Extra protection for your messages. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Your WhatsApp conversations can now be protected by Face ID or Touch ID on iPhone.
The latest update to the world’s most popular messaging app lets users take advantage of the iPhone’s biometric security features for an extra layer of protection. Here’s how it works.
It won’t happen until 2020 at the earliest. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has confirmed plans to merge WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger — but says it probably won’t happen until 2020 at the earliest.
In a fourth-quarter earnings call this week, Zuckerberg also explained the reasons behind the plan, such as increased security with end-to-end encryption. Many questions still remain unanswered, however.
Removing geodata won’t always protect a photo’s location Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Did you know that every photo you send via iMessage, or other messaging services like WhatsApp, contains all that photo’s location data? If you snap a picture in your home, anyone who’s receives that photo will be able to see where you took it on a map.
The same goes for uploading images to online auction sites, or internet forums. The good news is that it’s easy to sanitize your images with Shortcuts.
It's time to upgrade if you haven't already. Photo: WhatsApp
WhatsApp is one of the biggest messaging platforms on the planet, and it has somehow gone without support for stickers — until now!
Some users now have the ability to send and receive stickers, and the rest will be able to enjoy the same functionality on both Android and iOS in the coming weeks. A selection of sticker packs from WhatsApp own designers are available, and third-party packs are coming soon.
Get your hands on the new WhatsApp update today. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp now looks better on iPhone XR and iPhone XS Max. The app’s latest update on iOS is optimized for Apple’s latest handsets — and comes with a number of new features and improvements for users to enjoy.
Coming soon to an iPhone near you? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp is finally giving iPhone users media previews inside their notifications.
When you receive an image or a GIF, you’ll have the option to view it without having to unlock your phone and open WhatsApp. The new feature can be disabled if you don’t like it, however.
Enjoy group calls on WhatsApp today. Photo: WhatsApp
WhatsApp’s new group video calling feature is now available to users on Android and iOS.
Users can chat with up to three others simultaneously, regardless of their location. WhatsApp says the feature has been designed to work even over unreliable network connections, so you have no excuse not to stay in touch.
WhatsApp users have been waiting for better notifications. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp notifications on iOS are about to get a lot more useful.
The popular messaging service is now testing media previews that let users view images and even animated GIFs before opening a message. Today’s update has also added the ability to use Siri to send messages to groups.
The WhatsApp dream might one day come true. Photo: WhatsApp
WhatsApp’s group chat function can be incredibly useful for all kinds of things. But when a bunch of people are talking, your phone gets bombarded with notifications and they suddenly become unbearable.
WhatsApp’s newest feature hopes to fix that by allowing only selected people to send messages.
Coming soon to an iPhone near you? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp has confirmed plans to drop support for iOS 7.
The hugely popular messaging service, owned by Facebook, will continue to work for a little while yet. However, WhatsApp warns that it is no longer actively developing for iOS 7, and certain features could stop working at any time.
Don’t ignore the latest WhatsApp releases. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp plans to take on Apple Pay Cash with a peer-to-peer payments system of its own.
Powered by UPI, the service is expected to rollout to users as early as next week following a beta test. It could launch with just three banking partners initially as WhatsApp races to compete with rival payments services.
Coming soon to an iPhone near you? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
A new WhatsApp bug allows blocked contacts to continue sending messages, view online status, and see profile pictures. The problem appears to be on the server side, but WhatsApp is yet to confirm a fix or even acknowledge its existence.
You’ll need a new iPhone if you can’t update to iOS 8 or later. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp is rolling out big improvements to group messaging that make it easier to manage your conversations, catch up on what you’ve missed, and more. It has also added enhanced controls for group admins.
Here’s what you have to look forward to on iPhone today.
Coming soon to an iPhone near you? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp’s latest update gives you the ability to play YouTube videos inside chats so that you don’t have to be redirected to another app. It also makes a welcome change to voice recording, negating the need to continually hold down a button.
And you thought all those messages were private. Sucker! Photo: kropekk_pl/Pixabay CC
Just when you thought Facebook couldn’t be more intrusive, the company has confirmed that it keeps an eye on our Messenger conversations to make sure we’re being good.
Messages you send are scanned to ensure they abide by Facebook’s rules — and if they don’t, they won’t be delivered.
Should you delete Facebook? WhatsApp co-creator Brian Acton says yes. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Facebook is having a bad time right now. Despite being the world’s most popular social media network, a growing number of people are calling on users to delete their Facebook profiles. This follows the recent Cambridge Analytica scandal, involving the acquisition of data associated with 50 million Facebook profiles.
The latest person who thinks you should cut the Zuckerberg cord? Brian Acton, the co-founder of WhatsApp, which was bought by Facebook for a massive $16 billion back in 2014.
Coming soon to an iPhone near you? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp’s latest update give users more time to delete accidental messages after they’ve been sent.
Its message deletion feature, introduced last October, previously gave us just seven minutes to undo a potential mess. Now the “delete for everyone” option is available for just over an hour.
Several spotlights. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Somewhere after the launch of iOS 11, Apple tweaked Spotlight search to be way more useful. Now, when you search for a person, you can trigger a sub-search that lets you find everything you have on them, from emails, to iMessages, to their contact details, through WhatsApp messages, to calendar events. Anywhere that your selected contact exists on your iPhone or iPad will show up in the list.
And then, you can narrow the results with a sub search.
WhatsApp has become the first major messaging platform to add CarPlay support. Users can have their WhatsApp conversations read to them, dictate replies, and more without taking their hands off the wheel.
Have you ever had your regular (important) iMessages swamped by a flurry of notifications for that inane group conversations about matcha-flavored KitKats? Or maybe you want to keep your iPad’s notifications switched on, but you want to mute iMessages from your boss until Monday, because she has no concept of boundaries?
If so, you need iMessage’s handy conversation-muting feature. It’s so easy to use that you may have turned it on by mistake. If you’re no longer getting alerts for certain messages, you may want to check this, too.
You’ll need a new iPhone if you can’t update to iOS 8 or later. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp has begun testing a new feature that warns users when they receive a suspected hoax message. It should help users avoid common spam that may seem genuine at first glance.
Instagram makes sharing Stories simpler. Photo: Instagram
Instagram is testing a feature that allows users to share their stories directly to WhatsApp.
They appear as WhatsApp status updates, and just like on Instagram, they’re visible for 24 hours. It seems only a small number of users have access to the feature for now.