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Instant messaging application WhatsApp has been busy with updating its service this year and it is continuing that trend with more upgrades.
Earlier this month, WhatsApp added features that included sharing PDF documents and sharing photos from other apps installed on a user’s phone. Previous updates of WhatsApp this year have also included making it easier to change profile pictures.
READ: 5 new WhatsApp features to try out
Now, in the Android beta version 2.12.560 of WhatsApp (which can be downloaded from the APK store), there are more interesting features.
WhatsApp usually tests out new features in the beta version of its app first before rolling these out to all users.
Quick reply from the notification tray
The first observable update to the beta version of WhatsApp for Android is that users can now reply to messages that appear in their notification tray.
This is a handy feature for replying to messages quickly without actually entering the app itself.
Messages, in this feature, also appear as standalone texts, which ensures that you’re replying to what you think you’re replying to.
WhatsApp is simplifying messaging. (Fin24)
Multiple selection
Another new interesting feature coming to WhatsApp for Android is multiple selection. This feature is activated by pressing and holding on multiple contacts’ profile pics on chats or contacts. A menu option at the top of the app then appears which allows various actions, such as archiving or deleting chats, or muting chats. By selecting a profile pic, a user can also mark a chat as read or unread.
Broadcast, group creation
Building on the multiple selection feature, users of the beta version of WhatsApp can also press or select on contacts’ profile images to more easily create new broadcasts and new groups.
Contact options
Previously, when pressing on a chat with a contact in WhatsApp, users would see the contact’s profile pic in an enlarged version. However, when users do this on the beta version of the Android app, quick contact options instead are now brought up. These include options such as ‘View Contact’, ‘Delete Chat’ or ‘Archive Chat’.
Colourful wallpapers
A further addition coming to WhatsApp for Android users are more background colour wallpaper options. By selecting settings, chats and wallpaper and ‘solid colour’, users are set to have the option to change the background colour of their chats. There are 27 colours currently to choose from.
Colourful wallpaers are also being added to the application. (Fin24)
