Apple blocked the latest Telegram update

Apple blocked the latest Telegram update over a new animated emoji set

Ever since Apple launched the App Store, developers big and small have gotten caught up in the company's approval process and had their apps delayed or removed altogether

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The popular messaging app Telegram is just the latest, according to the company's CEO Pavel Durov

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Durov posted a message to his Telegram channel saying the app's latest update had been stuck in Apple's review process for two weeks without any real word from the company about why it was held up

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The CEO says that Apple told Telegram that it would have to remove a new feature called Telemoji, which Durov described as "higher quality vector-animated versions of the standard emoji."

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He included a preview of what they would look like in his post — they're similar to the basic emoji set Apple uses, but with some pretty delightful animations that certainly could help make messaging a little more expressive

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There are still a lot of emoji-related improvements in the latest Telegram update, though

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The company says it is launching an "open emoji platform" where anyone can upload their own set of emoji that people who pay for Telegram's premium service can use

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If you're not a premium user, you'll still be able to see the customized emoji and test using them in "saved messages" like reminders and notes in the app

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The custom emoji can be interactive as well — if you tap on them, you'll get a full-screen animated reaction

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