WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.6.9: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.26.6.9.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a feature to bring status updates to the top app bar, and it will be available in a future update!

WhatsApp is working on bringing status updates to the top app bar

In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.6.4 update, we announced a feature that adds a settings tab to the interface. This functionality enables users to access the settings page from either of two entry points. The first entry point is located in the top app bar, where the profile icon is displayed. The second entry point is located in the bottom navigation bar as a tab, and it's called "You". Both open the settings page, making it easier for users to quickly access this interface without selecting the option from the overflow menu.

Now, WhatsApp is continuing to work to improve the top app bar to make it more useful. Specifically, it appears that WhatsApp is exploring new ways to give users even quicker access to status updates. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.6.9 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature to bring status updates to the top app bar.

As you can see from the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is developing a new feature that will introduce status updates within the top app bar. While this feature is currently under development and planned for release in a future update, it already promises easier access to status updates directly from the Chats tab. The center of the top app bar displays contacts the user interacts with most who have shared a status update. This will allow users to quickly get a glance at who has posted a status without leaving the Chats tab.

It's worth noting that users can already see who has shared a status update from the Chats tab by tapping the profile icon. However, this requires scrolling through the entire chat list. Instead, if users want to get a list of all their contacts who posted a status update, they can scroll down the interface. This gesture will reveal a dedicated row with all status updates shared by their contacts.

We just mentioned that as users scroll down the interface in the Chats tab, a row of all status updates will appear. From there, users can choose which updates to view and scroll horizontally, just as they did in the old Status tab. Status updates shared by contacts the user has previously hidden from the Updates tab will not be shown here either. This ensures consistency with how status updates are displayed in the Updates tab.

It's important to note that this feature is at an early stage of development. As a result, its release is still not guaranteed. WhatsApp often develops features based on an initial plan, but many aspects can change during development. These includes priorities and how the feature integrates into the interface. This means that while adding status updates to the center of the top app bar is the current plan, we may also expect further adjustments, refinements, or even alternative implementations before the feature is officially released.

The feature to bring status updates to the top app bar is currently is under development, and it is planned for release in a future update. At the moment, WhatsApp is refining how status updates are displayed and organized within the top app bar. Once testing is complete, the feature will be gradually rolled out to users, giving them the ability to quickly access status updates directly from the Chats tab.

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