WhatsApp is implementing a widget in its beta version 2.26.302 for Android, allowing users to record voice messages without needing to start a conversation. This feature enables the user to record the audio and subsequently choose one or more recipients, eliminating the need to create broadcast lists.
This functionality is being progressively released to participants in the WhatsApp beta program on Android. The new feature was detected via the specialized website WABetaInfo, which monitors tests on the Google Play Store.
When interacting with the widget, WhatsApp displays a specific interface for audio recording, offering usual controls such as record, pause, resume, discard, or confirm the message before sending, similar to what occurs within conventional chats.
After finishing the recording, the application presents a screen where the user selects the contacts to send the same message to. Although this capability already exists through broadcast lists, the new feature may be particularly useful for those who need to send quick announcements to several conversations without relying on a pre-configured list.
Additionally, this tool eliminates the current process of recording in a chat, sending it, and only then forwarding it to other individuals. Furthermore, it simplifies the creation of voice notes, allowing the user to start speaking just by unlocking the smartphone.
Besides the audio widget, WhatsApp has recently been testing and releasing several other modifications. The company announced comprehensive improvements for platforms such as iPad, CarPlay, Android Auto, Web, and Desktop. These improvements include direct account registration on iPad, the ability to view PDFs in chats with integration to Adobe Acrobat, and sharing music from Apple Music and Spotify in Status.
It is important to note that the voice message widget is still in a gradual release phase only for participants in the Android beta program, and there is no confirmation of an analogous tool for iPhone devices. Meta has not yet announced a date for this feature to arrive in the stable version of the application, but its presence in the testing channel suggests a more advanced stage of development.
WhatsApp announced on Tuesday (28th) the inclusion of voice and video calls in its Web version. This addition allows users to make calls directly through the computer's browser, eliminating the need to install specific software.
The company presented this functionality as an update that is being progressively implemented for users. This advancement enriches the capabilities of the service accessed via the browser, making the experience more similar to that provided on other devices.
In addition to calls, the update introduces several other tools, such as screen sharing, reactions during conversations, recording of calls made, and technical improvements focused on enhancing transmission quality.
With this change, the user can use WhatsApp in the browser to make both audio and video calls directly on the PC. Previously, this type of contact required the use of applications intended for mobile phones or desktops.
According to WhatsApp, calls made through the Web version maintain the same level of security as messages, using end-to-end encryption, which ensures that conversations remain protected against unauthorized access by third parties.
The platform has also come to support call transfer between different devices. This feature allows the user to start a call on one device and continue it on another, switching between mobile phone and computer without interrupting the established connection.
Another incorporated feature is the waiting room for calls initiated via a link. This function gives the call organizer the power to define who can join the conversation, requiring prior approval for participation.
The service has also received optimizations to improve the user experience during video conferences. The company reported that images now reach high definition faster at the beginning of calls, and a noise reduction system helps make the voice clearer in environments with external noise.
This update integrates a series of changes announced by WhatsApp across its various platforms. In the previous week, the application had announced changes to the versions for iPad and vehicles equipped with CarPlay and Android Auto, aiming to align these systems with the experience offered on mobile phones.
On Wednesday, the 22nd, WhatsApp announced a set of updates that expands the application's presence across various platforms, from vehicle multimedia systems to the iPad.
For those who are driving, the major highlight is the redesign of the 'Zap' experience on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems. This change aims to simplify the use of the application without requiring the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel, especially when dealing with voice messages.
With the new functionality, the driver can listen to and reply to voice messages directly on the car screen, in addition to listening to audio, making and receiving calls, checking call history, and accessing favorite contacts—all in a completely hands-free mode, without needing to touch the device. Meta, the company that owns the application, has as its main objective to reduce the need to manipulate the phone while driving.
According to WhatsApp, these features were initiated this Wednesday (22nd) and will be gradually implemented in the coming days, meaning the availability of the new features will not be immediate for all users. It is important to note that the vehicle experience depends on the car being compatible with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
In addition to the automotive improvements, three new features have been introduced. The first allows creating a WhatsApp account directly on the Apple iPad, eliminating the need to link a mobile phone to the tablet.
The second feature is integration with Adobe Acrobat. On WhatsApp Web and the desktop version, users can view PDF files within conversations without having to download them, allowing for light edits, such as underlining parts or adding annotations. However, to use the most advanced features, an Acrobat Pro subscription is required, which costs R$ 55 monthly.
Finally, a music sharing function was added, which facilitates sending tracks from Spotify or Apple Music directly to the Status, allowing contacts to know what the user is listening to.
