Introduction
WhatApp needs no introduction. Any mobile in any part of the world is not a complete mobile until it has a working WhatsApp.
The app’s popularity is not only because of inertia but also the app’s ability to innovate and provide features which may have been pioneered by rivals.
The cross-platform app which has been around the days of Symbian operating systems on Nokia mobiles was bought by Facebook.
Facebook is providing for free not only the app but is also continuously expending money to upgrade the features.
New features in 2021
Instagram Reels on WhatsApp
It must be remembered that Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are all assets owned by a single entity. Also, it has been a public vision of Mark Zuckerberg, controlling shareholder of Facebook to unify all his users and unify his apps.
WhatsApp is slated to get Instagram Reels section. Instagram Reels is the Instagram version of short-video format which has taken the world by a storm.
So much is the appeal of the less attention-demanding format that even YouTube had to experiment with the same. The latter calls this format Shorts.
Disappearing images
Privacy is a feature demanded by every user on the Internet now. The same is expected of messaging apps, and the apps too are not failing in providing end-to-end encryption and other such features which provide unimaginable privacy from outsiders and the app itself.
However, to ensure privacy from the person being contacted a concept of disappearing messages is being explored.
In this feature, option may be provided (either a global setting that applies to all new messages or a per-photo option) to have the photo deleted from the receiver WhatsApp and mobile after a set amount of time.
Multi-device support
WhatsApp has always had been touchy about allowing users to login on multiple handled devices.
Now, with the implementation and rollout of this feature, WhatsApp will allow people to have their account active on multiple handled devices.
For example, a person may want to be logged in to their WhatsApp on their personal mobile phone, home tablet, etc.
Audio files playback speed
Currently, WhatsApp only allows playback of audio messages sent using the app’s “Hold to send voice message” functionality.
Work is being done on allowing speeding up the playback (just like on YouTube and Netflix) to 1.5x or 2x. The same has been reported by WABetaInfo.
Read later
This one is going to be a boon for busy people who do not like to handle the message as they arrive.
Till now the only options were either having a notification in their app or forgetting to reply to a message.
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Interesting features within this include improving Archived Chats, Read Later, Vacation Mode.
These features will enable a user to categorise a chat away from the main view, or disable notifications.
Logout
A Logout functionality in the app will allow a user to logout from the app.
This functionality when coupled with multi-device support (mentioned above) will allow a convenient access just like other apps like Gmail, Facebook, etc.
Join Missed Group Call
WABetaInfo reports that a ‘Join Missed Call’ feature will allow a user to choose either of two options – Ignore, or Miss for those group calls which a user has not able to join at the time the call was initiated.
Last Seen privacy enhancement
In another enhancement to privacy of its users is a new feature in development which will restrict the exposing of Last Seen to a select list of contacts.
Currently, there is a blanket option for contacts or everyone only – either you expose your Last Seen to all and see for all those who have this enabled; or you disable your Last Seen and then do not see anyone else’s too.
Conclusion
Thus, as an ardent user of WhatsApp, you will be delighted to know that your app is working on new features to provide you with up-to-date functionality.