Woman conned out of money through Whatsapp messages
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WhatsApp, the popular messaging service with over two million users, is about to stop working on older smartphone models from a number of brands including Apple, Samsung and Huawei. On December 31, the app will stop supporting 49 different models of smartphones as the developers note that these devices may not latest security updates needed to run the service. However, this does not mean that WhatsApp will stop working entirely on older devices, rather the developers will no longer issue regular updates. This means that bugs or other issues that show up on these devices would no longer be fixed.
In a statement, WhatsApp said: “Devices and software change often, so we regularly review what operating systems we support and make updates. These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp.
“To choose what to stop supporting, every year we, like other technology companies, look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest number of people still using them.”
While WhatsApp will continue to work for users with these devices, they will no longer be able to access any flashy new features that the company releases, like the recent Communities tool.
This feature allows users to message multiple groups at once, by placing several group chats together and under a topic, allowing users to share updates with a wide audience much more easily.
Users may be able to update the operating system on their older phones and continue to use WhatsApp as normal, however for devices that are too old to be updated to new operating systems, they will need to buy a new phone.
WhatsApp recommends that Apple users should have iOS 9 and above, while Android install v4.3 and above, to continue to receive support. After December 31, any phones with software older than those will no longer run reliably.
The phones that will no longer be supported by WhatsApp include iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, Archos 53 Platinum, Grand S Flex ZTE, HTC Desire 500, Huawei Ascend D, D1 and D2, Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, Core, S2, S3 mini and many more.
This comes amid recent reports that WhatsApp is working on a secret new upgrade that will finally let users send Snapchat-style text messages that can only be read once.
As spotted by the eagle-eyed team at WABetainfo, it appears that the Meta-owned service is testing a “view once” option that would let users send messages that can only be read a single time before disappearing for good.
This is something that’s long been offered by rivals such as Snapchat but, until now, WhatsApp has never shown any interest in releasing something similar.
According to WABetainfo, along with self-destructing, any chats sent using this function won’t include the ability to be forwarded to others or highlighted and copied.
It’s also highly likely that screenshots will also be blocked when sending a “view once” message making them totally secret. Of course, users can currently send something called Disappearing Messages via WhatsApp but these remain on the service for at least 24 hours before being deleted.
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The new upgrade would mean confidential conversations could take place via the service as once a message is viewed it instantly vanishes for good.
Currently, this WhatsApp feature is in beta testing and there’s no official word on when or if it will actually be released but hopefully more news will be announced soon. WhatsApp has a habit of trying out new functionality and if this upgrade does go live expect more news in the coming months.
Although “view once” chats are possibly on their way there is one new upgrade that is available right now. WhatsApp recently announced that it has launched some fun avatars which offer users to create a caricature of themselves to use as stickers and responses to messages.
WhatsApp says the avatar can be used to create a digital version of each person and can be created from billions of combinations of diverse hairstyles, facial features, and outfits.
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