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Instant messaging application WhatsApp is rolling out a lot of updates lately.
Last week, the Facebook owned app switched on the ability to send PDF documents in chats.
READ: 5 new WhatsApp features to try out
Now, the latest beta version of the WhatsApp Android app (version 2.12.511) - which is not officially available on the Google Play store yet - comes with more interesting tweaks.
If you’re keen on checking out some of these updates, you can download the latest beta test version of WhatsApp (available from March 9) from the APK Mirror here. (Be sure to scroll down to beta version 2.12.511.)
Here then are the updates then that will soon be part of the latest version of Android.
1. Profile pic and easier changes
When selecting the settings option, WhatsApp for Android is soon set to show your profile information - your photo, name and number - at the top of this particular page. This is handy because it makes it easier to change your profile photo and name details. Pressing on the photo option also draws up other menus that better helps you change your phone number and status details. By pressing on your status option on this page, you’ll also notice a number of preset status options that include the typical options such as ‘Available’ and ‘Busy’ but which also extend to ‘Battery about to die’ and ‘Can’t talk, WhatsApp only’.
Profile changes are set to become easier for users of WhatsApp. (Gareth van Zyl, Fin24)
2. Data usage
WhatsApp’s new settings page also has a new menu dubbed ‘Data usage’. Pressing on this option in the app will bring up other details such as ‘Network usage’, which allows you to see how data is being sent and received on your particular WhatsApp app. The makers of WhatsApp have also moved other settings such as call settings and media auto-download options to this new menu.
3. Chats and calls
The current ‘Chats and calls’ settings option is set to be merged into a menu called ‘Chats’. This comes as calling options, such as high or low data usage, have been moved to the ‘data usage’ settings options. The chats option in the latest version of the app allows users to modify their chat backups and chat histories.
More changes for the app include the ability to easily choose a status update. (Gareth van Zyl, Fin24)
4. Green icons
Another small change coming to the settings page is that the icons have been altered to the colour green from grey (a small change for the eagle-eyed!).
5. About and help
Finally, the previous ‘Help’ option in the WhatsApp settings has been modified to ‘About and help’ and it includes details on the app’s latest version number, frequently asked questions, the system status of whether the service is operating normally or not, terms and privacy policy and a contact us option.
