OS X 10.10.3 Beta 2 Update Introduces New Emoji, Skin Tone Modifiers

Today’s second OS X 10.10.3 beta builds on the emoji groundwork laid with the first OS X 10.10.3 beta, introducing all new emoji and emoji skin tone modifiers. When selecting an emoji with a skin tone, such as one of the many people emoji, it’s now possible to select a specific skin tone from one of five options.

There are also several new people emoji that introduce greater diversity. Family emoji now include multiple same sex couples, both with children and without, all with variable skin tone options.

Along with a range of diversified people emoji, today’s update brings 32 new country flags, including flags for Canada, Australia, and India.

Along with new emoji, OS X 10.10.3 brings a renamed Character palette that focuses more heavily on emoji. Accessible through the “Edit” menu in most Mac apps, the palette was previously named “Special Characters,” but is labeled “Emoji & Symbols” in OS X 10.10.3. The emoji picker has also been redesigned, featuring a layout with a single larger vertical-scrolling page.

The same diversified emoji options will also likely be coming to iOS. The first iOS 8.3 beta included a redesigned emoji picker, but it did not introduce placeholders for new emoji or skin tone modifiers.