WhatsApp news of the week: new widget feature for iOS enhances status updates

Missed our weekly WhatsApp beta updates? Catch up now with our summary! Among our 13 stories we shared, the best news of the week is the introduction of the new iOS widget feature, which allows users to access and view status updates directly from their home screens.

1. In the article about the WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.22.10.73 update, we announced that WhatsApp has plans to introduce a new care emoji for reactions and chat messages in the future. This emoji, represented by a smiling face hugging a heart, will allow users to express empathy, compassion, and support with a single tap.
2. A new badge count feature for chat filters is currently under development, as reported in our article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.23.4 update. This feature will allow users to see a small badge displaying the number of unread messages within each chat filter, helping them quickly identify which filtered lists contain new messages.
3. With our article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.23.6 update, we reported that WhatsApp is working on a feature to search for updates within channels. This enhancement will allow users to efficiently locate specific updates by entering keywords or phrases, eliminating the need to scroll through the entire channel history in the future.
4. After installing the WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.22.10.76 update, iPad users can explore a new phone call dialer feature designed to enhance the calling experience. This update introduces three convenient shortcuts in the calls tab: a quick call initiation option for selecting contacts from the address book, an easy shortcut for creating call links, and a dialer that allows users to manually enter a phone number, even if it's not saved in their contacts.
5. Mark Zuckerberg announced custom lists, a new feature on WhatsApp designed to help users organize their conversations by sorting contacts and group chats into personalized categories. Lists are fully customizable, allowing users to edit, rename, and reorder them as needed, ensuring efficient chat management for both personal and business use while keeping each list private to the creator.
6. Thanks to the WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.22.10.74 update, users can explore a new revamped widget for status updates. Through two size options, the widget ensures that users can see relevant updates at a glance directly from their Home Screen without needing to open the app. We believe it is the best feature we announced this week.

7. An automatic text formatting tool feature is available to some beta testers who install the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.23.9 update. This feature automatically adds underlines to links and bold formatting to group mentions and phone numbers, improving visibility and making it easier for users to differentiate actionable content from regular text.
8. Users who install the WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.22.10.77 update can experiment with a new feature to get link info on Google. This feature is designed to enhance security by allowing users to verify the legitimacy of links shared in their chats and groups, especially important for forwarded messages that may carry risks.
9. Some beta testers who install the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.23.11 update can explore a dedicated button within the chat bar to quickly open the photo and video gallery.
10. We discovered a chat memory feature for Meta AI with the WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.22.10.78. update. This feature will allow the AI to remember specific details shared by users, such as personal preferences and interests, enabling more relevant and tailored responses during interactions in the future.
11. With the WhatsApp for iOS 24.21.82 update, WhatsApp is widely rolling out a zoom control feature for the camera to everyone. This new feature enables users to smoothly adjust the zoom level from 0.5x to 3x, allowing for both close-up shots and wider views through a dedicated button, making it simpler to adjust without relying on the usual pinch gesture. On certain supported devices, such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, users can zoom up to 5x, offering additional versatility for capturing high-quality photos and videos.
12. After installing the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.22.21 update, some beta testers can experiment with a new reminder notification feature for status updates. This feature makes it easier for users to catch up on important status updates from their contacts by sending occasional notifications about unseen updates.
13. The WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.23.8 brings information regarding request notifications from new third-party apps. This feature will offer European users the ability to manage notifications when someone attempts to contact them from an external app, giving them greater control over incoming requests in the future.

Stay tuned with us to discover new features and updates about WhatsApp, coming your way next week!

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