Apple has revealed that it will be replacing the controversial handgun emoji with a water pistol in iOS 10 when it launches in September.
While Apple has given no explanation for the change it’s clear that the company is all too aware of the distressing events that have been unfolding both in the US and around the world.
Along with the new water pistol emoji Apple is introducing over 100 brand-new redesigned emoji to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
These will including even more gender options to existing emoji characters including female professionals and athletes.
There will be increased family options for single parents as well as the addition of a brand-new rainbow flag.
In a press release the company explained: “Apple is working closely with the Unicode Consortium to ensure that popular emoji characters reflect the diversity of people everywhere.”
Apple iOS 10: Features
Apple’s new operating system for iPhone will come with a host of brand-new features including a redesigned Music app and a new ecosystem for the Messages app.
Apple Music - Apple’s new app features a simpler, redesigned layout that places greater emphasis on the music you’ve saved and the album artwork itself.
Messages - You can now download third-party apps that work specifically within the Message app. The app now includes more customisation options from how your message bubbles appear on other people’s devices to sending a heartbeat from your Apple Watch.
Hide stock apps - That’s right, you can now hide those pesky apps that Apple just won’t let you get rid of. If for some inexplicable reason you don’t want the Stocks app on your homepage you can ‘delete’ them, hiding the app and removing any user data.