The acquisition of the of the messaging app, Whatsapp, by Facebook in 2014 for a whooping $19 billion left mouths agape but the latest features on the multiplatform instant messaging app is definitely breaking boundaries.
Here are five new features that arrived on whatsapp this year that’s so cool:
1. Chat on PC
Don’t want to get caught during working hours messaging on your mobile phone? Whatsapp sure made this for you. Enough with the sales pitch, but not having to pick-up your phone every time you get a message definitely scales.
Forgot my phone… Whatsapp PC is such a life saver
— Threads: @Lebohang___N (@Lebohang___N) May 6, 2015
2.Spot a Cool Material Design
The new Whatsapp design spots more features seamlessly placed on the UI. Besides other things, the design works in the “Options” icon on the green bar at the top of the page while the display pictures are now rounded. However, over-the-air updates are not still unavailable.
The new designs sure has its fans
https://twitter.com/eMjayar84/status/595927641984802816
and then again…
The new WhatsApp design is awful. I hate it.
— Tony C (@onlytonyc) May 6, 2015
3.Make Voice Calls
Got my first WhatsApp call today. Why is this not being discussed more. First it was the deathknell of SMS rev, now voice, next payments?
— Dylan Higgins (@dylanhiggins) May 6, 2015
After the wait and the not so simple steps to get the voice call feature activated on the app. The voice call feature finally rolled out and while I’m a fan, these guys aren’t so much.
Telcos are sure not having it,
I like @VodafoneEgypt service but it should be boosting innovation, not trying to ban @Whatsapp calls in #Egypt http://t.co/HJRxfapYnX
— Angus Blair (@AngusBlair1) April 30, 2015
Though it was initially limited to Android devices, iOS didn’t have to wait for too long.
4.Back Up Chat Logs to Google Drive
Whatsapp released a feature that allows you backup your chat log on Google drive. The feature allows you save and restore Whatsapp messages from your Google drive.
I’m yet to try it out, but Samir here sure thinks it’s indispensable
Did the new WhatsApp update remove the Google Drive backup option? DAMNIT! x(
— Samir Makwana (@shadez) May 1, 2015
Samir’s gripe indicates that the backup option is not available on more recent upgrade to Whatsapp.
5.Report Spammers
Now, this here is a breakthrough. Okay, maybe that’s me being too excited, but the ability to block spammers on Whatsapp sure rocks.
Here’s the plan, when next you get a message that requires that you forward it to 10 people or face terrible consequences or when you receive unsolicited messages, you can report it as spam and have it blocked.
https://twitter.com/thami305/status/593667024733216768
