WhatsApp hardly seems to change for all these years, because unlike Telegram, the news comes with a dropper. This is not to say that WhatsApp is not evolving and to check it we have compiled eleven upcoming WhatsApp news.
Until a WhatsApp news reaches everyone, it goes through several phases: rumors and leaks, first beta tests and, finally, activation for everyone. The following news have already been disclosed or confirmed and they should be coming soon.
WhatsApp for iPad and tablets
One of the most anticipated functions of WhatsApp is its version for iPad and Android tablets, something WaBetaInfo told us a few years ago that is still pending. In this case, there could be a good reason for the delay: this version of WhatsApp relies on the new multi-device mode, so it needs to be ready before the app can make the jump to tablets.
Currently, WhatsApp’s new multi-device mode allows you to chat without depending on mobile, although in this first phase this is possible on WhatsApp Web, WhatsApp Desktop and on a Portal device. It is expected that later it will be possible to use it to use WhatsApp at the same time on your mobile and on your iPad or Android tablet.
WhatsApp on various mobiles
If WhatsApp is ready to work on both mobile and tablet, it should also be possible to use the same WhatsApp account on several mobiles, without resorting to tricks like using WhatsApp Web in any of them.
Rumors indicate that indeed, a future version of WhatsApp’s multi-device mode should allow you register a second mobile as a paired device, maintaining encryption and completely independently.
Communities on WhatsApp
WhatsApp communities are one of the more mysterious news, because at the moment we don’t have too many details on what exactly they will be or how they will behave. Initially, seem very similar to groups.
Rumors suggest that communities will be a means of group whatsapp groups thematically. In this way, a community could contain within it different groups on more specific subjects.
Reactions in messages
WaBetaInfo told us that WhatsApp is getting ready reactions to messages, that is, the ability to choose an emoji in response to a message. From what we could see, they work the same as in Facebook Messenger or Instagram.
Basically, with a long press on a message, you can choose any emoji reply to the message without saying a word. The other person will receive a notification that their message has received a reaction.
Voice memo transcription
WhatsApp has been revitalizing its voice memo feature for some time now, with a new recorder and player. Part of this renovation will allow transcribe the text of a voice memo, something you had to use third-party apps for.
So far, the tests we’ve seen of voice note-to-text transcription were done on an iPhone and using the Apple’s voice recognition service. We will have to see if the function ends up arriving and if WhatsApp also takes it to Android.
Delete messages without time limit
If you regret after sending a WhatsApp message, you have exactly 68 minutes and 16 seconds to change your mind and delete the message for everyone. That’s the limit since everyone’s delete was implemented in WhatsApp in 2017.
However, recently there have been indications that WhatsApp may remove message deletion delay. That is, you can technically delete any message you have sent, at any time.
Chat between Android and iPhone for everyone
WhatsApp has pleasantly surprised us this year by opening the door to switch WhatsApp chats between platforms, something that first began to be possible with Samsung’s new foldable cellphones and, later, with the Google Pixel 6.
At this time, it is only possible to forward iPhone chats to a handful of Android phones, but there will be changes soon. First of all, Google announced that it will be possible with any mobile launched with Android 12 and, in addition, the reverse step is still pending: transfer chats from Android to iPhone.
More control over backup
A novelty that leaves us with a certain bittersweet flavor are the advanced options to manage what is included in Android WhatsApp backup. More options, but with the rumor that it could be related to the end of free storage for WhatsApp backup.
Specifically, WhatsApp will let you choose whether you want to include photos, audio, videos, documents and other files in the backup, indicating how much each occupies. Currently WhatsApp backups are not deducted from storage of Google Drive, but that could change in the future, making sense of this new settings screen.
More privacy options
This will be one of the most important WhatsApp privacy changes in recent times: power selectively hide your profile picture, last login time and information some of your contacts.
To do this, WhatsApp will introduce the additional option of My contacts, except … this will allow you to keep this section visible to everyone except those you specify. WhatsApp has already started enabling this setting in its beta, but it will take time to reach everyone in the world.
Nearby Business Directory
One of the few novelties confirmed directly by the company is the business directory nearby, a sort of yellow pages integrated directly into the application.
Under the name of Shops nearby and accessible when starting a new conversation, it will display companies that use WhatsApp Business around you and differentiated into categories. This directory started as a test in Brazil and it remains to be seen whether it will be extended to the whole world.
The subjects
A novelty of which we have hardly any details, but we hope that it will eventually come true, is the possibility to change the colors of the interface, to customize the appearance of the application.
A few months ago, WaBetaInfo reported that the app is working to allow users to change the colors of certain interface elements such as accent color displayed on buttons and text, although since then we haven’t heard from it.
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