WhatsApp surely plans to steal the thunder in the upcoming week with a plethora of nifty features up its sleeve to make us fall in love with the app even more. The much-adored messaging platform, with over 2 billion global users, is surely one of the, if not the most popular social messaging app. And in the current period of lockdowns and pandemic, it seems many of us are glued to our screen, keeping touch with each other more than ever.
As it turns out, WhatsApp has made up its mind set up to take its already user-friendly platform a notch or two further. While they always keep their app up to date and with frequent updates, betterment of user experience remains top of their concern. According to recent news of WhatsApp to bring in multi device support was a big hit in the user community, the list of features that it plans to roll out, maybe soon enough, are far more exhilarating! So, without further ado, let us have a look at what they have been working on and have in store for us!
1. Mute Always Group Notifications Option
As of yet, WhatsApp only offers 3 options of muting group notifications- 8 hours, 1 week and 1 year. It seems that they intend to tweak this a bit and add another option of keeping the notifications muted always, with no time limit! This seems to be a perfect feature in WhatsApp for those pesky annoying family or office or community groups that you simply couldn’t care less about, but at the same time can’t just leave them!
As per a report by WABetaInfo, the ‘Mute Always’ feature can simply block all those tiring group notifications for any group and forever, at the user’s whims! As per a screenshot shared on the blog, it is possible enough that the new feature may in fact, replace the option to mute for a year. This feature is still in the developmental phase. However, in case you are a beta user, you may as well give it a try by downloading the latest WhatsApp Beta for Android version.
2. 138 New Emojis
The Facebook owned messaging app currently has no dearth of emojis. Even so, it appears that they plan to enable users to express themselves more accurately. The WABetaInfo report claims that a total of 138 new emojis have already been rolled out in the latest Android beta version of the app, version 2.20.197.6. According to the report, these emojis include a multitude of new professions such as chefs, farmers, painters etc. as well as other racial emojis and wheelchair symbols.
This news comes just after WhatsApp recently introduced their animated stickers feature for Android and iPhone users, that are available alongside the regular sticker pads.
3. Expiring Messages
In the past WhatsApp had brought in the ‘Delete for Everyone’ feature that has been a boon for every time we have sent the wrong message to the wrong person. Now reportedly, WhatsApp has been working on expiring and self-destructing messages. As is suggestive of the name, the feature would allow the users to set a timer post which the messages would be deleted for both/ all parties, leaving behind absolutely no trace. Reportedly, WhatsApp is still working on improving the feature and its settings. But if done well, it will be a perfect addition for all your secret and private chit chats.
4. WhatsApp Web- Facebook Messenger Rooms Shortcut
Facebook’s Messenger Rooms feature can incorporate up to 50 people at a time. Recently, they have rolled out this feature for WhatsApp Web as an effort in order to integrate the 2 social media platforms. The Messengers Room support can be accessed using the desktop version of the app. This allows users to connect with others using Messenger’s video conferencing feature but right from here itself.
It’ll surely be a pretty eventful moment for WhatsApp in the coming weeks when they finally roll out these features! We sure are excited for the updates. Which feature most excites you and which one are you looking forward to using the most? Do let us know in the comments below!
Deepanjan Datta
Management student who likes to write articles at times, into mobile photography and likes to cook as a hobby.
