GETTY • WHATSAPP • PICTURE POSED BY MODEL
WhatsApp is believed to be testing a new feature, dubbed Reply Privately
WhatsApp has built a new feature that could dramatically improve your group conversations.
The Facebook-owned messaging app is trialling a new feature called Reply Privately.
The new feature will enable users to reply to a message in a group chat – without anybody except the person you’re messaging being able to see what you’ve said.
It’s a nifty idea – and should prove especially useful in groups where you’re not familiar with all of the participants.
According to WABetaInfo, which tracks the latest WhatsApp features while they’re still in beta, the Reply Privately option will only be available in group chats.
The feature will be included in the small menu that pops-up when users press and hold on a message.
Reply Privately will include the initial message embedded within the reply.
WABETAINFO
The beta feature has cropped up in WhatsApp Web on desktop machines
This is already present in the Reply feature, which is available on iOS, Android and Desktop at the moment.
Reply Privately was first spotted in the web version of WhatsApp, however, since the feature is still under development – it likely will not appear on your desktop.
It’s unclear when the feature will roll-out worldwide.
WhatsApp has a number of unreleased features under its built for future releases of its popular app.
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Hidden code within the latest smartphone beta hints at the ability to play YouTube videos within WhatsApp itself, with users able to continue watching the clip while navigating around the messenger.
WhatsApp appears to be leveraging the picture-in-picture functionality Apple first introduced in iOS 9.
According to WABetaInfo, which has an impressive track record when it comes to sniffing out upcoming features, unearthed the code.
The code was introduced in WhatsApp version 2.17.40.
According to WABetaInfo, users can pinch on the video to expand it within a chat window, or open the YouTube video fullscreen.
The picture-in-picture can also be moved around the app, to avoid it blocking the text beneath.
WABETAINFO
WhatsApp is testing the ability to watch YouTube videos within a chat window
Apple introduced the ability to play YouTube videos inside their thumbnail previews in iOS 10.
It’s unclear when WhatsApp will flick the switch and bring its own version of the functionality to the chat app.
WABetaInfo says “this is not a feature that will be remotely enabled” and that instead “it will be enabled with a new WhatsApp update on the AppStore when the feature will be ready”.
The news comes as WhatsApp rolled-out the ability to delete sent messages.
WhatsApp users will be able to delete messages that they have either sent to a group or an individual chat.
Messages that have been successfully deleted in a chat will be replaced by “this message was deleted”.
WHATSAPP • EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS • APPLE
WhatsApp introduced the ability to delete sent messages earlier this week
There is one catch though – WhatsApp users are only able to delete messages within seven minutes of sending it.
The WhatsApp team said: “Deleting messages for everyone allows you to delete specific messages you have sent to either a group or an individual chat.
“This is particularly useful if you sent a message to the wrong chat or if the message you sent contains a mistake.
“Messages you successfully delete for everyone will be replaced with “This message was deleted” in your recipients’ chats.
“Similarly, if you see ‘This message was deleted’ in a chat, it means that the sender deleted their message for everyone.”