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Tag: messaging

  • WhatsApp beta for Android begins rollout of redesigned emoji keyboard

    WhatsApp beta for Android begins rollout of redesigned emoji keyboard

    WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, is experimenting with a new redesigned Emoji keyboard that divides emoji, GIFs and stickers into three categories on the top. This keyboard was first spotted as being in development but now it’s starting to roll out in the latest version of WhatsApp beta for Android v2.23.12.13 from the Google Play Store.

    This development is being reported by WABetaInfo along with images of what the new keyboard looks like. The rollout is not global though and it looks like it’s being gradually pushed server-side to beta users.
    With this new keyboard, WhatsApp users will be able to scroll up on the keyboard and enjoy a full-screen view of the emoji list. However, you must first initiate a chat to check if your account has this capability. Additionally, a select number of beta testers may also notice a reorganization of the media sharing and emoji keyboard buttons.
    Besides the changes to the keyboard, this latest beta also adds a new feature called “Community Settings,” which lets community admins choose who can add groups. This group setting is set to “Only community admins” by default, but you can change it to allow community members to add their own groups.
    Unfortunately, the beta version of WhatsApp on the Google Play Store is perpetually full and rarely open for new users to sign up for. However, if you were lucky enough to grab a spot, you should definitely update to the newest version to try this out. Likewise, if you are able to sign up in the future, you must definitely sign up as well so you can secure your spot to beta test.
    Emojis have become an integral part of digital communication, allowing users to express emotions, convey messages, and add a touch of personalization to their conversations. By enhancing the emoji keyboard, WhatsApp hopes to elevate the way users engage and enhance the user experience.
  • Google Chat may receive design updates and Mobile App redesign

    Google Chat may receive design updates and Mobile App redesign

    In recent years, group chats have seen a significant surge in demand, especially with the rise of remote work in specific industries. Communication software like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Chanty, and Google Chat have become go-to platforms, making any news regarding their updates worth paying attention to.

    It appears that Google Chat may be gearing up for some design updates, including a fresh logo and a redesigned mobile app, to improve conversation management.

    The tech giant recently showcased a four-color icon when discussing Google Chat. Google clarified that this was a concept for the future of Google Chat. Currently, the logo consists of overlapping speech bubbles, reminiscent of Google Chat’s predecessor, Hangouts.

    The proposed new logo aligns more closely with other Google features, following the same four-color scheme and graphic layout in the style of Gmail, Drive, Meet, Maps, and more. The new logo looks like a chat bubble with a slight drop-off in the right corner—simple and quite similar to the Google Calendar’s logo, which for some might be a bit confusing, especially when in a hurry.

    9to5Google also suggests the possibility of a redesign for the Google Chat mobile app. Right now, the app includes a bottom bar with two tabs: Chat and Spaces. “Chat” encompasses both one-on-one and group conversations, while “Spaces” are designed for larger teams, similar to other popular communication software solutions.

    The redesigned version may introduce top tabs on the app’s main screen. The “Timeline” tab is expected to comprehensively view all conversations, including chats and spaces. Users may be able to categorize their conversations by labels such as All, Unread, Pinned, DMs, and Spaces.

    Another tab could show conversations where you are mentioned directly, which may be a lot easier in terms of managing your conversations.

    With potential improvements in the form of a new logo and enhanced functionality, Google Chat may be aiming at becoming a more competitive app among the many others out there.

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  • WhatsApp finally rolls out the ability to edit messages

    WhatsApp finally rolls out the ability to edit messages

    Tipped a few times in the past by reliable sources, the ability to edit WhatsApp messages is finally coming to all users. WhatsApp confirmed earlier today that users should see the new feature over the coming weeks.

    Correcting a misspelling or changing the message completely to provide extra context can now be done via a simple long-press on the sent message. You’ll have to choose the Edit option from the menu, which will only be available for up to 15 minutes.

    Despite the fact that it comes with one limitation, more often than not we notice a misspelling or change our mind regarding a WhatsApp message soon after it’s been sent. As expected, all edited messages will display “edited” alongside them, allowing recipients to see the correction without showing edit history.

    According to WhatsApp, all edited messages, just like personal messages, media and calls, are protected by end-to-end encryption. Although the rollout of the new feature has already begun, WhatsApp states that it will be available to everyone “in the coming weeks,” so be patient if you don’t see the option to Edit messages right away.

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  • WhatsApp introduces new Chat Lock feature for those sensitive conversations

    WhatsApp introduces new Chat Lock feature for those sensitive conversations

    WhatsApp has announced a new feature called “Chat Lock” that adds an extra layer of privacy to its users’ most private chats. This feature allows users to lock a chat thread so that it can only be viewed after once again entering the device’s password or fingerprint.

    WhatsApp touts this feature as a tool to make sure its users are able to keep their private talks private, even if the smartphone in question is passed around or someone is able to get into it without permission. This also works with notifications, making sure that any notifications from a locked chat does not show a preview of what is being said.

    With WhatsApp Chat Lock, you can make sure that your private talks stay private even if someone gets into your device without your permission. Whether you share sensitive information, talk about personal things, or have private conversations, this new tool gives you the power to keep your privacy at its highest level.

    The announcement is accompanied by a video highlighting how the feature works and how it can be convenient in family settings where the phone could be borrowed several times by others to either take a photo or participate in a video chat. In it, you see the main character escape several scenarios where his private conversation could have been made public, only to be saved by the existence of this feature.

    Locked chats can be accessed via the “Locked chats” folder, which can only be accessed by authenticating via the same method you use to unlock your phone. Locked chats will also be expanded in the coming months with new features such as extending the lock to companion devices and the ability to apply a different password to your locked chat folder than the one being used to unlock the device.

    The latter helps when you want to give access to your phone to someone else by sharing your device pin, but still want to keep specific WhatsApp chats private. Currently, you are able to lock the entire WhatsApp application with your chosen authentication method, but this takes it one step further by targeting specific conversations. The feature is rolling out in the latest version of the app.
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  • WhatsApp test the ability to edit sent messages

    WhatsApp test the ability to edit sent messages

    WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging app, has released a new beta version for Android – version 2.23.10.13. This latest update brings several new features and improvements to the app, including the ability to edit sent messages for some select users.
    The key feature with this update would allow users to edit messages they have already sent. WhatsApp users have highly requested this feature for some time, as it would give them the ability to correct mistakes or clarify unclear messages that were perhaps sent accidentally.
    As reported by WABetaInfo, the feature allows users to tap on a sent message and select the “Edit” option from the top menu. They could then make changes to the message, and the edited version would be visible to all recipients of the original message.
    However, there are some limitations to the feature – edited messages will still show a notification that they have been edited, and there will be a limit on how much time users have to edit their messages after they have been sent. The current time limit to edit a message is within 15 minutes of sending it, and you cannot edit a message that you sent from a different device. Once edited, the message will show an “edited” label on it to notify other users that the message is no longer the original one.
    Not all users enrolled in the WhatsApp Beta Program are currently able to test this feature, as it appears to be rolling out to only a certain amount of users, suggesting a staged rollout. Hopefully this won’t take long to roll out to the stable version of WhatsApp, as I anticipate many users would likely welcome it. However, it remains to be seen if and when the feature will become widely available to all.
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  • WhatsApp Android bug has been found to give the app continuous access to the microphone

    WhatsApp Android bug has been found to give the app continuous access to the microphone

    WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Facebook, has been found to include a bug that allows the app to continue accessing the microphone even after the user has closed it. This bug was discovered by several users, but brought to the spotlight by a Twitter engineer who noticed it happening on his Pixel 7 Pro.

    The bug appears to be affecting several Android devices, including different Samsung and Pixel models, as well as several different versions of the Android app. However, WhatsApp has responded by claiming that the issue lies with Android, not the app itself.
    In several of these reports, microphone activity from the app has been spotted in Android’s Privacy Dashboard as well as through the visible green dot notification on the Android status bar. However, WhatsApp states that this seems to be a bug on Android that mis-attributes information in the privacy dashboard and has asked Google to investigate further.
    Unfortunately, WhatsApp’s response didn’t come until after Elon Musk took to his Twitter account to share his opinion. As you can probably guess by now, his reaction was not positive, accusing the company of not being trustworthy.
    This latest bug could further erode users’ trust in the app, so it is important that Google take a look at the issue and respond accordingly. Hopefully this fix comes sooner rather than later.
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  • WhatsApp launches new features for polls and captions

    WhatsApp launches new features for polls and captions

    WhatsApp is bringing new features to those using polls and captions on its messaging platform. Three new updates for polls are now available for WhatsApp users, as well as a new option to share with captions. Three new changes have been added to the polls feature, each significantly improving productivity and the fun factor.

    The first one is the ability to create single-vote polls. This new type of poll allows people to vote only once. Poll creators must turn off the “allow multiple answers” option to prevent people from voting more than once.

    Another interesting new feature introduced today is the ability to search for polls in a chat window. It makes it easier to find a poll that you decide to answer later. A new option to filter messages by polls is now available in WhatsApp, which is similar to the one that filters photos, videos or links. The new filter can be found by pressing Search on the Chats screen and then choosing Polls.

    The third and last update for polls is aimed at poll creators. Notifications will now be sent to poll creators when people vote. In addition, poll creators will now be able to see how many people have voted in total with every notification they receive.

    As far as captions goes, WhatsApp announced that users can now share documents with captions. Also, when forwarding any type of media that has a caption, new options are now available to keep, delete or completely rewrite it to provide more details when sharing photos between chats. WhatsApp users can also add a caption to photos and videos when they forward them.

    According to WhatsApp, all the new features announced today will be rolled out to users globally in the coming weeks, so be patient if these don’t show for you immediately.

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  • Telegram update adds shareable chat folder, custom wallpaper, and more

    Telegram update adds shareable chat folder, custom wallpaper, and more

    Messaging app Telegram has just announced numerous improvements coming to its users in the following days. Shareable chat folders, custom wallpapers, better bots, fast scrolling for attachments, and many other new features and improvements are part of the latest Telegram update.

    Starting with the latest version of Telegram, users can share entire chat folders with just one link. It makes it infinitely easier to invite friends to groups, collections of news channels, and more. Not to mention that each chat folder supports multiple invite links allowing access to different chats.

    Now you can create custom wallpapers from your favorite photos and color combinations. These can be used in specific chats. Simply use the “Set Wallpaper” setting from the three dots menu on Android or open a profile and tap “Change Wallpaper” from the three dots menu on iOS.

    The latest Telegram update brings better bots, the developer announced today. They can now host web apps, which can be launched in any chat. Additionally, Telegram revealed that web apps can now support collaboration and multiplayer features for members when launched in a group.

    As mentioned earlier, the update makes scrolling for attachments faster, just like Shared Media. Finally, the update brings numerous improvements to various interfaces. For example, the Send When Online interface now requires fewer taps. Also, Telegram users can now create groups without adding members immediately, which is handy if they want to set up permissions and pin one or more messages first.

    More importantly, in groups of under 100 members that have topics enabled, you’ll now be able to see what time other group members read your messages. A much-needed quality-of-life improvement.

    If you’re using one of the newest iPhones, you’ll be happy to know that profile pictures in Telegram have a new animation when scrolling on profiles and info pages.

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  • WhatsApp is rolling out the ability to save disappearing messages with the sender’s permission

    WhatsApp is rolling out the ability to save disappearing messages with the sender’s permission

    WhatsApp has announced via a blog post a new feature that allows users to save disappearing messages before they vanish. The feature will give users a chance to keep important messages that they may want to refer back to later.

    Disappearing messages is a feature that WhatsApp introduced back in 2020, which allows users to set their messages to automatically delete after a specified amount of time, ranging from 24 hours to 7 days. While this feature was meant to help users keep their chats private and reduce clutter, it was difficult for users to hold onto messages that they wanted to keep.

    With the new feature, called “Keep In Chat,” users can now select messages in a chat and save them by tapping on the bookmark icon. Once a message has been saved, it will no longer disappear after seven days. Users can also un-save messages by tapping on the bookmark icon again.

    Sender notification and consent will be required before proceeding, and without their permission, the message will automatically delete itself after the allotted time has passed. Both the sender and the receiver will be able to see the bookmark icon next to any messages that can be stored in the WhatsApp conversation and the saved messages will be conveniently stored in a designated “Kept Messages” folder.

    In this approach, WhatsApp’s implementation of its Keep In Chat function does not undermine the security and privacy afforded by disappearing messages and the decision to store a message ultimately rests with the sender. The new feature is currently rolling out to both individual and group chats. However, users can only save messages that have not already disappeared. Once a message has disappeared, it cannot be saved.

    This update comes after WhatsApp’s recent controversy over its privacy policy changes, which led many users to switch to other messaging apps such as Signal and Telegram. The addition of the save disappearing messages feature may help to win back some users who were concerned about the privacy and security of their conversations on the platform.

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  • WhatsApp rolls out new security features

    WhatsApp rolls out new security features

    Great news for WhatsApp users, as the company has just announced it has kicked off the rollout of some important security features meant to protect accounts. The new features will provide WhatsApp users with extra layers of privacy, as well as more control over their personal messages.

    First off, the latest update introduces a new security measure when a WhatsApp user wants to switch their account to a new device. Starting today, WhatsApp may ask users on their old devices to verify that they really want to take this step as an extra security check. It’s an important feature that will help alert users in case of an unauthorized attempt to move their account to another device.

    Another essential addition to WhatsApp is device verification. To prevent mobile device malware from taking advantage of their people’s phones without their permission and use their WhatsApp to send unwanted messages, the app has added special security checks.

    These checks will help authenticate an account (with no action needed from the user) and, hopefully, better protect the user if their device has been compromised. You can check out Meta’s post for more details on how this works under the hood.

    Last but not least, WhatsApp’s automatic security codes feature has just received an upgrade. The upgrade consists of a new security feature based on a process called “Key Transparency,” which should allow WhatsApp users to automatically verify their secure connection.

    Starting today, users can immediately tap on the encryption tab to verify that their conversation is secured. More details about the new security feature are available on Meta’s Engineering website.

    Although the new security features will automatically be added to each user’s device, two features must actually be turned on: two-step verification and use of end-to-end encrypted backups. Don’t forget to switch these on if you want an extra layer of security.

  • Google adds “Send photos faster” option for RCS messaging

    Google adds “Send photos faster” option for RCS messaging

    The feature description says, “Resolution is reduced for faster sending.” By toggling on this option, you are giving up your higher-resolution photo sharing via Rich Communication Services (RCS) in exchange for a quicker delivery of a lower-res image. Since SMS already shares low-res images, the toggle should apply to RCS users only in areas with slow data speeds.
    RCS is Google’s version of iMessage that allows two Android users running the platform for messaging to share messages with larger character limits and end-to-end encryption. Higher-resolution pictures and videos can be sent and features like read receipts and typing indicators appear. But should an iOS user dare to get into a group chat, all of these lovely features go away. Sound familiar?
    Remember that all RCS features won’t be found if an Android user isn’t using the Google Messages app. Some U.S. carriers offer their own messaging apps for Android but if you want the best messaging experience on the platform, you need to install Google Messages and stop using the carrier-branded messaging apps.
    The “Send photos faster” option would come into play in areas where mobile data speeds are slower. In these situations, if the feature is enabled, sending a lower-res image would allow a photo to be delivered faster than it might otherwise.

    The feature has not been pushed out to all Google Messages users yet. To see if the “Send photos faster” option is available on your phone, open the Google Messages app and tap the profile picture on the right side of the search field at the top of the screen. Press on Messages settings and the fifth item down from the top should be the “Send photos faster option.” The feature is toggled on by default.

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  • Update to Android’s WhatsApp Beta app makes it easier to use

    Update to Android’s WhatsApp Beta app makes it easier to use

    WhatsApp is making a change to its UI as it is in the process of disseminating an update to the Beta version of its Android app. As per WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is moving its navigation tabs (the ones on the top of the Android app that include Communities, Chats, Status, and Calls) to the bottom of the screen. This should make WhatsApp easier to use one-handed on large-screened devices. Moving elements to the bottom of the screen is what Samsung does with its One UI interface.
    The new look is found in version 2.23.8.4 of the Android WhatsApp Beta app. To find out which version of WhatsApp you are using, open the app and tap the three-dot overflow menu icon on the right top of the screen. Go to Settings > Help > App info. Wouldn’t you know it, the version of WhatsApp Beta on my Pixel 6 Pro is running version 2.23.8.3. Oh so close! Eventually, the feature will also be found on the public version of the app although it might take a few weeks before this happens.
    With the navigation tabs on the bottom, the Android version of WhatsApp will match the iOS version of the messaging app. The WhatsApp iOS app already has navigation tabs at the bottom of the screen. Moving the tabs to the bottom of the screen is something that Android WhatsApp users have been asking for and now WhatsApp is giving them what they want.
    With WhatsApp, users can enjoy messaging that is protected with end-to-end encryption, make phone calls, and engage in video chats. The Meta-owned platform has over 5 billion installs on Android alone and counts 2.24 billion global active users. 100 billion messages are exchanged over WhatsApp every single day.
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  • WhatsApp’s upcoming update will help you combat unwanted spam

    WhatsApp’s upcoming update will help you combat unwanted spam

    At this point, is it any wonder that WhatsApp is one of the first-choice IM (instant messaging) apps out there? It is available on both Android and iOS, it has end-to-end encryption for extra security and — most notably — it is constantly getting updated with new features.

    But people don’t just use WhatsApp for themselves — numerous businesses opt to have a WhatSapp communication channel open, so that customers can get in touch more easily. While that sounds awesome, it also means that their info is public, and as such, not every caller is a customer, per say.

    Luckily, WhatsApp realizes the value of this utilization of its app, and as such is reportedly working on a feature to help users handle spam calls more effectively. This information comes courtesy of WABetaInfo and it describes how one toggle can take care of all of this spam-related hassle.

    The WABetaInfo team has managed to uncover development traces of this new feature through the latest release of the WhatsApp beta program on Android. By the looks of things, this is intended to function as follows: users can mute calls from unknown callers. Simple as that!

    That, however, wouldn’t be helpful for businesses. As such, WhatsApp will still let users keep a record on who has called, just in case there is ever a need to call back. Said records will be kept in the Call List and Notification Center, just as with any other call.

    Right now, the feature is still under development, so we don’t really have a release date for this one. But by the sound of things, it will be worth the wait, as it will not only help alleviate the stress of spam calls, but also help with combating scammers and trolls.

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  • WhatsApp for Android is beta testing split view on tablets

    WhatsApp for Android is beta testing split view on tablets

    The tablet version of WhatsApp now has access to a split view thanks to a new update that was just released. The update was made available for the Android beta app on the Play Store for those fortunate enough to make it into the beta program.
    News of this update was reported by Wabetainfo which found that this change took place with the beta Android WhatsApp app, version 2.22.21.6. This newest change builds upon the WhatsApp version released in September 2022, which was compatible with tablets but not optimized for use on larger screens.
    This new feature is a game-changer for users because it optimizes the interface for tablets, it provides a better experience on a larger screen, and users can now view and use two different sections of the app simultaneously side by side on their tablet screen, as seen on the below screenshot:
    In the past, when users opened a chat on the tablet version of WhatsApp, the chat view would take up the entire screen. Users would then have to return to the chat list each time they wanted to switch to a different conversation. This new feature will allow users to switch between conversations without returning to the chat list since it will be consistently visible whenever a chat window is opened.
    After installing the most recent update of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Play Store, users will have access to a redesigned user interface optimized for tablet use. However, if the new feature isn’t available to you after installing the latest beta, Wabetainfo states that there will be an upcoming update that will unlock this feature for even more users. Unfortunately, if you do not already have access to the beta version of WhatsApp, you will not be able to sign up at this time as the beta program is almost always full.
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  • Newest version of WhatsApp on Android introduces competitive new features

    Newest version of WhatsApp on Android introduces competitive new features

    WhatsApp has been hard at work lately, adding features to compete with the likes of Signal and Telegram. However, a few new features are already making their way to the Android app, including one still in the beta testing phase.
    According to WABetaInfo, the new features are in addition to the status update ones announced last week, which were meant for both iOS and Android. These additional new features targeted the Android app specifically and were spotted when they appeared in the release notes of the latest version available via the Google Play Store.
    The version in question is 2.23.3.77, which has an update date of February 13th, and lists the below new features:
    • You can now add captions when sending documents
    • Added support for longer group subjects and descriptions to describe your group better
    • You can now send up to 100 photos/videos at once (vs. 30 previously)
    • You can now create personalized avatars and use them as stickers and profile photos. Go to Settings > Avatar to get started.
    The most prominent and useful one of all the features above, at least to me, happens to be the increase in the number of photos and videos that can be sent all at once within a conversation. Going from 30 to 100 is quite the leap and hopefully enough for even the most active photographers.

    However, one rumored upcoming feature has not yet made it out of beta: Disappearing Messages. The ephemeral message feature, made popular initially by Snapchat, is currently only available in the beta version of the app. Additionally, the beta version also includes a “Kept Messages” folder, which is meant to store the disappearing messages you prefer to keep indefinitely. Sadly, the beta version of WhatsApp for Android is currently full and not accepting new registrations.

    All of these changes come at a time when Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp at Meta, is launching an all-out war against Telegram by urging his Twitter followers not to use that app, going as far as to label it as “Russian spyware.” So far, this battle has been beneficial for WhatsApp users in that it has sparked some innovation and new features to be launched. It will be interesting to see how far this goes and how much we as users can get out of it.