The concept involves transferring or replicating the visual representations of ideograms and smileys as they appear on Apple’s iOS operating system to devices running Google’s Android operating system. This addresses a common desire among users of Android devices to have the same emoji style as those found on iPhones and iPads. For example, an Android user might install a custom keyboard or font package that replaces the standard Android emoji set with the iOS equivalent, thereby altering how emojis are displayed in messaging apps and other contexts.
The motivation stems from a variety of factors, including aesthetic preference for the design of the Apple emojis, the desire for consistency in cross-platform communication, and sometimes, the perceived cultural status associated with using specific emoji styles. Historically, emoji design differed significantly across platforms, leading to potential misinterpretations when messages were viewed on different operating systems. Consequently, techniques and applications designed to provide iOS-style visuals on Android became popular, addressing this problem of visual disparity.