[Macworld]

Post your comments for Apple cracks down on emoji apps here

[jmincey]

So what's the down-side of these things that would cause mother Apple to deny them to its customers? And why make Japan an exception?
Jeff Mincey

[aestival]

Definitely sounds as if some group of puritanical bureaucrats within Apple (probably armed with lawyers) have far too much free time on their censorious little hands.

[alansky]

Personally, I think they're cute and some people use them very creatively. Some people actually start sending email on the iPhone after seeing an emoji demo. Sometimes Apple behaves as though they need to spend a few months in a good rest home.

[flybynight]

Don't forget the carrot!
;^)

[Moof_in_Charge]

It just keeps getting worse... What the heck is it any of Apple's business anyway?
Just when you think Apple couldn't possibly get more ridiculous about policing the iPhone.. baaaaammm right in the kisser!

[madgunde]

Anyone stop to think that maybe since these apps are exploiting a flaw in the iPhone OS that Apple is pulling them because they plan to fix that flaw in the next iPhone firmware update?
Who knows, maybe they'll enable Emoji for all regions with that same update. I know, wishful thinking...

[derekm]

Just to clarify, the limitation is not only to those using a Japanese input method, but for also having SoftBank as your carrier. IOW, it has to be a Japanese iPhone with SoftBank.



Yes, I know this information is in the link in the article. Yes, I despise emoji too.

[Rhywun]

I thought emoji were these things:
^_^
and the many variations thereof.
OK, further research shows that the animated doodads are an annoying tween-friendly evolution of the above and are built into Japanese handsets. Seems to me this is not a case of "mother Apple" telling us what to do.

[Speed_Racer]

Those are emoticons, not emoji.
This is what happens when Steve goes on medical leave. When the cat's away, the rats will play.

[Wondercow]

flybynight said:

Don't forget the carrot!
;^)

:-D Caret

[Rhywun]

Those are emoticons, not emoji.

Look it up. Emoji are special character sets promoted by various Japanese phone providers. That's why they only work with Japanese input methods.

[Ashuri]

This is idiocy. What about those of us that type in Japanese in other countries? Such an old way of thinking about the world..

[WarrenS]

mmm maybe they are just the right size to fit in a good virus