Category: apps

Google’s Quick Share tool has been updated with a feature that allows users to initiate uninterrupted file transfers. The feature was previously exclusive to Samsung Galaxy smartphones, and lets a phone transfer a file to another handset, even when the direct connection is lost. These uninterrupted file transfers need mobile data or a Wi-Fi connection to complete, and are considerably slower than a direct connection between two phones. Google recently updated Quick Share with a new QR code feature that makes it easier to share files with strangers.

Google Brings Uninterrupted File Transfers to Quick Share

The changelog for the latest Google Play Services v25.04 update (via Android Police) includes an improvement to phone connectivity. The company states that users will be able to continue Quick Share transfers even if the direct connection between both devices is lost, “over Wi-Fi or mobile data”.

Once the latest version of Play Services rolls out to Android smartphones over the coming weeks, users will be able to complete file transfers using their handset’s 4G or 5G connection, or over a Wi-Fi network. Previously, Quick Share transfers would fail if the direct connection between the sender and receiver’s phone was interrupted.

The ability to transfer files without relying on a direct connection was previously available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones — these handsets would also rely on cellular or Wi-Fi connections to finish file transfers. Apple also allows users to AirDrop files to others over a cellular connection via a ‘Use Mobile Data’ option when the devices are no longer in range.

It’s worth noting that all file transfers over cellular connections will rely on the telecom operator’s data allowance, and could result in inflated charges. As a result, users might actually want to disable the feature, or allow uninterrupted transfers to take place over Wi-Fi networks.

A few weeks ago, Google introduced a new QR code feature to initiate Quick Share transfers with other Android smartphones. The feature makes it easy for an Android user to share a file with another device, using a QR code to initiate a connection. This feature is also rolling out to supported Android devices, and should be available to all users in the near future.

WhatsApp will soon benefit from an optional integration with Meta Accounts Centre with the aim of delivering a more connected experience, the company announced on Tuesday. This move will enable users to share their WhatsApp statuses automatically on other Meta Platforms’ apps such as Facebook and Instagram. It is also claimed to make it easier and quicker to log in to multiple Meta apps with a single sign-on. Additionally, the company says it will introduce more universal features across its social media apps and inform users about the changes upon rollout.

WhatsApp’s Account Centre Integration

Meta Platforms detailed the addition of WhatsApp to its Accounts Centre over the next few months in a newsroom post. As per the company, the move is completely optional, and users can still choose to not add their WhatsApp accounts to the Accounts Centre. However, doing so is said to enable access to features more seamlessly across apps. They can reshare updates from their WhatsApp Status to Facebook or Instagram Stories directly. This negates the need to post multiple times across different apps.

The option will be introduced globally, but its complete rollout may take place in a phased manner. When available, users will see the option in WhatsApp settings or it will appear when trying to take action across accounts, such as re-sharing status to other Meta Platforms’ apps.

Further, the Accounts Centre integration brings single sign-on for all three apps, allowing users to log back into them with fewer steps. The company says it will also roll out new features such as the ability to manage your avatars, Meta AI stickers and Imagine Me creations in one place across apps.

However, Meta Platforms emphasises that privacy is still its priority and even when WhatsApp accounts are connected to the Meta Platforms’ Accounts Centre, personal messages and calls are still protected by end-to-end encryption and not even the company itself can read them.

WhatsApp for iOS has received several new features with the latest update. It adds the option to apply augmented reality (AR) effects and backgrounds when using the camera through the app. The instant messaging platform also makes it easier to share documents with others, courtesy of the new document scanning feature which is integrated into the file-sharing option on WhatsApp. Notably, these features were previously reported to be discovered in the beta builds of WhatsApp and are now rolling out widely.

New Features on WhatsApp for iOS

First spotted by the feature tracker WABetaInfo, WhatsApp for iOS app version 24.25.93 adds several new features. Users can now take advantage of AR effects which can be applied through the camera. This option appears as an image wand icon next to the gallery icon in the camera viewfinder on WhatsApp. Users can apply AR effects such as confetti, star windows, tears, underwater, sparkles, and karaoke.

WhatsApp also brings new backgrounds to obscure the environment around the user and allows them to adjust the video’s colour tone.

Another key addition to the instant messaging platform is the ability to scan documents directly through the app. This option appears in the document sharing window, listed as Scan document. It includes filters such as colour, grayscale, and black & white. Once the image is taken, WhatsApp automatically crops it while also allowing the resizing of the borders. Users can also toggle the auto-shutter option which enables the app to automatically capture the document if it is positioned correctly within the camera viewfinder.

Gadgets 360 staff members can confirm the availability of both of these features in the latest version of WhatsApp for iOS.

This development comes after the instant messaging platform rolled out fun new features to enhance the texting and calling experience ahead of the new year. WhatsApp users can take advantage of new calling effects with the New Year theme during video calls. Further, it also rolled out new animations and sticker packs to match the festive vibe.

WhatsApp has started rolling out a new feature to beta testers that could make it easier to keep track of messages received on the app. The reminders feature that informs users about missed status updates has been updated with the ability to receive reminders for messages, on the latest beta version of the app for Android. The feature is designed in such a way that WhatsApp will only notify users about updates and messages from prioritised contacts, according to a feature tracker.

WhatsApp Message Reminders Rely on Internal Algorithm

After updating to WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.25.29 (via feature tracker WABetaInfo), the description for the feature seen under Settings > Notifications > Reminders has been updated to state that the app will provide occasional reminders for messages, in addition to status updates. Gadgets 360 was unable to access the feature even after installing the latest beta version, which suggests that it is slowly rolling out to testers.

WhatsApp’s Reminders feature has been updated
Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

Once the feature is turned on, users will see notifications about messages that they might not have seen on the app. WhatsApp has yet to provide any information related to how the feature works, or whether it will show reminders for unseen messages and status updates for all contacts.

According to the feature tracker, the Reminders feature will inform users about unseen messages from specific contacts, and these will be selected based on interactions in the app. The reminders will reportedly be based on an algorithm that runs on the user’s phone, so a fresh installation of WhatsApp will generate the list of contacts a user has been in touch with again.

It appears that the feature was designed to send out reminders for select conversations in order to prevent the app from inundating users with status updates and messages from all of their contacts. This feature is expected to roll out to more beta testers in the coming days, and could eventually be made available to all WhatsApp users at a later date.

Nothing has introduced a new app called Nothing Community Widgets. As the name suggests, it features widgets such as games and tools for Nothing smartphones co-developed by its passionate user base. One of the first arrivals on the app is a snake game which pays homage to the classic snake experience on Nokia phones. It is exclusively available for Nothing smartphones such as the Nothing Phone 2a Plus and the Nothing Phone 2.

As per the British smartphone manufacturer, the idea for the Snake widget was proposed by Nothing community member Rahul Janardhanan in January. Instead of developing it in-house, the brand reached out to community developer Thomas Legendre who previously worked on Ear (web) and the Simone Glyph Game.

The Snake game can be placed on the home screen like any other widget. Similar to the retro Nokia game, the goal is to eat the red dots to make the snake grow longer in size while avoiding collision with itself. Each dot adds a point and its speed increases. The game ends if the snake collides with its body. However, the controls are vastly different. Instead of using the directional keypad buttons like it was required on Nokia phones, users can control the snake with swipe gestures.

Nothing says it aims to bring quality widgets created by the community and bundle them with its Community Widgets app which is hosted on the Google Play Store. Nothing community members can share concepts with the company and its software team will determine if it can be turned into a widget.

This move is part of the company’s ambitions to work with its community. Notably, the brand recently unveiled the Nothing Phone 2a Plus Community Edition, bringing a culmination of the Community Edition Project which began in March this year. It has been co-developed with the Nothing community at all stages — from hardware design, and wallpaper design to packaging design, and marketing campaign. The smartphone features a glow-in-the-dark design with a green phosphorescent material coating at the back.