One of the most highly-anticipated additions is the introduction of filters: Users can now apply creative visual effects to their videos, ranging from vibrant color schemes to artistic styles.

now you can add backgrounds and filters on video calls set the vibe and show up in new ways, it’s your call pic.twitter.com/LNVWfaKCBy

— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) October 1, 2024

There are ten filters to choose from, including options like Warm, Cool, Black & White, and Dreamy. Each one sets a different tone, allowing users to pick a filter that suits the mood of their conversation. This feature helps make video calls more engaging and visually appealing.

Another useful upgrade is the ability to change backgrounds during video calls. Users can now replace their actual surroundings with various preset scenes, helping maintain privacy or simply creating a more visually interesting call.

For example, users can appear to be sitting in a cozy living room, a bustling café, or on a serene beach. There’s also a blur option to subtly obscure the background, keeping the focus on you. With ten backgrounds to choose from, this feature ensures flexibility and privacy during calls.

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Additionally, WhatsApp now includes a Low Light mode, which enhances brightness in poorly lit environments, ensuring that your video remains clear regardless of your surroundings. This feature is especially helpful when making calls in dimly lit areas.

To access these new features, simply tap the effects icon in the top right corner of your screen during a video call. Whether you’re on a one-on-one or group call, these updates are easy to use and available in an instant.

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The upcoming feature will enable users to converse with Meta AI in real-time. Although the chat mode is still under development, current reports indicate that users will be able to choose from ten different voices for Meta AI. At present, this feature is only available on the Android version of WhatsApp. However, it is expected that iOS users will eventually be able to use the Meta AI chat mode too.

It’s important to note that even if you manage to download and install the WhatsApp beta version on your Android device, its functionality will likely be restricted, as it is currently still in the development stage. Screenshots shared by the feature tracker reveal a new voice icon in the Meta AI chat interface, represented by an audio waveform next to the text field.

Upon selecting this icon, a bottom sheet appears with “Meta AI” displayed at the top. In the center, a circular design composed of several bubbles is visible. At the bottom of the sheet, the message “Hi, how can I help?” is shown along with a larger audio waveform icon, indicating that the AI is ready to listen.

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Additional screenshots imply that the Meta AI voice mode will offer users up to ten unique voices to choose between. The differences between these voices are not yet clear, but they may vary in accents, levels of enthusiasm, or even tonal characteristics. However, it’s unlikely that any of the voices will support multiple languages on the update’s initial release.

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WABetaInfo’s report included an image showing a scanner interface that will facilitate the sharing of various file types. The new feature, named Nearby Share, will function similarly to Apple’s AirDrop, with the iOS version using a QR code for file sharing and Android devices also utilizing proximity detection technology.

The introduction of offline file sharing is a significant step forward for WhatsApp, and especially helpful for users in areas with patchy internet access. Nearby Share will be particularly useful for transferring large files, such as high-resolution images, videos, and important documents.

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Eventually, the new feature is expected to be compatible with most operating systems, regardless of device type. Additionally, the transfers will be end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that only the intended recipients can access the shared data, helping to maintain user privacy and security.

It’s important to note that Nearby Share is still in its early stages. As the development continues, the final product may see changes or improvements from the current beta version. It is also possible that the iOS version may eventually adopt functionality similar to the Android one, relying on proximity detection instead of QR code scanning.

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The new option does not replace SMS verification via a six-digit PIN, and opening a new WhatsApp account still requires users to provide a number. However, with email verification, existing users now have the means to authenticate their account on a new device using an internet connection if a cellular connection is unavailable.

The new feature has already been rolled out for iPhone users as part of version 23.24.70. Meanwhile, the latest Android beta version also features an AI chatbot shortcut button.

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WhatsApp is also working on a feature to add an additional layer of privacy when communicating with other users, and will eventually allow people to reach out to one another by entering a username, just like Telegram.

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Instead of intrusive automatic ringing, group participants will receive push notifications and can tap on a bubble to join the voice chat, offering a more user-friendly and less disruptive experience.

Once in a voice chat, participants can access call controls from the top of the interface. This ensures that users can manage call settings without hampering their ability to send and receive text messages simultaneously.

Voice chats will roll out on iOS and Android in the coming weeks, and in the early stages, WhatsApp will focus on larger group chats with participant ranges of 33 to 128. The latest update marks a significant stride towards refining WhatsApp’s user interface while enhancing group communication and adding an additional layer of security using end-to-end encryption.

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The latest WhatsApp update coincides with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s news during the company’s recent earnings report that interactions between users and businesses have surpassed 600 million daily occurrences, with revenue hitting $293 million in Q3 — a 53% year-on-year increase.

WhatsApp now has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most widely used messaging platforms worldwide.

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Meta explained that you’ll still need separate phone numbers and SIM cards (or a phone that accepts dual SIMs) if you want to set up a second account. You’ll also need the second number to receive a one-time passcode via SMS to verify your second account on a different device. After the initial setup, the app will work as normal for both accounts without the second device or SIM, explained WhatsApp spokesperson Ellie Heatrick.

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The new dual account feature could be extremely useful for influencers or those with separate work and family profiles, as until now, two devices would have been required to use both accounts at the same time.

The post WhatsApp Will Soon Allow Two Account Logins At Once appeared first on Tech Magazine.

When using Flows, merchants will benefit from tools such as text boxes, calendars and a seat picker. These features will allow e-commerce companies to build rich experiences while improving booking and payment workflows. The Flows support page gives multiple examples of how the new service can be used, including booking appointments, product customization, account logins, form filling, and signing up for events.

WhatsApp said it had been testing Flows with businesses including Brazilian bank Banco Pan, retailer MagaLu, tech giant Lenovo, Indian travel service redBus, and car-reselling platform Spinny.

“Shopping and e-commerce is one of the biggest verticals we want to focus on. The goal is to enable business messaging in a way that businesses and people can do a lot more right in the chat thread. We are trying to build rich experiences within the chat, and that’s where Flows comes in,” said Nikila Srinivasan, Meta’s VP of business messaging.

Flows will become available over the coming months, and Meta will not initially charge merchants separately for the service. Currently, only e-commerce businesses can utilize Flows’ features, though WhatsApp has plans to develop rich experiences for other business verticals as well.

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Earlier this year, WhatsApp’s business app surpassed the 200 million monthly active users mark. The messaging company said it had also started testing a personalized messages feature for merchants, which was announced this June. The service lets businesses send custom notifications such as discounts or offers to select patrons.

The post WhatsApp Introduces Flows For Improved In-App Shopping appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Soon, people across much of the Middle East and North Africa will benefit from private updates from their favorite celebrities, creators, artists, and sports teams without having to leave WhatsApp.

Moon Baz, Creator Partnerships Lead, Africa, Middle East, and Turkey at Meta, was excited to announce the update, “We’re starting to roll out WhatsApp Channels globally and adding thousands of new channels that people can follow in WhatsApp. We’re also welcoming some of your favorite celebrities, sports teams, artists, creators, and thought leaders that people can follow right within WhatsApp”.

According to Moon Baz, Channels allow admins to send one-way broadcasts via text, photos, videos, and stickers. Users can find Channels in a new WhatsApp tab labeled Updates, which is separate from their regular chats with friends, family, and communities.

WhatsApp users will be able to see recommended Channels based on popularity and region. Similar to regular chats, they will also be able to use emojis to react to updates — though users won’t be able to see someone else’s reaction.

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Channel updates will not be available indefinitely. Meta will store data on their servers for up to 30 days. Admins will also be able to block screenshots and forwards from their channels.

Overall, WhatsApp Channels look set to become an effective tool for getting in touch with your target audience — whether you’re an influencer or a business looking for marketing opportunities.

The post WhatsApp Channels Has Started Rolling Out Across The MENA Region appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The feature is represented by a phone icon with an arrow pointing from it. It sits alongside existing tools, including switching cameras, muting, and disabling video that appear at the bottom of the screen in WhatsApp calls.

Clicking the new button reveals a prompt asking the user if they want to “Start recording or casting with WhatsApp?” If they agree, tapping “Start now” will begin recording, which can be stopped anytime during the call.

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Only select Android beta testers can currently access the new screen-sharing feature, though the update should roll out to more users over the coming weeks. However, older Android models and those who haven’t downloaded the latest version of the app may not get the feature at all.

The post WhatsApp Rolls Out Screen Sharing Beta For Android appeared first on Tech Magazine.

To lock an existing conversation, users simply need to tap on the title of a person or group chat and select the lock option. When you want to read a locked chat, you’ll need to use your device’s biometric scanner to unlock it, or else enter a password.

WhatsApp notes that the feature is useful for keeping a chat private when “someone else is holding your phone at the exact moment an extra special chat arrives” and advises that the entire app can also be locked using biometric security.

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WhatsApp owners Meta have been upgrading the platform for some time now, in a bid to convince users of the app’s safety as more and more people turn to rivals such as Signal and Telegram. Meta recently upgraded WhatsApp’s verification system to deter hackers and has added additional features, including disappearing messages.

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