WhatsApp: News & Discussions

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp reportedly plans to encrypt voice calls and group chats

With the ongoing FBI vs Apple fiasco gathering attention from across the globe, Facebook-owned WhatsApp is reportedly planning to add end-to-end encryption to its group chats and voice calls service. The messaging giant has already been encrypting the personal chats, where only users talking to each other can access the conversation. The encryption makes it impossible even for WhatsApp to decrypt user messages.

Read: WhatsApp reportedly plans to encrypt voice calls and group chats | Latest Tech News, Video & Photo Reviews at BGR India

 

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp iOS and Android apps updated with new Save Media option, text formatting and more

WhatsApp updated its Android and iOS apps, and has introduced a few new features along with the usual bunch of improvements and fixes. The iOS app now lets users save media for specific chats, while the Android app gets new text formatting options. The updated WhatsApp apps are now available on the App Store and the Google Play Store.

WhatsApp for iOS has been updated to version 2.12.16, and one of the new features is the ability to save media from specific contacts or groups. Rather than saving photos and videos from all contacts or groups, you can now select particular contacts or groups. This feature not only gives you more control over the stuff being saved on your iPhone, but will also be a boon for those with 16GB models. One can click on the group or contact name to see the Save Media option, and you can choose from Default, Always or Never.

Read: WhatsApp iOS and Android apps updated with new Save Media option, text formatting and more | Latest Tech News, Video & Photo Reviews at BGR India

 

[Nairrk]

Contacts not displaying in WhatsApp on your Xiaomi smartphone? Here’s how to fix it

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If you are a Xiaomi smartphone user, you must be familiar with the problem of WhatsApp contacts not showing up properly. Basically, you see contact numbers instead of their names in WhatsApp messages, while the contacts just don’t show up. Also, your friends may not see your WhatsApp profile picture. This is a very common problem with Xiaomi smartphones, and it’s most likely to due to the settings in the Security app, which denies WhatsApp access to your contact list. Here’s an easy fix to the issue.

You need to launch the standalone Security app on your Xiaomi smartphone. Tap on Permission and then tap on the Settings icon on the top right and enable the Permission Manager. The manager may be turned off by default. Now go back to the previous screen, tap on Permission > Apps > scroll down to choose WhatsApp. Enable permission for WhatsApp to read your contacts. Xiaomi gives you the option to accept, notify or simply deny. Do note that denying this access causes the problem.

There’s also an alternative method to do it, but I won’t recommend it considering it involves deleting your WhatsApp data. But then it works, though for a small period of time. Go to Settings > Additional Settings > Privacy > Apps with usage Access > scroll down to choose WhatsApp > Clear data. This method will reboot your WhatsApp, but your recent messages and other data may be lost.

Note: This fix worked on the Xiaomi Mi 5 running MIUI 7.2.2.0 version. According to MIUI forum, a similar fix also works on the MIUI version 5 based on Android 4.2.2.

Source: Contacts not displaying in WhatsApp on your Xiaomi smartphone? Here

 

[P3T3R]

There used to be an App called OGWhatsApp which allowed you to use 2 WhatsApp accounts on a dual sim phone. It doesn't work anymore. I tried installing it. Any alternatives? Also this option was never available for Windows Phone.
Isn't it high time WhatsApp launched a version for Dual Sim phones with 2 accounts.

 

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp update to bring features like callback, voice mail, video calling and the ability to share ZIP files

WhatsApp will soon be bringing a bunch of new features with its updated apps for iOS and Android. The latest beta versions are available online and hint at new features like call back notifications, and the ability to send voice mails and ZIP files as attachments.

Post the update you will see a call back option when you are notified of a missed WhatsApp call. You will see a call back as well as message buttons to immediately reply to your friend, without actually having to open the app. The option seems to be available on both iOS and Android versions of the app.

The Voice Mail feature however is only limited to the iOS app. The feature, spotted by PhoneRadar, lets you record and send voice mails to your contacts. This option lets you record a voice mail when you can’t get through someone on a WhatsApp call. The report also states that the iOS app will be getting the video calling feature, which leaked recently.

WhatsApp is also bringing the ability to share ZIP files with your contacts. Recently, WhatsApp added the ability to share PDF documents with your contacts, in addition to formats like Docs and Docx. With the new update, it is also adding support for ZIP files.

These new features have been spotted on beta versions of the WhatsApp app for Android and iOS. In other words, they are still in testing mode and are likely to take a bit of time before they are widely released.

Source: WhatsApp update to bring features like callback, voice mail, video calling and the ability to share ZIP files | Latest Tech News, Video & Photo Reviews at BGR India

 

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp to Soon Get Video Calling Support: Report

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WhatsApp has been working on adding various features to its messaging service. Earlier, WhatsApp was rumoured to add call back, voicemail, and zip file sharing support to the service. Now, a latest leak tips that the company is planning to add video calls alongside other features.

Android Police, citing translation requests, reports that WhatsApp is gearing up to add the video call feature. The translate requests sent by WhatsApp includes a line that says, "Video call," and "Video calling is unavailable at this time." This clearly suggests that the company is set to add the video call feature to WhatsApp soon.

The report adds that the video call feature is accessible on select devices running beta app but is yet to make it to general users. So far, it's not clear whether the WhatsApp video call feature will be rolled out to general public or will be gradually available only to users with invites, similar to the WhatsApp voice-calling feature. Initially, the WhatsApp voice call feature was only available to limited users with invites.

Facebook's WhatsApp is also said to be adding option to send group invites via NFC tags alongside another way to send invites via links. The report citing translation requests and some leaked screenshots adds that the company is looking to expand the ways with which members of a limited group can invite other WhatsApp users to join.

A report last month said that the company was planning to add a 'call back' feature on WhatsApp for Android and iOS, which would allow users to call back friends with just a tap of button without opening the app. The messaging service was also said to bring voicemail feature to iOS platform which would will allow users to record and send voicemails to contacts.

WhatsApp to Soon Get Video Calling Support: Report | NDTV Gadgets360.com

 

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp for Android Could Soon Get Message Quotes and Replies

HIGHLIGHTS

*The replies appear alongside the original messages as quotes.
*The new feature is available in Android beta version 2.16.118.
*We can expect WhatsApp to roll out the feature soon.

WhatsApp for Android will soon get a new feature that will let users reply to quote messages they are replying to . The new feature has been spotted in the latest Android app version 2.16.118; though it's worth noting that the feature isn't working on all smartphones. We tried testing the new message quote and replies on WhatsApp for Android but couldn't as the feature was not working on our smartphone even after downloading the version 2.16.118 in beta which means that the feature may need a server-side change. You can download the signed apk file for WhatsApp v2.16.118 for Android from APK Mirror, or sign up to the Google Play beta testing program for the app. Notably, WhatsApp is currently offering app version 2.16.116 via its official site which doesn't include the feature.

The feature is self-explanatory and the user needs to long press a message in any conversation to see a reply option pop up alongside star, delete, forward, and copy. On tapping the reply button, the original message will appear as a quote, and users an reply to that. On the receiver's end, the quoted message will appear as a grey box with the reply below it. Android Police points out that the feature works on one-to-one chats as well as group chats. The feature has not yet shown up on the iOS beta of the app, which recently saw the inclusion of gif image sharing support.

A recent study claimed that instant messaging app WhatsApp was the most popular messaging app across the world and was being used in 109 countries. WhatsApp is also expected to roll out video calling feature that showed up briefly in Android beta app.

Earlier this year, the messaging service WhatsApp announced that it now had 1 billion monthly active users.

WhatsApp for Android Could Soon Get Message Quotes and Replies | NDTV Gadgets360.com

 

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp May Soon Get a New Font

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HIGHLIGHTS

*The new font is being called 'FixedSys' by users
*It appears to be similar to Microsoft's font by the same name
*To use, just type ` thrice before and after the word or phrase

WhatsApp is testing the use of a new font in its beta clients for Android and iOS. It is uncertain when the font, called 'FixedSys' by users for its likeness to Microsoft's font of the same name, will roll out to the stable clients for Android and iOS.

Users of WhatsApp v2.16.179 beta for Android, which is available via Google Play's beta program, are seeing the new font, and so are users of the iOS beta reportedly.

Read more: WhatsApp May Soon Get a New Font | NDTV Gadgets360.com

 

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp for Android Beta gets call back and voicemail feature

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WhatsApp, the Facebook owned messaging service used by more 1 billion users has been updating its app with tonnes of new features lately. Since the service added voice calling feature, there were reports that the messaging service will add call back and voicemail feature too.

Early this year in April, a translation document hinted at WhatsApp getting the feature. Now finally WhatsApp is rolling out the feature to its Android Beta program users.

The updated WhatsApp app is available to Android Beta user group and also available in the form of a signed APK from APK Mirror. Once WhatsApp version 2.16.189 is installed on your phone, try calling one of your existing contacts and the feature works regardless of the version installed on the recipient’s device.

With the updated app, when users call someone on WhatsApp and if the recipient declines of does not pick the call, the caller is greeted with a new screen which shows three options – cancel, call back and record voice messages.

The cancel option simply closes the screen while the call back option allows user to call back the person. With record voice message option, user can simply send a recorded voice message like voicemail. The recorded voice message option works exactly like audio message which is already available from the chat interface.

WhatsApp is currently testing the feature only with beta users and its unclear when the messaging service provider plans to bring the option to more stable builds. WhatsApp earlier introduced a beta build with video calling option before pulling it down.

WhatsApp earlier this week got a new font option. Users can access the new font by typing the grave accent symbol (`) three times before and after a message. The message gets monospaced with plain text font.

Earlier leaks indicated at WhatsApp testing improved music sharing features with native support for Apple Music and even added support for replying to a particular message.

Source:

 

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp has a hidden Olympics emoji, here’s how to use it

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The Rio Olympics are just around the corner. As the world gears up for the biggest sporting event, WhatsApp is showing some love for Olympics with a hidden emoji. The emoji is the official Olympics symbol, which are the five rings joined together. This emoji is available on Android and iOS versions of WhatsApp, and on WhatsApp web as well. Read on to know how this emoji works.

On Android, the emoji is easy to use as it does not require any code to unlock the emoji. You just have to click on the emoji icon and select the emoji tab under the football emoji. The Olympics emoji is in the last row, next to the bowling pins emoji. That’s pretty easy for any Android user, right.

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It isn’t that easy for iOS users, though. The emoji is not enabled by default for iOS users. To use this emoji, iOS users will have to either copy the emoji sent by someone else or copying a code to unlock it. The code reads like this – ◯◯◯◯◯.

That said, we have learnt that not all Android users were able to use and see the Olympics emoji right now. For some Android users, it appeared as five black rings which are shown above. This could be because the feature may still be rolling out to a lot of people. Also, we were using the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android to use the new emoji. On the brighter side, iOS users were able to view the Olympics emoji regardless of the official version or beta version of the app.

Source:

 

[Nairrk]

Now you can invite others to public WhatsApp groups with shareable links, here’s how

WhatsApp has been testing a number of features for its instant messaging app, all of which first appear in the beta version. A few weeks ago, the company was testing a feature that allows group administrators to send invite links via third-party apps to add new members to the group. Until now, you were required to modify the app APK to get the feature, and it only worked on rooted devices. However, the feature has now gone live in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android (version 2.16.281).

Read Full:

 

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp adds Snapchat-like doodle feature on images

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After Facebook-owned Instagram added Snapchat-inspired features, another Facebook-owned app is now borrowing a feature from Snapchat. In a latest announcement from WhatsApp, the messaging app has added Snapchat-like ability to scribble over images. Essentially, WhatsApp now allows users to doodle and scribble on the images clicked or shared from the app, like in Snapchat. The feature was first rolled out to the beta version of the app in early September, and now it has been officially released to end users. The feature is currently available to Android users. iOS users are expected to soon receive the update as well.

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[Nairrk]

WhatsApp for iOS app updated with Snapchat-like doodle feature

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After Instagram copied Snapchat’s Stories feature, WhatsApp also borrowed Snapchat’s doodle feature for images. WhatsApp rolled out the doodle feature for its Android users a couple of weeks ago. Now, the feature has been rolled for WhatsApp for iOS users as well. WhatsApp’s new feature does not limit itself to only doodling on images but also adding emojis and writing text as well.

Using this feature is very simple. To get started, tap on the camera icon within the app or upload an image through gallery. After this, on the top right, options for doodle will appear wherein you can add emojis from the list of pre-installed emojis of WhatsApp, add text in different colors and doodle on the image. This feature is evidently Snapchat-inspired and it has even integrated the double tap feature to change rear and selfie cameras as in Snapchat. However, on Snapchat, not only can you add emojis but you can add different stickers as well. You can even search for stickers as per your choice and the relevant ones will pop up.

More:

 

[Nairrk]

Whatsapp receives the much-awaited video calling feature

Highly anticipated video calling feature has finally made its way to Whatsapp Messenger. Though, as of now the update is only available in a beta version (v2.16.316 onwards) of the messenger. So if you are registered with Whatsapp's Beta Programme you will soon be notified of a new update.

Using this feature is pretty simple. Go to or search a contact and tap the call button and choose 'Video Call'. However, in order to successfully video chat both the Caller and Recipient should be running the latest beta version of Whatsapp. Once in, you will be welcomed with a Face-Time like the interface or else you will get a message saying that your contact needs to update the app.

Read:

 

[Nairrk]

WhatsApp ‘Status’ tab, an Instagram Stories like feature, is under testing; here’s how to get it right now

Facebook-owned WhatsApp has constantly been adding new features to its messaging platform, and the latest one is a ‘Status’ tab. While the ability of putting a status always existed, the new feature lets you share photos with your contacts for a limited time. The feature is pretty similar to Instagram ‘Stories’ and Snapchat ‘Snaps.’ Instagram, which is also owned by Facebook, added the ‘Stories’ feature in August earlier this year, and it already has over 100 million daily active users, according to Mark Zuckerberg. The addition of ‘Status’ feature looks like an extension of Instagram Stories on WhatsApp platform.

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