Tag: whatsapp beta

WhatsApp AI Chats Shortcut Rolling Out to Some Beta Testers Alongside Status Filters

WhatsApp has begun rolling out a visual change designed to improve the experience of using the upcoming artificial intelligence (AI) chats feature on the messaging platform. Earlier this year, the Meta-owned firm revealed that it was working on support for AI chatbots on the widely used messaging platform. These AI-powered assistants are currently available to some users in the US. Meanwhile, WhatsApp has also begun testing a new section for status updates that allows you to view and filter a list of status updates.

After updating to WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.24.26 (via feature tracker WABetaInfo) some beta testers are seeing a new shortcut to initiate these chats, right from the main chat list, via a floating action button (FAB), on the latest beta version. A white button, with a multi-coloured ring is shown above the new chat button.

A screenshot of the new AI button shared by the feature tracker
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

Meta announced in September that it was adding AI assistants to its messaging apps on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. These chatbots are powered by Meta’s large language model, Llama 2 and will be able to respond to user queries and search the web using Bing. The assistants will also be able to generate images using text prompts. They will also support AI avatars with a range of personalities, according to the company.

While it might be a while before Meta rolls out AI chats to users in other regions, the addition of the new button should make it easier for users to discover the feature on their own — compared to the additional steps required to create a new AI conversation via the new chat button.

On the other hand, WABetaInfo has also spotted a new filtered vertical list on WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.25.3, that allows users to view all available statuses — the Instagram stories-like feature that is also available on WhatsApp — via a vertical list. The list of status updates also includes channels, according to the feature tracker.

In order to help users manage the list of statuses, the latest WhatsApp beta adds four new filters — All, Recent, Viewed, and Muted — at the top of the screen. The ability to organise and filter statuses is expected to make its way to users on the stable update channel on both iOS and Android in the future.

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WhatsApp Testing Secret Code Feature for Locked Chats; Channel Usernames Reportedly in the Works

WhatsApp has begun testing a new feature that allows you to hide secret chats on the messaging app. With the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android, you can set a secret code that will allow you to hide specific chats from the main list. Currently, WhatsApp allows you to swipe down in the chat list to open your hidden chats, but the new feature will hide them from even showing up until the secret code is entered. Meanwhile, WhatsApp is also working on developing a feature that will allow you to set a username for channels.

After updating to WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.24.20, you will be able to set a secret code for hidden chats on the messaging app. In order to do so, open the list of locked chats and tap the three-dot menu at the top > Chat lock settings > toggle Hide locked chats and enter a memorable secret code. WhatsApp specifically asks you to choose a memorable secret code as resetting your secret code will clear all your locked chats.

WhatsApp’s new secret code feature
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ WhatsApp

 

Once you have hidden your locked chats, they won’t be visible in the Locked chats category that shows up when you swipe down on the home screen. Instead, you will have to enter the secret code in the search bar to open the hidden (and locked) chat list.

The feature to hide locked chats will prevent someone who is using your phone from detecting the presence of locked chats on your phone — instead of simply swiping down, they will need to enter your secret code. 

If you wish to revert to the previous locking mechanism that protects chats with your fingerprint, you can toggle Hide locked chats following the steps mentioned above, after entering your secret code. The locked chats will once again be visible with a swipe down on the list of main chats.  

Meanwhile, feature tracker WABetaInfo spotted a new feature in development that will allow users to set a username for channels. Once a username is set, your channel subscribers will be able to enter the username to open the channel, according to the tracker. The feature is still being worked on, so beta testers won’t be able to try the feature until it is rolled out on the beta channel at a later date. 

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WhatsApp Web Allows Beta Testers to Search for Messages by Date: Report

WhatsApp is rolling out a feature on the latest beta version of its web client, that will allow users to search for messages sent or received on a particular date. The feature could come in handy when users are looking for a message and don’t remember specific keywords to search for, but have a general idea of when the message was sent. It should also help users search for messages that do not have searchable text content, such as videos and voice notes.

Spotted by feature tracker WABetaInfo on WhatsApp Web Beta 2.2348.50 the Meta-owned messaging service has added a new calendar icon that is displayed when searching for messages on the web client. The feature is currently available for a few users who are on the latest beta version of WhatsApp Web and the rollout to all testers could take a while. Gadgets 360 was unable to test the feature on the latest WhatsApp Web Beta client.

WhatsApp’s search by date feature is available to some beta testers
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

According to details shared by the feature tracker, the new search by date feature for WhatsApp Web will allow users to quickly locate a message based on the date it was sent or received. Clicking the newly added icon opens a calendar view with the option to select a specific date. Doing so will list out the messages from that day.

WhatsApp also recently began beta testing another feature on its apps for iOS and Android — email verification. The messaging service is working on the ability for users to verify their email address on the app, which will enable an alternative method of logging in to the messaging platform. This could come in handy when there is no cellular reception and receiving a login OTP is not possible.

The popular messaging platform is also working on the ability to share polls in channels — a feature that will work in a slightly different manner, according to details shared by the feature tracker. Unlike polls shared in group chats, votes on polls will be anonymous, as part of the company’s efforts to protect user privacy.

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WhatsApp Begins Beta Testing Email Address Verification; Working on Ability to Share Polls in Channels: Report

WhatsApp has begun testing a new feature that will allow users to add their email address to the app on iOS and Android smartphones, as the messaging platform continues to work on adding an alternative method of logging in to an account. Meanwhile, WhatsApp has also been spotted working on the ability to share a poll in channels. A feature tracker has shared details of how voting in WhatsApp channels will work, ahead of the arrival of the feature on the beta testing channel.

WhatsApp currently allows users to log in to their account by entering their phone number and receiving a one-time password (OTP). On WhatsApp beta for iOS 2.23.23.77 and WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.24.10 (via feature tracker WABetaInfo), the Meta-run messaging service is allowing users to enter their email address and verify it, as an alternative method of logging in to their account. Users are also informed that their email will remain private and is not shown to other users.

Adding an email on WhatsApp beta for iOS (left) and Android
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

According to the feature tracker, the ability to log in using an email address will work as an alternative to receiving a login OTP via SMS. This can come in handy when a user is traveling and does not have an international roaming mobile plan. However, users will still need to provide a phone number to begin using the service.

In order to add your email to your WhatsApp account, you can open WhatsApp’s settings menu and tap on Account > Email Address. After entering your email address, you will need to verify your email address in order to confirm that it belongs to you. Gadgets 360 was unable to confirm the presence of the email address field on the latest WhatsApp beta version from the Google Play store.

Meanwhile, WABetaInfo also spotted a new feature that is expected to make its way to the beta versions of the app in the future, but is currently in development. WhatsApp is working on the ability to share a poll on channels, but the feature will work in a slightly different manner, according to the feature tracker — votes from users will not be visible, in order to protect user privacy.

Currently, WhatsApp only allows you to click a photo and post it to your channel, or share an existing image from your smartphone. The ability to add a poll to a WhatsApp is expected to arrive in a future beta version of the app followed by an update on the stable channel once it has been tested..

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WhatsApp Spotted Working on Alternate Profile Feature; Lets Testers Double Tap to Seek Videos

WhatsApp is working on a feature that will allow users to set up an alternate profile on the app, a feature tracker has revealed. The Meta-owned messaging platform is working on the ability to show some users your default profile, while displaying another one to other users. Meanwhile, the service has also begun testing a new feature that allows beta testers on Android to seek a video with a double tap gesture on the left and right sides of the screen.

Spotted by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo on the latest beta version of the messaging app for Android phones, the “alternate profile” feature is designed to offer a privacy alternative for users who utilise the profile-related settings on the messaging app. Beta testers who have updated to WhatsApp for Android beta 2.23.24.4, which contains the code that was spotted, will not be able to try out the feature as it is still in development.

The upcoming alternate profile setting on WhatsApp
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

According to details shared by the tracker, WhatsApp is working on a new setting located under Privacy > Profile photo > Alternate profile. The messaging service currently offers four settings for displaying your profile photo: Everyone, My contacts, My contacts except…, and Nobody. Opting to allow your contacts — or a subset of your contacts — to see your photo limits the audience that can view your profile.

A screenshot posted by WABetaInfo shows a brief explanation of how the alternate profile feature will work. Users who have allowed a limited audience to see their profile photo will be able to set an alternate photo and name on WhatsApp — these will be shown to users who cannot see the primary profile image, according to the screenshot.

Meanwhile, the feature tracker reports that WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.20.20 has added a new video-related feature that beta testers can try out — the ability to seek forwards and backwards using gestures. After updating to the latest beta version, users can double tap on the left and right of the screen instead of dragging the seek bar.

Using a double tap gesture to move forwards and backwards in a video is a feature that already exists in several video streaming apps, including YouTube. It can come in handy when you are watching a video and want to rewatch a segment you just watched, or if want to skip a specific part of a video that you have already viewed. The double tap to seek gesture is expected to make its way to all users in a future version of the app.

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WhatsApp Rolls Out Redesigned Interface With New Colours to Beta Testers on Android

WhatsApp has finally begun testing a revamped interface on Android, months after the company was spotted working on a redesigned version of the popular chat application. The new interface ditches WhatsApp’s iconic green-coloured top bar in favour of a white top bar, in the main chat list and inside individual chats. The new design is also aligned with Google’s Material Design 3 guidelines and improves the appearance of dark theme. WhatsApp has also added new ‘outline’ icons for various buttons in the app, as part of the latest beta update.

A Gadgets 360 staff member’s app received the redesigned interface on the latest beta version — WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.21.12. After installing the latest beta, testers should begin to see a redesigned interface that includes a white bar at the top, with the WhatsApp text in green (the stable version of the app currently displays the app’s name in white on a dark green background). When the dark theme is enabled, the top bar now turns black and the text is displayed in white.

WhatsApp has also tweaked the colour of the green accent used in the app, on both the light and dark themes in the app. As a result, the colour of the floating action button and other parts of the interface with the green accent — such as the floating action button (FAB) — appear a little brighter, especially when the dark mode is turned on.

In addition to the new colour tweaks on the Android app, WhatsApp has also replaced the solid icons for voice and video calls inside individual chats, as well as the camera icon on the main chat list, with outlines of the existing icons. These icons were previously spotted last month by a feature tracker on version 2.23.20.10 of WhatsApp beta for Android.

WhatsApp is also working on updating the colour palette for its iOS app, along with the new outline icons — the new design elements were recently spotted on WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.19.1.72. Unlike its Android counterpart, however, WhatsApp for iOS does not contain a green-coloured top bar on the stable version of the app. 

While the new interface does not appear to have made its way to iOS beta testers, both mobile platforms are also expected to gain support for new chat filters such as All, Unread, Contacts, and Groups, that could make managing several chats a lot easier. These filters, along with the redesigned interface, are expected to roll out to users on the stable channel in the coming months.

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WhatsApp Testing Pinned Messages in Group Chats; Working on Username Picker and IP Address Protection

WhatsApp has begun testing a feature that will allow users to pin chats on the latest beta version of the popular messaging app. Users who are on the latest beta version can pin a message to the top of a group chat for up to 30 days. The Meta-owned messaging service is also working on a new username picker for the app and a feature that will protect a user’s privacy when making calls on WhatsApp, according to details shared by a feature tracker.

With the update to WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.21.4, users who are on the beta testing channel can pin chats to the top of a group chat. The feature was spotted by feature tracker WABetaInfo and is currently available to a few testers who have updated to the latest testing version of the app. Long-pressing a message will allow users to select a new Pin option that will keep the message at the top of the chat window and is easily accessible even when other messages have been sent and received.

Pinned messages in WhatsApp chats and the new share sheet
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

While pinning a message to the top of the chat window, users will see an option to select how long the pin will last — 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days. Users can also unpin a message from the top of a chat list at any time after it has been pinned. Meanwhile, the same beta update also adds support for a redesigned share sheet with modern design elements that are making their way to other parts of the chat interface.

Like many other apps that support voice and video calls, you might end up revealing your IP address when placing a call to another user. In order to tackle this issue, WhatsApp is working on adding a new feature labelled Protect IP address in calls, as spotted by WABetaInfo on WhatsApp beta for iOS 2.23.20.73.

The upcoming username selection option on WhatsApp
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

When enabled, this feature will relay your calls via the company’s server. However, the setting also contains a message to inform users that enabling the feature could slightly degrade the quality of voice calls. Another private messaging app, Signal, has offered this functionality for years now.

Meanwhile, the Meta-owned messaging service was recently spotted working on a new username picker on WhatsApp beta for iOS 2.23.20.71. WhatsApp is developing a feature that will allow users to choose a username that they can share with other WhatsApp users, potentially allowing them to communicate with strangers without sharing their phone number.

Selecting a username will be optional, and alphabets, numbers and some special characters will be accepted, according to WABetaInfo. These usernames will be unique, and it appears that WhatsApp will offer the option to change a username once it has been selected. However, there is no word from WhatsApp on when these new features will make their way to the stable version of the app.

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WhatsApp Spotted Working on New Colours, Icons for Chat Interface on Android

WhatsApp is redesigning the chat interface on the Android version of its application, according to details shared by a feature tracker. The popular chat service is working on changing some of the colours in the app — this change will also affect how the app looks in dark mode. Meanwhile, some of the icons and buttons in the app are also being updated along with new colours. A redesigned version of WhatsApp for iOS is also in the works, with similar changes to colours and icons in the app.

On version 2.23.20.10 of WhatsApp beta for Android, feature tracker WABetaInfo spotted a refreshed version of the app’s interface that is still being developed by the Meta-owned chat platform. This means that you won’t be able to try out the new interface, even if you install the latest version of the app.

The redesigned chat list screen with updated icons and colour accents
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

WhatsApp is working to introduce a redesigned camera icon in the main chat screen, while the solid video call and voice call, and camera icons inside individual chats and group chats have been replaced with outlines of the older ones. WABetaInfo has also shared screenshots showing the new icons in both light and dark modes.

The screenshots published by the feature tracker also show a new green colour in use across the app, that is slightly brighter than the existing shade. This applies to both the dark and light modes and includes the floating action button at the bottom right corner of the screen and the WhatsApp text at the top of the app.

The updated chat interface with updated icons, without the green bar at the top
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

Last month, the feature tracker revealed that WhatsApp was planning on replacing its iconic green bar at the top of the app with white — allowing the app interface to turn black or grey in dark mode. Earlier this year, WhatsApp moved the chat, calls, and other tabs to the bottom of the app on Android, to match the app’s functionality on iOS.

These changes to the icons and colour palette were previously spotted by the feature tracker on WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.19.1.72. Both the iOS and Android versions of the app are expected to gain support for chat filters such as All, Unread, Contacts, and Groups. However, just like the changes to the colours and icons in the app, there’s no word on when we can expect to see the new chat filters on WhatsApp for iOS and Android.

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WhatsApp Developing Shortcut to Quickly Send View-Once Images and Videos on Latest Beta: Report

WhatsApp view-once images and videos allow you to send images and videos to other users that can be opened only once, and the company is working on a tweak to the interface that will make sharing these messages easier than before. According to details shared by WABetaInfo, a WhatsApp feature tracker, the application will allow users to quickly share an image or video from their camera roll with a couple of taps. WhatsApp is also working on the ability to send other message types as view-once messages, which suggests it may become the default method of sending them in the future.

Instead of tapping the “1” icon in the caption window when sending an image or video on WhatsApp, the latest version of WhatsApp beta adds a feature that will let users quickly send a view-once message — pressing and holding the send button, according to a WABetaInfo report. Instead of sending the image or video, users will see a pop-up menu with a single Send as view once option above the send button.

WhatsApp’s new send as view once button is still in development
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

The feature, which was spotted in development on WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.18.3, cannot currently be tested on the latest beta versions of the app on iOS and Android. It is expected to roll out to beta testers first, before the company pushes the update to all users. At the moment, the ability to send media as view-once messages only works for images and videos — GIFs are not currently supported.

When the feature is rolled out to beta testers, those who have signed up for beta updates will see a prompt that appears above the send button on WhatsApp on the image/video sending preview. A message appears stating: Press and hold to send as a view once message. This must be followed up with the option Send as view once, according to WABetaInfo.

The feature tracker claims that the view once feature on WhatsApp itself is set to move to the new design, which means that the “1” icon could disappear from the caption section. According to previous reports, the company is working on extending support for view-once messages to audio (voice notes) and text messages in the future.

According to a recent report, WhatsApp has begun testing a feature that will allow users to generate stickers using artificial intelligence (AI). The app will accept prompts from users such as “cat laughing on a skateboard” and generate stickers automatically. The platform is also allowing users to lock their chats behind a password on WhatsApp Web, according to details shared by the feature tracker.

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