WhatsApp has rolled out updates for iOS users that add new features to the popular messaging application. One of the features allows users to post language status updates for contacts customized with privacy settings. Meanwhile, a subsequent update added support for recognizing text directly from images on WhatsApp for iOS. Although both features rolled out to iOS users after the company tested the feature with users in the beta channel, some may have to wait after installing these updates to take advantage of these features.
Seen WhatsApp now allows iOS users to record a voice memo and share it as a status through the WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo. In order to record, users have to walk status Tap on the pen icon and then long press on the microphone icon to start recording.
Voice memos shared as status updates are limited to 30 seconds in length, and users can also forward their own voice memos from chats to a status. Added support for voice status messages on WhatsApp for iOS 23.5.75 according to feature tracker.
WhatsApp also introduces the feature to multitask during a WhatsApp call without pausing the video, as announced in the changelog for the WhatsApp for iOS 23.3.77 update. This update also includes the ability to recognize and extract text messages directly from an image in the application. This is a feature that Apple says is supported on newer iPhone models like the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, or later running iOS 15 or later.
Users who have updated to WhatsApp for iOS 23.5.75 may also be able to use this feature according to the feature tracker. To test this feature, users can open an image with text and should find a new button that allows them to select and copy text directly from the image.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp Beta 2.23.5.13 for Android reportedly introduced Unicode 15.0 emojis. The official WhatsApp emoji selection has been updated with 21 new additions that are currently only available to beta testers.
The Meta’s own messaging service is also said to be working on a new text editor feature for the drawing tool that will include new fonts and text formatting. It has simplified font selection by tapping the possible options on the keyboard. Users can also change text alignment and format text in images, videos and GIFs and change text background color.
