WhatsApp introduces a dozen new features
WhatsApp is constantly testing new features through its beta channel, and it usually takes months for them to finally become available to everyone. Today, the service actually released a dozen new features at once, and here are the details, in order.
First, there’s now an online indicator in group chats that shows you which members are available right below the group name. Second, you can choose to receive only highlights from groups, limiting notifications to mentions, replies, and messages from saved contacts. Third, you can now create an event in a 1-on-1 chat, reply with “Maybe,” invite a plus one, add an end date and time for longer events, and pin an event in a chat.
Fourth, you can tap another person’s reaction to respond to a message in the same way. Fifth, you can scan and send documents directly from WhatsApp on iOS, with options to crop and save. Sixth, you can set WhatsApp as your default messaging and calling app in some places on the latest version of iOS – just go to Settings > Default and select WhatsApp.
WhatsApp with 12 new features in one update
Seventh, you can zoom in on video calls on iOS by pinching. Eighth, you can add someone directly from a chat thread to an ongoing 1:1 conversation. Ninth, video calls are higher quality and more reliable, with fast HD jumps if you have the bandwidth. Tenth, channel admins can now record short videos of 60 seconds or less and share them with followers.
Eleventh, you can get voice message transcripts for channels. And finally, twelfth, you can create a QR code that links directly to a channel if you’re the admin of that channel, making it easy to share with others.
