Messaging apps such as WhatsApp help users stay connected with friends and family easily.
Over time, WhatsApp has evolved and has subtly picked up all the nuances required to keep users hooked. The user-friendly interface, along with slick features like file transfer, free audio, and video calls, has made this app popular.
WhatsApp has several handy features that can enhance the user experience. Here's a look at some of the nifty features that WhatsApp has to offer.
Limit Data Use
WhatsApp consumes loads of data and can finish the allowance of a data pack in no time. In order to save money and also restrict data usage, one can set a data restriction limit in the app settings.
To do this, the user simply has to go to the app's Settings and find the Data Usage option. In the Data Usage option the user can choose which type of media they want to download automatically while on a mobile connection.
There is also a separate option for auto downloads on Wi-Fi connectivity and on roaming.
Clear Memory Space
Media pile up with time and take up ample space in the phone memory, something users do not notice often unless they get an alert on their smartphone.
On iOS, one can easily see the amount of space the chats have taken up and can delete irrelevant content to clear up the memory. One has to follow the simple steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings menu.
Step 2: Click on Data and Storage Use.
Step 3: Click on Storage Usage.
The user can delete data with the option of choosing what type of files he or she wants to get rid of, such as videos, pictures, voice messages, documents, locations, or contacts.
Send Chats To Home Screen
The space-clearing feature was an iOS exclusive and the Send Chats to home screen feature is an Android exclusive.
Android users can save time and quickly reach their favorite chat among hundreds in no time. This feature allows the user to send their favourite conversations directly to the home screen. All the user has to do is long-press the specific chat and select Add Chat Shortcut.
This will create a shortcut of the conversation on the home screen with the person's picture and name as the title of the shortcut.
Format Messages
A user can write in bold and italics in WhatsApp. Yes you heard it right, it is possible. One can even use the strikethrough feature on the app. To use these writing formats, all one has to do is memorize some simple commands.
To write in bold, place the message between two asterisks: *this*. On entering, the message will appear in bold on the screen.
For writing in italics, place the text between two underscores: _this_. The message will take the italicized form and for strikethrough, simply place the message between tildes on either side: ~this~.
Conceal Previews
Last but not the least, the Hide Previews option. This feature comes very handy especially when you do not want family or friends to go through your personal messages. The preview option enables messages to pop up on the screen, which can easily be seen by anyone.
If you do not like the sound of it, you can change the preview mode by going into the Notification option in Settings and then clicking on Show Preview. This option is only available for iOS users and will enable them to show just the contact's name as heading.
Unfortunately in Android, this feature cannot be disabled directly from the app's settings but can be controlled from the Notification category of the handset's main settings.
Photo: Marco Verch | Flickr
