iOS 10 causes iPhones to crash; emoji and layout changes create uproar

Still upset over Apple’s decision to eliminate a headphone jack in its iPhone 7? Too bad, because now there’s something else to be mad about — at least according to Twitter.

Apple released its newest version of iPhone software, iOS 10, Tuesday afternoon. The software offers updated apps, newly designed emojis and personalized options to make your iPhone use simpler and quicker.

Ever wanted to communicate entirely in emoji? The updated messages app suggests emoji replacements for words you type in your texts. But they may not be the emojis you’re used to; they, like many aspects of the software, have been changed, with some users lamenting their similarity to Android emojis.

The software also adds 72 new emojis to your keyboard, which has grown dramatically.

Also new to the messages app is the ability to send background fireworks and confetti to further punctuate your points, send individual read receipts (for peak pettiness) and send finger-written responses.

Users also were upset about the removal of the pistol emoji, which is now represented by a squirt gun. The switch has been long in the making; CNN Money reports the original emoji had been interpreted as death threats and remained controversial for advocates of gun control.

The layout of the software’s home screen, lock screen and notification screen also got a facelift.

But the biggest freakout comes from users who claim the update “bricked” their phones — freezing them up, deleting all data and rendering them useless.

Apple released a statement via a Buzzfeed editor saying it had “quickly resolved the issue.” Users need to connect their phones and iPads to iTunes to recover their data.

But it wasn’t all bad reviews. If you have the space to download the software in the first place (it demands a whole gigabyte), you’ll finally be able to free your phone from those iOS apps you never use, like Stocks (aka the bane of everyone’s existence.)

As always when a new version of iOS is rolled out, users resistant to change complained, while those embracing new ways of doing things applauded.

But, if there’s one good thing to come out of the iOS mess, it’s that you’ll know what to expect while you sit and wait for your download. Me? I’ll take funny-looking emojis over an hour-plus download any day.

This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 4:36 PM with the headline "iOS 10 causes iPhones to crash; emoji and layout changes create uproar."