WhatsApp on Windows is about to change – and not everyone will like it
For one, the app will look different from what it did before, and unfortunately (at least for now), it may be working more slowly. It is possible that it also consumes more RAM, and on top of it all, the notifications won't be as good as they are on a native Windows app.
Image Credit - Meta
Luckily, it's not just bad news. The web-based app will also reportedly bring one new feature, Channels. With that version of the app, Channels will be accessible on your Windows PC or laptop. Also, more functionality for Status and Communications is also likely to come with the web-based app. WhatsApp's native Windows app launched back in 2022. Meanwhile, the web version is likely going to be easier to maintain for Meta, so that's probably one of the reasons why the tech giant has decided to replace it. This would mean one less platform to maintain for bugs. Meanwhile, it's also likely that the higher RAM usage and somewhat slow performance could be ironed out by the company before the stable release of the web-based app. We'll have to wait and see to know for sure.
Meta has not specified when the change will occur just yet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GSM Arena
2 days ago
- GSM Arena
WhatsApp might soon let you import profile photos from Facebook and Instagram
Right now, if you want to upload a new profile photo on WhatsApp, you can click a new picture with your phone's camera, select one from your phone's gallery, or use the "AI images" feature. Last month, we heard that WhatsApp was working on letting users display a customized avatar alongside their profile photo, and now we learn that the Meta-owned company might soon let you import profile photos from your Facebook and Instagram accounts. This revelation comes from the folks at WABetaInfo, who shared a screenshot (included below) showing two new options in WhatsApp for Android's Profile menu for importing profile photos directly from Facebook and Instagram. Selecting Facebook or Instagram will allow users to import profile photos from the Facebook/Instagram account linked to WhatsApp. WABetaInfo reports that this feature is optional and turned off by default, and linking WhatsApp with Meta's Account Center for directly importing profile photos from Facebook/Instagram won't affect WhatsApp's privacy protections. This feature was spotted in beta version 2.25.21.23 of WhatsApp for Android and is currently available to some beta testers. However, it's unclear when exactly it will be available to all users of the stable version. Source
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Phone Arena
macOS 26 features that make Windows 11 look outdated
macOS 26 is a big, exciting refresh for Macs and MacBooks — and it's coming this fall. The update brings a beautiful new design called Liquid Glass and a bunch of small but smart changes that make the whole system feel fresh and of the coolest parts? macOS 26 works even better with your iPhone, making everything feel more connected. It's a great example of how smooth Apple's ecosystem can be.I used to lean toward Windows a few years back – but these days, it's starting to feel a bit behind compared to what Apple's been doing. Here's why. One of the biggest changes in macOS 26 is the new Liquid Glass design, which streamlines the experience with other Apple devices. Now, the dock, sidebars, and toolbars are redesigned and feature the same translucent aesthetic. Thanks to this new look, more content is shown on the screen without things getting too cluttered. There are also rounded elements and dimensionality, which make the OS look more modern. You can customize the control center in the same way as you can on an also get to choose between dark and light mode, an all-clear icon, and a dock theme, and you can even customize folder icons. On the other hand, Windows 11 does feel a bit cluttered and clunky. The Liquid Glass look on the Mac manages to make it feel more modern and color-coordinated around the translucency theme, while on Windows 11, each element seems to have its own look, in a way. Yes, you can set Dark/Lite and then a main color and the whole system changes, but we have these legacy menus, due to the way Windows is designed (on top of older versions of the same OS to an extent). These legacy menus look drastically different with the new layout. In my opinion, Windows has a lot of things going on at the same time, and I can sometimes feel drowned in all the forced colors and shade differences. The Phone app on a Mac. | Image Credit - Apple MacOS 26 brings the Phone app to the Mac. This allows for a more streamlined experience between your iPhone and MacBook. You can access recent calls and contacts synced from your iPhone, and make calls as well. This also includes the new iOS 26 features Hold Assist and Call Screening on the Mac, which makes things so much more convenient. Windows 11 does have the option for you to install the Phone Link app, and the connection between your laptop and phone is made via Bluetooth. Of course, you have to fiddle with settings to ensure smoothness, enabled 2FA, link the phone to your account, log in multiple times on both the phone and the app (and hope nothing times out while you do that) and pair the devices via Bluetooth. Or use a cable and hope the cable does what Windows wants it to do. The Phone app on a Mac is way more simple. You need to have your iCloud account signed in on both devices and bam, your Mac is connected to your iPhone, it's really that simple. In some instances, you may need to allow "Calls on Other Devices" on your iPhone, but if you're already using your Mac to pick up calls from your iPhone, you won't need to enable it specifically for the Phone app. Compared to the simplicity of the Phone app on the Mac, Windows' take is one cumbersome process. It's definitely not as seamless. Spotlight is getting seriously smart. | Image Credit - Apple MacOS 26 is also bringing smart integrations to the Spotlight feature. Now, it is no longer a simple search bar, but it's a powerful control panel that works with Shortcuts, and you can even take app-specific actions (powered by Apple Intelligence). Like, for example, Apple showed a demo during WWDC that you can adjust the color tone on a photo in a photo editing app just by searching for that function in Spotlight. And yep, this seems to include complex apps like Photoshop, where finding a specific function can be a big struggle. On top of all that, Spotlight will also contain clipboard history and allow you to create automations with Apple Intelligence . Spotlight also supports shortcut Quick keys, and you can even send messages directly from the Spotlight app itself. On the other hand, we have Windows 11 working on adding an AI assistant to the search bar to help you find what you need. We all know that if you don't know the specific name of the feature or setting that you want to find on Windows, finding it via the search bar is nearly impossible. Meanwhile, Windows Search works in such a way that it tries to catalogue everything you own to help you find it easier. The issue is that it's a background process that has its own routine, and you can see notable performance loss, seemingly out of nowhere. So a majority of Windows users know to disable "Search" as soon as they install Windows, for that main reason. On macOS? That's not required. Continuity is getting a boost with macOS 26. | Image Credit - Apple Continuity is getting a boost with macOS 26, and it's not just the Phone app. You can also now have live activities from your iPhone visible on your Mac. This includes tracking an Uber or a delivery. When you click on the live activity, you'll see iPhone Mirroring, which allows you to take action directly from your Mac. This, coupled with earlier features of macOS such as the Handoff feature, makes the experience of using both an iPhone and a Mac an even better one and absolutely game-changing. Phones are a big part of our lives, and having this seamless integration with your laptop is a huge deal. And yep, you don't need any manual pairing, fiddling with settings, or installing apps to achieve that, it's just there.
Phone Arena
4 days ago
- Phone Arena
Amazon's latest move feels like the future tapping you on the shoulder
Video credit – Bee We've seen this future before – in sci-fi Receive the latest Accessories news Subscribe By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Amazon + Bee = mainstream AI on your wrist What makes this moment feel like a turning point is who is making the moves. Bee started as a niche startup, but now that Amazon's already gone all-in on AI. And it's not just Amazon making waves here. What makes this moment feel like a turning point is who is making the moves. Bee started as a niche startup, but now that Amazon owns it, we could be looking at a future where AI wearables like this become widely available – and way more already gone all-in on AI. Just look at the new version of Alexa , which now uses generative AI to be more helpful (and more human). So it's not hard to imagine a future where Alexa doesn't just live in a speaker – it lives on your wrist, learns from your voice and helps run your life more it's not just Amazon making waves here. Everyone wants in on AI wearables , which let you interact with your own personal Meta AI assistant. For $299, they basically look like regular sunglasses, but smarter. And honestly, considering Ray-Bans already go for that much without AI, the pricing actually makes sense. Meta, for example, has its Ray-Ban smart glasses , which let you interact with your own personal Meta AI assistant. For $299, they basically look like regular sunglasses, but smarter. And honestly, considering Ray-Bans already go for that much without AI, the pricing actually makes sense. Video credit – Meta Then there's Then there's the Rabbit R1 – a $199 standalone AI gadget that's small, portable and loaded with possibilities. It can handle tasks like playing music, ordering groceries, texting friends and planning your route – all with just your voice. It's like a personal assistant that fits in your hand and doesn't judge your snack choices. Humane AI Pin simply did not work as promised. | Video credit – Humane We scroll, swipe, snap pics, text, and yes, doomscroll until 2 a.m. Even when we say we want less screen time, we don't really mean it. At first, I was skeptical – we're pretty attached to our screens, after all. We scroll, swipe, snap pics, text, and yes, doomscroll until 2 a.m. Even when we say we want less screen time, we don't really mean it. But here's the twist: whether or not we want these devices isn't really the point. Tech moves forward – with or without us If there's one thing sci-fi has taught us – and also just, you know, history – it's that new tech doesn't always appear because people are asking for it. It appears because companies can build it, market it, and eventually make us feel like we need it. We weren't begging for smartphones in 2006, but now try going a day without one. Same story might play out here. Right now, I'm not sure I need an AI bracelet that records everything I say. Honestly, it sounds exhausting. But give it time, and we might all be wearing these things – not just because we want to, but because the tech world has already decided they're the next big thing. And once people start using them and realizing they are helpful, it's game over. They'll be everywhere. And that brings us back to Bee. I don't think Amazon randomly decided to buy a little AI wearable startup. This feels like a move made with full awareness that something bigger is coming – like that mysterious OpenAI + Jony Ive project. Amazon wants to be ready. It wants to compete. And sure, some tech giants are quiet for now (think So yeah, AI wearables might feel a bit weird right now. But if they start coming from the biggest tech names – not just small startups – they're going to hit the mainstream fast. And the moment they become truly useful (or just cool enough to flex), we'll probably stop questioning whether we need them at all. Because the future doesn't ask for permission. It just shows up. If there's one thing sci-fi has taught us – and also just, you know, history – it's that new tech doesn't always appear because people are asking for it. It appears because companies can build it, market it, and eventually make us feel like we need weren't begging for smartphones in 2006, but now try going a day without one. Same story might play out here. Right now, I'm not sure I need an AI bracelet that records everything I say. Honestly, it sounds exhausting. But give it time, and we might all be wearing these things – not just because we want to, but because the tech world has already decided they're the next big once people start using them and realizing they are helpful, it's game over. They'll be that brings us back to Bee. I don't think Amazon randomly decided to buy a little AI wearable startup. This feels like a move made with full awareness that something bigger is coming – like that mysterious OpenAI + Jony Ive project. Amazon wants to be ready. It wants to sure, some tech giants are quiet for now (think Apple ), but I wouldn't be surprised if Apple is waiting in the wings with something shiny and polished. You know, classic Apple style – show up late, but somehow still yeah, AI wearables might feel a bit weird right now. But if they start coming from the biggest tech names – not just small startups – they're going to hit the mainstream fast. And the moment they become truly useful (or just cool enough to flex), we'll probably stop questioning whether we need them at the future doesn't ask for permission. It just shows up. And yeah, I know – that's both kind of brilliant and kind of creepy. But instead of focusing on the "how bad could this go" angle (which, let's face it, is a long list), I want to look at what this means for the future of AI gadgets. Because with big tech players putting real money into AI hardware, it's clear something big is coming.A lot of the tech we now consider totally normal was once just science fiction. Take video calls – Jules Verne basically predicted them back in the 1800s with something he called the "phonotelephote." Or E.T.A. Hoffmann's story The Sandman, which gave us Olympia – a lifelike automaton that made people question what was real and what wasn't. Sound familiar?Then later there's Star Trek, the OG tech influencer. Between the communicators, tricorders and talking computers, they basically beta-tested half the gadgets we use now. Honestly, tech companies should owe that show royalties at this fast forward to today. We've got video calls in our pockets, smart assistants in our kitchens and AI that can write your emails, translate conversations or help you plan a vacation. The line between fiction and reality is already pretty blurry. And with wearables like Bee, it's about to get even blurrier.
