It’s only been a few days since WhatsApp brought the fight to FaceTime by adding in-app video calling, and now the messaging service has introduced another cool video feature.
Rather than letting you chat face-to-face with your mates though, this new addition encourages you to enjoy all the cat fails and mannequin challenges friends are trying to send you in double quick fashion.
How? Well, you’re no longer forced into waiting for the entire video file to download before you start watching – a process that can often be slow and laborious.
Related: Best Black Friday deals
Instead, just like on YouTube and a host of other video streaming services, you’ll be able to start watching before the entire video has downloaded. As long as you can dodge those bothersome buffering restrictions that is.
OK, let’s face it, this is hardly ground-breaking innovation. When you’re tired of waiting to see what internet-birthed LOL-fodder your mate has sent across this time, however, it will be a welcome addition. Assuming you’re on Android that is.
With the update currently exclusive to those running Google’s mobile OS, as yet there’s no word on when the feature will roll out to iPhone touters. We wouldn’t expect it to be too long though.
Related: WhatsApp tips and tricks
The latest in a recent flurry of WhatsApp updates and improvements, the new video abilities follow hotly on the tail of video calling additions and some Snapchat-inspired photo features.
This isn’t where it ends either. With the text replacement also known to be testing a Snapchat Stories style feature, there’s plenty more to come.
WATCH: Best Smartphone 2016: What’s the no. 1 phone right now?
Let us know what new WhatsApp feature you’re holding out for in the comments below.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
