12 new features that may change the way you use WhatsApp
As it is one of the most widely-used mode of communication and it’s no surprise to see new features getting added to WhatsApp. Every couple of months, the Facebook-owned instant messaging platform refreshes and revamps the user experience by introducing a new set of features. These new features are first tested in beta mode and almost all of them do reach the end user. Here we list out 12 new features that may change the way you use WhatsApp:
To keep your chats more secure
Already available for iPhone users, this feature was also seen in testing phase for Android users on beta version 2.19.83. This feature will allow users to add a security layer to the app and will open only according to the settings you have selected. After enabling it, you can configure when the authentication feature should lock the app -- Immediately, After 1 minute, After 10 minutes or after 30 minutes.
Blocking the option of taking chat screenshots
In what can easily be called as one of the biggest change that is yet to come to WhatsApp, the instant messaging app will block users to take screenshots of chats, if they enable biometric authentication. This was spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.19.106.
To find out how frequently a message has been forwarded
WhatsApp is also said to be working on rolling out a feature that will tell users how frequently a message has been forwarded. Users will also be able to see how many times a message was forwarded in the 'Forwarding Info' tab. This was spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.19.97.
Changing the way audio files are sent on WhatsApp
Seen in WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.89, this feature is said to allow users to play the audio files before sending it. Also, it will allow them to send 30 audio files at once.
Dark mode for better ‘visibility’...
A much awaited feature on WhatsApp, the dark mode was last seen in WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.87. This mode has been seen on various windows of the instant messaging app including main settings, account settings, chats settings, notification settings, and data and storage usage settings.
Support for automatic playing of voice messages...
WhatsApp will soon allow its users to play voice messages consecutively. This means that users won't have to press play on on each message as the next message will play automatically as soon as the first one ends playing. This was seen in WhatsApp Android Beta version 2.19.86.
Using multiple apps for videos within WhatsApp...
Also seen in the WhatsApp Android Beta version 2.19.86, this feature is claimed to allow users to watch videos from YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Streamable even they switch chat without closing the video. Moreover, it will continue to play these videos even if you go to another app, just as long as WhatsApp is running in background
Opening links in Whatsapp set to become easier...
WhatsApp is also said to working on launching an In-App Browser, which will open when the users will try to open a link. This browser is also said to be able to detect if the requested page is not safe to visit. This was seen in WhatsApp Android Beta version 2.19.74.
Stickers are also set to get better...
Animated stickers that work sort of like GIFs have been been spotted in WhatsApp. These stickers can be included in an existing stickers pack. This feature has allegedly been spotted in all three operating systems -- Android, iOS and Web.
Hiding chats may become simpler...
WhatsApp is said to be working on adding an option that will allow its users the control whether chats get unarchived when a new message arrives. Currently, when you archive a chat, WhatsApp automatically unarchives it once a new message arrives from that chat. This was spotted in WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.101.
Checking if an image sent is fake or real...
Seen in WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.73, this feature is said to allow users search an image on the internet that you sent/received in your chats. In other words, users will be able to check whether any news or information related to that image is fake or real.
More options in emojis...
Soon, WhatsApp will replace the current emojis sticker in the doodle picker to make way their official emojis. This means that the current emojis that you get while sending any image to contact, will be replaced by the ones you see on your keyboard. This was spotted in the WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.110.
To keep your chats more secure
Already available for iPhone users, this feature was also seen in testing phase for Android users on beta version 2.19.83. This feature will allow users to add a security layer to the app and will open only according to the settings you have selected. After enabling it, you can configure when the authentication feature should lock the app -- Immediately, After 1 minute, After 10 minutes or after 30 minutes.
Blocking the option of taking chat screenshots
In what can easily be called as one of the biggest change that is yet to come to WhatsApp, the instant messaging app will block users to take screenshots of chats, if they enable biometric authentication. This was spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.19.106.
To find out how frequently a message has been forwarded
WhatsApp is also said to be working on rolling out a feature that will tell users how frequently a message has been forwarded. Users will also be able to see how many times a message was forwarded in the 'Forwarding Info' tab. This was spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.19.97.
Changing the way audio files are sent on WhatsApp
Seen in WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.89, this feature is said to allow users to play the audio files before sending it. Also, it will allow them to send 30 audio files at once.
Dark mode for better ‘visibility’...
A much awaited feature on WhatsApp, the dark mode was last seen in WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.87. This mode has been seen on various windows of the instant messaging app including main settings, account settings, chats settings, notification settings, and data and storage usage settings.
Support for automatic playing of voice messages...
WhatsApp will soon allow its users to play voice messages consecutively. This means that users won't have to press play on on each message as the next message will play automatically as soon as the first one ends playing. This was seen in WhatsApp Android Beta version 2.19.86.
Using multiple apps for videos within WhatsApp...
Also seen in the WhatsApp Android Beta version 2.19.86, this feature is claimed to allow users to watch videos from YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Streamable even they switch chat without closing the video. Moreover, it will continue to play these videos even if you go to another app, just as long as WhatsApp is running in background
Opening links in Whatsapp set to become easier...
WhatsApp is also said to working on launching an In-App Browser, which will open when the users will try to open a link. This browser is also said to be able to detect if the requested page is not safe to visit. This was seen in WhatsApp Android Beta version 2.19.74.
Stickers are also set to get better...
Animated stickers that work sort of like GIFs have been been spotted in WhatsApp. These stickers can be included in an existing stickers pack. This feature has allegedly been spotted in all three operating systems -- Android, iOS and Web.
Hiding chats may become simpler...
WhatsApp is said to be working on adding an option that will allow its users the control whether chats get unarchived when a new message arrives. Currently, when you archive a chat, WhatsApp automatically unarchives it once a new message arrives from that chat. This was spotted in WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.101.
Checking if an image sent is fake or real...
Seen in WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.73, this feature is said to allow users search an image on the internet that you sent/received in your chats. In other words, users will be able to check whether any news or information related to that image is fake or real.
More options in emojis...
Soon, WhatsApp will replace the current emojis sticker in the doodle picker to make way their official emojis. This means that the current emojis that you get while sending any image to contact, will be replaced by the ones you see on your keyboard. This was spotted in the WhatsApp Beta version 2.19.110.