Introduction
WhatApp needs no introduction. Any mobile in any part of theworld is not a complete mobile until it has a working WhatsApp.
The app’s popularity is not only because of inertia but alsothe app’s ability to innovate and provide features which may have beenpioneered by rivals.
The cross-platform app which has been around the days ofSymbian operating systems on Nokia mobiles was bought by Facebook.
Facebook is providing for free not only the app but is also continuouslyexpending money to upgrade the features.
New features in 2021
Instagram Reels on WhatsApp
It must be remembered that Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsAppare all assets owned by a single entity. Also, it has been a public vision ofMark Zuckerberg, controlling shareholder of Facebook to unify all his users andunify his apps.
WhatsApp is slated to get Instagram Reels section. InstagramReels is the Instagram version of short-video format which has taken the worldby a storm.
So much is the appeal of the less attention-demanding formatthat even YouTube had to experiment with the same. The latter calls this formatShorts.
Disappearing images
Privacy is a feature demanded by every user on the Internetnow. The same is expected of messaging apps, and the apps too are not failing inproviding end-to-end encryption and other such features which provideunimaginable privacy from outsiders and the app itself.
However, to ensure privacy from the person being contacted aconcept of disappearing messages is being explored.
In this feature, option may be provided (either a globalsetting that applies to all new messages or a per-photo option) to have thephoto 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 tologin on multiple handled devices.
Now, with the implementation and rollout of this feature,WhatsApp will allow people to have their account active on multiple handleddevices.
For example, a person may want to be logged in to their WhatsAppon their personal mobile phone, home tablet, etc.
Audio files playback speed
Currently, WhatsApp only allows playback of audio messagessent using the app’s “Hold to send voice message” functionality.
Work is being done on allowing speeding up the playback (justlike 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 liketo handle the message as they arrive.
Till now the only options were either having a notificationin their app or forgetting to reply to a message.
Interesting features within this include improving ArchivedChats, Read Later, Vacation Mode.
These features will enable a user to categorise a chat awayfrom the main view, or disable notifications.
Logout
A Logout functionality in the app will allow a user to logoutfrom the app.
This functionality when coupled with multi-device support (mentionedabove) 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 willallow a user to choose either of two options – Ignore, or Miss for those groupcalls 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 newfeature in development which will restrict the exposing of Last Seen to aselect list of contacts.
Currently, there is a blanket option for contacts oreveryone only – either you expose your Last Seen to all and see for all thosewho have this enabled; or you disable your Last Seen and then do not see anyoneelse’s too.
Conclusion
Thus, as an ardent user of WhatsApp, you will be delightedto know that your app is working on new features to provide you with up-to-datefunctionality.