WhatsApp Introducing 'Favorite Contacts' Feature for Swift Call Placement

WhatsApp, the instant messaging platform owned by Meta, is reportedly in the process of developing a new feature that will enhance call placement convenience for iOS users. The upcoming 'favourite contacts' feature, discovered by WABetaInfo, aims to boost overall accessibility by offering users a quick and intuitive shortcut to directly call their preferred contacts from the calls tab. Positioned prominently at the top of the calls tab, this feature ensures a phone call is just one tap away, streamlining the communication process. According to the report, designating certain contacts as favorites will ensure their visibility at the forefront of the calling interface, promising a more personalized and efficient user experience. Although still in development, this feature is expected to be included in a future app update.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp has introduced another feature for iOS users, enabling them to create, edit, and share stickers derived from their photos. This creative addition enhances the platform's functionality, allowing users to customize and share their sticker creations within group chats. The rollout of this sticker feature on iOS was announced by WhatsApp through a post on Instagram.

Meta’s AI for Ray-Ban smart glasses

Meta is introducing an early access test for the most advanced AI capabilities of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. In a recent announcement, Meta revealed the upcoming rollout of its multimodal AI features, enabling the AI assistant to provide information based on what it sees and hears through the glasses' camera and microphones. Mark Zuckerberg showcased the update on Instagram, demonstrating tasks such as asking the glasses to suggest matching pants for a held shirt, translating text, and displaying image captions. The multimodal AI capabilities were first discussed by Zuckerberg in a September Decoder interview with The Verge's Alex Heath, where he mentioned users interacting with the AI assistant throughout the day for various inquiries. The AI assistant, as shown by CTO Andrew Bosworth, can accurately describe objects and assist with tasks like captioning photos and language translation. During the initial test phase, access will be limited to a small number of users who opt in, and the trial will be restricted to the United States.

WhatsApp is set to introduce a new feature called Channel Alerts in the near future

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is gearing up to introduce compelling features for Android users, including the Channel Alerts feature, the capability to search messages by date, and an option to hide navigation labels and the top bar while scrolling through the app. As per information from WABetaInfo, the new Channel Alerts feature has been unveiled in the WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.23.26.6 update and will be progressively available to all users in the coming days. This feature aims to enhance the experience for channel users by offering real-time information about the suspension status of their channel. Channel administrators can leverage Channel Alerts to stay informed about potential violations of WhatsApp's policies and request a review of their suspension directly from the Channel Alerts screen. The transparency brought by the Channel Alerts feature allows users to identify issues with their channels and outline necessary actions for resolution.

Additionally, Meta is rolling out two more features on its Android app soon: firstly, the ability to hide navigation labels and the top app bar when scrolling down, providing users with a larger view of chats, call logs, community group chats, and channels. Secondly, the introduction of a feature enabling users to search messages by date, streamlining the process of navigating chat history and locating specific messages. Notably, WhatsApp is also exploring integration with Instagram through a new status update feature. According to WABetaInfo, users will soon be able to share their WhatsApp status updates directly as Stories on Instagram, potentially saving users significant time.

Threads tags are rolling out globally

Tags, essentially hashtags with a unique approach, are now being globally introduced on Threads, as announced by Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Thursday. The functionality of tags differs slightly from traditional hashtags on platforms such as Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). When crafting a Threads post, initiating a tag involves tapping the # symbol and entering your chosen topic. Unlike conventional hashtags, you're not confined to a single word; you can input an entire phrase (including spaces) and include special characters, Mosseri explained. It's worth noting, though, that only one tag per post is allowed.

The purpose of tags on Threads aligns with that of hashtags – they serve as an effective means to connect with individuals interested in the topics you're discussing. According to Mosseri, "If you share on Threads, [tags are] a great way to help connect with people who are interested in the topics you’re talking about. And for everyone, it’s a great way to help dive deeper into your interests." Meta's implementation, including the restriction to a single tag, is appreciated for its clever approach to prevent intrusive hashtag spam. Nevertheless, the adoption of tags by users will ultimately determine their utility as a valuable tool for discovering conversations about specific topics.

WhatsApp to allow sharing status updates on Instagram

Meta is reportedly working on supporting the sharing of WhatsApp stories to Instagram, as discovered by WABetaInfo. Testers using the latest beta version of the Android app found an option to link their Instagram account with WhatsApp under Settings → Privacy → Status → Share my status updates. This link enables mirroring WhatsApp status updates directly to Instagram as ephemeral Stories. While still in development, this feature could set WhatsApp apart from its messaging app competitors and streamline the process of reposting updates across platforms. However, if you maintain clear distinctions between content shared on WhatsApp and Instagram, this integration may be less useful. Although specific details are not yet available, it seems that WhatsApp and Instagram will maintain independent controls to limit audiences for status updates and stories. Another consideration is that Instagram's story creation tools are more advanced, featuring dynamic stickers for weather, time, and location, not yet available on WhatsApp. The hope is that future WhatsApp updates will bridge this gap. The development progress of this feature will be closely monitored.