WhatsApp brings voicemail and call back options to Android beta app

If you’re using the beta version of WhatsApp on Android, the messaging app is bringing some new useful features. One is bringing voicemail to the service. It comes at a good time as some people are replacing the traditional messaging and phone apps to use the likes of WhatsApp and its other competitors. Aside from that, the app also gets a call back feature.

For the voicemail feature, you’ll be able to use it when you call someone in your list and if they don’t answer, you get three options. One is to call again, cancel the call, or “Record voice message.” If you choose the last option, you’ll be taken to a different screen to record your voice message. If you want to try this out, you can gain access to the beta app via this link.

Source: SlashGear

WhatsApp now lets you share documents on web app

The web client for WhatsApp isn’t being left behind after the release of the desktop client. WhatsApp is bringing it up to par with mobile apps by letting users share documents. Before you could only share photos and videos as well as take photos using a webcam. To access the feature, simply head over to the attachment icon in the conversation window.

Source: Android Central

WhatsApp now encrypts all your messages

It doesn’t matter what device you’re running WhatsApp on, the Facebook-owned messaging service is using a “powerful form” of encryption to protect everything from photos, videos, group chats, to video calls. Android phones were the first to get “end-to-end” encryption back in 2014 but now it extends to iOS and other devices as well. This comes after the encryption controversy Apple and the FBI got into over an iPhone used by a suspected gunman. WhatsApp has already caused friction in Brazil earlier this year as a Facebook Inc. executive was arrested after the company said it can’t unscramble a user’s encrypted message.

The end-to-end encryption WhatsApp uses automatically encodes the message, which can only be unlocked by the sender and recipient. WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum says he believes consumers have the right to easy-to-use encryption to protect themselves not just from hackers and identity thieves but also from “rogue” governments that spy on their own citizens.

Source: AP

WhatsApp beta introduces Quick Reply

Using beta builds of apps can sometimes not be as rewarding an experience as you'd hope but sometimes it might be worth its bugs. The latest update for WhatsApp beta brings with it a similar Quick Reply option to what Google Plans to do with Android N. Although, it is a bit more like what Line and Facebook Messenger does with a small window showing up. If you want to answer a message. You hit the Reply button and a pop-up window will let you either type in your answer or use the speech input to dictate your response. If you click on the View button, though, that will take you to the thread within the app.

Aside from introducing Quick Reply, WhatsApp has fixed its chat and contact selection to make it similar with how you do selections within Gmail. When you tap on a profile icon or chat group, you can tap more and that will start the multiple item selection process, which lets you select both single and group chats together. The options that will appear after this will vary depending on the type of content you selected. The app also brings with its solid color backgrounds for those who prefer a cleaner background over the somewhat busy WhatsApp wallpapers.

Source: Cult of Android