Meta has just released a roundup of new features on WhatsApp. These new features and upgrades have been rolled out to chats, calls, and Channels, with the company claiming that it will make them more enjoyable and improve our overall experience.
In reference to chats, the updates that were made available is firstly an ‘online’ indicator in WhatsApp group chats right under its name, that will allow you to see how many people in the chat are online in real-time. You will now also be able to highlight notifications in groups, by using the ‘Notify For’ settings and selecting ‘Highlights’ to limit notifications and ‘All’ to receive all notifications.
Additionally, you will be able to create an event in a 1:1 chat, with the ability to RSVP as ‘maybe’, invite a plus one, add an end date and time, and pin the event in chat. You can now also simply tap on a reaction sent by someone else to send it, scan and send documents directly from WhatsApp on iPhone, as well as set the app as a default messages and calls app on iOS.
As for the new updates made to WhatsApp calls, iPhone users can now zoom in on video calls. Another feature allows you to add someone to a 1:1 call directly, by tapping on the call icon on the top of the chat thread and selecting ‘Add to Call’.
WhatsApp video calls are also claimed to now be smoother overall, due to a more optimised routing system that finds the best connection path. This reduces dropped calls and video freezing, while the improved bandwidth detection upgrades the video to HD quality.
As for the WhatsApp Channels section, admins can now instantly record short videos (capped at 60 seconds long) and share them with followers. A written summary of voice message is also an option, and admins can now share their Channels with others through a unique QR code.
(Source: WhatsApp Blog)
Manisha Dharmendra contributed to this article.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.
