WhatsApp is working on several new features to make its platform more interesting. The messaging app unveiled new features for Android and iOS users recently, which includes the ability to leave a Voice Message for a missed calls, the option to call back, quote message, ability to share with multiple contacts, text-formatting, new fonts and more.
WhatsApp has over 1 billion monthly active users with over 100 million voice calls being made each day. On Android, the new update brings more emojis; some of these were iOS exclusive. WhatsApp currently supports Unicode 9 based emojis.
Facebook-owned WhatsApp is also reportedly looking to bring video-calling support. It could also add GIF sharing to the platform soon, something that Facebook Messenger already supports. WhatsApp also introduced a beta build with the video calling option on Android, but pulled down the update afterwards. Other reports suggest WhatsApp is looking at bringing larger emojis, music sharing and public groups for iOS users.
Let us take a look at all the new features launched by the messaging platform recently, and how to use them:
Multi-sharing
WhatsApp’s multi-sharing feature allows users to share a photo or video or document with multiple contacts in one go. The feature is live on a beta version of the app (v2.16.230) for Android devices. Here’s how to use the feature:
• Select the photo, video or document, you need to share with multiple contacts.
• WhatsApp will show a list of contacts with three of them under ‘Frequent Chats’ option and a few under ‘Recent Chats’ tab. All other contacts in the phonebook appear under ‘Other Contacts’ option.
• You can select multiple contacts to share media with by clicking on them, or simply search for other contacts to add them to the list.
• All selected contacts appear with a green tick. The names of contacts a user selects also appear in a green band below.
• Simply press send now to share the message.
Voice Message and Call Back
WhatsApp rolled out Voice Message and Call Back feature a few days ago. Voice Message allows users to leave a voice message for users in case they do not pick up your WhatsApp call. The Call Back feature, as the name suggests, allows users to call back a person in case they are not picking up. There’s also a Cancel option that simply closes the screen if you do not want to proceed with the call again. The update is available for both Android and iOS users. Here’s how to use it:
• Hold the Voice Message button to record message and release it to send the message across.
• These messages appear like normal WhatsApp voice recordings to users who receive them.
• Click on the Call Again option to call back the person.
• Click on the Cancel button in case you do not want to go ahead with calling another time.
Quote Message
WhatsApp’s Quote Message feature allows users to quote a previous message from a personal conversation or in a group and reply to it. The quoted message appears along with the reply as users press send. The feature basically adds context to messages. The feature works both for individual chats and group chats.
• First select a particular message to quote. It could be either text or media message.
• Next, long press the message; following which a pop-up with Reply, Forward and Delete options will appear at the top.
• Just select the Reply option and WhatsApp will show a preview with the quoted message, and a small box to enter the reply.
• Now, type the reply and press send.
• The reply will show up inside the conversation with the original quoted message attached on top of it, along with the sender’s colour-coded name in a group. Every user in a group gets a different colour.
Text-formatting
Android and iOS users on WhatsApp can format their text to add bold, italics or strikethrough style while messaging their friends.
• To add bold type the text in between two * (asterisks) symbols
• For italics type between two underscore _ symbols.
• The strikethrough appears when you type the text between the two tilde ~ symbols. For your friend to see the formatting, they need to be on the same version.
FixedSys font
WhatsApp recently added the FixedSys font to enable chatting in a different font. For now, this is the only font offered by WhatsApp. The FixedSys font is very similar to the one in Windows with the same name. The feature has been spotted in Android beta build (version 2.16.179). It is also available for iOS beta users. Here’s how to use it:
• Everything that users want to type in FixedSys needs to go inside three backquote symbols, both at the starting and at the end of a sentence or a word.
• For example, to type The Indian Express in FixedSys font, you will need to put The Indian Express between ”’.
• So, typing ”’The Indian Express”’ will change its font to FixedSys.
• The font cannot be clubbed with other text formats like bold, italics or strike-through.
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