New Update In WhatsApp for Android Update Adds Quick Replies From Notifications & More

A new WhatsApp for Android update with support for quick replies via notifications is now available to select users. The new feature is only available in the latest version 2.12.560 which is currently available to beta testers who've signed up on Google Play.

WhatsApp for Android v2.12.560 is not available yet via the regular Google Play listing, or WhatsApp website. The new version lets users quick reply to messages right from the notification panel. Also new, is improved contextual options for contacts, and a new wallpaper selector.

After the update, users will see no difference in the notification alert when a message arrives. However, on expanding the specific notification bar, an option to 'Reply' will now be seen below the notification.

On tapping the 'Reply' option users would see a full screen quick reply overlay along with a dialogue box and keyboard at the bottom for typing out a reply. The quick reply feature sends the reply without opening the app. Users can also tap on the message to open the full conversation in the app. Notably, an update to the WhatsApp for iPhone (v2.12.16) available earlier this month added the ability to quick reply to in-app notifications.

WhatsApp is not the only app offering the quick reply to notifications feature as Google's Hangouts app also added the same feature in January.

WhatsApp for Android v2.12.560 brings a couple of other options as well (via Android Police). The improved contextual options for contacts are visible both in the Chats and Contacts tabs. Users can now tap on the profile picture or group image of any conversation to bring up contextual options, rather than long-tapping on the last message. Depending on the type of conversation or contact selected, users get corresponding contextual options. If users select multiple chats at once, they will only get contextual options that correspond to all the chats.

Finally, the wallpaper selector now features revamped icons, a new name for Documents (now called Gallery), and, a solid colour option.

WhatsApp for Android received an update earlier this month that brought text formatting, improved file sharing, and more. The update allowed users to format text inside messages as bold and italics. The update also allowed Android users to send pdf files not only from the device storage but from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive accounts as well.

WhatsApp Latest Update Brings Bold & Italic Text Formatting

Download Latest Version: Here

We have already seen WhatsApp Messenger bringing numerous features to its app, from sharing of pdf files, a redesigned Settings page, to showing end-to-end encryption notification. Well, the Facebook-owned messaging application has now received a new set of features as a part of the version 2.12.535 for Android. In the meanwhile, the company has also rolled out an updated version of WhatsApp for iPhone, bring it to version v2.12.16.

The version at the time of writing is not available to download from the company website but is showing up as an OTA update on Google Play for beta testers (via Android Police). One can become a beta tester by visiting www.whatsapp.com/android. It is currently not available for iOS, regular Android users with app version number 2.12.510 or lower.

WhatsApp v2.12.535 for Android seems to be one of the major updates the app has received after document sharing. It now lets you format text inside messages as bold and italics. All you have to do is to put the text that you have to see as bold *inside asterisks* while typing and the phrase you need to italicise _between underscores_. The recipients can only see the text in bold and italics if they are on the same app version.

The text formatting is not only limited to messages but has reached to notification alerts as well. Users with the new WhatsApp version will see the name of the sender in bold inside the notification dropdown. In addition, if the sender has sent texts in bold or italics, it would show in the same format in the notification tray. Of course both parties should be on the same app version number 2.12.535.

WhatsApp recently started letting us send and receive pdf files over chats. Now with the latest version, it lets Android users send pdf files not only from the device storage but from Google Drive andMicrosoft OneDrive accounts as well. As a bonus, you can also send Docs, Sheets, and Slides files from Google Drive but they will be converted into a pdf format automatically before being sent.

Finally, the WhatsApp update v2.12.535 like before will still block the complete app when the scheduled backup starts, but will now display a progress bar, giving users some idea as to when they can get back to the app.

All these changes will be welcomed by users, as they can now do much more inside the app. The app version will probably see a rollout over the air soon via Google Play and also become available on the company's site. 

In the meanwhile, the updated WhatsApp for iPhone (v2.12.16) is available on the App Store, brings the ability to share pdf files from other apps, missed call notifications within chats, quick reply to in-app notifications, and the ability to save incoming media in contact or group info.
Source N Credits: NDTV Gadgets 

WhatsApp For Android Will Now Show End-To-End Encryption Notification

WhatsApp is indeed working on giving its user base peace of mind. The latest build of WhatsApp for Android v2.12.500 comes with a number of features including showing users whether their messages are end-to-end encrypted, and it is also finally collapsing long messages. Some users are reporting that the above changes are only visible on v2.12.498, which can be downloaded from the APKMirror website.

The extremely popular instant messaging client was seemingly testing an option in January which allowed users to add an indicator to let them be aware whether their chats are encrypted. While indicator isn't precisely the same, the latest build of the messaging client, available to download via the company's site and the Google Play beta testing program, does bestow users with the following message, "messages you send to this chat are now end-to-end encrypted."

Additionally, users are also shown a similar message when sending a text message to a group. The feature as per Android Police reportedly is also working for users on versions between 2.12.493 and 2.12.500. For it to work, people on the recipient side are also likely to be on the latest build. WhatsApp's iOS client doesn't have this feature just yet.

WhatsApp now automatically collapses a message when it's too long. It's an interesting inclusion because it could make things look less cluttered, and it could also make it easier for you to check the following messages without scrolling through a string of too many characters. Additionally, it could also help WhatsApp circumvent glitches that make WhatsApp crash when somebody sends a message with more than a few thousand emoticons.

Facebook-owned instant message and voice client also seems to be working on bringing some tweaks to its user interface. One change is the inclusion of an Exit group icon, a feature that has been pulled from build 2.12.500, according to Android Police. The other addition is an option called Starred messages, that lets you scroll through all the messages you've starred in one place.



The highlight is certainly the end-to-end encryption message. To recall, in 2014, WhatsApp had partnered with Open Whisper Systems, a non-profit software group that develops collaborative open source projects to scramble messages with a cryptographic key to bolster privacy. In the same year, Open Whisper Systems noted that the end-to-end encryption had been implemented on WhatsApp's Android client.

Source & Credits : NDTV Gadgets

WhatsApp for Android Update Finally Rolling Out With New Emojis | Reviewing Gadgets

WhatsApp users on Android have finally started receiving an update that adds much-awaited new emojis to the app. WhatsApp for Android version 2.12.441 is gradually being made available to download via Google Play, adding a number of emojis with new facial expressions as well as new characters. We can expect the update with new emojis to rollout soon in India.

Notably, the same update was available via signed APK since December and has been available to some users for months now.

Some of the new emojis introduced with the latest app version include spider, unicorn, popcorn box, champagne bottle, racing cars, medals, and volleyball among others. The new update also adds a new detective emoji to the facial expression tab. Previously, WhatsApp for Android included only five tabs for emojis apart from a recently used tab. In the latest version there are eight tabs with new sports, flag, bulb, and a separate beverage tabs. The update was first reported by Android Police.

The new set of added emojis to WhatsApp seems to be from Unicode 7 and Unicode 8 which previously debuted on Apple's mobile operating system with the iOS 9.1 update.

Unfortunately, the Google Play India still lists an old version but we can expect the latest version to rollout soon in the country. The update listed in the store says it adds backup and restore options forchat history and media via Google Drive, and also adds a new 'Starred Messages' feature. Both these features were rolled out last year.

Earlier this month, the Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp announced that it now had 1 billion monthly active users.

Source/Credits:-NDTV Gadgets

WhatsApp Is Now Totally Free Now

Making WhatsApp free and more useful

Nearly a billion people around the world today rely on WhatsApp to stay in touch with their friends and family. From a new dad in Indonesia sharing photos with his family, to a student in Spain checking in with her friends back home, to a doctor in Brazil keeping in touch with her patients, people rely on WhatsApp to be fast, simple and reliable.

That's why we're happy to announce that WhatsApp will no longer charge subscription fees. For many years, we've asked some people to pay a fee for using WhatsApp after their first year. As we've grown, we've found that this approach hasn't worked well. Many WhatsApp users don't have a debit or credit card number and they worried they'd lose access to their friends and family after their first year. So over the next several weeks, we'll remove fees from the different versions of our app and WhatsApp will no longer charge you for our service.

Naturally, people might wonder how we plan to keep WhatsApp running without subscription fees and if today's announcement means we're introducing third-party ads. The answer is no. Starting this year, we will test tools that allow you to use WhatsApp to communicate with businesses and organizations that you wantto hear from. That could mean communicating with your bank about whether a recent transaction was fraudulent, or with an airline about a delayed flight. We all get these messages elsewhere today � through text messages and phone calls � so we want to test new tools to make this easier to do on WhatsApp, while still giving you an experience without third-party ads and spam.

We hope you enjoy what's coming to WhatsApp, and we look forward to your feedback.

-Blog WhatsApp .Com

How To Create Changing / Prank WhatsApp Images [Video]

WhatsApp Rumors: Video Calling Update Coming Soon

According to BGR , Whatsapp iOS version 2.12.16.2 may include video calling. BGR cited a German source who provided key data and photos. The German blog used leaked screenshots to prove its point that WhatsApp has video calling in development. The new update is rumored to be in the testing phase. If the developers finalize the details of the design, consumers will see it in the next update in 2016. WhatsApp has not confirmed any addition of video calling so far. Currently WhatsApp allows users to video call with an internet connection only. The update will enable video calling online and offline.

Adding video to WhatsApp will position the app to compete with video app services likeSkype and Apple �s FaceTime . While Skype does have text chat enabled on the app, the company is known for its video calling. WhatsApp was started as a text and conference messaging app back in 2009. Facebook acquired the company for a reported $19 billionin 2014.

The Whatsapp update follows a virus that infected the app in Apple�s app store. Whatsapp was among iOS apps infected with the The XcodeGhost virus.  virus is infecting almost 50 apps including WeChat , NetEase Cloud Music, WinZip , Didi Chuxing, Railway 12306 , China Unicom Mobile Office, and Tonghuashun. According toMacrumors.com , devices infected with XcodeGhost malware can have information copied, encrypted and uploaded data to command and control (C2) servers run by hackers through the HTTP protocol.

In a statement released to Reuters news service, Apple responded to public concern about the XcodeGhost virus. "We�ve removed the apps from the App Store that we know have been created with this counterfeit software. We are working with the developers to make sure they�re using the proper version of Xcode to rebuild their apps."

Apple also created a XcodeGhost question and answer page for concerned consumers. On the page Apple said �As soon as we recognized these apps were using potentially malicious code we took them down. Developers are quickly updating their apps for users.� The company also said. �Customers will be receiving more information letting them know if they�ve downloaded an app that could have been compromised. Once a developer updates their app, that will fix the issue on the user�s device once they apply that update.�

WhatsApp Down for You? Facebook-Owned Messaging Service Confirms Connectivity Issues

OriginallyBy/PostedOn~NDTV Gadgets



If you are wondering whether WhatsApp is down or you are facing issues connecting to your favourite messaging service, you are not alone. Several users across the world are reporting issues connecting to WhatsAp on New Year's Eve, and the Facebook-owned service has acknowledged the issue.

"Some people have had trouble accessing WhatsApp for a short period today. We're working to restore service back to 100% for everyone and we apologise for the inconvenience," a WhatsApp spokesperson told Gadgets 360 in a statement.

Earlier, many users took to Twitter to complaint that WhatsApp is down, while others reported connectivity issues. The messaging and voice calling client seemed to be having issues sending and receiving messages on both Android and iOS. Gadgets 360 was able to independently confirm the issue. DownDetector, a realtime services outage monitor, also reported multiple issues.

Around 10pmIST on Thursday, several users started to note that they weren't being able to send or receieve messages or make calls via WhatsApp. It is not known what caused the problems, though it could just be a massive spike in traffic on New Year's Eve, traditionally a day of record traffic for the app. The WhatsApp Status Twitter handle has so far been silent on the downtime.

It is worth noting that not everyone is facing the issue, though those who're on the receiving end aren't too pleased about it. "I feel sorry for the other poor souls," Khamosh Pathak, a Vadodara-based resident told Gadgets 360.

WhatsApp announced in September that it had reached the 900 million monthly active users milestone. It is the world's most widely used instant messaging client.

Developing story, refresh for updates.

Have you been impacted by the WhatsApp outage? Leave a comments with your location.