UPDATE: Google has also posted Android 6.0.1 factory images for the Nexus 6P, 5X, 6, 5, 9, 7, and Nexus Player. You can flash these images now if you don't feel like waiting for your OTA update, but you'll wipe all of your data in the process.
After teasing new Android emoji last week, Google is officially ready to roll the characters to Nexus devices.
Google will start pushing Android 6.0.1 to Nexus phones and tablets today, complete with a boatload of new and updated emoji characters. There are updated versions of emoji like the “relieved face” and “pile of poop,” as well as new emoji for taco, burrito, and cheese.
If you’re not a big emoji user, you’ll be pleased to know that these new characters aren’t the only new goodies included with Android 6.0.1. The update also rearranges the navigation buttons on tablets. The “back” and “home” buttons are now on the left side of the navigation bar, while the “recent apps” button has been moved to the right. There’s also an option to turn on Do Not Disturb mode until your next alarm. This feature was actually present in Android 5.1 but then wasn’t included with 6.0. Now it’s back with 6.0.1. Finally, Android 6.0.1 includes December’s monthly security updates.
While it’s only an x.x.1 update, Android 6.0.1 looks like a solid addition to Google’s mobile platform. Emoji are becoming increasingly popular, and as they’ve become more widely used, Android’s emoji have caught more and more flak for looking, well, not great. This update not only improves the look of Android emoji, but also adds many of the newer characters that are popular, like the burrito and taco.
Unfortunately for non-Nexus Android users, it’s unclear when Android 6.0.1 and its new emoji will begin hitting other phones and tablets. Google has shared the new emoji with its partners, though, so we’ll just have to wait for them to implement the emoji into their custom software and then push updates out to users.