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WhatsApp Beta: A Taste Of Things To Come, For Better Or Worse!

Everybody’s beloved messaging app, WhatsApp, is all set to receive a major update, which is going to make it leaner, faster and smarter than ever before.

WhatsApp needs no introduction. From the most tech savvy person to senior citizens, almost everybody uses WhatsApp to stay in touch with their near and dear ones. WhatsApp too has evolved over the years to offer more than just text messaging.

From sharing photos, videos and documents to doing video-calling, WhatsApp does it all. These, among others are some of the many reasons that has made WhatsApp more popular over other platforms.

  • Text messaging over internet. So, no SMS charges
  • Group chat with up to 256 people at once.
  • Ability to share photos, videos, documents, audio files and location.
  • Support for Voice Calls and Video Calls.
  • End-to-end encryption for all calls and messages for security.
  • Cross-platform compatibility. WhatsApp can be used from the web, WIndows, Mac, Android, IOS and Windows Phone.
  • Synced chats allow you to continue your conversation from your smartphone to your laptop or personal computer.

All these features have made WhatsApp one of the most used messengers ever.

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What Is WhatsApp Beta?

WhatsApp Beta is the version of WhatsApp where all the new features are first introduced, tested and perfected. The Beta version receives all the new features first!

So, if you want to stay ahead with latest features first, you can sign up for Beta version from here. You’ll have to log in with your Google account, the one which you use for your Google Play, before you can proceed ahead.

Once you click on ‘Become a Tester’, you’ll receive the Beta version update over your smartphone. But, before you sign up to become a Beta tester, it is important to know that the Beta version is unstable and prone to bugs and crashes.

WhatsApp Beta: What’s New?

The latest WhatsApp Beta update, which is package 2.17.375, takes up lesser space while downloading and installing. The almost 6MB decrease in the size is being attributed to elimination of some 20 libraries that were previously added.

The second update is a major one! Whenever you change your cell number, all your WhatsApp contacts will be notified of the update by default. You can either choose to inform all your WhatsApp contacts or a few select ones of your choosing. This is an ideal solution for those people who value their privacy.

This is a major change as now you would not have to go through the onerous task of informing all your contacts of your number change.

Real-Time Location Sharing

This is a big one! Location sharing was already a feature on WhatApp. The new update advances this feature by being able to share your real-time location to selected contacts. This is a great safety feature. If you are alone on a long trip or are simply travelling late at night, you can share your location in real-time with your trusted contacts.

To make it clearer, location sharing just shares your location at a fixed point in time. Real-time location sharing, on the other hand, tracks your location as you are moving along. Your contact will actually see your location as a dot travelling on the map

WhatsApp says,

“This end-to-end encrypted feature lets you control who you share with and for how long. You can choose to stop sharing at any time or let the Live Location timer simply expires”

WhatsApp has put a special emphasis on the fact that users have full control on this new live location sharing feature. Users can share their real-time location with anyone and whenever they want. They can simply stop sharing their location by clicking on “Stop Sharing” option.

If you share your real-time location on a group, all the group members will be able to see your location.

How Does Real-Time Location Sharing Work?

The first thing you need to do, is update your WhatsApp. Once it is updated to the latest version, follow these steps to share your real-time location

  • Open the app and open the chat window of the contact or group you want to share your location with.
  • In the chat window, scroll down and click on “Location” under “Attachment” icon.
  • You will see a new option “Share Live Location”. Click on it to share your real-time location
  • Your selected contact or group will now be able to see your live location on a map, in real-time.

So, WhatsApp is set to get even better with these new changes. Do you agree that these changes will make WhatsApp a better messaging tool? What changes would you like to see in WhatsApp? Do let us know in the comments below.

Rohan Bhogle: Rohan is a voracious reader and a self-confessed gadget freak. New technology, especially smartphones, excites him to no end! He follows the tech world quite closely. Writing is his passion, nurtured by his reading habit. He's living the ultimate dream, writing about the latest and greatest in technology!
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