WhatsApp Is Rolling Out Video Calls On Its Android App (techcrunch.com) 42
WhatsApp appears to be rolling out its video calling feature for beta users of the Android app. The arrival of the feature was first spotted by Android Police, which found that an updated app interface caused some users of the beta builds of the application to be able to access video calling. TechCrunch reports: For those on a version of WhatsApp which includes video calling support, you're able to tap the call button or tap on a contact card to kick off a video call. In this case, a new dialog box will appear, offering the choice between a standard voice call and a video call. In addition, the call log will show which calls were made via video by annotating them with the camera icon, instead of the telephone icon. However, there isn't yet a way to call other WhatsApp users who don't also have video calling support. If you try to, WhatsApp defaults to a voice call. Android isn't the only platform where video calling has been switched on. Last week, some users on the WhatsApp beta for Windows Phone were also surprised to find that the feature was now functional. And in this case, it didn't require an app update -- indicating a server-side change could enable it. Some users have also reported seeing the feature on iOS.
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That's the point. People want a multi-communications app that does it app. Video, voice, text, images, etc. Splitting those into different apps makes it all the more likely that your contacts won't have the same setup on their end. What's easier?
"I use Whatsapp."
or
"I use slack for messaging, but only at work. For screen sharing I use hangouts and for SMS I either use iMessage when I'm on my iPhone or hangouts when I'm on my computer. For video I use Hangouts or Duo, and sometimes iMessage."
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Tell me, do you find the trees every getting in the way of you seeing the forest?
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When you use trees to make a point about the forest, dont be surprised if people notice the trees, and something being wrong with the trees.
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The fact that Whatsapp works with mobile phone numbers.
Except that Whatsapp has desktop versions for Windows 8+ and Mac OSX 10.9+, as well as a web based version. You just have to set up the account via a phone first.
Tablet phone numbers (Score:2)
My iPad that I got from Verizon also has a cellular connection w/ its own mobile number. Point is that I can't use that number to associate any of the apps w/ my iPad: I have to use my iPhone number. If they are providing a phone# for my tablets, why can't I use those numbers for things like iMessage, WhatsApp, FaceTime and other apps that need phone numbers?
Not that this is a uniquely iOS issue. I have a Moto X and a Verizon Ellipsis 10. The Ellipsis doesn't work w/ its own dedicated number: I'd ha
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If they are providing a phone# for my tablets, why can't I use those numbers for things like iMessage, WhatsApp, FaceTime and other apps that need phone numbers?
Because you aren't paying for it? A data-only SIM is cheaper (or if it's not, ask yourself why you have one?).
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Who says the SIM has to have voice?
I give up. Who?
If they are providing a phone# for my tablets, why can't I use those numbers for things like iMessage, WhatsApp, FaceTime and other apps that need phone numbers?
Because the phone number must be verified. Apps will do things like send an SMS to your device on that number to verify. You can't receive SMS on a data SIM so the fails.
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But the tablets have SMS apps on them
Are you suggesting since your tablet is capable of SMS, the provider, that has nothing to do with the software on your tablet, should allow you to use voice services for which you have not paid? I don't get it, are you unfamiliar with the concept of paying more for additional services? They don't let you do it because they want you to pay more for that.
Why can't I get unlimited data on my account? My phone has apps that can use the data. Why can't my cable company give me all of the premium channels for fre
More convenient than two apps (Score:2)
This will probably help to keep people on WhatsApp. It's got to be more convenient than the iMessage/Facetime or Allo/Duo split between apps approach that Apple and Google are taking.
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If owner we could convince Whatsapp owner to stop pushing two god-damn-awful separate apps for Facebook and Messenger, neither of which are as useful as just Request Desktop Site in your mobile Chrome browser.
Seriously, Facebook is THE most uninstalled app on all the smartphones I've ever help people with. It consume space at ludicrous rates and yet does nothing better than a browser would, and every time you want to message, you have to load up an entirely different app anyway (presumably because the bloa
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^^^ this.
What in [Gg]od's name made Google think it was a good idea to split text and video into two apps (and REQUIRE a phone number for both to register making it infeasible to have a desktop or data-SIM only client).
They need to fix backup, and other things (Score:3)
Whatsapp is great, but every so often something in the app makes it feel like it's developed by one guy in his parents' basement.
For example, currently there's no way to migrate your chat history between iphone and android without paying $25 for a third party app (that doesn't always work).
I'm using an iPhone 6. The camera takes 5-10 seconds to open from within the app.
It takes them months to add simple features, like 3D touch. I didn't mind when they didn't add it because maybe they didn't want to. But then it came like 9 months after the feature was introduced.
Plus the interface is getting very old and is need of a major redesign.
If Apple releases iMessage for Android as is rumored, the whatsapp team should be worried.
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3D touch? What is that?
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3D touch? What is that?
Pressing harder on the screen for extra functions, kind of like using right-click with a mouse.
For example, instead of simply touching a message notification to open the Whatsapp app to reply, you press harder on the notification and you can reply in-situ from the lock screen. Or pressing harder on the Whatsapp app icon to bring up a menu with some frequently used actions.
Re:They need to fix backup, and other things (Score:4, Interesting)
For example, currently there's no way to migrate your chat history between iphone and android without paying $25 for a third party app (that doesn't always work).
Plus the interface is getting very old and is need of a major redesign.
What is this? Demand for change for changes sake and features that no one except for maybe 5 people world wide would use?
Video Calling is so MEH..and I do that for a livin (Score:3)
So in other words (Score:2)
So in other words, Skype. Or WeChat. Or any of a dozen other near-identical video chat programs.
I feel dizzy from so much innovation.
They used to say that every program expanded and added features until it could send email, now it looks like "video chat" is the new benchmark. How long will it be before the "FlashLight Extreme" app on my phone can initiate video calls?
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Does WeChat require a phone number?
I have no idea. Does Skype? (My Skype account doesn't have a phone number attached, so I'd say the answer is "no". )
Meanwhile, at Google ... (Score:2)
... they are rolling back video (and audio) calls and SMS by replacing Hangouts with the sub-featured Allo messaging app.