Observed Signal · Dec 5, 2023 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
WhatsApp Enables HD Image/Video Send on iOS; Channels Update
WhatsApp is expanding HD media sending on iOS by allowing photos and videos to be sent in high quality when shared as documents in chats. The update, initially rolled out to a subset of users in June 2023, is now available to all iOS users with the newest release, according to WABetaInfo. When sending HD content, users must choose Documents in the chat and pick the file to preserve quality; standard sends remain faster and use less storage. The article notes that Android has been tested for several months, with a broader Android launch expected soon. In addition, WhatsApp is working on Channels enhancements that will let Channel admins forward messages from private chats into Channels, including text, images, videos, GIFs, voice messages and stickers, and to publish updates from other channels. Since September 2023, Channels has grown to hundreds of millions of users and is getting multi‑admin support and other features.
Technical Release of major platform features (HD media sending on WhatsApp and Channel forwarding).
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- WhatsApp enables HD image/video sending on iOS by sending media as documents in chat.
- HD sending preserves high quality; standard sending remains faster with lower storage usage.
- Android HD sending is in testing with a full rollout expected soon.
- Channel admins will be able to forward messages from private chats to Channels, including text, images, videos, GIFs, voice messages and stickers.
- WhatsApp Channels launched in September 2023 and has reached around 500 million monthly active users; multi-admin support and other features planned.
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WhatsApp will move channels to the Chats tab
WhatsApp plans to integrate channels directly into the chat list on iOS and Android. Users will no longer need to switch to a separate tab to find their channels. Once WhatsApp moves channels to the Chats tab, the Updates tab will disappear. WhatsApp can then introduce the Contacts tab, a new section where users can see who is currently active.
WhatsApp Plus Tests Focus Schedules for Subscribers
WhatsApp is developing a new 'Focus Schedules' feature for its premium Plus subscription, aiming to help users automatically mute or hide chats during specified time periods. The feature was discovered in the WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.26.39.9 by WABetaInfo. It will allow users to set time windows for different chat lists, such as work chats from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays, and personal chats only during evenings or weekends. Outside these windows, chats will be automatically muted or hidden from the chat overview. The feature appears to be reserved for WhatsApp Plus subscribers, which is part of Meta One and costs €2.49 per month. It is still in development and not yet available to beta testers. Additionally, WhatsApp may move Channels into the primary Chats tab, blurring the line between personal and commercial content.
WhatsApp introduces a new chat theme experience on Android
WhatsApp is rolling out a new chat theme experience on Android with five categories and a redesigned Wallpaper section. Users can now choose from Featured, Nature, Live, Minimal, and Doodle for their chat themes.
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