you shall see a selection of beautiful Emoji icons.

Another method to try is the free method. This is what you do. Download this vCard file (right-click and choose Save As…). Don’t worry, this harmless file is basically an electronic version of your business card, read  more about what vCards are here. You can either download the file directly from Safari Mobile (check out One More Tap Mobile at the same time!) or email it to your email account on the iPhone/iPod touch if you are currently stuck to a computer. Next, choose Save Contacts when you open the file from within your device. This shall create about 27 new contacts in your address book. You might want to create a group for these contacts. Similarly, launch the Settings app, but go to General > Keyboard > Japanese and enable the QWERTY keyboard option. In any app that make use of the keyboard, tap the globe to get the Japanese keyboard. Then begin by typing “e” and you shall see a list of Emoji icons available. That’s it.

Both methods worked wonderfully on an iPhone, but it’s going to be a little more difficult on the iPod touch, since there’s no way to individually choose an emoji icon. But then, it’s free so no complaints here.

Note however that its basically advisable to avoid using Emoji icons when sending an email, unless you know that the other end is using an iPhone or iPod touch to read your messages. Read more about this and other quirks related to Emoji icons over at Apple’s Support site.

written by xcool \\ tags: 2.2, Emoji, Firmware, iPhone, iPod touch

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