WhatsApp has announced a slew of new updates across chats, calls, and channels designed to enhance the messaging and calling experience for users as it continues to compete with popular services like Telegram and Discord.
Among the most notable additions is an “Online” indicator that appears at the top of a group chat to show you how many people are currently around to chat.
Another new group chat feature will allow you to highlight certain notifications, as you can now use a newly added “Notify for” setting and select “Highlights” to limit notifications for @mentions, replies, and messages from saved contacts or “All” to receive all notifications.
Another feature offers the option to scan and send documents on an iPhone. To access this, users select “scan document” from the attachment options and then follow the steps to scan, crop, and save the document.
Also, iPhone users can now set WhatsApp as their default messaging and calling app. Plus, iPhone users can now pinch to zoom in during video calls.
As for video calls, WhatsApp says it upgraded its technology to make video calls more reliable and of higher quality, which should lead to reduced dropped calls and video freezing. The app’s improved bandwidth detection should also allow for more HD-quality video calls.
While WhatsApp has allowed users to create events in group chats for some time now, it’s now rolling out the ability to create an event in 1:1 conversations. Plus, the events feature is getting updated with the ability to RSVP as “maybe,” invite a plus one, add an end date and time, and pin events so they’re easier to find.
In addition, you can now add someone to an ongoing 1:1 call from a chat thread by tapping the call icon at the top of your screen and then selecting “Add to call.”
Channels are also getting three updates, as admins can now record and share short videos with followers and share unique QR codes that link directly to their channel. Plus, you can now get a written summary of voice message updates from channels to get yourself up to speed when you’re on the go and unable to read individual messages.
Although Netflix has occasionally launched games inspired by its IP, this is the first time we’ve seen a game that is directly tied to the narrative of a specific episode.
Thronglets launches amid the company revamping its gaming strategy, having previously been scatterbrained about the titles it releases. Netflix has released a mix of indie games, popular existing titles, and games based on its IP.
However, not all titles have been successful, leading to the recent cancellation of Netflix Stories, a narrative-driven game featuring shows like “Love Is Blind.”
Speaking at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), vice president of games technology and portfolio development Jeet Shroff stated that the company is now focusing on four main areas: narrative games, multiplayer party games, games for kids, and mainstream titles.
Thronglets falls into the mainstream category, making it a clever decision for the streaming giant to create a game based on one of its most popular shows. Another example of a mainstream release is Squid Game: Unleashed, which has reportedly reached 20 million downloads, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower.
