WhatsApp has announced a bunch of new features right in time for the holiday season, and the most notable addition is something that the company thinks “will make voicemails a thing of the past.” In reality, it works much like traditional voicemails, with the added convenience of leaving a video message after missed video calls.

In a blog post, WhatsApp explains that users can now leave a voice or video message after missed calls, depending on the call type. Users on the receiving end can listen to these messages later on with just a tap. In addition to the new voicemail feature, WhatsApp is adding support for reactions in voice chats and a spotlight feature for group calls that prioritizes the speaker to help others easily follow along.

WhatsApp has improved Meta AI’s image generation capabilities using models from Midjourney and Flux, so users should “notice huge improvements when creating annual holiday greetings to share in your chats or status.” The messaging app has also introduced a new feature that lets users animate photos using Meta AI.

Furthermore, the company has introduced a new media tab on desktop. This feature was first spotted in a beta release last month, and it’s finally making its way to the stable channel. The tab lets users search through shared documents, links, and media from all chats in one place.

Other improvements include updated link previews in chats, new interactive stickers for Status, and support for questions in Channels to help admins better engage with audiences. Although WhatsApp doesn’t say exactly when these new features and improvements will reach users, the messenger’s App Store listing states shorter link previews and the spotlight feature for group video calls will roll out over the coming weeks.

Digital Trends

For a while now, it’s been possible to right-click on a file in Windows File Explorer and select the Ask Copilot option, which launches the Copilot app with the file in question as part of the prompt. But it seems this isn’t enough for Microsoft.

According to Windows Latest, a new feature called “Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot” is currently being planned for a future release. Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot will appear in the Home tab of File Explorer as a new option when you hover over individual files.

This option will apparently be better optimized for Office files, offering better results overall. All users will be able to access this feature regardless of chip type (Intel, AMD, Snapdragon).

On top of that, Copilot+ PCs will also gain a new AI feature called “Universal Writing Assistant” that appears as a pop-up when interacting with text fields on web pages. The assistant will be able to proofread, correct errors, and even rewrite entire chunks of text.

The new features are currently being tested, so expect them to be launched after the end of the year.

PCWorld

WhatsApp is getting its own version of a status update feature, similar to Instagram Notes.

As on Instagram, the new feature allows users of the Meta-owned messaging app to post a short text update that can be seen by others. In this space, you could let people know what you’re up to or what’s new in your life.

The company suggests users could also post something that could serve as a conversation starter, or they could use the space to share why they might not be available to talk at present.

While the addition may be new to many, the company points out in a blog post that this “About” feature, as it’s called, was actually WhatsApp’s first feature. Before WhatsApp focused on secure, private messaging, it allowed people to quickly share short updates like this.

With the feature’s relaunch, WhatsApp is making users’ “About” status more visible than before. Others will now be able to see your status at the top of their one-on-one chats with friends and users’ profiles. Plus, users can tap on someone’s About status in a chat to reply to it directly.

Like Instagram Notes, the WhatsApp About status will disappear in a day by default.

However, the company says users can adjust the timer if they want to have it disappear more quickly or stick around longer than 24 hours. Plus, users can decide whether their About status can be seen by just their contacts or if it’s more publicly visible.

At launch, the feature is not as robust as Instagram Notes, which also supports short, looping videos and offers integrations that let you share the music you’re streaming. But if the new feature sees wide adoption, those types of improvements could come in time.

WhatsApp says the feature is rolling out to users on mobile devices starting this week.

TechCrunch

WhatsApp is adding a new way to access your encrypted backups with passkey support. This means if you lose your device, you can use methods like fingerprint, face, or the screen lock code of your previous device to access WhatsApp’s backup.

For years, WhatsApp didn’t have an encryption layer for its chat backups. However, in 2021, Meta added a way for users to protect their backups with end-to-end encryption using either passwords or 64-character encryption keys.

The trouble with both is that you have to remember your backup password or have the encryption key handy while restoring the backup. With passkeys, you don’t need to look for the password or the key.

WhatsApp, which crossed 3 billion active users in May, said that this feature will be rolled out to users in the coming weeks and months, so you might have to keep a eye on when it becomes available to you.

You can go to Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup to enable encrypted backups and check if you have an option to use passkeys.

TechCrunch

Meta is shutting down Messenger’s standalone desktop apps for Windows and Mac on December 15, the company confirmed to TechCrunch on Thursday.

Starting December 15, users will no longer be able to log into the apps and will be automatically redirected to the Facebook website to access Messenger.

“If you’re using the Messenger desktop apps, you’ll get an in-app notification once the deprecation process begins,” a Messenger help page reads. “You will have 60 days to use the Mac Messenger app before it is fully deprecated. Once the 60 days are over, you’ll be blocked from using the Mac Messenger app. We encourage you to delete the app since it will no longer be usable.”

Meta’s plan to wind down these desktop apps was first spotted by Appleinsider.

The company is now alerting users of the upcoming change to give them time to familiarize themselves with other options. For example, Windows users can use the Facebook desktop app, and both Windows and Mac users can access Messenger online.

Meta is encouraging users to activate secure storage and to set up a PIN to save their chat history before moving to the web version. Once users transition to Facebook.com, their chat history will be available on all platforms. Users can check if they have secure storage turned on by clicking the settings icon above their profile picture and then selecting “Privacy & safety, and then clicking “End-to-end encrypted chats.” From there, they need to click “Message storage” to check if “Turn on secure storage” is turned on.

The move comes a year after Meta replaced the native Messenger app with a Progressive Web App back in September 2024. Of course, Meta’s decision to discontinue the desktop apps altogether will likely see some backlash from avid users of the apps.

TechCrunch

Instagram is launching its own awards program, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This is sort of like the Oscars, but for short-form social media content. There isn't an awards ceremony, a comedian host or anything like that. Instead, the 25 winners will get physical rings.

These rings will be designed by fashionista Grace Wales Bonner. Maybe they'll be worth a few bucks, as the recognition doesn't include a financial payout of any kind. However, winners will get a digital replica of a ring to put on their Instagram profile and stories.

Honorees also receive the ability to customize the background color of their profiles, creating a unique gradient. Eva Chen, the head of fashion partnerships at Instagram, says this kind of customization is "something that we haven’t really ever done before." Myspace let people do this more than 20 years ago and Friendster before that.

Instagram has three billion monthly active users and there are only 25 recipients of the aforementioned ring. Judges will whittle down the list down to thousands and then hundreds before settling on the winners. These judges include platform head honcho Adam Mosseri, along with folks like Spike Lee and actress Yari Shahidi.

There are no official categories like with other awards, but the winners will be chosen from across different topics and interest groups. “The criteria was really tough,” Chen says. “But really, we were looking for people who take creative chances and who are always pushing the envelope and thinking about new ways to talk to their audience.”

Instagram hopes this will become a regular thing, just like those other awards. "We’d love to see how it’s received and how the winners enjoy the literal Instagram spotlight,” Chen says. Winners will be announced on October 16.

Engadget