WhatsApp beta for Mac 24.19.71: what's new?

WhatsApp has just submitted a new update through the TestFlight beta Program, bringing the version up to 24.19.71.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to view and follow channels, and it's available to some beta testers!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Mac 24.11.73 update, we announced that WhatsApp was rolling out a feature to share status updates from the Desktop app. This update extended support to Mac users, a feature that was previously exclusive to WhatsApp for iOS, Android, and Windows. It appears that WhatsApp now intends to offer Mac users an improved experience with the Status tab, which finally includes the ability to engage with channels. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Mac 24.19.71 update, which is available on the TestFlight app, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to view and follow channels from the Desktop app!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can explore a feature to view channels directly within the Status tab. Similar to the mobile app, the Status tab has been renamed to Updates. The tab enables users to access both status updates and channels from the Mac Catalyst app. Previously, users could only view certain channel updates through notifications, as full support for viewing them was not available. The ability to access channels was initially limited to the Mac Electron app, which WhatsApp has announced will be deprecated next month. Consequently, WhatsApp is transitioning these features to the new Mac Catalyst app. The update ensures that users retain the ability to follow channels as the Electron app is phased out.

In addition to viewing channels, users can now follow their favorite channels directly from the Mac app. They can explore the channels directory with greater precision, and they can filters channels based on country and category. This makes it easier for users to discover new content that aligns with their interests. Additionally, users can quickly find relevant channels tailored to specific regions or topics. We believe that this also enhances user engagement, as users can now browser many channels to find relevant content without switching to the mobile app.

Although this feature is available in the latest Mac Catalyst beta version, it's important to note that channels may not yet be fully synced with the mobile app. This means that channels followed on the mobile app might not immediately appear on the desktop app. So users may need to follow them again. Channel owners might temporarily be unable to share updates within their channels from their mobile device if they follow them from the Catalyst app. Since this is a beta version, users may expect such issues as the feature is still being refined. However, we anticipate that these bugs will be addressed in a future update to improve synchronization across different devices.

A feature to view and follow channels from the Desktop app is available to some beta testers who install the latest version of WhatsApp beta for Mac from the TestFlight app, and it's rolling out to more people over the coming days.

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