In late July, WhatsApp started testing picture-in-picture support for video calls in its beta program for the application. We didn’t have any idea at that time as to when WhatsApp would be rolling out PiP for all users, but it looks like that day has officially come.
Starting today, popular calling and messaging service WhatsApp is rolling out some new text-based status features for its Android app and the web.
Of all the messaging services that are out there, WhatsApp remains one of the most functional and feature-rich. Its Android app received picture-in-picture support a little less than three weeks ago, and a week later got access to App Shortcuts. In the latest beta version for WhatsApp’s Android app, it would appear that WhatsApp Payments will be the next feature to make an appearance.
Along with Android 7.1 Nougat, Google added App Shortcuts for the first time. The ability to hold down on an app icon and jump to a certain portion of an app right from your home screen can be very useful. While it’s great that WhatsApp is gaining this feature, the App Shortcuts that are available are, interesting, to say the least.
Popular messaging app WhatsApp announced today that it has reached one billion daily active users as the company also shared some other stats on how the service is being used. The one billion active daily users is up from the one billion monthly actives it announced last year, and monthly users too are up:
One of Android O’s most important consumer-facing features is support for picture-in-picture. So far, only YouTube and Duo have added support for the feature, but it seems WhatsApp may be close to adding it.
Antitrust regulators in Europe have fined Facebook €110 ($122M) for misleading them over its acquisition of the secure messaging service WhatsApp.
The European Commission said that the fine would have been more than twice as high but for Facebook’s acknowledgement of wrong-doing and cooperation with the investigation …
Popular messaging service WhatsApp is experiencing a major outage this evening. According to a variety of reports on social media, users are unable to access the service and cannot send or receive any messages…
Somewhat careless wording by Wikileaks has led to widespread reports than messaging apps that use end-to-end encryption – like Signal and WhatsApp – had been compromised by the CIA. There is in fact no evidence that this is the case.
WhatsApp is introducing a new feature in its app called Status that uses a similar format to Snapchat Stories, TechCrunch reports. Like messaging through WhatsApp, however, Status will bring encryption to the popular format.
Update: Updated with a response from WhatsApp, below.
A security researcher has found a backdoor in the end-to-end encryption system used by the WhatsApp messaging service. The vulnerability would allow Facebook to read messages sent through the supposedly secure system, as well as making it possible for the company to comply with court orders to make messages available to governments and law enforcement.
While end-to-end encryption would normally mean that not even the company operating the service can decrypt messages, only the intended recipient, the specific implementation used in WhatsApp includes a major security hole …
WhatsApp is a popular messaging service worldwide, and it’s also one that tends to stay on top of adding new features. In recent months, the app has added the ability to send GIFs, but now that’s being taken further with integrated Giphy search directly within the app…
WhatsApp has announced that the latest update to its messaging app offers video calls with end-to-end encryption. The feature had previously been available to some beta users.
The company’s blog post appears to take a little dig at iPhone pricing in passing, with Apple’s iOS-only FaceTime app the best-known video chat app to include full end-to-end encryption.
We’re introducing this feature because we know that sometimes voice and text just aren’t enough. There’s no substitute for watching your grandchild take her first steps, or seeing your daughter’s face while she’s studying abroad. And we want to make these features available to everyone, not just those who can afford the most expensive new phones …
When Facebook bought secure messaging app WhatsApp for $19B back in 2014, the company was careful to reassure users that its commitment to privacy would not be in any way compromised. WhatsApp has today updated its privacy policy to allow it to share both phone numbers and analytics data with Facebook.
Messaging apps are among the most important — and indeed most used — by millions and millions of users every day, so it is only logical for them to implement new features as they evolve.
WhatsApp, despite being used by over a billion users, has remained a fairly simplistic chat app over the years, but things seem to be changing…
The extremely popular messaging service WhatsApp — which now counts over a billion active users — is growing as an increasingly more complex and feature rich app.
After launching things such as end-to-end encryption, Google Drive support for backup and even a desktop client last week, it now seems like it is looking to enter the video-calling space…
Today, WhatsApp is announcing that all messages, photos, phone calls and videos sent over its messaging app will be encrypted end-to-end. This means that no one can access any communications apart from the people in the conversation. This means if WhatsApp is subpoenaed by government for information, WhatsApp will not be able to help them as it simply cannot help them.
WhatsApp is preparing a new set of features for its Android users, many of which have been on my wish-list for many years, and have perhaps been the biggest causes of my disdain for the popular messaging app. The new beta, WhatsApp version 2.12.560, rolled out today and features (among other things) quick reply, solid wallpapers and new multiple-selection tools and options.
WhatsApp has started rolling out a new document uploading feature to its Android app users. This new attachment option has been showing up for a number of WhatsApp users (including myself) and allows you to upload PDFs. It’d be surprising if this wasn’t expanded to include other document formats in the future.
WhatsApp has been testing the new emoji introduced as part of Unicode 9.0 since early December. The beta test is now over and they are rolling out (as spotted by Android Police) a score of new emoji to users today.
In Alphabet’s earnings call today, Google CEO Sundar Pichai mentioned that Gmail has joined a list of 6 other Google services that now have more than 1 billion active monthly users. The other services include Search, Android, Maps, Chrome, YouTube, and Google Play.
To go along with the announcement, Google posted a really creepy video on Twitter:
Thanks a billion for helping us make Gmail better and better!https://t.co/Rd82YqwGjl
— Gmail (@gmail) February 1, 2016
WhatsApp also announced on its blog today that the service has passed the same milestone.
As of today, one billion people are using WhatsApp.
That’s nearly one in seven people on Earth who use WhatsApp each month to stay in touch with their loved ones, their friends and their family.
While Gmail and WhatsApp may now have more than 1 billion active monthly users, both apps have long since passed the 1 billion stall mark on the Google Play Store. Speaking of that—it’s been a while since we’ve seen a new 1 billion+ install app. It’s probably time.
WhatsApp’s founder Jan Koum has announced today that the widely-used messaging service is now free to customers. The Facebook-owned company is dropping its subscription service immediately. While it’s only 99 cents per year to use WhatsApp‘s multi-platform messenger app, Koum states that the annual subscription was still a barrier to some users…
Android Police spotted that WhatsApp is testing a new version of the app containing scores of new emojis in line with the web version and iPhone app.
There are new facial expressions for hugs, upside down smiles, dollar signs, rolling eyes, nerds, and extreme sadness, among others. There is a new sign of the horns gesture that joins the previously added vulcan (Spock) salute and raised middle finger. Family emojis have been extended with the addition of plenty of LGBT choices. Among other novelties, the nature tab sees a turkey, shamrock, spider, unicorn; the food tab has a popcorn box, popped champagne bottle, taco, burrito, hot dog; and sports/activities get their separate tab and now include racing cars, medals, ice skating, volleyball, weightlifting, and a quirky levitating man in a business suit.
The emojis have also been reorganized – so if you can no longer find the hearts, that’s because they’ve moved from faces to symbols.
If you’re too impatient to wait for the new version to hit the Play Store, you can download it today …
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