People are being warned of a number of key changes coming to WhatsApp.
Owned by Meta, the popular messaging app has around 30 million users in the UK and around two billion worldwide. Changes are usually previewed on the app's beta version before they become widely used.
It is not clear when the changes will be available as it could take WhatsApp months to roll them out. But they could include new additions like a camera feature that allows users to switch between video and camera modes more easily, reports The Mirror.
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Experts at WABetaInfo have looked into the upcoming changes. Here is a round-up of the main developments and how they will affect WhatsApp users.
Block shortcuts
Blocking unwanted contacts will be faster and easier than before with a new shortcut that will be listed in the chat option part of a user's chat list. Blocking multiple users at once will not yet be an option, but the new feature can be expected in a future update to the app.
WABetaInfo said: "We think this feature will be very helpful especially if you get many messages from people you don’t know or don’t want to talk to, so you can quickly block them by opening the chat options."
Detect text in images
Detecting texting images will be a useful feature for Whatsapp users in the future and it is already available on the beta version of the app. WABetaInfo said: "It is easy to discover if the feature is already available in your beta version: simply open an image that contains text and verify the presence of the text detection button.
"If the button is visible, you can begin extracting text from images within your conversations."
The software is not available for iOS users on anything earlier that iOS 16.
Moving Android chats
WhatsApp is making it easier for Android users to move their chat history from one device to another. This would mean users do not have to use Google Drive to get their chat data back when they switch to a new device.
The feature is still under development and it is not clear when it will be rolled out to Android users, but may be on a beta version of the app in the near future.
Forward media with a caption
Currently, when users forward a WhatsApp image or video to their family or friends, it is done so without a caption. A clunky extra message also has to be sent if a user wants to explain why the message has been forwarded.
In a new feature, users could be able to keep the original caption of whatever message they forward, or have the option to remove it. WABetaInfo said: "WhatsApp is introducing an alert that informs users about the ability to forward images, videos, GIFs, and documents, with captions: it is rolling out to people that install the latest update of the app today."
The option will be available to all beta testers and the app is also introducing an alert to tell users about the feature.
WhatsApp camera mode
WhatsApp is working on a camera mode that will allow users to switch more easily between camera and video mode. Currently, users need to hold down the camera button in order to record video, but this new feature will make the camera feature more similar to that of the main one used on iOS devices.
It is not yet available on beta versions of the app as it is still very much under development. WABetaInfo added: "This is good news for all WhatsApp users as this feature will help them record videos in a simple and easier way."
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