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Tag: messages

  • WhatsApp upcoming feature lets you use the same account on multiple devices

    WhatsApp upcoming feature lets you use the same account on multiple devices

    WhatsApp is testing new features all the time and we often learn about them before release. One of the important features that we hope to see coming to WhatsApp is the option to use the same account on multiple devices.

    A new report coming from WABetaInfo confirms WhatsApp is now testing this new feature that allows users to have the same WhatsApp account on up to four devices. In that regard, a new UI that will manage all linked devices is now in the works at WhatsApp.

    The new UI is meant to enable users to add new devices to their WhatsApp account or remove them if they need to. To add new devices to your WhatsApp account, you must use a code that will sent to you via SMS or WhatsApp Chat. The procedure hasn’t been finalized since the feature is still in the works, but it’s probably the easiest and most secure way at the moment.

    The new option to add multiple devices on the same WhatsApp account is not yet available in any of the beta versions of the app, but the new Linked Devices UI does show up in one of the beta iterations.

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  • Google Messages gets new features including some from Apple’s Messages app

    Google Messages gets new features including some from Apple’s Messages app

    On Wednesday, Google finally announced a feature we told you was being tested for Google Messages since back in May. Now when Android users receive a chat message, a video, or a photo, they can respond to it in a second. A long press on the message will show a box with animated love, laughter, surprise, sadness, anger, and dislike emoji. The reactions are available on those handsets that have chat features enabled. That is just one change out of a series of five new features now available for the Google Messages app.

    For example, if you have Smart Reply enabled, you can now send an animated sticker instead of using your words. The stickers will show up as you are texting so the perfect one will be ready right away for your use. The suggested stickers are currently available in English only.

    Ever want to personalize a conversation by including a photo that you marked up just for the occasion? Google has a media editor built into Messages. Simply take a photo using the in-app camera and type text or use brushes to paint on the image. You can share these with friends and family so you need to do your best to make them witty.

    Why type a message when you can say it better? Holding down the microphone button inside the compose bar will now allow you to record and send a voice message instead of having to type out a text.  Now let’s say that you’re engaging in an exchange of texts with someone and you want the conversation to continue as a video. Tapping the video call button at the top right of the app will activate Google Duo and allow you to see in real-time the person you have been chatting with.

    Make sure that you have the Google Messages app installed if you want to use all of these new features. Some carriers have their own messaging app, so check to see whether your phone has Google Messages installed. It can be downloaded on your Android phone. To make it your default messaging app, install it on your device, and go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Default apps. Make sure that Google Messages is listed as the default SMS app on your phone.

  • New WhatsApp beta reveals a long-awaited advanced search option and more secure backups

    New WhatsApp beta reveals a long-awaited advanced search option and more secure backups

    Recently, WhatsApp has been getting a lot of features, most of which are related to the fight against the coronavirus misinformation spread. However, this time, the new features are not COVID-19 related. There is a new beta for WhatsApp Android that has been revealed and WABetaInfo reports that it is offering us some appealing functionalities.

    Firstly, there is a feature referred to as “Advanced Search Mode” which will offer a possibility to easily search for media, such as photos, videos, GIFs, links and audio, as well as documents, in the messages. The search feature is still under development for Android users and already available in the beta for iOS, but there is no official information when it will be rolled out and if it will be available at all. However, it will be very helpful for people who have a lot of messages to filter in order to find that one link.

    Another feature in WhatsApp’s beta for Android is related to the automatic download. When enabled, which will be by default, the option will not automatically download frequently forwarded images, videos, documents and voice messages and will, therefore, help you save data.

    Last but not least: here comes the more secure password-protected backup option. The feature to backup your chat history is already available for WhatsApp users and the data is saved to Google Drive, but with the new update, you will be able to protect your backups with a password. However, the password will not be stored on Google Drive, neither will it be synced to Facebook’s servers, so if you forget it, you won’t be able to access your data.

    The aforementioned features are not available globally yet, they are a part of the beta version of WhatsApp. If you would like to test future versions of WhatsApp, you can register from this page on Google Play, even though, currently, the page says that no more testers are allowed at the time being.

  • WhatsApp is rolling out dark mode to beta users on Android

    WhatsApp is rolling out dark mode to beta users on Android

    Great news for WhatsApp users: developers are finally adding a dark mode to the Android app. The downside is that it’s only available for beta users, which means it will take at least one more week for the new feature to be rolled out to everyone.

    The folks at Wabetainfo learned recently that the latest version of WhatsApp submitted by developers through the Google Play Beta Program contains one important new feature – the long-awaited dark theme.

    If you’re a beta tester, you must update WhatsApp to version 2.20.13 or newer in order to see the new dark mode. It’s possible that you won’t be seeing the new feature even after updating to this specific version.

    In that case, you can back up your chat history if you think it’s necessary, uninstall the app and then reinstall it. This way the app will download the most recent software from the server, so you’ll most likely be able to start using the new dark mode.

    The new Dark Theme option appears in the WhatsApp Settings / Chats. You have three choices under Theme: Light, Dark and Set by Battery Saver. If you choose the latter, WhatsApp will automatically switch between light and dark themes according to your Battery Saver settings.

    For those of you who don’t want to install beta software on your Android devices, the dark theme will probably arrive by the end of the month, but that’s just a guesstimate. Just make sure to download any new update for WhatsApp that pops up in the next few weeks or so.
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  • Google Messages adds new feature that protects you from spam

    Google Messages adds new feature that protects you from spam

    In an attempt to make your conversations as safe as possible, Google is adding all sorts of security features. The last one comes is meant to protect you from spam and involves a new feature called Verified SMS that now rolling out to Messages app in several countries.

    The new feature adds another layer of security on top of Android’s Rich Communication Services (RCS) that Google tries to push out to all users. Anyway, it looks like with Verified SMS for Messages, the app will be able to confirm the true identity of the business that’s texting you.

    Yes, the new feature only works for businesses, but it greatly reduces the spam you received, so here is how it works. As the name suggests, Verified SMS will verify on a per-message basis that content is sent by a specific that that registered with Google. If it’s not, you won’t get the message, otherwise, you should see the business name and logo along with a verification badge.

    Google also revealed the first companies that are allowed to send messages with Verified SMS: 1-800-Flowers, Banco Bradesco, Kayak, Payback, and SoFi. Also, Google Pay India and verification codes from Google will be part of the Verified SMS program, but more businesses are signing up to use the new feature quite often.

    According to Google, Verified SMS for Messages is rolling out gradually in nine countries starting in the United States, India, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, France, Philippines, Spain, and Canada, but more countries will be added to the list in the future.

    In the same piece of news, Google announced that it’s adding Spam protection for Messages, a new feature that will warn Android users about suspected spam and unsafe websites it detects. This specific spam protection feature is now rolling out in the United States, but it’s been available in other countries for a while now.

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  • Google Messages latest update is all about fighting spam

    Google Messages latest update is all about fighting spam

    The Messages app is becoming harder to spam after the latest update, Google confirmed recently. After teasing a new ability that would allow Google Messages users to report group spam messages earlier this week, an update released today is adding this specific feature.

    A support document that contains instructions on how users can report spam in a group message is now live on the app’s support page. Keep in mind though that if you’re using Google Messages and don’t see the new option yet, you should wait a few more days since the update is rolled out in waves.

    When you report spam in a group message, the spammer is reported and the message is sent directly to your “Archived” folder, Google explains. To report someone, simply open the Messages app, then the conversation you want to report, tap More Group details, and then choose Tap Report spam.

    Don’t try to download anything from the Google Play Store since this seems to be a server-side update. You’ll just have to pray that the new feature will appear on your phone sooner rather than later.

  • WhatsAp will start having ads starting next year

    WhatsAp will start having ads starting next year

    Facebook is a for-profit organization and some form of ads inside WhatsApp has been inevitable since the day it bought the messaging platform. Now, after previously confirming plans for monetization, the social media giant has announced that WhatsApp ads will begin rolling out in 2020.

    Corroborating previous information, it was confirmed during the annual Facebook Marketing Summit that the first ads will be implemented into the Instagram Stories-like Status feature. Like regular posts, the ads will occupy the entire screen, but rather than displaying the contact’s name WhatsApp will showcase the name of the company. Also, a swipe uplink will be included.

    It’s unclear at this point if Facebook has any further plans for advertisements within WhatsApp, but eventually, the company could introduce smaller alternatives that display between chats on the conversations list.

    In order to boost the usefulness of WhatsApp Business, it was also announced that new ads which link directly to these accounts will soon be making their way over to both Facebook and Instagram. While on this topic, it’s also worth pointing out that WhatsApp Business users will soon be able to benefit from “richer message formats” which involve pairing images or PDF files with a short piece of text. Eventually, when messaging about products, users will also be able to view the product within WhatsApp and then access the entire catalog.

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