WhatsApp is constantly working on multiple new features for its Android app. The company is working to let users search within channels, and it was recently revealed that it is also testing a badge counting feature to display the number of unread messages within chat filters.
Now, it has been discovered that in the latest WhatsApp Android beta v2.24.23.11, the camera icon in the app’s chat bar has been replaced with a gallery shortcut. This change makes it faster and easier for users to access photos and videos in their phone’s gallery, eliminating the need to go through multiple steps.
Sending photos from gallery becomes easier
Currently, if you want to send a photo, video, GIF or any other media to someone, you need to tap the paperclip icon in the chat bar and then select the appropriate option. It looks like this will change after the beta test. When the new version goes live, users will be able to access their stored photos and videos directly from the chat bar, thanks to the gallery shortcut.
Users will also be able to send instant video messages by pressing and holding the gallery shortcut button. In this case, the camera application will open, not the gallery window, and it will be possible to record videos/photos.
On the other hand, some users may not be able to figure out how to access the camera directly, which may result in a backlash to WhatsApp. Whether the feature goes live or not will depend on the reactions and comments during the testing phase.