WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.15.5: what's new?
WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.24.15.5.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to transcribe voice messages, and it's available to some beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Voice message transcripts |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.15.5 is marked as a compatible update, but some users may be able to experiment with the same feature by installing the previous update. |
| I've installed this update but I don't have this feature. Why? | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it is rolling out to more users over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | Erik Sevilla, for testing and reporting. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.15.3: what's new? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to bring improved zoom controls to the camera! |
VOICE MESSAGE TRANSCRIPTS
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.7.8 update, we announced that WhatsApp was working on a feature to transcribe voice notes. Through this enhancement, WhatsApp aims to significantly improve accessibility and convenience for all users by allowing them to read transcriptions of voice messages. It appears that WhatsApp is now testing this feature with a limited group of beta testers in certain countries, as some users in the beta program can finally access and use the new transcription functionality. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.15.5 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out the ability to generate voice message transcriptions!
As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can enable the transcription feature for incoming and outgoing voice messages, which requires downloading an additional data package to preserve user privacy. In fact, these voice transcripts are generated on-device, so nobody else can hear your voice notes or read the transcripts. Those users can now choose to download one from the available language data packages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, and Hindi, with the potential for more languages to be supported in the future. Since WhatsApp offers data packages for these 5 languages, it suggests that this feature may currently be available only to a limited number of users in some countries where the respective languages are widely spoken or supported.
Transcribing voice notes enhances the accessibility of the app, as it significantly improves the user experience for those with hearing impairments. By converting voice messages into text, these users can easily engage in conversations with voice notes that they might otherwise miss. In addition, transcriptions are beneficial in noisy environments where listening to audio messages is complicated. Users can read the transcribed text instead, ensuring they stay informed and can respond appropriately without needing to listen to the original audio.
This feature also offers convenience to users who receive lengthy voice notes, as it allows them to quickly read the transcriptions instead of having to listen to the entire audio message, enabling them to understand the content more efficiently. It is worth noting that transcriptions provide a quick reference even through searching the voice note later, enabling users to find and review the content of voice notes without having to replay the audio.
A feature to transcribe voice messages is available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming weeks.
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