Tag: whatsapp beta

WhatsApp Beta Version Allows Testers to Try New Voice Chats and ‘Send for Admin Review’ Feature

WhatsApp beta — the company’s testing version of the popular messaging app — has added a new feature with the latest update. Previously referred to as audio chats, this feature allows users to start a voice call in a group. Meanwhile, a recent beta update also added support for sending messages to group admins for review, a feature that could help improve administration of groups on the platform. These features are expected to roll out to users on the stable channel at a later date.

With the update to WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.16.19, some beta testers will gain access to a feature called voice chats, as spotted by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo. This feature changes the way group audio calls by replacing the call icon with a waveform icon. Tapping the icon will start a voice chat that other group members can also join. However, unlike a group voice call, these voice chats won’t ring your phone — all group members will see a push notification instead.

Voice chats on WhatsApp
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

The feature tracker has shared a couple of screenshots of the feature, showing how it works in a group. Once a voice chat is initiated, group members can join and speak, as if it were a regular audio call. Idle calls will be automatically closed after an hour, according to WABetaInfo. It appears that WhatsApp’s existing limits on calls will also apply to voice chats — only 32 members will be able to join at a time.

On the other hand, WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.16.18 which was released over the weekend, reportedly adds a new feature aimed at improving moderation in groups. WhatsApp has included a new toggle in the group settings section called Send for admin review that will allow group members to send messages to a group’s admin for review.

The new group moderation tool on WhatsApp
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

While users can currently report messages sent by other users to WhatsApp, the messaging service recently allowed group admins to delete messages to improve moderation on the app. Once this feature is enabled, users will be able to report specific messages sent to the group to admins, so that they can be removed, according to WABetaInfo. The feature could help admins catch messages they might miss when they are away from their phone.

There’s no word from WhatsApp on when these features will be rolled out to all users on the app. Gadgets 360 was unable to confirm the presence of both these features after updating to the latest version of the app. This suggests that they could be enabled by a server-side update, and users who install the latest beta version might have access to the feature in the coming days.

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WhatsApp Resumes Beta Testing Group Profile Icons on Android, Some Testers Get Updates Tab on iOS: Report

WhatsApp has resumed testing a feature that improves group chats on Android, as part of the latest beta release. The popular messaging app recently began beta testing the ability to show profile icons next to messages on group chats, but it was disabled on subsequent beta releases. Meanwhile, the Meta-owned app has also started rolling out the first version of its Updates tab for beta testers on iOS. WhatsApp is also working on visual improvements on Android, from a redesigned emoji keyboard to new Material You-style toggles in the app’s settings.

The appearance of the profile icons in groups was spotted by feature tracker WABetaInfo on version 2.23.12.7 of WhatsApp beta for Android. Beta testers who have updated to this version should be able to see profile icons for all group participants and default “generic” profile icons for users who have not set a profile picture. Gadgets 360 was able to confirm that the feature was enabled on the latest beta version of the app for Android smartphones.

The group profile icon feature was seen in development last year, and was later rolled out to beta testers briefly before it was disabled. Users who update to the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android should see the icons for profile photos of group participants, making it easy to identify messages from different senders.

Group profile icons on WhatsApp for Android
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

The messaging app was also recently spotted working on Material You-themed toggles for various settings on version 2.23.12.3 of WhatsApp beta for Android. The slim toggles found in the setting section have been replaced with thicker switches with a green accent — in line with Google’s Material Design 3 guidelines for designers — to indicate when a setting is enabled.

Meanwhile, WABetaInfo also spotted a new Updates tab on version 23.11.0.70 of WhatsApp beta for iOS. The feature is still in development and is expected to arrive as a redesigned Status tab, showing users both Channels and Status. The Meta-owned messaging service is reportedly working on a broadcast-like feature allowing one-way communication with Channel subscribers.

WhatsApp is also working on additional improvements for a redesigned emoji keyboard that is currently under development. The three buttons that allow a user to switch among GIF, sticker, and the emoji keyboard have been moved to the top of the same section, according to WABetaInfo.

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WhatsApp Begins Beta Testing Screen Sharing Feature for Video Calls: How It Works

WhatsApp is rolling out a screen sharing feature to testers on the latest beta version of the app for Android. Users who are on a video call will be able to tap a button to show the contents of their screen to other participants on the call. Screen sharing is a feature that is also offered on apps like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Skype. Users who are running the stable version of WhatsApp can expect to see the feature roll out to their devices at a later date.

Spotted by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo on version 2.23.11.19 of WhatsApp beta for Android, the screen sharing feature is denoted by an icon of an arrow atop a rectangular screen. Tapping it will display the standard Android recording/ casting popup asking you for consent, according to screenshots shared by the feature tracker. You will then see a message informing them that screen sharing has begun.

Screen sharing on WhatsApp for Android
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

After tapping the Start now button displayed by Google to warn you of the risks of sharing your screen, you can show the contents of your screen to another participant. This feature can come in handy in some situations — such as providing your relatives or friends with some technical assistance on their smartphone remotely. You can tap the red Stop sharing when the process is completed. 

Just like other communication apps that offer the ability to share your screen, it is worth noting that the contents of your screen are continuously transmitted over an encrypted connection to other users on the call. This means that passwords entered, any visible payment information, photos, notes, and other media that appears on the screen will also be visible (and audible) to other participants on the call.

Gadgets 360 was unable to activate the screen sharing feature despite installing the latest app release from the Play Store beta channel. According to WABetaInfo, the feature has rolled out to some users on the beta channel and could arrive on more smartphones soon. However, it may not work on older versions of Android, or in large group calls, according to the feature tracker. 

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WhatsApp Begins Testing Chat Lock, Status Sharing to Facebook and Voice Transcription Features: Report

WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out three new features to testers on the beta release channel. The first feature allows users to lock specific chats on iOS. The popular messaging app is also testing the ability to share your Status with your Facebook friends directly from WhatsApp for Android. Beta testers can also test a feature that transcribes voice notes sent on WhatsApp, on recent beta versions of the app on iOS. The voice transcription feature is the only one that requires iOS 16 in order to function, as per a report.

According to WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, version 23.9.0.71 of WhatsApp beta for iOS introduces support for a feature that allows beta testers to lock chats for additional privacy. Once enabled, these chats can only be opened after successful authentication using Face ID, or Touch ID on older iPhone models. Users can navigate to the chat information section and look for a new section called Locked Chats. Once a chat is locked, the tracker reports that sender names and message previews are hidden, while images and videos are not automatically saved to the phone’s Photos library.

The Meta-owned messaging service is also deepening its integration with Facebook by allowing users to quickly share their WhatsApp Status with their friends on the social networking service, on version 2.23.9.22 of WhatsApp beta for Android. Previously, users would be prompted to share their Status to Facebook, but it would involve leaving the app. This integration will allow users to opt-in to sharing their Status, which means it will be disabled by default, according to WABetaInfo.

WhatsApp voice note transcription is done on the recipient’s device
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

WhatsApp also recently began rolling out a voice transcription feature on version 23.9.0.70 of WhatsApp beta for iOS. This feature allows users to read the contents of a voice note without having to connect a pair of earphones or play it over the phone’s speaker, as per the feature tracker. This can come in handy during situations where reading a voice note might be easier than listening to it.

WABetaInfo says that the voice transcription feature on iOS is done on device and not on WhatsApp’s servers. This means that voice notes will continue to remain protected by end-to-end encryption like messages and other attachments. The app will use language packs that can be downloaded in order to enable transcription in different languages. The text from voice note transcriptions is also indexed, and can be searched, as per the report.

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WhatsApp Rolling Out Settings Search Bar Feature on Latest iOS Beta Update: Report

WhatsApp has reportedly begun rolling out a feature that will make it easier for users to navigate the settings section on the iOS version of the app as part of the latest beta release. Over the years, the Meta-owned messaging app has added several new features and options, allowing users to customise its functionality and their privacy settings. The new search bar can help them search for specific settings, instead of combing through all of the options on WhatsApp.

Spotted by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, a new search bar for the settings section is now rolling out to beta testers on the latest version of WhatsApp for iOS. It should already be available to users who are running WhatsApp for iOS beta version 23.4.0.73, but the feature tracker states that testers on other 23.4.0 builds should also be able to see the new search bar. 

The search bar appears above the user’s profile image on the settings page, according to an image shared by WABetaInfo. Users can type in specific words like “Photo” to see settings options under Storage and Data or Privacy (for their profile photo), or type “Notification” to see settings related to chat and group chat notifications sounds and vibration options.

WhatsApp’s new search bar is found in the settings menu
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

The feature could help elderly users, or users who have just begun to use the app, find some commonly used settings easily. While users currently have to spend a few minutes browsing through the settings to find the right toggle or option, typing it into a search bar could let them find it in an instant. However, there’s no word on when this feature will make its way to users on the stable version of WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, the feature tracker also states that WhatsApp has begun testing the ability to report status updates on WhatsApp for iOS beta version 23.4.0.74. Readers might recall that the messaging service started testing the report feature for statuses on the beta version of the app for Android phones last month. The new option will allow users to report content that is in violation of the WhatsApp Terms of Service. While statuses are protected by end-to-end encryption, reported message content is sent to WhatsApp for moderation, as per the app’s privacy policy. 

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WhatsApp Tests Automated Group Chat Muting to Reduce Notification Overload: Report

WhatsApp is reportedly beta testing ways to reduce notification overload on user accounts by automatically muting group notifications that exceed a certain number of members and hence categorising themselves as large groups. The move comes after the instant messaging and voice-over-IP service recently increased its group chat participants limit from 256 to 1,024 people in a push to encourage more business and work-related usage of the instant messaging platform. This could potentially enable WhatsApp to rival other platforms like Slack.

According to a report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has released a WhatsApp beta version 2.22.23.9 that includes the new feature where groups with over 256 participants are automatically muted by default. The automatic trigger would reportedly apply to groups that have already crossed the 256-member threshold at the time of the user joining the particular group. WhatsApp will also automatically mute groups after they welcome their 257th participant.

Users who wish to continue receiving messages from such large groups may manually choose to do so by long-pressing the group chat from the chat listing menu and selecting the unmute option, the report adds. It may work if the group is well-moderated, and if you’re hoping to join the conversation.

According to the report, an alert will automatically show on the user account’s group chat screen and would notify the user that the group has automatically been muted in order to reduce notification clutter.

WhatsApp’s latest beta update is currently being made available over the next few days only on Android devices through the Google Play Beta Program, and is carrying the version number 2.22.24.15.

 

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WhatsApp Paid Subscription Service Reportedly Rolling Out in Beta for Business Users

Instant messaging and calling service WhatsApp premium subscription service has not officially launched yet; however, it is now available for beta users.

According to a report by WABetaInfo, this means that only the WhatsApp beta programme members can access the Premium menu, where all the extra features reside.

As per the report, the premium subscription will be tailored towards businesses, which means that most of the paid features aren’t going to be particularly useful for the average user.

Reportedly, the premium account gives users a customisable contact link to their WhatsApp, which can be changed once every three months.

It is supposed to be an easier way for customers to find a certain business instead of typing in a phone number. Telegram has a similar feature where users can share a direct contact link with others.

The paid version of the app will also allow up to 10 devices simultaneously connected to the same account. This way, employees can connect and manage the business account. Lastly, users can make a video call with up to 32 participants.

Since the functionality is still in beta, WhatsApp hasn’t come forward with an official statement or announcement, so the pricing or the launch date of the new subscription service is not yet known.

Meanwhile, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that WhatsApp is rolling out a Call Links feature that will allow users to create a link and share it with friends and family via the app. They can click the link and join a call in just one tap — similar to links for Google Meet or Microsoft Teams calls across platforms. Meanwhile, the company also announced that it has started testing group video calls for up to 32 participants. Details of the feature will be shared soon.

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WhatsApp Android Beta With Feature to Create Communities Rolling Out: Report

WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out a new update for Android smartphones that offers the ability to create communities. The feature is said to be available to a limited number of beta testers at the moment. The Meta-owned communication platform was previously spotted working on a communities tab. This upcoming feature is said to allow WhatsApp users to create ‘communities’ that can host up to 10 sub-groups with up to 512 participants in each sub-group.

According to a report by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.22.19.3 brings the ability to create a community. This feature is currently available to a limited number of beta testers, as per the report.

The WhatsApp communities feature was enabled for some users on the latest Android beta
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

This update reportedly replaces the camera tab on the top left corner of the app with the communities tab. This tab is said to allow users to create a community with up to 10 sub-groups, according to the feature tracker, while a sub-group is said to be capable of supporting up to 512 participants.

The report further mentions that community members can select a sub-group of their choosing when they join a new community. They are reportedly also allowed to leave sub-groups without leaving the community. Community admins are understood to have the ability to disable a community. This update reportedly also allows members to report a community to WhatsApp.

WhatsApp reportedly automatically creates an announcement group when a user creates a new community. This group can purportedly be used by community admins to share messages that are always visible to all members of the community.

WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.22.19.2 is reportedly also compatible with the communities feature. However, users are said to be capable of joining communities if the feature is enabled for their accounts. Even after installing the compatible updates, users might not be able to join communities even after being added by a community admin, according to WABetaInfo.

As per a recent report, WhatsApp is also working on a feature that would allow users to hide their phone numbers from specific WhatsApp sub-groups of a community, via a setting that is expected to be available once the feature is rolled out to all users.

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WhatsApp Premium Subscription Model Under Testing for Business Profiles: Report

WhatsApp Premium, a subscription-based model, is being tested for WhatsApp Business, a report has said. Under this model, business accounts may choose to pay a certain sum for various features and capabilities. Reportedly, WhatsApp Business profile owners can also opt out of WhatsApp Premium and continue using the current version. The first mention of a subscription plan was in April when it was reported that the feature will allow businesses to link up to 10 devices after they subscribe to a plan.

The development has been reported by WABetainfo, and the platform says that WhatsApp Premium is being tested for Android, Desktop as well as iOS. The platform says that the feature is exclusively for business accounts and is optional. Details of the subscription plans are not known yet, but it is expected that subscribing to the feature will allow WhatsApp Business profiles to get additional features.

WABetainfo says that one of the features that WhatsApp Premium could offer users is the ability to link and name up to 10 devices. Normally users can link up to four devices when using multi-device. In addition, WhatsApp may also allow businesses to create a unique custom business link. It is to be noted that businesses can already use short links allowing customers to contact them. A custom link is expected to have the same purpose as a short link but a custom link may be easy to remember and also provide branding.

Recently it was reported that WhatsApp was testing chat filters – currently only available on WhatsApp Business – for all users, providing an easy way to find certain chats. WhatsApp has also started identifying “legal” names of users who have enabled the UPI-based payments feature on its app. WhatsApp is also working on an improvement to user profiles that could allow users to set a cover image on their WhatsApp Business profiles, a report said.

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