WhatsApp on iOS can now be locked behind Face ID or Touch ID

Depending on what iPhone model you have, you can now use either Face ID or Touch ID to restrict access to your WhatsApp. If you have the newest version (ver. 2.19.20) of the app, this feature can be activated from its Privacy menu within the Account Settings. You can’t set it on a per-chat basis, though. Also, if you have message previews turned on, you’ll still be able to see and reply to messages without having to unlock the app. You can also answer calls. But if you want to dive deeper into the app, you’re going to need to unlock it with either Face ID or Touch ID. There isn’t any word yet when the feature might make its way to Android.

Source: The Verge

Facebook’s looking to integrate WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger chats

BBC

Facebook is looking to compete with the likes of Google and Apple with its newest plans. The social media company is considering integrating its messaging services on Instagram with WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. The three services will remain as standalone apps, but each will be linked in a way that will let messages travel between the services. Facebook is said to be at the start of what it considers a “long process.” If successful, this means a Facebook user can communicate directly with someone who has a WhatsApp or Instagram account. The timeline to complete this project is end of 2019 or early next year.

What Facebook can gain with this project is it’ll no longer need to develop competing versions of new features (like Stories) or allow businesses to reach more potential customers across the different platforms with its ability to share data easily. Facebook wants people to spend more time on its products, and this is one way they think that could happen. "We want to build the best messaging experiences we can; and people want messaging to be fast, simple, reliable and private," said Facebook in a statement. "We're working on making more of our messaging products end-to-end encrypted and considering ways to make it easier to reach friends and family across networks." But this also raises a lot of questions, which Wired has detailed in this story.

Source: BBC

WhatsApp adds support for in-line Instagram and Facebook videos on iOS

When you share YouTube videos on WhatsApp, your recipient will be able to watch the video right from the conversation thread. The same thing can be done now for Instagram and Facebook videos, at least for iOS users. WhatsApp brings these features to the 2.18.51 update of the app. It also brings more feature to group chats, including the ability to add or revoke administrator privileges of other users in the chat as well as the ability for active admins to edit the description, icon, and subject of an ongoing chat. The update is currently rolling out to users so you may or may not see it immediately. No word yet when these features will be coming to Android.

Source: Android Central

You can now automatically notify your contacts if you change numbers on WhatsApp

If you want specific contacts to know you’ve changed numbers on WhatsApp, the messaging app is making it easier for you to let your contacts know. The app now has a new “change number” option you can access through Settings > Account > Change number. This will help you migrate everything from your account info, settings, groups, as well as chats (if you don’t change phones). The groups you’re in will be notified automatically. But as was seen in a beta update, you can let individual contacts know as well. You can opt to let all your contacts know, those you’re chatting with, or a specific group of contacts. No word yet when this feature will leave beta.

Source: Android Police