iPhone Hacking: Enable Japanese Emoticons (AKA Emojicons) [Updated with simpler metho

Michael Johnston · November 25th, 2008, 04:46 PM

Last week's 2.2 software update included quite a few goodies for most iPhone owners, but one in particular is only available to those in Japan. Unbeknownst to most of us in the States, Apple's added emojicons (or Japanese emoticons), although they're only available to customers in Japan. Thankfully Steven Troughton-Smith has figured out that a simple property list edit is all that's required. For the full instructions, read on.

You'll need a jailbroken iPhone and enough knowledge to grab the correct file, edit it properly, and put it back without pulling your hair out.

From Steven's blog:

You need to edit the file /User/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Preferences.plist on the device -> whether you use a jailbreak to achieve this or merely some iTunes backup editor is up to you.

Add the following boolean key as 'true':

KeyboardEmojiEverywhere

Then merely go to the Keyboards section of the Settings app, hit Japanese, and turn on Emoji. Will work for any text field/view in the OS, including on websites, AND including the titles of items on SpringBoard (e.g. if you save a bookmark to the home screen).

If you have enough patience and know-how to follow those instructions, then enjoy your Emoji—you've earned it. For the rest of us, we're probably better off with Emoji disabled for now.

Update: As HackThatPhone points out, ispazio has released an "emoji enabler" in Cydia. Searching for "emoji" should bring up the app.

[High Caffeine Content via Gizmodo]

HackThatPhone · November 25th, 2008, 07:43 PM #2

Thanks to ispazio, this hack is now available as a Cydia download. Just search for emoji and you'll see it. Beats SSH any day... and me having to explain it.

brettuthius · November 26th, 2008, 11:50 AM #3

This source on how to enable Emoji icons mentions that it can be enabled on un-jailbroken iphones using something different than Cydia. Anyone try it?

HackThatPhone · November 26th, 2008, 11:59 AM #4

Using a .vcf is how they do it, so I imagine you'll be stuck with 27 ridiculous contacts in your address book. Interesting idea if it works.

iLiam · December 17th, 2008, 05:53 PM #5

Does your phone have to be Jailbroken to access this feature?

HackThatPhone · December 18th, 2008, 02:31 AM #6

I'll say it does. I haven't heard any success stories using the non jailbreak method.

Jailbreaking is as easy as pie. I could teach anyone's grandma to do it...

iLiam · December 18th, 2008, 05:38 AM #7

Im so tempted to Jailbreak my iPhone but im not sure weather to do it or not. I can see the pros and cons of it

JFrappuccino · December 20th, 2008, 04:56 PM #8

I just tried the non jailbreak method, it works like a charm.

Bernie · **Really** - December 20th, 2008, 09:29 PM #9

I tried again after reading your post.

. Go to Settings>General>Keyboard>International Keyboards>Japanese and enable "Emoji."

Well it was not there. My choices were QWERTY and Kana. Running version2.2 (5G77) on an old puppy.

imagine engine · December 21st, 2008, 03:47 AM #10

While the hack is nice to have for jailbroken iPhone users I'm a little puzzled that Apple chose to only provide this feature to Japan.

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Michael Johnston This is my fricken site, durrrr Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 2,694 Thanks: 11 Thanked 45 Times in 40 Posts	iPhone Hacking: Enable Japanese Emoticons (AKA Emojicons) [Updated with simpler metho - November 25th, 2008, 04:46 PM #1
	<script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script> Last week's 2.2 software update included quite a few goodies for most iPhone owners, but one in particular is only available to those in Japan. Unbeknownst to most of us in the States, Apple's added emojicons (or Japanese emoticons), although they're only available to customers in Japan. Thankfully Steven Troughton-Smith has figured out that a simple property list edit is all that's required. For the full instructions, read on. You'll need a jailbroken iPhone and enough knowledge to grab the correct file, edit it properly, and put it back without pulling your hair out. From Steven's blog: You need to edit the file /User/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Preferences.plist on the device -> whether you use a jailbreak to achieve this or merely some iTunes backup editor is up to you. Add the following boolean key as 'true': KeyboardEmojiEverywhere Then merely go to the Keyboards section of the Settings app, hit Japanese, and turn on Emoji. Will work for any text field/view in the OS, including on websites, AND including the titles of items on SpringBoard (e.g. if you save a bookmark to the home screen). If you have enough patience and know-how to follow those instructions, then enjoy your Emoji—you've earned it. For the rest of us, we're probably better off with Emoji disabled for now. Update: As HackThatPhone points out, ispazio has released an "emoji enabler" in Cydia. Searching for "emoji" should bring up the app. [High Caffeine Content via Gizmodo] __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: White 32GB iPhone 3GS iPhone Version: Whatever the latest is because I'm crazy like that. Computer & OS: 15" Unibody MacBook Pro + OS X Leopard 10.5 AIM: iPhoneAlley twitter: MichaelJohnston

HackThatPhone Rocks the Board Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the SouthWest Posts: 515 Thanks: 0 Thanked 47 Times in 46 Posts	November 25th, 2008, 07:43 PM #2
	Thanks to ispazio, this hack is now available as a Cydia download. Just search for emoji and you'll see it. Beats SSH any day... and me having to explain it. __________________ My website is http://HackThatPhone.com formerly http://HackTheiPhone.com Please do not PM. Post your questions in the forum for everyone to see, and benefit from.

brettuthius Forum Lurker Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	November 26th, 2008, 11:50 AM #3
	This source on how to enable Emoji icons mentions that it can be enabled on un-jailbroken iphones using something different than Cydia. Anyone try it?

HackThatPhone Rocks the Board Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the SouthWest Posts: 515 Thanks: 0 Thanked 47 Times in 46 Posts	November 26th, 2008, 11:59 AM #4
	Using a .vcf is how they do it, so I imagine you'll be stuck with 27 ridiculous contacts in your address book. Interesting idea if it works. __________________ My website is http://HackThatPhone.com formerly http://HackTheiPhone.com Please do not PM. Post your questions in the forum for everyone to see, and benefit from.

iLiam Rocks the Board Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 215 Thanks: 7 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	December 17th, 2008, 05:53 PM #5
	Does your phone have to be Jailbroken to access this feature?

HackThatPhone Rocks the Board Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the SouthWest Posts: 515 Thanks: 0 Thanked 47 Times in 46 Posts	December 18th, 2008, 02:31 AM #6
	I'll say it does. I haven't heard any success stories using the non jailbreak method. Jailbreaking is as easy as pie. I could teach anyone's grandma to do it... __________________ My website is http://HackThatPhone.com formerly http://HackTheiPhone.com Please do not PM. Post your questions in the forum for everyone to see, and benefit from.

iLiam Rocks the Board Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 215 Thanks: 7 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	December 18th, 2008, 05:38 AM #7
	Im so tempted to Jailbreak my iPhone but im not sure weather to do it or not. I can see the pros and cons of it

JFrappuccino Ubiquitous Mod Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: California Posts: 703 Thanks: 14 Thanked 34 Times in 33 Posts	December 20th, 2008, 04:56 PM #8
	I just tried the non jailbreak method, it works like a charm.

Bernie Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Valley in Virginia Posts: 525 Thanks: 5 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Really - December 20th, 2008, 09:29 PM #9
	I tried again after reading your post. . Go to Settings>General>Keyboard>International Keyboards>Japanese and enable "Emoji." Well it was not there. My choices were QWERTY and Kana. Running version2.2 (5G77) on an old puppy. __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: MA712LL w Apple Headset & Vaja case iPhone Version: 2.0 (5G77) Hacks: Been there, done that. Computer & OS: 2 x 2.8 GHZ Quad-Core w 8G &10.5.7 There are cars you drive and cars you work on.

imagine engine Rocks the Board Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 184 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	December 21st, 2008, 03:47 AM #10
	While the hack is nice to have for jailbroken iPhone users I'm a little puzzled that Apple chose to only provide this feature to Japan. __________________ SOHO: Maya, Mudbox, Toxik, FCS 3, iLife 09, iWork 09, Office, TC 1TB, iPhone 3G.