WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.8.8: what's new?
WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.24.8.8.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a feature to announce new desktop apps, and it will be available in a future update!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | New desktop apps |
| Status? | Under development |
| Availability? | WhatsApp is working on introducing a feature to announce new desktop apps in a future update of the app. |
| I've installed this update but I don't have this feature. Why? | This feature is under development so it's not ready for beta testers, but it is possible to discover a preview in this article. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.7.10.72: what’s new? WhatsApp is working on a feature to explore more similar channels! |
NEW DESKTOP APPS
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.8.4 update, we announced that WhatsApp is working on a locked chats feature for linked devices. This feature is designed to provide users with an additional layer of privacy and security for their messaging experience, safeguarding their sensitive conversations from unauthorized access across all linked devices. It appears that WhatsApp is committed to enhancing the user experience, particularly on linked devices such as desktop apps, by ensuring users have access to the most optimal application available. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.8.8 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature to announce new desktop apps!
As you can see in the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is exploring the implementation of a banner within the linked devices screen, set to release for a future update. This banner will serve to announce the availability of new desktop apps and their capability to make group calls, enhancing collaboration among users across different devices. Although the native WhatsApp for Windows app is not a recent release, having been available for quite some time, WhatsApp aims to ensure users are well-informed about its features. In addition, WhatsApp intends to inform users about its new Catalyst app for Mac, which received a significant update last year to enable support for group calls.
In our opinion, WhatsApp is committed to keep users informed about the availability of new desktop apps by directly notifying them within the app settings. This notification is particularly useful for people who frequently use WhatsApp on their desktops, as it informs them about the convenience of having a dedicated desktop app for their operating system. We believe that introducing a banner within the linked devices screen also increases the visibility of new desktop apps. By prominently displaying the banner within the linked devices screen, we believe that WhatsApp aims to encourages users to explore the benefits of linking a native desktop app to experiment with an enhanced messaging experience.
A feature to announce new desktop apps is under development and it will be available in a future update of the app. We will share another article once we gather more information about this feature.
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