Tag: WHATSAPP

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Social Media Tech Lite USA

WhatsApp services restored after global outage

Those attempting to access the app or its web version were met with an error message indicating the service was unavailable…reports Asian Lite News

WhatsApp and Instagram, both owned by Meta, have been restored after experiencing a worldwide outage.

WhatsApp and Instagram experienced a widespread outage on Wednesday around 11:45 pm, affecting numerous users worldwide.

Those attempting to access the app or its web version were met with an error message indicating the service was unavailable.

“We know some people are experiencing issues right now, we’re working on getting things back to 100% for everyone as quickly as possible,” said WhatsApp in a post on X.

Downdetector, a website monitoring service, recorded a surge in reports of WhatsApp and Instagram having problems during this time.

This is for the second time in 2024 that the Meta-owned platforms have faced an outage.

In March, Instagram, Facebook and Threads were down for several users, who complained of being logged out of their accounts. Some users mentioned being automatically logged out without the ability to log back in, and those utilising two-factor authentication faced difficulties receiving codes to finalise their log-ins. This problem had affected both the application and the website. (ANI)

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Tech Lite

WhatsApp working on new feature to create account reports

According to the report, allowing users to automatically generate account and channels reports every month adds a layer of convenience to this feature…reports Asian Lite News

Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new feature designed to automatically create reports for both accounts and channels on Android.

The new feature, spotted by WABetaInfo, will automatically generate a monthly report once enabled, providing information about account and channel activity.

According to the report, allowing users to automatically generate account and channels reports every month adds a layer of convenience to this feature.

“Users won’t have to remember or manually initiate the process each time they want an update on their account and channel activities. This automated feature ensures timely delivery of relevant information without any user intervention, saving time and effort,” the report said.

In addition, this feature will also allow users to easily track changes in their account information by comparing the monthly reports generated for their account, the report added. The feature to automatically create account reports is under development and it will be available in a future update of the app.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new file sharing feature that will allow users to easily share files with people nearby. Both users will need to open the ‘people nearby’ section to send and receive files, ensuring secure sharing within close proximity.

WhatsApp is also reportedly developing a feature that will allow users to select favourite contacts for a more convenient call placement on iOS. The feature, spotted by WABetaInfo, will appear at the top of the calls tab so a phone call is always just one tap away.

It is intended to improve overall accessibility by providing a quick and intuitive shortcut for calling favourite contacts directly from the calls tab.

“We believe that this feature will elevate the user experience by providing a personalised way to connect with their favourite contacts, improving the communication process,” the report said.

“By designating certain contacts as favourites, users can ensure that these contacts are readily available at the forefront of their calling interface,” it added.

The feature to designate favourite contacts is under development and it will be available in a future update of the app, according to the report.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp has started to roll out a new feature that lets iOS users create, edit and share their own stickers.

“You can now turn your photos into stickers or edit existing stickers. In other news, you’ll likely have to show the entire group chat how you did it. Rolling out now on iOS,” WhatsApp wrote in a post on Instagram. With this feature, you can turn your photos into stickers or personalise existing stickers.

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Social Media

WhatsApp set to introduce new Channel Alerts feature

The ‘channel alerts’ function aims to improve the channel managers’ overall experience…reports Asian Lite News

Meta-owned WhatsApp is all set to introduce new features for Android users that allow users to search messages by date, access hidden navigation labels, and receive channel alerts.

WhatsApp has introduced the new Channel Alerts feature with the WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.23.26.6 update and will be rolling it out to all users in the coming days, according to the Mashable website.

According to a report from WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to search messages by date, channel alerts, and hidden navigation labels, and they are available to some beta testers.

The new features are currently accessible to a select group of beta testers, with plans to gradually expand availability to additional users in the near future, as per the WABetaInfo report.

The ‘channel alerts’ function aims to improve the channel managers’ overall experience. Provided that administrators are provided with up-to-date information about channel suspensions, any problems can be resolved quickly.

Administrators can also use this feature to send a direct WhatsApp request for the restoration of their channels. According to the report, channel owners are advised to access the “channel alerts” option in the channel info screen to ensure compliance and identify any potential violations, as quoted by Mashable website.

The addition of channel alerts gives the platform an additional level of transparency.

Moreover, the communication platform is introducing two new capabilities following the installation of the most recent app update. These enhancements include an automatic hiding of navigation labels and the top app bar while scrolling down the screen, as well as the ability to search messages by date. The latter feature will provide users with an efficient and convenient method to navigate their chat history. This functionality will assist in retrieving specific messages from a particular date, ultimately saving users valuable time, as stated in the report.

An additional feature added to WhatsApp is the ability to transmit voice messages that can only be heard once before disappearing. Similar to the ‘View Once’ option for images and videos, this feature further protects the privacy of your messages and was added in 2021. (ANI)

ALSO READ-WhatsApp to roll out automatic album feature for channels

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Social Media Tech Lite

WhatsApp to roll out automatic album feature for channels

Some beta testers can experiment with an automatic album feature when sharing media in channels…reports Asian Lite News

WhatsApp channels feature has received automatic album creation in the latest Android beta. The introduction of an automatic album feature in WhatsApp channels will bring a significant advantage to channel owners when it becomes available for the public.

This new functionality enhances the user experience by enhancing the organisation of media shared in channels and grouping them in an album, reports WABetaInfo.

“Since users can conveniently tap on the automatic album to access and browse through the entire collection, we believe it simplifies the navigation of shared media content in channels and reduces the need for individual message bubbles, offering a more organised and visually pleasing conversation view,” the report mentioned.

Some beta testers can experiment with an automatic album feature when sharing media in channels.

When channel admins share multiple consecutive images or videos in a channel, WhatsApp now automatically organises them into a unified album, and channel followers can conveniently tap on the automatic album to access the entire collection.

“It’s worth noting that this feature is already present in chats and groups since years but it was not available in channels,” said the report.

A feature to automatically group consecutive photos and videos in channels is available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store.

It will roll out to more people over the coming days, according to the report.

ALSO READ-WhatsApp testing new feature that lets you search by username

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Tech Lite Technology

WhatsApp testing new feature that lets you search by username

The feature is presently under development and it will be available in a future update of the app…reports Asian Lite News

Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature, which will allow you to search for users by their username on Android.

As shown in the screenshot shared by WABetaInfo, the search bar will allow users to search for other users by their username,

This new update will enhance the process of connecting and improve privacy by eliminating the need to share personal phone numbers.

The report noted that the choice to configure a username is totally optional, and users will always have control over this feature as they can remove their current username at any time.

“Users will be able to connect with others without necessarily disclosing their phone numbers. This is particularly beneficial for those who wish to maintain a level of anonymity or control over their personal information,” the report said.

The feature is presently under development and it will be available in a future update of the app.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp has launched a secret code feature for millions of users, an additional way to protect sensitive chats on its platform.

With a secret code, the users will be able to set a unique password different from what they use to unlock their phones to give their locked chats an extra layer of privacy.

“Rolling out secret code to Chat Lock on WhatsApp so you can protect your chats with a unique password. Now you can set your locked chats to only appear when you type the secret code in the search bar, so no one can unintentionally discover your most private conversations,” Meta Founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, said on his WhatsApp Channel.

ALSO READ-WhatsApp launches secret code for chat lock

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Social Media Tech Lite

WhatsApp launches secret code for chat lock

You’ll have the option to hide the Locked Chats folder from your chatlist so that they can only be discovered by typing your secret code in the search bar…reports Asian Lite News

Meta-owned WhatsApp on Thursday launched secret code feature for millions of users, an additional way to protect sensitive chats on its platform.

With a secret code, the users will be able to set a unique password different from what they use to unlock their phones to give their locked chats an extra layer of privacy.

“Rolling out secret code to Chat Lock on WhatsApp so you can protect your chats with a unique password. Now you can set your locked chats to only appear when you type the secret code in the search bar, so no one can unintentionally discover your most private conversations,” Meta Founder and CEO mark Zuckerberg said on his WhatsApp Channel.

You’ll have the option to hide the Locked Chats folder from your chatlist so that they can only be discovered by typing your secret code in the search bar.

“If that doesn’t suit your needs, you can still choose to have them appear in your chatlist. Whenever there’s a new chat which you want to lock, you can now long press to lock it rather than visiting the chat’s settings,” the company said in a statement.

The move will make the chats harder to find if someone has access to your phone or you share a phone with someone else. Earlier this year, WhatsApp had rolled out Chat Lock to help people protect their more sensitive conversations.

“We’re so happy our community has been loving Chat Lock, and hope that secret code makes it even more useful to them. Secret code starts rolling out today, and in the coming months will be available globally,” said the company.

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Social Media Tech Lite

WhatsApp rolling out view once photos, videos option

According to the report, the button to set the image as a view once message is available within the caption bar in the drawing editor on WhatsApp for Windows…reports Asian Lite News

Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out the ability to send view once photos and videos from desktop apps, a feature which was initially removed one year ago.

The company removed the feature from WhatsApp Web and Desktop for added privacy, reports WABetaInfo. In the past few weeks, the company, however, decided to bring back the feature.

According to the report, the button to set the image as a view once message is available within the caption bar in the drawing editor on WhatsApp for Windows.

The report noted that the feature is not only limited to WhatsApp for Windows but also available for users to use from macOS and linked devices.

“Recently, the ability to send view once photos and videos have also been released on WhatsApp Web, expanding the feature’s availability across various platforms,” the report said.

The ability to send view once messages from desktop apps will let users send photos and videos that can be viewed only once, preventing them from being stored in the device’s memory and offering a better level of privacy.

The feature is available to some users who install the latest updates of WhatsApp for Windows, WhatsApp for macOS, and WhatsApp Web, and it’s rolling out to more users over the coming weeks, the report mentioned.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will display profile information within users’ conversations under the contact name on Android. Specifically, the profile info will be visible when the contact is offline, alternating with the last seen if it’s available.

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Social Media

WhatsApp Channels crosses 500 mn monthly active users

The company has also launched the official WhatsApp Channel to keep people up-to-date on what the company is building…reports Asian Lite News

Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday announced that WhatsApp Channels has surpassed 500 million monthly active users.

Channels is a new way to get updates from people, organizations, and teams people follow on WhatsApp.

Channels are separate from your private chats, and who you choose to follow is not visible to other followers.

“500 million monthly actives on WhatsApp Channels in the first 7 weeks! Great to see the WA community so engaged,” said Zuckerberg, announcing the news on his WhatsApp Channel.

The company has also launched the official WhatsApp Channel to keep people up-to-date on what the company is building.

WhatsApp Channels are a one-way broadcast tool and deliver a private way to receive updates from people and organisations that matter to users, within the app.

According to the company, Channels is a new way to get updates from people, organisations, and teams you follow on WhatsApp. Channels are separate from your private chats, and who you choose to follow is not visible to other followers.

“We’ve launched Stickers on channels. Users are enjoying getting updates from channels they follow. And admins are using Channels as a way to connect with their followers in a new format,” said WhatsApp.

Last week, reports surfaced that could show ads in Status, the platform’s Stories-like feature, and channels but not in the main inbox.

In an interview with Brazilian media, WhatsApp’s head Will Cathcart said the company is not planning to put any ads in the main chat but can show ads in other places, like channels or status.

ALSO READ-WhatsApp rolling out new voice chat feature with large groups

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Social Media Tech Lite Technology

WhatsApp rolling out new voice chat feature with large groups

You can see who has joined the voice chat in a banner on the bottom of the screen…reports Asian Lite News

Meta-owned WhatsApp is introducing a new voice chat feature that will be a less disruptive method to connect with large groups on the platform.

Voice chats allow you to instantly talk live with members of a group chat while still being able to message in the group. Now, once you start the voice chat, group members will receive a push notification to join instead of a call. There will also be an in-chat bubble they can tap to join.

You can see who has joined the voice chat in a banner on the bottom of the screen. “Voice chats will end automatically once everyone has left the chat. They’ll also end if no one joins the first or last person in the chat for 60 minutes,” the messaging platform said in an update.

Voice chats are available for groups of 33 to 128 people and this feature is only available on primary devices, said the company. “Group members not in the voice chat can see the profiles of those in the voice chat from the chat header and the Calls tab,” said WhatsApp.

Currently, the voice call on WhatsApp is available with up to 32 participants.  Once a voice chat is underway, call controls will be accessible from the top of a chat without hindering your ability to send text messages at the same time. Voice chats will be rolling out on iOS and Android in the coming weeks.

ALSO READ-Yousaf accused of misleading parliament over WhatsApps

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Yousaf accused of misleading parliament over WhatsApps

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison published a detailed timeline of events in a written statement to the Scottish Parliament following a request from the UK Covid Inquiry…reports Asian Lite News

Scottish ministers have revealed the Covid Inquiry first asked them for relevant WhatsApp messages nine months ago. The first minister said last week his government was only asked to submit WhatsApp group messages related to the pandemic in September.

Opposition parties have accused Humza Yousaf and his deputy, Shona Robison, of misleading parliament.

The Scottish government said it was co-operating fully with the inquiry.

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison published a detailed timeline of events in a written statement to the Scottish Parliament following a request from the UK Covid Inquiry.

The Scottish government said that privacy concerns meant it required a formal request under Section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 before it was able to submit more than 14,000 messages by a 6 November deadline.

This “corporate” submission did not include minister-to-minister conversations and was restricted to conversations of three or more people involving at least one civil servant. The Scottish government said Mr Yousaf made his final submission to the UK inquiry on Monday. It is understood to run to around 100 pages.

He has also handed over Covid WhatsApp messages which he is said to have retrieved from an old phone handset.

Yousaf said previously that when the inquiry asked in June for details of the WhatsApp groups, it did not request the messages themselves. In response to a question from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar last week, he said: “It is crucial to say that, when the UK government inquiry asked us in June for details of the various WhatsApp groups concerning Covid-19, it did not request the messages themselves.

“The messages were asked for in September, just a matter of weeks ago. The Scottish government then asked for a Section 21 order because of the personal information in some of those messages, and that was received. Now, of course, we will meet the deadline of 6 November to hand over 14,000 messages in unredacted form.”

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: “It’s clear that the first minister and deputy first minister misled parliament last week when they claimed that ministers were only asked to hand over WhatsApp messages in the last few weeks.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the newly-published timeline contradicted their statements. “The only thing clearer is the extent to which this shambolic government has lost control trying to cover up the truth and obstruct those seeking it,” she said. “It begs the question, what do they have to hide? “Meanwhile the public are no clearer on who has complied with the do not destroy order and how many senior ministers and officials deleted messages.”

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