Ever found yourself drafting an email in Gmail, wishing you could spice things up with emoji reaction choices for those on the receiving end? It appears that such an interactive feature is on the horizon. However, the groundwork for its seamless integration still requires a touch more fine-tuning.
Gmail is bringing emojis in
As reported by 9to5Google, it seems that Google is earnestly diving into the realm of integrating emoji reactions within Gmail. It’s noteworthy to mention that competitors such as Apple Mail and Microsoft Outlook are already ahead in this game, offering their users the flair of emoji reactions in emails.
An interesting discovery surfaced on the Android-focused blog, TheSpAndroid. A vigilant user, AssembleDebug, noticed that emoji functionalities are somewhat already in motion on mobile Gmail. If you’re attentive, you’d spot an emoji reaction icon sitting snugly beside the reply button, offering a curated selection of reactions for the user’s choice.
In a seemingly user-friendly addition, when tapping the “+” icon next to the emojis, users can indulge in selecting any emoji they desire to use as a reaction. However, there’s a caveat: if you’re sending an emoji-fueled email to a non-Gmail user, they’ll be left in the dark. Instead of viewing your reactions directly in the email, they’ll get a separate email showcasing the larger-than-life emojis you enthusiastically sent.
Diving into the Gmail emoji dynamics, it seems the platform is subtly promoting a sense of exclusivity. These emoji reactions might not play well with emails coming from other service providers. AssembleDebug further sheds light on the limitations; you can’t sprinkle more than 20 emojis in a single email.
Also, if you’re hoping to use emojis to respond to bulk emails, you might want to reconsider. And for those discreetly included in the email via BCC? They’ll have to sit out on the emoji action as they can’t add reactions to the conversation.
The anticipatory buzz is palpable, and soon enough, emoji reactions should grace the Gmail apps across both Android and iOS devices. While Google remains coy, not making an official announcement regarding this feature, their response to The Verge was a playful tease. They cheekily advised to “stay tuned,” punctuating their statement with emojis.
