Apple turbocharges Messages in iOS 10 with smart emoji and more

The Messages app is getting a ton of new features in iOS 10.

At WWDC, Apple senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi showed a number of new additions to the Messages app including smarter emoji entry.

Entering emojis is no longer a pain in the butt that requires you to hunt for the right one. Instead, you'll be able to just type your message out normally and the keyboard will suggest emojis that fit your words, just like in third-party apps like Line.

The app can also highlight all the words in your message that can be converted into emoji:

In addition to easier emoji entry, the Messages app also lets you draw and hand write messages directly.

You can speak "loudly" and "softly" and the message will bubble in varying sizes to simulate the volume of your text, giving them more emotion.

Furthermore, you can send "surprise" messages that are concealed behind "invisible ink." Receivers can then swipe on these surprise messages to unlock them.

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Messages also has full-screen effects...in case you don't think it's tacky at all:

Third-party apps will also be able to integrate with Messages, essentially turning the app into a platform, much like Facebook's Messenger app.

For instance, third-party apps will be able to connect their stickers and GIFS and more for use in Messages.

The new Messages will arrive this fall. A developer beta preview will be available in July.

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