Tag: whatsapp for android

WhatsApp Working on In-App Dialler Feature to Call Unsaved Contacts: Report

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow users to access an in-app dialler to make voice calls. The feature is still under development, and the instant messaging platform has not made it available to those who have signed up for the Google Play beta programme. While the functionality of the dialler is unclear, it is believed that the feature could allow users to call numbers that are not saved in their contact list. A recent report claimed that the company is also working on a nearby file-sharing feature.

Spotted by feature tracker WABetaInfo on WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.24.9.28, the feature is currently not available for beta testers, but the tracker suggests that it might appear in one of the next updates. The in-app dialler could expand the functionality of the app from a standard voice and video calling platform to one that even allows calling contacts not saved on and could mimic an actual calling service.

WhatsApp in-app dialler
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

The report also shared a screenshot of the feature, which is yet to be enabled on the latest beta version. It appears like a generic dialler with a green calling icon and numbers and alphabets located as they usually do.

The feature tracker suggests that the reason for the dialler’s implementation is still unknown. However, it is believed that the feature was included to easily call numbers that a user might remember and prefer to dial rather than scrolling through the contact list or searching for it.

Another use case could be to allow users to call numbers that are not saved in contacts. Last year, the company rolled out a feature to make it easy to chat with users who are not saved in the contact. The in-app dialler might be an extension of that feature. It is a common occurrence when a user needs to call someone over the app for temporary reasons such as setting up a meeting, checking up on an expected delivery, or making an appointment.

For these cases, saving the contact is an unnecessary step that users currently have to complete. The new feature may alleviate the need to do so.

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X to Boost Its ‘Video-First’ Plans With a New Smart TV App, CEO Linda Yaccarino Reveals



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WhatsApp Reportedly Adding Improvements to Its Under-Development Nearby File Sharing Feature for Android

WhatsApp is said to be working on a nearby file-sharing feature for Android users that uses Bluetooth to transfer files for quite some time now. The feature was first reported in January 2024, but it has not even appeared on the beta version of the app. A new report now claims that the instant messaging platform is adding more improvements to the feature and that it could soon be rolled out in beta. Notably, the company is also reported to be working on a Favourites tab.

The new feature was spotted by the WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo in the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.9.22 build. However, the feature is currently not visible and beta testers will not be able to use it. As per the report, the People nearby feature now comes with a screen citing detailed permissions required for it to work. A separate screen also has an animation for finding nearby people and shows the list of discoverable users.

WhatsApp nearby file-sharing feature
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

 

As per the screenshots, the People Nearby feature, which is located directly within the Settings menu, now informs users about the permissions WhatsApp requires to be turned on. These include access to photos, media and files, access to Bluetooth, and access to location. While access to files is required to show and send them to users, Bluetooth and location services are likely required to maintain the local network with users in proximity.

Once permissions are granted, users are taken to another page where other users who have activated nearby file-sharing can become discoverable and transfer files among each other without requiring internet connectivity. In the screenshot, WhatsApp claims sharing is end-to-end encrypted and the user’s phone number will remain hidden.

The feature can be a good alternative to sharing large files over the internet which can consume large amounts of data or sharing them through cloud services, especially in situations where the network is unstable or the user has limited data available. As per the report, the feature is near completion and could be available to beta testers via a future update. 

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WhatsApp Rolls Out Bottom Navigation Tabs to All Android Smartphones

WhatsApp is now rolling out a notable change to the user interface for the app on Android smartphones. The Meta-owned messaging service has announced that has moved the four navigation tabs at the top of the screen to the bottom. The updated visual interface was enabled on the beta version of the app for the past few months, and is now being enabled for all users. The new design will also make it easy for users to switch between tabs while using the phone with one hand.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp announced the rollout of the new bottom navigation bar on Android. The service posted images of the older interface, which had four tabs — communities, chats, status, and calls — above the list of chats. With the latest update, users will see those tabs moved to the bottom along with icons, while the order might be rearranged.

This is one of the most noteworthy changes to the interface on WhatsApp for Android in a while, and puts the main navigation tabs in the app within reach of your thumb — this is especially handy if you only have one hand free. However, if you want to search for something, you’ll still have to reach for the top of the screen. WhatsApp for iOS also shows the tabs at the bottom of the screen — there’s a fifth one for the settings menu.

While the bottom navigation tabs might be finally rolling out to users after months of testing on the beta channel, WhatsApp is busy developing more features that could make their way to the app in the future. The messaging service is reportedly developing the ability to make international payments via the app using the NPCI’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in India.  

The messaging service is also working on adding new AI-powered features to the app. WhatsApp is developing a feature that will let users provide text prompts to create stickers using artificial intelligence (AI) in the app. Similarly, WhatsApp was recently spotted developing AI-powered image editing features and a feature to ask Meta AI questions via the search bar on WhatsApp. These features are yet to be rolled out to users on both the stable and beta versions of WhatsApp.

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OpenAI Previews ‘Voice Engine’ Audio Tool That Can Clone Human Voices With 15 Seconds of Audio



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WhatsApp Discontinues Updates for Smartphones Running on Android KitKat: All You Need to Know

WhatsApp has finally dropped support for smartphones running on an outdated version of Android, months after Google rendered these older handsets obsolete. Earlier this week, the Meta-owned messaging platform discontinued further updates to users with smartphones on Android 4.4, more commonly known as Android KitKat. Based on recent statistics, a small number of users are still running on Android KitKat, and these users will have to update their software or switch to a newer handset in order to continue using the service.

Feature tracker WABetaInfo on Tuesday reported that WhatsApp has increased its minimum requirements to smartphones running on Android 5.0 (also known as Lollipop) or newer. Android KitKat was released in September 2013, which means that users with smartphones running on this operating system have had access to WhatsApp for nearly a decade.

According to recent statistics shared by Google (via Mishaal Rahman), the percentage of users running on Android 4.4 was between 0.5 percent and 0.7 percent in May 2023, when the most up-to-date figures were published.

Now that WhatsApp has dropped support for Android 4.4, users with smartphones running on this outdated version will have to update their smartphones to Android 5.0, if a software update is available from the manufacturer. If an update to a newer Android version is not available, users will have to switch to a more modern smartphone.

Without Android 5.0 — now the lowest version currently supported by WhatsApp — users will no longer receive updates on their smartphone. This means that new features like support for passkeys, a redesigned bottom navigation bar, as well as upcoming features like the multi-account feature (with support for switching between numbers) are likely to remain unavailable to these users, unless they switch to a supported Android smartphone.

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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 May Soon Bring a Secret Code Feature for Locked Chats: Report

WhatsApp introduced Chat Lock functionality that lets users lock specific chats using their fingerprint, facelock or passcodes back in May this year. Now, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform is reportedly testing a new secret code feature that will give users even more control over their locked chats. This would reportedly allow users to choose a custom password for their protected chat folder. The upcoming security feature has been spotted in WhatsApp for Android beta v2.23.21.9, which is available via the Google Play Beta program. 

According to a report by WhatsApp features tracker WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will soon allow people to choose a custom password for their protected chat folder. This secret code feature would add another layer of security for sensitive conversations. Users can enter the secret code to access their locked chats from the search bar of the app. Configuring a secret code will reportedly let users lock chats from companion devices as well.

The messaging platform is said to be rolling out the update via the Google Play Beta program, with the 2.23.21.9 beta for Android. The feature is not available for testers now and is expected to be released in a future update of the app.

The publication has managed to include a preview of the secret code creation feature, offering users a glimpse at it. As per the preview, WhatsApp suggests using a word or a simple emoji for quick access. Users might be able to change or remove the secret code at any time.

WhatsApp released the Chat Lock feature in May for both Android and iOS users. It allows users to keep their messages and conversations private and secure by locking them using a passcode, fingerprint, or face unlock options. This feature will move locked chat threads to a different folder to ensure the privacy of conversations, even if someone did manage to gain access to the user’s phone. Notifications from these chats will neither show the sender’s name, nor the message preview. 

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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 HD Video Sharing Feature Rolls Out to Users on Android: How it Works

WhatsApp’s HD video sharing feature has begun rolling out to users on Android, days after the Meta-owned messaging platform rolled out support for sending high-resolution images. Until now, WhatsApp would compress all videos sent on the platform, which resulted in recipients seeing them in lower resolution. While this offered obvious benefits in terms of faster file transmission as well as lower data and storage use, the messaging app will now let users choose to send specific videos in high resolution.

With the WhatsApp for Android 2.23.17.74 update that began rolling out to users on Thursday, the app now displays an HD icon at the top of the screen when selecting a video to share with contacts. When this is toggled, WhatsApp will share videos in 720p resolution instead of the standard — and default — 480p resolution.

The feature is available on Gadgets 360 staff members’ phones after updating to the latest version of WhatsApp for Android. There’s currently no word on when the feature will roll out to users on the stable version of WhatsApp for iOS, where it is currently in beta testing.

It is worth noting that users will need to toggle the option to send a video in higher resolution every time. The app will send videos in “standard” resolution — 480p is practically considered low resolution in 2023 when smartphones have full-HD and quad-HD displays — by default. This was presumably done to ensure that media sent and received on WhatsApp doesn’t eventually take up too much space on a user’s smartphone.

If you want to send a high-resolution video on WhatsApp, you can follow these steps after updating to the latest version of WhatsApp for Android. Keep in mind that the feature might not be available for all users.

How to send HD videos on WhatsApp

  1. Open a chat on WhatsApp and tap on the attachment icon > Gallery.

  2. Locate the video you want to send and tap on it to see a preview.

  3. Look for the HD icon at the top of the screen, to the left of the sticker, text, and drawing icons.

  4. Select HD quality and note the increased file size, then tap on Done.

  5. After making any changes or edits to the video, tap the send button in the bottom right corner. 

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WhatsApp Rolls Out Privacy Features, Bottom Navigation Bar With New UI, and Other Updates: Details

WhatsApp is reportedly planning to add several new features with new Android updates. These features include the ability to silence unknown callers, a new UI with a bottom navigation bar, creating single-vote polls, and more. While some of these features have only rolled out in the beta update for select beta testers, others updates have already been started rolling out globally. The instant messaging platform is testing a WhatsApp for iOS-like feature for Android apps, by placing the icons in a bottom navigation bar.

It was reported in March this year that WhatsApp was seen working on a feature to prevent unknown callers by silencing their calls. Now, it seems that the company has progressed a bit with the feature. According to a WABetaInfo report, the app has introduced this feature with the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.10.7 update. This allows beta testers to silence unknown calls on the app. The toggle to put unknown callers on silent mode is available right within Settings > Privacy. Users can enable this toggle and mute calls from potentially spam phone numbers. However, these calls will still be visible in the Calls log and in the notification tab. To access the feature, users can install the latest version of WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.10.7 update from the Google Play Store.

Meanwhile, the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.10.6 update comes with a new user interface that provides Android users with an iPhone-like bottom navigation bar. The Meta-owned messaging service is reported testing a new interface for the app which will have a bottom navigation bar, similar to WhatsApp for iOS, enabling users to easily switch between different tabs. It is currently available to select beta testers only and will be gradually available to more users.

WhatsApp also announced a couple of more features like creating single-vote polls, searching for polls in chats using filters, and getting notifications when people vote on polls. Meta in its blog post said that the new updates for polls will help users gather data and make decisions conveniently. With single-vote polls, users will not be able to change their answers after deciding their vote on a poll once. Meanwhile, it will be easy to look for specific polls, just like images and videos, by searching for them using a filter. Moreover, a user can also get notifications whenever someone votes in the poll for keeping an easy tab on the results.

Furthermore, WhatsApp users will also be able to forward media with already-available captions or add captions to documents when sharing. Users can also add a caption to documents like a newspaper article or a working document before sharing. The features are rolling out globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks. 

OnePlus recently launched its first tablet in India, the OnePlus Pad, which is only sold in a Halo Green colour option. With this tablet, OnePlus has stepped into a new territory that’s dominated by Apple’s iPad. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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WhatsApp’s Companion Mode Reportedly Rolling Out to All Android Beta Testers

WhatsApp’s companion mode feature is reportedly available to all Android beta testers. The functionality, which allows users to link an existing WhatsApp account to an additional mobile phone, has been in development for quite some time now. The companion mode functionality is an extension of multi-device support and is said to have been rolled out with the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.23.8.2. However, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform hasn’t officially announced when it intends to make the companion mode live for all users.

According to a report by WhatsApp features tracker WABetainfo, WhatsApp has released companion mode feature for all Android beta testers. It is said to be available for all Android beta testers with WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.23.8.2 and newer. It reportedly allows users to access their chat accounts across more than one smartphone.

For connecting WhatsApp to a secondary device, users are said to have to follow these steps.

  1. Download the new beta version of WhatsApp Messenger or WhatsApp Business on the secondary device.
  2. Select Link a device from the overflow menu
  3. Open WhatsApp on the primary device, and head to Settings > Linked devices.
  4. Point this device to the secondary mobile phone to scan the QR Cod.

A linked secondary Android smartphone or tablet device doesn’t offer full functionality like the primary device. Still, users will have access to chats and chat archives. The ability to manage broadcast lists and post a status update could be limited to the primary device.

As per the report, WhatsApp is not working on the same feature on WhatsApp beta for iOS at this moment.

In March last year, WhatsApp introduced multi-device support that lets users access their accounts on multiple devices simultaneously. WhatsApp has also enabled end-to-end encryption on the chats. The paired devices will get disconnected if the phone remains inactive for more than two weeks. However, the feature supports PCs as secondary devices and is not convenient for people with additional mobile phones and tablets. This could soon change with the release of this new companion mode update.

Smartphone companies have launched many compelling devices over the first quarter of 2023. What are some of the best phones launched in 2023 you can buy today? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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