WhatsApp rolling out Screen Share beta for Android users

To improve the voice and video calls in WhatsApp for Android further, the WhatsApp team has been working on a new feature to let users share their screen during a video call. It's currently rolled out to beta test in the Google Play Store.

From the screenshot, there will be a new Share Screen button at the bottom when you start a video call. The bottom navigation bar will have a recent minor change, showing Chats, Calls, Communities, and Status. After enabling sharing, everything displayed will be recorded and the recipient can see it from the other end.

During the Share Screen feature, you have total control and stop it at any time. That said, WABetaInfo.com said it probably won't work on outdated and older Android versions as well as large group calls. The WhatsApp beta for this feature is 2.23.11.19, and there's no word if it will be available for iOS users.


WhatsApp rolling out new updates to polling and making captions

Today, WhatsApp announced that a few new features are coming soon. According to WhatsApp, the development team will update the polls, forwarded messages and captions to make chats a little more productive and fun.

For polling posts, users can create single-vote polls to allow people to vote only once by turning off "allow multiple answers". Filtering messages by-polls will be doable too and people can now receive notifications when votes are cast to keep up to date.

Then for forwarding media with a caption, you can keep, delete or rewrite the information when sharing photos or videos between chats. Adding a caption to documents or a link will be available too.

These updates have started rolling out to users globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


WhatsApp rolls out new ‘Message Yourself’ feature to all iOS and Android users

WhatsApp is currently in the midst of rolling out a new feature to all its users that would allow them to chat with themselves. Aptly called ‘Message Yourself’, the feature was previously spotted on the beta version of WhatsApp by WABetaInfo but has now been officially ported to the full version of the messaging app.

As reported by TechCrunch, the Meta-owned messaging platform announced the rollout of the feature yesterday, and it’s now on the way to both the Android and iOS versions of the app. With the feature, users can send notes, reminders, shopping lists and others to themselves on the app.

Now, when creating a new chat, you can choose to send a message to yourself, which will bring out a chat screen that’s similar to when you’re messaging others. Just like other chats, you can also pin the chat to the top of your conversation list so that you can easily notice whatever reminders you’ve messaged yourself with.

If you haven’t gotten the new feature yet, don’t worry as WhatsApp did clarify that it may take weeks for it to be rolled out to all users. So, what do you guys think of WhatsApp’s ‘Message Yourself’? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news such as this.


WhatsApp's multi-device support made it to beta, public rollout to follow soon

WhatsApp has been working on the multi-device support that allows users to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple devices. Until now, the messaging platform might be ready to roll it out to the public, as it has started to appear for some beta testers.

WhatsApp with version number 2.22.24.18 has recently become available on the Google Play store. The beta version brings the setting that lets users link a WhatsApp account to an Android tablet or multiple mobile devices at once. Some who joined the beta programme can find the "Linked devices (beta)" option showing up in the options menu under "Linked devices." 'Some' is used as it's not made available to all the beta testers but only selected ones. After tapping on it, users would have to follow the instructions to scan the QR code and link the account with the other devices.

As the feature has made it to beta, let's hope the public release will follow soon. According to the source, it could happen in the next few weeks. Let us know what you think about the news, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech report.


WhatsApp's new Edit feature update is now rolling out globally

The update is finally here. Mark Zuckerberg has just announced that you can now edit your WhatsApp messages if there's a typo or mistake in your sentence. However, you can only do so for up to 15 minutes after.

What this mean is that, right after you have sent your message to the recipient, you will only have 15 minutes to edit it. The Edit feature won't be enabled after you passed that time limit so do keep that in mind. According to the WhatsApp team, this feature has started rolling out to users globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.

The new Edit button will appear just below the Copy when you press hold on a message. Edited messages will display ‘edited’ alongside them, so those you’re messaging are aware of the correction without showing edit history. As with all personal messages, media and calls, your messages and the edits you make are protected by end-to-end encryption.

At the moment, the new WhatsApp update has yet to appear so we just have to sit and wait. After you have updated it to the latest version, you're all good to go to use the new Edit feature.


WhatsApp's new group video and voice call update now allows 8 people

In this short announcement, we reported that WhatsApp will have new updated group video and voice call feature. This new update will now allow 8 people in total to join now you may see the new update now in the Apple App Store. At the moment, Android doesn't have the new update yet.

In case you can't see the new update yet, don't fret. The global rollout will take some time to reach to all iOS users, or you can just refresh the apps update page to see if it's there. Initially, we could only add 4 participants in there which was weird, but I guess they finally realized that it was needed due to the outbreak and more people are using video calling technology to keep in touch now.

In other news, WhatsApp's owner, Facebook are planning to introduce their own updated Messenger group video and voice call via Messenger Rooms. This new update which is yet to be rollout will allow up to 50 people at the same time. No release date for that yet so until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


WhatsApp's new update will allow you to delete message for everyone

As some of you already know, some of your friends and family have a new WhatsApp update that allows you to delete a message. But this is not just any simple delete-a-message feature, this new update lets you delete a message for everyone in a group chat. It's about time!

While the new delete message feature is not available for everyone yet, you can check by doing a long press on the message and see if there's an option for "delete for everyone". However, in doing so everyone in the chat group will notice the small announcement on top.

To quote about the new delete messages on the company’s FAQ page, it says:

"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.

You can only delete messages for everyone for up to seven minutes after sending. Once seven minutes have passed, there is no way to delete messages for everyone."

Aside from that, it was only recently that WhatsApp updated its Live Location feature that allows you to share your location in real0time with friends and family. To do that, just open any chat, tap the " + " icon, tap location and then "Share Live Location".

Stay tuned for more tech news at TechNave.com.


Apple iPad range also getting price cuts in Malaysia, up to RM 700

We have seen the new updated Apple iPhone line getting both a storage bump and a price cut on the Malaysian Apple online store. Apparently the iPads are also getting price updates and storage options as well. Price cuts up to RM 700 can be seen on selected models.

The price cuts across the board mirrors the iPhone cuts and bump. This bodes well for consumers, even as we experience a high RM vs the US dollar, as the iPads are now cheaper than ever – the cheapest being the iPad mini 2 at only RM 1049. Will this spur you to purchase one for yourself? Stay tuned to TechNave as we bring more news from Apple right here.


WhatsApp's upcoming data transfer will arrive on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 & Galaxy Z Flip 3 first

During the Galaxy Unpacked launch last night, it was a surprise that not only Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G but also a new WhatsApp feature. If you're unaware, WhatsApp's upcoming feature is about allowing users to transfer their chat history and media data across between Android and iOS devices.

Since the feature got announced at the event, that also means the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 will be the first two foldable phones to have it. While no initial date was revealed for the update, it was mentioned to arrive "in the coming weeks". If we have to throw a wild guess, perhaps from 27 August 2021 onwards as that is the launching date for the new Samsung devices.

For your information, the new update would require a USB-C to Lightning cable so that could be a hassle when transferring. WhatsApp also told sources that migrating the latest chat history and backing it up will overwrite any existing backups as it should. To add on, they also confirmed that the update will arrive on other Samsung Galaxy phones with Android 10 soon.

As for other Android phones and transferring from Android to iOS, the WhatsApp team is quite tight-lipped about it. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


WhatsApp self-deleting feature still in the works, now called Delete Messages

We first found out that WhatsApp has been working on a self-deleting feature last month. The feature has since been renamed from Disappearing Messages to Delete Messages and has gotten some minor changes in the recent beta 2.19.348 Android version of the app.

According to WABetaInfo, the duration that messages in a group chat will last before being deleted has changed. Previously, the only options were 5 seconds and 1 hour. Now, the options are 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 1 year. This makes a lot more sense from a user standpoint, since you may not want an important message to be deleted too quickly.

WhatsApp is also working on a Dark Theme for the app, which the Delete Messages should have no issues working on. The company hasn't announced the release date for the two features so you'll have to stay tuned for updates.

How relevant are the Delete Messages and Dark Theme updates for you? Comment on our Facebook page to let us know! Also, remember to stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech news.


WhatsApp shares info on updated privacy policy

Many of us don't pay attention to the privacy policy of the apps we use. That's why it's good to know when companies decide to update their policy, so we'll know whether they're doing something sneaky. This time around, WhatsApp revealed how its shares data with other Facebook-owned platforms.

Under WhatsApp's Privacy Policy page, the company briefly confirmed that it receives and shares information with other Facebook Companies. As a reminder, the companies under Facebook include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus VR, and more. In other words, data is being shared with a wide network of companies, some that the average Joe isn't even aware of.

So, what's being shared and why? The data shared will basically help users get a better user experience with the services and offerings of other platforms under Facebook. With the data from users, WhatsApp claims that it can personalise features and help you make purchases. In case you didn't know, this refers to the new shopping feature that was added in October 2020.

You probably noticed how Facebook platforms are mostly connected now. This means that your data could be shared to services that you don't even use, so don't be surprised if you get ads from those someday. What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


WhatsApp to add emoji reactions, 2GB file sharing & more into 'Communities' feature this year

Back in early 2022, we already knew that WhatsApp could be working on a new Communities function for the mobile app. Well, Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg and WhatsApp have just confirmed the vision for it and here's what you can expect.

According to Zuckerberg's Facebook post as well as WhatsApp's blogpost, Communities will serve as a space for organizations like schools, local clubs, NGOs, work and many more to communicate securely. People in any certain group can receive updates seamlessly and organize smaller discussion groups within.

Besides that, admins in Communities can take advantage of new tools such as sending announcement messages and controlling which groups can be included. The WhatsApp development team is also planning to add four features for Communities which are:

Zuckerberg said that WhatsApp Communities is now being tested and should roll out in the next few months. This should be a great move for us Malaysians as we tend to use WhatsApp for a lot of group projects and other things that we just mentioned. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


WhatsApp to drop support for iPhone devices with iOS 10 and iOS 11 this year

If you're still using your iPhone 5 series, perhaps it's time to upgrade your phone to a new one, especially if you rely on WhatsApp. According to WABetaInfo.com, the WhatsApp team will be dropping support for iOS 10 and iOS 11 in the next few months.

Initially, there was news about iOS 10's support ending in 2021 but that didn't come to pass until now. As you can see in the screenshot below, it seems that the date to end the support will be from 24 October 2022 onwards. It's also usually the time when the new iPhone generation is on sale, so just in time, I guess.

Furthermore, the WhatsApp Help Center has also confirmed this in the FAQs. Alongside Android OS 4.1, the WhatsApp team will only support iOS 12 and above only. That being said, you may also choose to upgrade your iOS to the latest iOS 15 but only the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s may do so.

We are sure many of the iPhone users have already upgraded to iOS 15. Until then, do stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


WhatsApp to follow Telegram and potentially allow its users to send files up to 2GB in size soon

WhatsApp, by far the most used messaging app in Malaysia is facing some stiff competition from its rivals, especially from Telegram. In fact, back in January 2021, a lot of WhatsApp users made the switch to Telegram after the former’s questionable change in privacy policy.

More than a year later, the Meta-owned messaging app is now trying to retain as well as win over users back again with a slew of new features currently in the works. These include message reactions, polls, true multi-device support and the ability to send files up to 2GB in size.

The last feature was spotted in the latest version of WhatsApp for iOS beta, which is version 22.7.0.76. As reported by WABetaInfo, some beta iOS testers for the app in Argentina found that they can send files up to 2GB in size with the latest beta version.

Furthermore, the feature is also available for the Android beta version of WhatsApp for certain Android beta testers in Argentina. Hmm, why is WhatsApp only testing the feature in the South American country though?

Well, I have no answer to that question, but what I do know is that with the feature being spotted in the beta version, WhatsApp may be introducing it to the masses in the future. However, they are no guarantees though, as WhatsApp may just decided that this feature is not that important after the beta test.

It’s important to note that Telegram currently allows for up to 2GB files sharing by its users. So, if anything, maybe WhatsApp would be introducing the same feature to compete with Telegram.

What do you guys think? Do you use WhatsApp or do you prefer any other messaging app? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for all the latest tech news!


WhatsApp to get face unlock on Android smartphones in the future

Based on a statement by wabetainfo.com, it seems that the developers of WhatsApp could be planning on introducing Facial Recognition for Android smartphones in the future. While there is no official information in regards to when the feature will be officially available, there’s also no info on which smartphone will support it as well.

Do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that the developers of WhatsApp have yet to provide an official statement on the leak. Our source, however, did note that WhatsApp could plan on implementing more unique ways to authenticate the user in the future.

What are your thoughts on being able to unlock WhatsApp via Facial Recognition? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


WhatsApp to restrict its users from forwarding messages to more than one group chat

WhatsApp may potentially be adding a new restriction in future versions of the app which limits users from mass forwarding messages. Spotted in the latest Google Play Beta Program version of the messaging app, the new restriction will only allow messages to be forwarded to just one group chat at a time, presumably in order to curb the spread of misinformation and fake news.

Shared by WABetaInfo, the 2.22.7.2 version of the WhatsApp Google Play Beta Program will mark a message that has previously been forwarded. Moreover, it would then not be possible to forward it to more than one group chat at a time.

Therefore, should users still want to forward the same message to other group chat, they must manually select the message and forward it again once at a time. Furthermore, this restriction will also take effect even when the message has been forwarded once.

This latest restriction is in line with previous implementation by WhatsApp in restricting message forwarding. In 2020, the Meta-owned messaging app published a blogpost about ‘Keeping WhatsApp Personal and Private’ whereby in an effort to curb the spread of misinformation, especially regarding Covid-19, WhatsApp decided to mark messages with a ‘frequently forwarded’ wording if it has been forwarded more than 4 times.

Speaking of which, that particular feature has been present in WhatsApp since 2020 and it seems that the messaging app feels that further restrictions are needed, hence this latest feature. It is unsure yet when will this feature will be rolling out to the official WhatsApp app, but let’s hope that it would be sometime soon!

What do you guys think of this latest restriction that’s currently in the works by WhatsApp? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for all the latest trending tech news!


WhatsApp to rework privacy features for iOS and Android

We're getting more and more features for WhatsApp in recent weeks. It's reported that the company is looking to add message reactions, and recently the feature to transfer your chat history from iOS to Android was added. WhatsApp is also reworking some old features.

Specifically, the platform wants to rework some of its privacy settings. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will be getting a new "My contacts except..." option to the "Last Seen" feature. It blocks specified people in your contacts list from seeing whether you have seen their messages. In case you're unsure, it's basically the blue tick you see when messages have been read.

WhatsApp is planning to add the "My contacts except..." option for Last Seen, Profile Picture and About, so you will be able to exclude specific contacts without disabling the feature! Note: you cannot see the last seen of excluded contacts.Availability: in a future update. pic.twitter.com/LWTihboePd

The default setting for this is "Everyone". But a few years back, WhatsApp added the option to allow certain people in your contact list or block everyone from seeing the blue tick. Some people find this useful for various reasons. For example, you may want to think first before replying to a message, especially if it's a delicate issue. Won't want an angry girlfriend or wife to think you're deliberately ignoring them, right?

Anyway, this is just one of many features that WhatsApp has been working on. But what else does the platform really need? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


WhatsApp to roll out Channels feature in selected countries soon

Sometimes, WhatsApp makes you wonder if it's trying to be another app that does everything. The developers have added all sorts of features over the months. And the next one to be rolled out is one called Channels.

Channels is a feature that will be rolled out to selected countries soon. Specifically, it'll be available first in Singapore and Columbia for WhatsApp on Android, iOS, and Desktop. Of course, the feature is expected to be released to all WhatsApp users in the future.

So, what is this feature all about? It's a one-way broadcast tool for individuals, groups, or companies to send content to WhatsApp users who choose to follow them. In a way, it's similar to how Twitter works. But it offers a strong level of privacy, as follower details like phone numbers or profile pictures won't be revealed to the channels. You can find out more from this WhatsApp blog post.

With that said, will you use WhatsApp's Channels? Or would you prefer to stick to Twitter and Facebook? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


Apple iPad with mini-LED display and AirPods 3 could arrive in first half of 2021

The latest news for 2021 Apple products has come reporting that an iPad with mini-LED display and AirPods 3 will be launched in the first half of the year. According to the reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a Chinese manufacturer Jialianyi with soft board technology will be in-charge of mass-producing the said products.

Jialianyi is said to be one of the key partners in the supply chain for Apple's products in 2021. The manufacturer has the LCP (liquid crystal polymer) soft boards that will offer a flexible way to connect components together while facilitating high-speed and low-latency data transfer. Their soft board is said to be destined for the mini-LED iPad and the mass production will start in the first half of next year.

Other than that, the analyst has also offered some information regarding AirPods 3. The upcoming pair of truly wireless earbuds are expected to sport the System-in-Package used for the AirPods Pro, replacing the rigid-flex PCB+SMT design of the second-generation AirPods, and allowing for a form factor similar to the AirPods Pro. Furthermore, we could also see improved battery life, a new wireless chip, and a more affordable price.

Let us know what you think about the news on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more latest Apple product updates.


WhatsApp to roll out a feature that lets you leave a group 'silently'

Leaving group chat on WhatsApp might not be that embarrassing anymore. The latest report claims that the messaging platform will soon roll out a feature that lets users quit the groups 'silently', which is perfect for most of us who don't want to make a big deal out of it.

Currently, if you leave a group, the other members will get notified, and everyone will know you left! Thanks to this new feature, no one, except the group admin, will get told by the app if someone left the group, and they can only find out if they went to check who's left in the conversation.

Besides this, WhatsApp has been bringing in new things constantly. It's said to be working on rich link previews for the text status messages, quick reactions to status updates, companion mode to link a second mobile device feature, and search filtering options.

Which of these features you're most excited about? Leave a comment to let us know, and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech reports.


WhatsApp unveils Chat Lock for private conversations

Sometimes, we would have prefer to have some conversations in private. For face-to-face conversations, you find somewhere you can chat securely. But what if it's via a text messaging app? Well, WhatsApp considers this a relevant issue and has rolled out Chat Lock.

In WhatsApp's blog post, the company called Chat Lock a feature that protects your private conversations. The feature lets you lock a chat thread out of the inbox and put it in a separate folder that can only be accessed with the right security authentication. That would be your password or a fingerprint scan. Moreover, the feature will hide the contents of that chat from appearing in notifications.

So, where is this locked folder? It's still in the app, of course. Like Archived chats, The folder for locked chats would appear at the top of your list of chat threads. However, you can only access them with a password or fingerprint. Generally, locking your phone is good enough as a security measure. But this extra layer of security might be helpful if you have family members that might use your phone when it's unlocked (like your children).

WhatsApp also confirmed that Chat Lock will have additional options in the future, like locking your linked devices. That's great because, currently, the feature doesn't sound all that important to most people. But what do you think? Is this a feature you'd need? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


WhatsApp unveils new global Security Center

If you're a casual WhatsApp user, you probably don't know the many security features it has. Some of them are not enabled by default, so it pays to know more about them. That could be why WhatsApp decided to set up a new Security Center.

According to the announcement, the WhatsApp Security Center will function as a one-stop destination for WhatsApp users to learn more about the app's security features. This will help you better learn how to protect yourselves from scams, spam messages, and other unwanted issues. It also promises to provide more behind-the-scenes information on the technology that WhatsApp uses.

Speaking of security features, there's one that many should be familiar with. As you may know, WhatsApp provides end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls. This is to ensure that only you and the recipient have access to the content, barring physically having access to the phone. Besides that, WhatsApp also has two-step verification, privacy settings, account protection, and more. There are also International fact-checking organisations (IFCN) that WhatsApp Business users can contact to check whether a message is potentially fake news.

So now that you have a reminder of WhatsApp's security features, what do you think? Do you use any of them? Let us know in the comment and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


WhatsApp user who don't accept new policy won't have to worry about account deactivation anymore

When it comes to data privacy, the wrong move can cause your users to leave. That seems to be WhatsApp's concern in regards to its updated privacy policy, which has been a cause of controversy. Fortunately, sources claim that the company won't be enforcing it.

According to Engadget, WhatsApp has backtracked on its decision on limited usage of the app for users who fail to comply with its new privacy policy. Allegedly, a spokesperson for the company stated that WhatsApp has no plans to limit the functionality of WhatsApp for those who don't accept the update. What hasn't changed is the fact that the company will keep sending you reminders about it. The company's support page has been updated to reflect this.

Originally, the company planned to gradually reduce the functions these users would be able to access. Messages and the chat list would be the first to go, followed by the loss of calls and notifications. After that, WhatsApp would deactivate inactive accounts after 120 days. This decision could threaten the mass migration of WhatsApp users, which is probably why the company decided to U-turn.

Of course, this doesn't mean WhatsApp will change its updated privacy policy. It's still going to share your info with other Facebook-related companies for ad targeting. If you don't want that, then you might have to switch to a different app. In that case, which app do you think is the best option here? Share your opinions in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


WhatsApp users can now create avatars to use as stickers or profile pic

Previously, we reported that Avatar is coming soon to WhatsApp and now, lo and behold, the feature is now available on the popular messaging platform. Announced by WhatsApp today, Avatar is a new and personalised way to express oneself on the app.

In a statement, WhatsApp elaborated that a user’s avatar is a digital version of the user that can be created from billions of combinations of diverse hairstyles, facial features and outfits. On WhatsApp, users can now use their personalised avatar as their profile photo or choose from one of 36 custom stickers reflecting many different emotions and actions.

The Meta-owned company further said that it will continue to introduce and deliver more style enhancements. These include lighting, shading, hairstyle textures, and more that will make avatars even better over time.

With the ability to really customise users’ appearance with skin tone, hair, body type and outfits, among other things, Avatar can really help WhatsApp users represent themselves in all their diversity. The statement further announced that the feature will be rolling out to users everywhere from today.

So, what do you guys think of this new feature on WhatsApp? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news such as this.


WhatsApp users can now delete messages a little over 2 days after it was sent

Popular messaging platform WhatsApp today announced an update to the app that would allow users to delete messages a little over two days after it was sent. Previously, the option to delete a sent message is only within an hour after it was sent.

Ironically shared by the Meta-owned company on Twitter, WhatsApp said that the option is definitely useful for those that are rethinking the message that’s already sent. There is a caveat though to the new feature as all recipients must be updated to the most recent version of WhatsApp for it to actually work.

Furthermore, you won’t actually get a notification from WhatsApp if the message wasn’t deleted on other recipients, so you just have to take a leap of faith, I guess? In case you’re not familiar on how to delete sent messages on the app, all you have to do is to tap and hold on the message that you want to be removed, click ‘Delete’ and select ‘Delete for everyone’.

So, what do you guys think of this new update by WhatsApp? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


WhatsApp video and voice call functionality could be coming to WhatsApp Web very soon

Based on a statement by WABetaInfo.com, it seems that the developers of WhatsApp might be keen on implementing WhatsApp voice and video call to WhatsApp web. Currently, if you are interested in engaging in either a voice or video call on WhatsApp, you can only do it on either a smartphone or a tablet.

However, with the new feature which will be implemented sometime in the near future, we could join any voice or video call without the need to use our smartphones. However, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that the WhatsApp developers have yet to provide an official statement on the leak.

What are your thoughts on being able to perform voice and video calls on WhatsApp Web? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


WhatsApp will allow users to change the voice message playback speed in the future

It seems that a tweet by @WABetaInfo revealed that WhatsApp could be working on allowing users to alter the playback speed on voice messages in the near future. While not much is known in regards to when the feature will be publicly available, it does give us a better idea of what to expect when it is officially available.

To go into more detail regarding the feature, it seems that users are able to choose between 1.0x, 1.5x and 2.0x playback speed, allowing them to listen to the message more quickly. With that being said, it looks like a feature that’s extremely useful for those who constantly have to listen to voice messages of someone who loves to ramble.

With all that said, do take some of the information with a grain of salt, due to the fact that the developers of WhatsApp have yet to provide an official statement on the leaked info. What are your thoughts on being able to adjust the playback speed of voice messages in the future? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


WhatsApp will allow you to keep messages from disappearing messages soon

There is a couple of times when we accidentally sent a message to the wrong person. While you can "unsend" a message, it's pretty awkward to see the message "This messaged has been deleted". But what if you want to save back your deleted message? The WhatsApp team is working on that far better than that.

According to WABetaInfo.com, the WhatsApp team is working on a new feature called "Kept Messages" that will complement Disappearing Messages. For the latter, Disappearing Messages is exactly what you think - sending a message that would disappear within a period. This feature is currently in beta testing on both iOS and Android.

As for Kept Messages, the WhatsApp team is working to bring this feature to iOS, Android and WhatsApp desktop versions. Kept Messages can be found within a group or contact info, in between Starred messages and Mute notifications. We assume that you can press hold on a certain message, including the Disappearing Message and save it into Kept Messages.

There is no timeline of when Kept Messages will arrive but given WhatsApp's reputation, we don't really need to wait that long. The WhatsApp team has been on a roll lately, with plans to release leaving a group silently, importing filter chat from WhatsApp Business, WhatsApp Companion mode that links two phones at the same time and many more. The most recent update was WhatsApp Reaction.

Are you looking forward to WhatsApp's Kept Messages in the future? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


WhatsApp will continue support for older Android versions until 2020

The renowned Facebook-owned, instant-messaging titans, WhatsApp has recent updated their policy on the company’s website, stating that older Android versions will continue to receive support and services from WhatsApp until 2020.

Initially, WhatsApp has reported that supports will cease for Android 2.1 and Android 2.2 by the end of 2016. However, their recent website update has shown that they have made a whole U-turn and decided to continue support for older Androids from up to Android 2.3.7 until February 2020.

This spells good news for those vintage Android users and your dearest aunties, uncles and grandparents who simply cannot part from their ancient Android devices as they will be able to continue using the instant-messaging wonder app, WhatsApp.

Keep in mind that even though older Androids may still receive continued support, they may not enjoy all the latest WhatsApp features as the company no longer actively develops for those platforms. No more new Emojis.

Stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest news and updates.


Are you a Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+ and Note8 user but not really utilizing your Bixby? Well, you should! Bixby may look like any other A.I. assistant, but it's capable of more than what you think it can do. So without further ado, here are 5 Samsung Bixby features that make your life better.

Did you know that you can command Bixby to not just open its camera, but also edit a photo, take a screenshot, crop it, snap a live focus photo and do a quick edit? This is quite impressive and imagine doing all this without having to lift a finger and we can see this being useful when your hands are tied up with other stuff. Additionally, Bixby is able to scan an object and display a list of similar objects available on the internet. Plus, Bixby is also able to perform cross-app commands like "send the picture just taken to Mom", try it!

What does it mean by setting quick commands? Well, for starters - when you want to call someone with Siri, you can just say "Call Bob" and it will direct you immediately. But with Bixby, you can customize your contacts with quick commands.

For example, you can just set "Office" and whichever number is set under it, Bixby will make a call from your command. Pretty neat, huh? Now you can make fun of your friends by calling them funny names with Bixby.

Initially, Bixby could only understand English and Korean but now it can understand Mandarin as well! It's been available since late December last year, thanks to the support and strong interests of the Mandarin Chinese speaking community in Malaysia. You can now say “dă kāi xiàng jī (open the camera) and Bixby will do the honours of opening up the camera.

Besides that, you can also use Mandarin for Reminder, mySamsung app, Bixby Lab and more. All in all, Malaysian users who prefer Mandarin as their first language will have an easier time using Bixby for voice commands of various tasks.

We all know you shouldn't drive and text, or even if you're on the phone while driving, chances of you getting "saman" is pretty high should a policeman spot you. So how about accepting an incoming call using Bixby? Yup, so once again, you don't need to lift a finger to accept the call and just use voice command to accept or decline that call. Better still, since the Galaxy S8, S8+ and Note8 are water resistant, you can take it with you when you're showering, accept the call and switch on the loudspeaker with Bixby. Super convenient!

Bixby can help you send a text to anyone in your contact list

You didn't read that wrong, you can actually customize Bixby's voice command! For example, you can customize "Turn on Do Not Disturb" mode as "Good Night" and upon hearing that command, Bixby will take action by turning on your selected alarm and turn on the blue light filter mode. With such a handy customization in your hands, Bixby is sure bringing convenience and shortcut customization to another level.

So what do you think of Bixby now? At this moment, we definitely think Bixby has the upper hand over Siri so here's a thumb's up for Samsung. We look forward to what Bixby can do more in the future when the Galaxy S9 and S9+ shows up in Malaysia soon. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more tech articles at TechNave.com.


Apple iPhone 11 Pro still works after submerged in lake for 30 days

We have seen much news about previous models of iPhone survived extreme circumstances but seldom heard anything about the recent models. Now, it's time for it as a source reported that a woman retrieved a fully-functional iPhone 11 Pro after being submerged in the lake for 30 days.

A woman named Angie Carrier went fishing on Vasquez Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada and accidentally dropped the smartphone into the water. At the moment, the woman was hopeless about getting it back but somehow realized the photos in it are too precious to be lost forever. After 30 days, she went searching for it with a magnet and successfully found the device after two hours. Surprisingly, the iPhone still works as normal even if it's been in the lake for such a long time.

The iPhone 11 Pro is IP68-rated for water resistance but it looks like it's enough for it to survive such circumstances. Not only the Pro variant, but the iPhone 11 has also spent 6 months at the bottom of Harrison Lake in Canada. After being found, simply cleaning the phone somehow miraculously brought the device back to life.

Let us know what you think about this news on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more interesting tech news.


WhatsApp will get self-destructing messages in the future

Based on a statement by AndroidHeadlines, it seems that WhatsApp by Facebook will most likely come with self-destructing messages which will delete themselves within an hour or up to a year. With that said, the aforementioned feature is expected to be available only on private chats while group chats will not have it.

As of now, there is no news on the Malaysia release date of the feature as well as whether we can set the self-destruction timer to less than an hour. Would you be using the upcoming WhatsApp feature extensively? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


WhatsApp will have in-app ads starting next year

WhatsApp has announced that starting next year, users will begin to see ads in the messaging app on both Android and iOS. The first ads will be implemented into WhatsApp status, a feature similar to Instagram stories on the app.

The ads will include the company name as well as a swipe up feature, the same way ads are shown on Instagram stories. Honestly, those types of ads don’t bother me too much, mostly due to the fact that not many users actually use WhatsApp stories or are bothered too much by the ads on Instagram stories.

However, due to the small number of users using WhatApp status, we may be seeing more ways the company could implement ads into the app such as ads between chats or ad banners at the bottom of the screen. Let’s hope not. Are you happy with ads in between WhatsApp statuses? Keep up with the latest app updates in Malaysia on TechNave.com!


WhatsApp will have message reactions soon and it's currently in beta testing

A message reaction in WhatsApp? Yup, you read that right. The WhatsApp team is finally working on this feature and it's currently out in beta testing for some beta users. The last we heard about this was roughly seven months ago, so let's check out if there's any new progress.

According to the reliable WhatsApp beta news source, WABetaInfo.com, there would be six types of reactions for each WhatsApp message. The six reactions are the typical Like, Love, Laugh, Surprised, Sad and Thanks. For now, it seems to work for mobile-only as the GIF image below shows you can press hold a message and the reactions will appear.

WABetaInfo.com also mentioned that a few weeks ago, there was a WhatsApp beta for iOS on managing reaction notifications. WhatsApp Desktop beta also got the same but we aren't sure how it will be implemented since there's no touch screen support. Well, they will have to figure it out eventually.

It should take a few weeks for the WhatsApp team to roll out this new feature. So until then, we just have to sit tight and wait until it's ready. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


WhatsApp will let users pause audio recordings in the future

Have you ever tried sending voice messages in WhatsApp, but got cut off because you let go of the button? The chances of that happening isn't zero, and sometimes you might get distracted and want to get back to recording your message. In that case, wouldn't a pause button be amazing?

Not all of us use the voice recording feature. But if you do, you would know that you normally have to click and hold on the record button in WhatsApp to record an audio message. You don't have to do that with the Web or Desktop version, but you can't pause the recording in those either. If someone or something interrupts you, then you have to record your message again.

That won't be a problem anymore with the new feature. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is testing the pause feature for audio recording internally. It's not even available on beta yet, but a preview for the feature was leaked online. As you can see, you can now pause while recording and resume the recording as you like. There will even be a waveform for the message, though that's more decorative than useful for most people.

It's nice to see WhatsApp continue to develop new features to improve the app's user experience. For us, the Multi-device feature is the best feature to release in 2021. How about you? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


WhatsApp will let you "undo" your deleted message to save you from embarrassment

A few hours ago, WhatsApp just tweeted a new feature that's coming soon. If you have accidentally deleted a message but want it back, fret not because there will be an Undo feature to bring it back.

According to sources, this Undo feature is apparently called "accidental delete" and will show a five-second window to allow you to undo your action. This works in any chat room and is super useful in a situation whereby you accidentally "Delete for Me" instead of "Delete for Everyone".

"Delete for Me" We've all been there, but now you can UNDO when you accidentally delete a message for you that you meant to delete for everyone! pic.twitter.com/wWgJ3JRc2r

As always, the upcoming feature will be coming to both iOS and Android phones. It has also been tested on a few iOS and Android users back in August. Honestly, it's been a long time coming but hey, better late than never. Until then, stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


WhatsApp will no longer be available to older Android and iOS smartphones starting from 1st February 2020!

Today, WhatsApp has stopped working on Windows phone and here’s something you need to get your attention on if you are still using an old Android or iOS smartphone. The popular Facebook-owned messaging platform, WhatsApp has just updated that it will stop providing any support on Android 4.0.3 or iOS 9 and below.

According to the report, users on the older devices that have lower than Android 4.0.3 and iOS 9 versions will unable to register or verify their devices to sign in to the app starting from 1 February 2020 onwards. The company also mentioned this decision was made due to not being able to actively develop for the older operating systems and might malfunction any time.

So if you rely on WhatsApp messaging regularly, be sure to pamper yourself with a new Android or iOS smartphone in the coming new decade as one of your new year’s resolution bucket lists! But if you have an alternative solution for it, do let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more news updates on TechNave.com!


WhatsApp will no longer disable accounts after 15 May 2021

Update: It seems that users will in fact be losing some functionalities if they refuse to accept the privacy policy. The details can be found here.

Hard-handed approaches could make some people push back harder, something WhatsApp is finding that out the hard way. Even though users would have their accounts deactivated, the company still failed to get people to agree to its new privacy policy. That's probably why its plans have changed.

If you recall, WhatsApp made changes to its privacy policy which allowed it to share data with other Facebook companies. It was soon revealed that those who failed to accept the new policy would be locked out of the app. Specifically, you wouldn't be able to read or send messages via the app. The company will also delete inactive accounts after 120 days.

However, the company has decided to make a U-turn on that decision. According to Wccftech, users will now no longer lose access to the app. Their accounts won't be deleted either, even if they don't accept the new policy. Of course, WhatsApp will continue to send reminders to users about it.

With that said, have you accepted WhatsApp's new data privacy policy? If you decided to switch to a new app, which one are you using now? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


WhatsApp will now have large image previews for links for mobile devices

As you know, messaging apps can be used to share a variety of different content. But besides images, the thing we mostly share are URLs. When you share links on WhatsApp, you get to see what's on the site. Now, preview links are getting an upgrade.

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is rolling out large link previews to WhatsApp. The company has been testing the feature internally since last month but has officially rolled out the feature to beta users on iOS and Android. As the name suggests, this feature provides you with a large image preview of the link being shared.

WhatsApp is rolling out large previews when sharing links, for iOS and Android beta testers!https://t.co/TlWxMYdc7A

Note that the desktop app for WhatsApp already has relatively large image previews. But on smartphones, the larger sizes would be useful to get a quick look at what's on the site at a glance. Besides large preview links, WhatsApp is currently working on Multi-device, Disappearing mode, and the transfer of chat history from iOS to Android.

Of the bunch, the Multi-device feature is still the one most people are looking forward to. But are there any other features that WhatsApp should add to its platform? Share your ideas in the comments below, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


WhatsApp will release side-by-side feature to Android soon

If you work on tablets, you might appreciate the next WhatsApp update for Android. The company announced several new features last month, and the busy month ended with an upcoming update that applies to tablets.

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will add the option to toggle side-by-side view on Android tablets in the upcoming version 2.23.9.20 update. This feature lets you switch the UI on WhatsApp, so you can track your list of chat groups and chat rooms simultaneously. This is already on the desktop version, so those who use it should be familiar with it.

Besides this feature, WhatsApp also has other updates lined up for iOS and Android. For iOS, version 23.8.78 lets you limit your polls to a selection per user. This is for instances where you only want one answer to your poll instead of multiple ones. WhatsApp will also add the option to share your status to Facebook in version 2.23.9.22 for Android. Doesn't sound all that useful, but you might want it.

Since WhatsApp is the de facto choice for many Malaysians, it's great to see it updated frequently. But other than the above, what features would you like to see in future updates? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.


WhatsApp will soon allow iOS users to view profile pictures in system notifications

WhatsApp is bringing its first new feature in 2022. The messaging platform will now allow iOS users to view the profile pictures in the notifications from top-screen banners and the Notification Center when they receive a text.

The feature spotted by WEBetaInfo uses APIs in iOS 15 to work, and it might be a thing some iOS users have been asking for. WhatsApp has been allowing Android users to view the profile pictures in system notifications for some time. Therefore, it should be time for the feature to be available on iOS too.

It's said that WhatsApp is still beta-testing the feature. Since it's a new one, it would need some time to fix the bugs before rolling it out to millions of users on iOS devices worldwide. The last update WhatsApp brought to iOS came with a feature that prevents strangers to view the 'Last Seen' status. Let's hope that the messaging platform will continue to improve itself this year like it did in 2021!

What do you think about the feature? Drop a comment to let us know your thoughts and stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest tech news.


Apple iPhone 11 gets into DxOMark Top 10

The Apple iPhone 11 is now out on DxOMark getting a score of 109, placing it at number 10 with the Huawei P20 Pro. Just like in our review, DxOMark notes that the iPhone 11 delivers great camera performance all round but does have some issues with zoom or details for bokeh shots due to the lack of tele-lens sensor.

They found that the wide-angle lens and low-light or night shots of the iPhone 11 were spot on despite being the lower-end version of the series. This is just fine for everyday usage and most situations, but if you're invested in the Apple ecosystem and want a bit more in terms of photography then the iPhone 11 Pro or 11 Pro Max are the better choice.

If you're not invested, then the DxOMark Top 10 are still dominated by Android devices from Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Samsung and OPPO. The iPhone 11 Pro Max shares 4th place with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G which also retains the highest Selfie rank as well. Stay tuned to TechNave.com and we'll keep you updated.


WhatsApp will soon allow users to customize stickers using own images

Finally, WhatsApp might soon allow users to create custom stickers on the messaging platform. The feature gets spotted and shared by tipster Mukul Sharma in a few screenshots on making stickers using our own images. If nothing goes wrong, it might get released with the upcoming update.

It looks like WhatsApp will be adding an extra '+' button under the sticker tab. After clicking on it, you can utilize various tools to make the perfect sticker you can use in your daily conversations. Furthermore, it is found out that the web version can also access the feature, as discovered by Android Authority.

Recently, WhatsApp has also tested a feature that lets users selectively hide their 'Last Seen' status from individuals, rather than turning it off for everyone. There's also a revised version of multi-device functionality, which allows a WhatsApp account to be active on four devices, even if the primary device is offline or unavailable.

Do you find this feature attractive, or you're good with the stickers you have now? Or you never use any? Let us know your answer by dropping a comment and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more tech news.


WhatsApp will soon allow you to link up 4 iPhones or iPads

In recent months, WhatsApp has been adding features that allow users to link their accounts to more devices. Last month, the company introduced a feature called Companion Mode, which is now in beta for Android users. Now, it looks like the feature is coming to iOS too.

As revealed previously, Companion mode lets WhatsApp users connect their accounts to multiple phones. For iOS users, the feature will be added in the upcoming version 23.10.76. Once updated, you can use your account on up to four iOS devices. This can be a combination of an iPhone or iPad.

The good thing about Companion mode is it ensures that chat history is synced across all linked devices. On top of that, all your messages and calls will get end-to-end encryption. There might be a few things that won't get synced properly, but that's expected since the feature is still in beta.

Now that this feature is out, we're hoping that users can link a mix of linked Android and iOS devices too. After all, some people might have an Android phone but use an iPad. How about you? Let us know what you think of this WhatsApp feature in the comments below.


WhatsApp will soon block users from screenshotting ‘View Once’ videos and photos

Popular messaging platform WhatsApp is currently testing a new feature on the iOS version of the app that would block users from taking screenshots of photos or videos sent using the ‘View Once’ feature. Spotted on the latest beta version of the app for iOS, the feature blocks both screenshots and screen recordings of ‘View Once’ media sent on the platform.

Shared by WABetaInfo, this new privacy safeguard is available on WhatsApp beta for iOS version 22.21.0.71 and accordingly, may feature in the final version of the app in the future. With the safeguard in place, users that try to take a screenshot or a screen recording of a ‘View Once’ media will be greeted with an error message saying that the action is “blocked for added privacy”.

In case you’re not familiar, the ‘View Once’ feature on WhatsApp is similar to Snapchat and Instagram’s disappearing messages which allows users to only view a video or photo once before it is no longer available. As for the new screenshot blocking feature, it will show the aforementioned error message instead of the content being shared on the screenshot, which is a nice touch.

As of right now, it is not known when this feature will make its way to the final version of WhatsApp, if at all. However, given how it enhances the privacy of users, we’re sure WhatsApp will be implementing the feature widely in the near future.


WhatsApp will still deactivate your account after 120 days!

After WhatsApp has implemented its new privacy policy and requested the users to accept it, it has gotten international backlash. Although the company has stepped back without deactivating users' accounts, there are still some consequences the users will face by not accepting the new policy.

According to the new FAQ page, if users are still yet to accept the new policy, WhatsApp will have persistent reminders for a short period of time and users won’t be able to access into their chat lists but still be able to receive incoming voice and video calls over it. But if users still refuse, then WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone until you accept it.

Although it is stated that users account won’t be deactivated, but bare in mind that if you keep the app installed and won’t be able to access your contact list and even receive any calls or messages, your account will be considered as inactive account after 120 days and it will still be deleted due to inactivity.

With that said, there’s just a matter of time until you accept the policy or move out from the messaging app. So what are you next move? Are you accepting it or moving to another messaging app? Let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more tech news updates on TechNave.com.


WhatsApp working on a shortcut button for to send money via iOS devices

Many Malaysians use online banking regularly now, making payments and transferring money through the Internet. E-wallets can also do that, which is why many have begun to use them. But it seems some people think you should be able to do transactions via messaging apps like WhatsApp too.

In fact, WhatsApp launched WhatsApp Pay last year to do just that. The feature allows users to send and receive money through the app, though it's currently available only in Brazil and India. According to WABetaInfo, the company is working on a shortcut button for WhatsApp Pay on iOS devices.

WhatsApp is working on the payment chat shortcut on WhatsApp beta for iOS too.The shortcut is under development and it will be visible in a future update in India and Brazil https://t.co/9n4dhWfgk8 pic.twitter.com/flk81NUAka

To send money, all you have to do is tap on the icon next to the message input bar. Currently, the feature is only available to beta testers in India but is expected to roll out to other regions in the future. WhatsApp has been working on a lot of other things lately, like formerly adding an iPad version of WhatsApp, Disappearing messages, Multi-device, and more.

Back on topic, it's hard to say if WhatsApp Pay will ever be a thing here, as Malaysias are more used to online banking and e-wallets. But if WhatsApp Pay lets us send money without any taxes or charging a service fee, maybe the feature could be successful. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news.


Whatsapp has rolled out a new "ADD TO CART" feature on Business Accounts!

Ever since Facebook took charge of the WhatsApp messaging platform, the company has added more features to it which no longer just a simple messaging app anymore. Recently, WhatsApp has just added a “Shopping Button” and today, the company continues on with an “ADD TO CART” feature.According to the support page on the WhatsApp website, the CART button will appear when browsing through the catalogs. As you browse through the business catalog, you can either ADD TO CART or MESSAGE BUSINESS and if you choose the first option, the item will be added to your cart and you can add as many as you want from a seller.

After adding the items to your cart, you can either continue to browse and add more items to the cart or press the CART BUTTON at the top right of the catalog to view your list of items. You can share the entire list with your seller in one message once you’re done shopping. If you have any questions about the products, you can edit and send in an inquiry message along with the added items. The items will only be purchased after the seller confirms it.

Either way, the new CART feature has been rolled out globally for business users and it really adds up some convenience to the buyers and sellers. And if you’re wondering how do you get to do that, that is only applicable whenever you browse to a business account with their catalogs. Stay tuned for more tech news updates on TechNave.com.


Whatsapp now features multi-recipient sent mode and ‘frequent chats’

If you are the type that sends Whatsapp messages to many people at once, the new update on the world’s most popular chat app may interest you. They now have enabled multi-message sending and a ‘frequent chats’ module.

The first allows you to send the same chat message you have composed to multiple different contacts and/or group chats. All you need to do is long-press the first recipient to unlock a multi-selection mode. Select your indented contacts, and press send. No more copy and paste the same message to multiple chat windows.

‘Frequent chats’ meanwhile sits on top of your recent chats, and it will be the, well, most frequent chats you have made and done thus far – making it easier for you to reply to your chat quickly.


Whatsapp now stops random people from adding you into groups

Have you ever been added into a Whatsapp chat group with a whole bunch of other randoms and end up being spammed with gambling links? Now Whatsapp is combatting that with a new update that stops others from adding users into groups.

The way this works is pretty straight forward, you’ll be given three ways for people to add you into groups: Everyone (meaning anyone can add you into a group), My Contacts (only people in your contacts list may add you into a group) and Nobody. If you opt for nobody, the only way you’ll be able to be added into a group is via an invite through private message. The invite eventually expires after 3 days.

Finally! WhatsApp introduces an invite system to help you decide who can add you to groups.- Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups - Select one option: “Nobody,” “My Contacts,” or “Everyone.” “Nobody” means you'll have to approve joining every group to which you're invited. pic.twitter.com/pFxyZIdlVS

To set up the feature, head on over to Settings > Account > Privacy> Groups and choose from the options given. Whatsapp has mentioned that this update has been long requested by users. Through this update, the company adds, users would be able to have more control over the group messages they receive. So far, this update is out in India and is rolling out in stages globally. Does this make your experience on Whatsapp better? For the latest app news, TechNave.com is your most reliable source!


Whatsapp updates their internal camera app with stickers and fun stuff

The top messaging-app has been updated to make it a bit more, well, fun. With the latest version of WhatsApp, users will be able to customize and improve the photos and video they want to share with friends and family. There's a set of new camera features that have been implemented in the Android version of WhatsApp, which enable users to write or draw on photos and videos.

The new features includes a built-in editing tool that you will see right after you taken the photo or video, support for front-facing flash (like on the Honor 7, Sony Xperia XA Ultra and the HTC Desire Eye), and a first for Android – zoom function for video recording. You can also simply switch between the front and rear-facing camera with a touch of a button.

The new features are set to go live on Android now (not in Malaysia at the time of this posting) so you can beautify your pictures and videos to be sent to your friends and family – right in the app. How nifty is that?


Whatsapp will no longer support older Android and iOS devices as well as Windows phones

Pretty much everyone we know in Malaysia is using Whatsapp. Its convenient and allows users to communicate via text over different devices regardless of type and brand. However, we may not be able to communicate with our friends on the Windows phone and older Android and iOS devices as Whatsapp will no longer be available on that device.

Any device running systems older than the  Android 2.3.7 and iOS 7 will no longer receive support from Whatsapp starting from the 1st of February 2020. Eventually, these devices will miss out on several features as well as key updates which would likely mean that the app would no longer be able to work properly any longer so users with older devices might want to consider upgrading their devices before the deadline if they want to continue utilizing the app.

As for the Windows Phone, the announcement comes hand in hand with Microsoft’s decision to end support for their mobile operating system next year. By the 31st of December 2019, Whatsapp will no longer work on any Windows Phone so if this affects you, you may want to consider getting a different alternative as a smartphone.

As of now, older devices aren’t able to create or re-verify Whatsapp accounts. Devices running Android 2.3.7 is almost 10 years old and the iOS 7 was released 6 years ago so it is high time for owners to be upgrading their phones by now. Will you be upgrading your smartphone due to this? For the latest news on the most popular apps, stay tuned to TechNave.com!


Apple iPhone 11 review - The perfect 12MP flagship cameraphone

Right after Apple unveiled the new iPhone 11 series, we didn't expect the flagships to arrive so soon in Malaysia just after a week. Despite being pricey as usual, they still got sold out during the pre-order period and many customers had to wait for Apple Malaysia to restock. What is happening? Was the hype real?

If you're wondering whether the iPhone 11 really lives up to the hype, you've come to the right place. I've been using the iPhone 11 for about three months now, so this is not some quick review as usual. Is it still relevant in 2020? Here is my longterm review for the iPhone 11.

Apple is notoriously known for having minimal changes on their iPhones over the years. Depending on how you see it, it can be a good or bad thing. The good thing is that they are keeping the iPhone identity simple so that consumers can recognize it straightaway, and the bad thing? Let's just say there are also other people complaining that Apple is just being lazy on bringing a new design. It's true that they don't do much for the phone's appearance, but let's also not forget that they are also responsible for setting the notch trend in the first place.

Apple have reverted back to the glass design on the front and back, surprisingly it is pretty tough

The classic silent and volume button on the left side, while the Lightning port and speaker grills are at the bottom (there's one at the top too)

As usual, it only has one SIM slot. The power button is at the same row

The dual rear camera has a rather protruding bump, but that can be easily solved with a protective casing (highly recommended)

This year Apple came out with their rather polarizing rear camera design (dual rear cameras for the iPhone 11 and triple for the iPhone 11 Pro). We have to admit, it's a bit of a love-it or hate-it moment but it is certainly eye-catching and unique looking. One look at the rear camera hump, and people know, you've got an Apple iPhone 11.

To add on, Apple smartly gave more colour options for the iPhone 11 - there are white, black, green, yellow, purple and the popular (PRODUCT)RED which resonates with fans a lot (and contributes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS). There are six colours in total and a crowd-pleaser to consumers who just want the vanilla iPhone 11.

The iPhone 11 series actually has the same A13 Bionic chipset and memory capacity, just the difference lies in the screen size and body material, camera module, and battery. One should never look down on the 4GB of RAM as iOS operates differently, requiring less power for app optimization. For the iPhone 11, the biggest memory storage you can get is up to 256GB which isn't bad and its display is using LCD instead of OLED for the pro variants.

Here are the tech specs of the iPhone 11:

Although it's the lesser version of the pro variants, the iPhone 11 is still a powerful flagship and we will get to that later at the performance section. The most obvious upgrade from its predecessor is the camera module. Instead of using a telephoto lens, it has been replaced by a 12MP ultra-wide lens with a rather wide 120° field of view.

Apple is pretty late to the party, but for their first attempt, the results are quite satisfying. With a dual 12MP ultra-wide and main camera, this allows the user to switch in between the modes seamlessly and this includes video recording as well (even during recording). Unfortunately, the ultra-wide lens has the fish-eye effect if you're taking a group photo (or something near) at close range and doesn't have OIS (which most phones don't).

The camera UI hasn't changed that much except for introducing a new 16:9 option and the ultra-wide angle switch

Another feature that Apple implemented late (hey, give them a break, they only launch one phone series a year lol) is the Night Mode and from my experience, the results certainly surprised me a lot. Not trying to sound biased or anything, but Apple's Night Mode is just on another whole level. Not only is it capable of taking starry night photos but the software can automatically analyze the environment on how much light is needed. Of course, you can do it yourself manually which gives you a lot of freedom.

Other than that, the camera user interface remains more or less the same except that the Portrait Mode has a new High-Key Light Mono effect which is pretty cool. Deep Fusion technology is also part of the camera software that came later from the iOS 13 update patch but I couldn't really tell how different it was before. Nonetheless, the photo quality is amazing and I can't wait to show you later below.

The High-key Light Mono portrait mode as the latest addition

Dark Mode is available on the latest iOS 13

Difference between normal and ultra-wide mode from the same spot

Difference between normal and Night Mode turned on

Would you believe me if I told you this photo was taken at midnight with lights off?

With the A13 Bionic chipset at hand, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the iPhone 11 is capable of handling graphics-intense games. The battery performance is surprisingly better than expected, as in most cases, I usually don't bother to charge my iPhone 11 overnight unless I had a gaming session. Charging up can be a drag, though, since the box doesn't come with any fast charger so you either have to borrow or buy one by yourself.

The water and dust resistance have been upgraded to IP68 as well, so that means it can now dive up to 2 metres in the pool for 30 minutes. However, I won't recommend bringing it to the sea for a swim because of the salt. It's also worth noting that the A13 Bionic chipset helps out with smooth 4K video recording @ 60fps so that's nice.

Like most mobile game apps, the iPhone 11 automatically adjusts Call of Duty: Mobile on the highest setting by default

For comparison, the top Android phone of 2019 in AnTuTu didn't even pass the 400k score point

Battery life chart, the iPhone 11 will last you more than a day easily

Finally, my favourite part of the review - photography! I've mentioned about the Night Mode earlier but didn't really touch on the photo quality. Is it good? Can it match up to those Android phones with up to 108MP cameras? Every time my friends asked me that question, I'd just let the photos speak for themselves.

One fine photo that I love showing to my friends and family is the anthill photo below. At first glance, it may seem like an ordinary photo but when you zoom in, the ants and even the grains of sand are so crystal clear! May I remind you that there are no camera tricks behind this, it's just the 12MP sensor at work with the Deep Fusion software to provide the best quality possible and this itself is a testament to Apple's camera tech. Anyway, check out the photo samples below!

The anthill photo I was talking about, Portrait Mode

Cropped image of the photo, what do you think?

Close up shots aren't a problem for the iPhone 11

Look at those details (silvertone filter)!

As usual, ultra-wide shots are great for outdoor activities

Another ultra-wide shot with the same ratio

The colour contrast in most photos are not only strong but not too digitalized as well unlike most Android phones

Low-light + portrait mode + silvertone filter

In Night Mode, the iPhone tends to automatically adjust the long exposure shots for you. You can also turn it off and manually set the light sensitivity

The iPhone 11 is capable of catching astrophotography as well, but you really need to get away from the city's light pollution

Last but not least, a Portrait Mode selfie using Natural Light (left) and High-Key Light Mono (right). It was interesting to see that the latter removes the background so effortlessly

After three months of usage, there is actually very little to complain about the iPhone 11. Simple minimalist design, great camera capabilities, and powerful performance in gaming and battery. If I had to nitpick, that'd be the fish-eye effect on the ultra-wide lens but that only occurs on close range and of course, the starting price of RM3399 for just the 64GB model.

For comparison, I think there two flagships that can challenge the iPhone 11 which are the Samsung Galaxy S10e (RRP RM2699) and the OnePlus 7T (RRP RM2599). The reason being is because all these three flagships are the lesser versions of its pro variants, featuring similar camera setups except for the 7T which has an extra telephoto lens. That said, the 7T is the best value one among the three but if you want the iOS experience then the iPhone 11 is the one to go for.

BUT what do you think? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more tech gadget reviews at TechNave.com.


Whatsapp will stop working on certain Android and iOS devices

Whatsapp has announced that it will stop the support for certain operating systems on Android and iOS such as iOS 7 and older as well as Android Gingerbread 2.3.7 and older. Whatsapp has recommended to upgrade your device’s operating system to the latest operating system version your device is able to, in order to receive continued support from the messaging app. For more updates like these, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


When fantasy become reality - A short story by Malaysia's Streamline Studios on co-developing Final Fantasy XV

(L-R)  Hasnul Hadi Samsudin, Alexander L. Fernandez and Wan Hazmer. Stay tuned for FINAL FANTASY XV, the much anticipated open world action role-playing video game scheduled for a worldwide release on 29 November 2016

One of the most anticipated games of the year, Final Fantasy XV will be launching soon worldwide next month. Gamers and FF fans probably know this already, but did you know that Streamline Studios, a local game development studio in Malaysia was also deeply involved?

Streamline Studios is currently the largest game development studio in Malaysia with a wealth of experience from over 200 AAA creative collaborations, they have been involved in many projects such as Bioshock Infinite, Star Citizen, Gears of War, Avatar and Street Fighter V. With such an impressive resume, it's no wonder Square Enix got Streamline into the development back in July 2016 to provide premium development services work on Final Fasntasy XV.

(L-R) Wan Hazmer (Lead Game Designer for FINAL FANTASY XV, Square Enix), Hasnul Hadi Samsudin (Director of Creative Multimedia Division, MDEC) and Alexander L. Fernandez (Chief Executive Officer, Streamline Studios) were delighted to share their experiences on the FINAL FANTASY XV journey together

At a media briefing today, Alexander L. Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Streamline Studios said “Streamline prides itself on constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries to become one of the world’s leaders in global game development. We’ve invested in creating an environment of the best global talents, technology, and creativity and that’s where it’s gotten us today. Our team are honoured to be working together with Square Enix on the development of such a renowned series as FINAL FANTASY”.

Commenting on the partnership between Streamline Studios and Square Enix, Hasnul Hadi Samsudin, Director of Creative Multimedia Division at Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) enthused, “Streamline has proven that Malaysian studios have the capability and capacity to develop high quality games at an international level. The world is sitting up and taking notice of our local talents, and we expect to see more collaborations like Square Enix and Streamline Studios in the future.”

Fernandez added “Streamframe was invented out of necessity by Streamline Studios with the aim of increasing productivity and providing transparency to clients, so that we can be held accountable for our work. With Streamframe you're given the ability to sit down and work next to someone from the other side of the world."

According to the South East Asia Game Industry Initiative study published in 2016, the South East Asian games industry has fastest growth rate of any geographical region, currently flourishing and projected to grow by 30% between 2015 and 2018. In comparison, the global growth rate is estimated at 7% for the same period, this proves games market in South East Asia provides vast opportunities for the industry to capitalize upon.


When is the best time to buy a newly released smartphone?

Ah yes, the age-old question. Should we be catching the early bird promos for the just-released smartphone? Or skip the line and pay full price? Or should we be waiting for the never-ending promotions that come a few weeks after the products are launched?

With so many phones being constantly released on the market, it’s hard to make a decision. For instance, Huawei had recently run a campaign, slashing the prices of the Huawei P30 series and the Huawei Nova 3i starting from the 1st of July. Those who had queued early for their devices were disappointed as they felt that they were being punished for being the first to queue for their devices. Let’s discuss.

Now RM400 and RM100 lesser for the P30 and Nova 3i respectively, damnit!

Back in the pre-order days of the P30 series

The biggest perk when pre-ordering or queueing up for first sales is obviously the free gifts that come from being part of the pre-order or first sales club. Like many smartphone brands, Huawei had given out free gifts totalling up to RM1000 which include the Huawei 1TB hard disk backup (worth RM599), wireless charging protective shell (worth RM268) and diving protective shell (worth RM428). It's pretty hard to say no to that, knowing it comes for free.

But fast forward to a few months later, you're now eligible to purchase the Huawei P30 with a RM400 discount. While it is nice to save some cash but the value does pale in comparison to the RM1000 value of the free gifts during the pre-order / first sales. Despite that, the discount is still very worthwhile.

Let me give you an analogy: Customers who go to a restaurant early to eat will definitely miss the crowd during peak hours. Food will be delivered to them much faster than usual, allowing them to eat happily without having to wait hungrily for their meal to arrive. But what if the restaurant is very popular and is always crowded at all times? Some restaurants will offer promotions for certain meals. However, if you’re late, you may miss out on your favourite meals and the menu offered may be limited by the time you arrive.

What I’m trying to say is, if you decide to buy your device early at full price, you get to enjoy your smartphone much earlier than everyone else without having to wait longer for promotions. If you do decide to wait for promotions, you may end up missing out on the smartphone of your choice entirely as it may have probably sold out. Oh, such a dilemma.

Moore’s Law was proposed by a man named Gordon Moore, one of Intel’s founders. He emphasized that when a price remains constant, the price of brand new launched products in the next 18-24 months will double in price. Imagine the prices of products doubling every time a new product is launched - prices of products would skyrocket due to how fast technology is advancing.

To put it simply, if the price of a newly released smartphone does not fall in the next year, the next devices to come will continue to double in price. This is obviously a burden for consumers.

So when is the best time to purchase a smartphone then? Well, everyone has their own ways of spending money and there is no “best time” to buy a smartphone really - there is only the right time that suits your needs. Some accessories are just too expensive and hard to get which makes the pre-order sales perfect for some consumers. Those with low budget would probably need to wait for offers and promotions to obtain their desired devices. Regardless of how you get your smartphone, you’ll most likely be happy with the outcome.

So instead of thinking of the perfect formula on when to get your smartphone, think about when is best for you to get the smartphone. Your wallet will thank you. If you want to know when the next early bird sales or even promotions are happening, make sure to follow us on the TechNave app on both Android and iOS!


When is too much innovation is too much? Say hello to the Samsung Surfboard

There are many times where innovation is a word we love to use for great ideas and technological leaps. However the latest product coming out from Samsung is something that we may think have pushed the boundaries a wee bit too far. The new Samsung Surfboard combines your smartphone, with a surfboard.

The surfboard has a secret compartment for the Samsung Galaxy S7 which serves as the brain. It is  also fitted with LEDs that show the surfer messages, tweets from his fans, tips from his coach as well as weather conditions – for the surfer to check in the middle of the ocean.

While we applaud new design and technology, this may just be one time that it is a waste to spend R&D on products like this. So far there are no news on availability. Will we see a Samsung Wau? Or perhaps a Samsung Fan? Who knows.


When will Apple iPhone 7 arrive in Malaysia?

The global launch of the Apple iPhone 7 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus just ended early this morning, and we have seen that the global prices of the new phone from Cupertino will be the same to the outgoing smartphone when it was first launched about 11 months ago. The speculation now is – when will Malaysia get the phone?

The Apple iPhone 6S and the Apple iPhone 6S Plus was launched globally on 9th September 2015, and subsequently was launched locally in Malaysia by telco partners about one month later. Like the Apple iPhone 7, Malaysia was not in the first or second round of international release. Price wise, we saw the price for the Apple iPhone 6S starting from RM 3199 for the 16GB version, and all the way to RM 4699 for the Apple iPhone 6S Plus.

As the price for the Apple iPhone 7 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus are the same as the launch price of its predecessor, we can assume that the price will be the same when launched locally. We have seen Apple slashing the price of the current range of Apple iPhone that is available on the Apple website, as well as the increase in storage for the associated models.

We suspect we shall be seeing telco invites to the launch of the Apple iPhone 7 to be issued soon – so stay tuned to TechNave as we bring more news and information on the new Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in Malaysia.


Where to catch the Apple Special Event + rumours on what to expect from the upcoming iPhone

The unveiling for upcoming Apple products will be streamed live at Apple’s official website on 13 September 2018 1:00AM GMT+8. As far as we know, the successor to the iPhone X, iPhone SE 2, 6.5-inch budget iPhones, new and improved Apple watch as well as improvements to iOS operating system is expected to make its debut during the event. Be sure to mark your calendars to catch the live stream this thursday morning.

There were numerous rumours previously covered on what to expect from the upcoming iPhones, rumours such as the possibility that the iPhone X Plus will come equipped with a triple camera setup in the rear similar to that of the Huawei P20 Pro, the 6.5-inch budget iPhone could look like the current iPhone X, the iPhone SE 2 will not feature 3D touch but instead have a “mysterious layer” of sensors, and lastly, more color options of the upcoming iPhones.

6.5-inch budget iPhone that looks like the current iPhone X

However, do take every bit of information in this article with a grain of salt as there were no official statement by Apple to solidify these rumours. Stay tuned to Technave.com as we provide updates during the Apple Special Event 2018 this thursday.


Which Apple iPad Air tablet should you buy? iPad Air vs iPad Air 2

Two months ago, Apple announced its latest flagship in its tablet lineup, the Apple iPad Air 2. But at the same time, Apple slashed the prices of all the previous generation tablets that are available for sale in Malaysia including last year's iPad Air. This actually made things harder for many buyers as now they must choose between buying the latest iPad Air 2 tablet or the slightly more affordable iPad Air from last year. With the recent price listing on Apple Malaysia for the iPad tablets, we decided to compare both the aforementioned models, the iPad Air 2 vs iPad Air to help you decide which one to buy this holiday season.

Unlike the Apple iPad Air, which was a revolutionary upgrade as compared to previous iPad generations, the new iPad Air 2 suggests a gentle upgrade in terms of design. Apple has managed to cut down the thickness of the new iPad by almost 1.4mm, so the new measurements are 240 x 169.5 x 6.1mm. As you can see, except for the change in the thickness, the measurements remain exactly the same. In essence, the iPad Air 2 looks exactly like the earlier iPad Air.

However, there are some subtle differences. For example, Apple has removed the mute/lock rotation button from the new model and has shifted the position of the dual microphones. These changes are not noticeable at first glance, and you could easily mistake the new iPad Air 2 for the old iPad Air. The new iPad is lighter too, and just weighs 437 g (Wi-Fi) and 444 g (3G/LTE). Like in the iPad Mini 3 there is also the new Champagne Gold colour option to choose from.

Apple has incorporated a new processor on the new Apple iPad Air 2. It comes with a modified version of Apple's own A8 processor found on the Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus - the A8X. The original iPad Air comes with Apple's A7 processor with M7 motion co-processor. The new processor should deliver 40% better performance and 2.5 times the GPU performance as compared to the previous generation. The company has also bumped up the RAM on the new model from 1GB to 2GB. There is no memory card slot to expand the internal storage but there are 16GB, 64GB and 128GB storage variants.

The Apple A8X processor offers even better performance

The iPad Air 2 comes with the same 9.7 inch Retina display with 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution as its predecessor. However, the three display components in the tablet, namely cover glass, touch sensor and (IPS) LCD panel are now fully laminated resulting in better contrasts. It also comes with multiple layers of anti-reflective coating which Apple claims reduces reflection by over 54%. This makes for a better overall display on the newer tablet, but the original iPad Air's display is still great, even without these new additions which have mainly been added to increase the thinness of the newer tablet.

The fuly laminated display allows the Apple iPad Air 2 to be thinner than before

The addition of Touch ID is one of the most notable upgrades for the iPad Air 2 as it is the first Apple tablet to get this feature ever since it was introduced on the Apple iPhone. You can unlock the tablet with your unique fingerprint or to authorize payments on the Apple App store. Unfortunately, like the iPad mini 3, the iPad Air 2 does not come with NFC, so it cannot be used like the latest iPhones with Apple Pay. Apple Pay is also currently limited to the US, and the company has not yet announced any plans for its launch in Malaysia. In short, the Touch ID fingerprint scanner on the iPad Air 2 cannot be used for Apple Pay wireless transactions. Although it is a great feature, it isn't really necessary, especially when you cannot use Apple Pay in Malaysia.

As for the camera, Apple has upgraded the 5MP rear iSight camera to 8MP in the new model but the 1.2MP Facetime HD front camera remains the same. This should result in better images taken with the iPad Air 2, but don't expect a remarkable difference in picture quality due to the lack of any LED flash. Check out the detailed tech specs comparison using our comparison tool.

In benchmark tests, the iPad Air 2 easily beats the iPad Air in both CPU and graphics performance. While the iPad Air managed to score just around 1400 and 2600 in the single core and multi-core tests on Geekbench, the newer iPad Air 2 scored well above 1500 and 4500 in the same tests. Even in graphics test, the iPad Air 2 managed to score well over 21000 as compared to the iPad Air's score of 15000. This clearly shows that the iPad Air 2 is superior when it comes to CPU and graphics performance.

However, even though the newer iPad model performed better than the older generation, it does not necessarily mean that the iPad Air performs poorly. As you can see in the picture shown, the iPad Air still easily beats out most other competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5. This means that the iPad Air is still a great tablet with excellent CPU and graphics performance. If you are not planning to use graphic intensive games or apps on your tablet, the older generation iPad Air is still a great tablet to buy.

Interestingly, Apple has reduced the size of the battery in the new iPad Air to 27.62Wh instead of the 32.9Wh battery in its predecessor. This doesn't change the battery life of the new device, even with a faster processor though. This means that both the devices have the same talktime, which is about 10 hours on Wi-Fi and 9 hours on Cellular networks.

The 16GB iPad Air Wi-Fi only model starts at RM1279 while the latest iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi model starts at RM1599. Similarly, there's a RM250 to RM300 difference between the Wi-Fi + Cellular variants of both the tablet models. This means that you could save well over RM250 if you decide to purchase the older generation iPad instead of the latest version.

There's no doubt that the new Apple iPad Air 2 is better than the iPad Air both in terms of design and performance as it is thinner and lighter while maintaining the same battery life and adding on an 8MP rear camera. If you have not bought a larger Apple iPad tablet yet or are using an older iPad 4 tablet then the better buy would certainly be the iPad Air 2. On the other hand, the display on the older iPad Air tablet is more or less the same as the new one and the processor and graphics performance is still very good compared to other competing tablets - even a year after launch. You get all of these for around RM250 less than the price of the iPad Air 2, so we'd recommend you get the older iPad Air if you're not looking to use it for graphics intensive apps or purposes.

In any case, the new pricing has made the larger storage variants more affordable. Therefore, if you are going to get an iPad Air or iPad Air 2 tablet, try to get one with a larger than 16GB storage option. Neither tablet supports expandable memory and the new iOS 8 update may take up to 6GB of your storage space, which will leave you less than 10 GB of available storage if you buy the 16GB version. As of the time of writing, the iPad Air 2 may be listed on the website but is still not available for shipping in Malaysia. So, if you cannot wait for a few more days to get the newer iPad Air 2, the iPad Air is your best bet.