New Update WhatsApp offers 2GB attachments, Communities, emoji reactions, and 32-people voice calls

[silversurfer]

WhatsApp is offering a few new features that have been available in Telegram for quite some time. The internet-based instant messaging platform’s app for Android and iOS is getting Communities, which seems very similar to Telegram's Groups and Channels feature. Other features that Meta is offering include emoji reactions as well as the ability to add up to 32 participants to a single voice call. WhatsApp users will also be able to attach large files.

WhatsApp Communities are intended for organizations like schools and neighborhoods to coordinate and share media, indicated a blog post announcing the new features. Telegram’s Groups and Channels can get pretty massive with thousands of subscribers. It is not clear how many users can join a WhatsApp Community, but all the Communities will be inherently private and end-to-end encrypted.

Apart from Communities, WhatsApp is also adding emoji reactions. This feature was recently revealed in a beta version of WhatsApp. As expected, it is nearly identical to other social media platforms like Messenger, Instagram, and Twitter. Apart from message reactions, WhatsApp has also confirmed it will deliver emoji shortcuts for its desktop users.

WhatsApp voice call feature will now be able to accommodate up to 32 people simultaneously. Until recently, only eight participants could join a voice call. It is not clear how a voice call with so many people would sound, but the feature could serve as a virtual conference call in some emergency situations.

One of the most grumbled about limitations within WhatsApp has been the cap on the size of attachments. WhatsApp did not allow users to attach any file, document, or multimedia content that exceeded 100MB in size. The instant messaging platform has now upped the file size limit to 2GB.

WhatsApp is also offering Group Admins the power to remove errant or problematic messages from everyone’s chats. All the new features are available in the latest stable version of WhatsApp, but Meta could gradually roll out the new version. Hence, some might gain the new features sooner than others.

WhatsApp offers 2GB attachments, Communities, emoji reactions, and 32-people voice calls

The latest stable version of WhatsApp will allow voice calls with up to 32 participants, files as large as 2GB to be shared, private and end-to-end encrypted Communities, and emoji reactions.

www.neowin.net

 

[silversurfer]

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to share a direct link to a call, making it easier to stay in contact with your loved ones. The Call Links feature will start to appear on WhatsApp this week and can be accessed through a banner located at the top of the Calls tab. WhatsApp users who want to try the Call Link feature will need the latest version of the app.

Mark Zuckerberg announced the feature on Facebook, saying that WhatsApp users will be able to share a link to a call with “a single tap.” The ability to share a call link with up to 32 users was teased back in April during the announcement of another upcoming feature, WhatsApp Communities.

The Call Links feature will support both audio and video calls, and Zuckerberg also confirmed that encrypted video calling is currently being tested for group calls with up to 32 people, which is notable, as WhatsApp currently caps video calls at eight users.

WhatsApp adds one-click links to join a call and tests 32-person video chats

Now you just need to find 31 friends.

www.theverge.com

 

[silversurfer]

Meta is rolling out new features to its instant messaging platform WhatsApp to make the platform more convenient to use for large groups of people.

One of these is Communities, which the company first began testing in April. This feature allows users to combine group chats “under one umbrella with a structure that works for them.” This way, people can receive updates sent to an entire community and organize smaller discussion groups on important things.

To use the feature, users can tap on the new "Communities" tab at the top of their chats on Android or at the bottom on iOS. From there, they can start a new Community from scratch or add existing groups.

WhatsApp will also offer admins new tools to manage communities, such as the ability to broadcast announcements to all members and control over which groups to include. "We think Communities will make it easier for a school principal to bring all the parents of the school together to share must-read updates and set up groups about specific classes, extracurricular activities, or volunteer needs," WhatsApp's blog stated. Communities are end-to-end encrypted and will be available to all WhatsApp users in the coming months.

WhatsApp rolls out Communities and 32-person video chats

WhatsApp has now rolled out its Communities feature, which it has been testing since April. Communities allows users to connect multiple groups together under one umbrella to organize group chats.

www.neowin.net

 

[Slerion]

Nice finally , cause Whatsapp is the "safest" main stream messenger , Telegram was rising but its not end to end encrypted by default.

 

[silversurfer]

The Meta-owned WhatsApp has launched a new update that renamed the announcement group to "Updates" for iOS and "Home for Android. The company's aim is to make the application more user-friendly.

WhatsApp has been working to develop its community feature and attract more users, making it an easier communication hub for different communities all around the world. According to WABetaInfo, the company has launched a small update for its beta testers that renames the announcement groups in communities.

"This renaming decision may have been made due to the fact that the announcement group is typically a read-only conversation where only community admins can send messages, and it may not fit the traditional definition of a group," the website added to clarify the situation.

WhatsApp's latest update proves focus on "Communities" - gHacks Tech News

The Meta-owned Whatsapp aims to bring more features to communities as the company has recently launched another minor update.

www.ghacks.net