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While interoperability has been implemented across email services, messaging apps remain isolated. So in this piece, we go through all the developments around interoperability in the context of messaging apps and what the EU is doing with its regulation. We also take a look at the cons of interoperability in messaging apps.
WhatsApp is planning to restrict user accounts for suspicious or spam-like behavior in its latest beta update. This penalty will prevent users from starting new chats for a certain period. The restriction is based on automatic tools that detect patterns of suspicious activities, not on the content of messages.
India's biggest messaging platform, WhatsApp, is locked in a battle with the government. The company is challenging a rule that would require them to identify the originators of messages, arguing it breaks user privacy and end-to-end encryption. WhatsApp says it could exit India altogether if forced to comply.
WhatsApp now offers the ability to create and schedule events directly within communities. The feature makes it easy for users to manage large groups and plan gatherings. You can create an event inside a community group using the attachment icon and from there, you can provide a clear title, detailed description, date, time, and location.
If you are not aware, WhatsApp lets you create polls to get real-time answers from your WhatsApp Groups or individual chats. This not only makes coming to a decision easier, but also allows you to gamify the process as you wish. To use it on your Android or iOS device, open the app -> select the WhatsApp Group -> from the keyboard panel at the bottom, select the attach icon -> Polls -> fill in the questions and options -> hit send.
WhatsApp is introducing chat filters to help users organize their messages. The filters will be available in three categories: All, Unread, and Groups. The feature is rolling out today and will be available on all devices in the coming weeks. It will make it easier to navigate through older messages and manage chats.
Now that Meta AI is available to use from WhatsApp in India, I gave it a shot and in this read, I will be sharing my first impressions with it. It can provide answers to your questions, has access to the latest information, cites sources for the thing it fetched from the internet and can even generate images. So this is my overview and quick impressions of Meta AI.
Some WhatsApp users in India are now getting Meta AI on their app. The feature was previously only available in the US, but is now expanding to other regions. While the chatbot's results are not influenced by users' chat history, it can use their chats with Meta AI for improvements and internal testing.
WhatsApp Now Lets You Disable Link Previews for Enhanced Privacy; Here’s How
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WhatsApp's latest feature allows users to disable link previews, enhancing privacy by preventing IP addresses from being exposed to third-party websites. The feature is available in the beta version for both Android and iOS. You can enable it by navigating to 3-dots icon > Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Disable link previews.
WhatsApp is currently experiencing issues and users are unable to send messages, so the messaging app seems to be down for many.
WhatsApp's latest beta version 2.24.6.19 on Android reveals a new feature is in the works, and it will allow users to mention specific contacts in their Status updates. It will notify the mentioned users and allow you to increase activity on Status updates. The feature is still under development and should reach all users in future.
WhatsApp for Windows Lets You Pop-Out Chats for Focused Interactions
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The Windows app for WhatsApp is getting a pop-out chat feature found in the latest beta for the app. This will allow users to open an ongoing conversation in a separate window. This will be most useful in situations when you have to chat with multiple users but don't want to continue switching from one chat screen to another.
WhatsApp is rolling out four new text formatting options on top of the four that were already available to use in the messaging app. These include bulleted lists, numbered lists, block quotes, and inline code formats. The new text formatting options are live for all users and on all platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, Web, and Mac.
WhatsApp's latest beta update for Android (version #2.24.4.25) now prevents users from taking screenshots of profile pictures. This feature aims to enhance user privacy and prevent unauthorized sharing of profile photos. The update is currently available for WhatsApp beta users on Android and will roll out to more users in the coming weeks.
WhatsApp Interoperability Feature Might Land Sooner Than You Think
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WhatsApp has been developing cross-platform communication for quite some time now. However, now, a new report from Wired has shed some important light on the mechanism. As per the report, we get to know that interoperable chats on WhatsApp will be an opt-in feature. In addition, we also get to know of that WhatsApp will allow different platforms to use different encryption standards if they meet the platform's security standards.
WhatsApp is working on a feature to choose and set favorite contacts on the app which should appear at the top of the calls tab on the app. This report comes from WABetaInfo which showed a preview of this feature in the latest beta update for the iOS version of the app. It's addition will let users call with just one tap to the people that they frequently reach out.
WhatsApp Web is set to add a Chat Lock feature in as reported by WABetaInfo from the latest update. This feature allows users to hide and lock individual chats on the platform, which will be accessible through a separate tab and protected by a passcode. This feature is already available in the mobile version of the app and will provide a uniform and secure experience no matter which device you use.
The latest WhatsApp Beta version 24.2.10.73 for iOS shows that the messaging platform has started work on adding passkeys support for iPhones and iPads. The news comes from WABetaInfo where they show a screenshot of the setup screen for the passkeys feature on iOS. Passkeys already made their way to WhatsApp on Android back in October 2023.
WhatsApp users on iOS can now make their own stickers out of images from their camera roll as well as edit existing stickers to their liking. To make custom stickers, open a chat and hit the sticker icon -> tap the big blue plus icon -> select an image from your camera roll and WhatsApp will cut it out for you -> add texts, emojis or stickers to further customize -> Send. Meanwhile, to edit a sticker, users will have to navigate to the long press on a sticker -> Edit Sticker -> Send.
As per a recent report, WhatsApp users may soon get to see a whole new set of text formatting tools to make use of. These text formatting tools will allow users to add a code block, quote block, numbered lists as well as bulleted lists to their WhatsApp messages. They can do so by using a couple of text markup shortcuts that other platforms like Discord have been putting to use for some time now.
Whatsapp May Soon Allow Users to Change the Theme Color, Finally!
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According to the latest WABetaInfo report, WhatsApp is gearing up to soon allow iOS users to change their WhatsApp theme colors. WhatsApp has rolled out a iOS beta version #24.1.10.70, which revealed that the company is working on an app appearance feature. There will be five different colors to choose from. The report also showcases how, once the user chooses one of these colors, it applies to the chats, unread messages, and more.
When you get blocked by someone on WhatsApp, you don't directly get notified about it. However, there are a couple of indicators to look out for if you suspect someone of blocking you on the messaging app. If their profile picture appears blank, last seen status is not visible, your messages to them only have a single tick, calls to them don't go through, or you can't add them to a group, your suspicions have surely come true.
WhatsApp Tests Audio Sharing over Video Calls: Here’s How It Will Work
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Latest WhatsApp beta for Android hints at the upcoming addition of a music/ audio sharing feature. The feature will come into play while you are sharing your screen on a video call. It will allow other participants to listen to the audio coming from your device. It won't work on regular video or voice calls. The feature will be available soon on WhatsApp for Android and iOS.
The latest WhatsApp beta update on Android lets you share your WhatsApp status directly to Instagram! This feature allows you to share your status as an Instagram Story without leaving the app, giving you more control over your cross-posting on social media. You can choose which status updates you want to share and can even upload them simultaneously on both Facebook and Instagram. This new feature is expected to roll out soon as it is already available in the beta version.
WhatsApp has introduced the ability to pin individual messages in chats to highlight the important ones, which is an extension of the already available ability to pin chats. The option to pin messages is available for both individual and group chats and you can do so by simply tapping/holding a message and selecting the More option (on iOS) and the three-dotted menu (on Android) to access the pin messages option. It is now rolling out for all.
WhatsApp Tests a New Change for Status Updates; Check out the Details!
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WhatsApp is testing a new change for Status Updates, which involves a new reply bar, heavily inspired from Instagram Stories.
WhatsApp has introduced a new feature, View Once voice messages, which will let you send disappearing voice messages similar to disappearing text messages.
WhatsApp Channels previously only allowed one admin, which was the owner, to manage the community. Now, with a new TestFlight beta update, Meta has evolved WhatsApp channels. Owners can add additional admins easily, to assist with the management process of their WhatsApp Channels.
WhatsApp has added a secret code feature. First, you can lock your chats with a password, by utilizing the previously introduced 'chat lock feature'. Then, after setting up 'secret code', you gain an additional layer of security for your chats. Once its working, you will need to enter your secret code in the search bar of WhatsApp, to see your locked conversations. Then, you need to enter your password as well to start chatting. A highly appreciated and overkill privacy feature!
With WhatsApp's 'view-once' feature, you could send and receive photos and videos that could only be viewed once by the recipient. This feature was removed from the desktop app made for macOS/Windows, as well as WhatsApp Web, almost a year ago. Now, Meta is adding the view-once messages feature back to WhatsApp for Windows & macOS applications. This also includes the WhatsApp web clients and the rollout has already begun.
WhatsApp AI-Powered Chat feature will roll out in a stable update in the coming months. But on the beta version, we are now seeing a new shortcut button made for easily accessing the AI-Powered chat feature in WhatsApp!
The WhatsApp Multiple Accounts feature has now landed for Android users to make use of. Using this feature, WhatsApp users will finally be able to add up to two accounts on a single device without having to resort to tricks like cloning the app. In order to add a second WhatsApp account, open the WhatsApp app on your Android device>tap on the vertical three-dot menu in the top right corner>select Settings>tap on the small down arrow button beside your name>select Add account. Then, you just follow the on-screen instructions to set up a second account on the platform.
WhatsApp Calls Are Becoming More Secure; Here’s How!
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You Can Now Have Two WhatsApp Accounts at the Same Time
WhatsApp Officially Supports Passkeys for Password-Less Logins