News

iPhone 8 said to offer Bluetooth 5 and wireless charging via Broadcom chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 3, 2017

JPMorgan said in yesterday's note to clients ahead of Apple's earnings report that iPhone 8 would implement support for the latest Bluetooth 5.0 standard and wireless charging via a Broadcom chip. Broadcom's chips support both PMA and Qi wireless charging standards, but it's unclear if iPhone 8 might use either of them or rely on Apple's custom version of these standards.

At any rate, Apple's business could add between $500 million and $600 million to Broadcom's annualized revenues, JPMorgan predicted. Though the note doesn't say which new iPhone models will pack wireless charging, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said before that all 2017 iPhones would offer this feature.

Galaxy S8 is the world's first phone with support for the new Bluetooth 5.0 standard, which promises to double the speed and quadruple the range. Bluetooth 5.0 also allows multiple devices to be used at the same time, meaning iPhone 8 could allow two users to watch a movie on the device with two sets of Bluetooth headphones.

Bluetooth 5.0 was certified by Bluetooth Special Interest Group back in June 2016. Apple is a promoting member of the organization with voting rights.

In February of this year, Apple joined Wireless Power Consortium, potentially giving some credence to rumors about wireless charging in iPhone 8. The Cupertino company is listed as a member on the organization's website.

There are currently 213 members of the consortium.

In 2016 year, 152 different brands registered a Qi-compliant product on the official Wireless Power Consortium website, up from 86 in 2015. The Qi protocol is currently used by more than 200 companies and is in 1343 products you can buy now. Apple Watch uses a bespoke version of the Qi wireless charging standard that’s incompatible with existing Qi chargers.

JPMorgan said this morning that there's a “high likelihood” that Apple will pre-announce and preview iPhone 8 at WWDC next month, ahead of its launch in the fall. But if you ask another investment firm—Deutsche Bank—no new iPhone 8 will arrive this year.

“Several supply chain reports have suggested that key component shortages and technical challenges could delay the release of a high-end iPhone 8 device this fall,” reads Deutsche Bank's report. “We believe this report further underscores the uncertainty around the timing of Apple's next-generation iPhone model”.

Photo: ON Charge magnetic wireless charging solution for current iPhones

JPMorgan—iPhone 8 announcement at WWDC; Deutsche Bank—no iPhone 8 until 2018

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 3, 2017

Multiple analyst reports and rumors have asserted that Apple's Tenth Anniversary iPhone, or iPhone 8, is going to be delayed because of manufacturing issues related to new components, but we still don't know by how long. A pair of conflicting reports from JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank offer very differing opinions regarding the handset's potential availability.

Basically, JPMorgan is telling clients that there is a “high likelihood” that Apple will announce iPhone 8 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference next month. On the other hand, we have Deutsche Bank which on Sunday put out a research note, based on a questionable report from ValueWalk, saying iPhone 8 won't land until 2018.

“JP Morgan's Rod Hall first suggested iPhone 8 could be previewed at WWDC,” Business Insider's Kif Leswing wrote on Twitter this morning. The analyst is claiming that the Cupertino firm will preview its OLED-based iPhone in June ahead of its launch in the fall (in what KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo said would be extremely limited availability).

While Apple did announce the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 at WWDC, subsequent models were formally unveiled at fall events in September or October. Be that as it may, I don't think either of these reports is accurate to begin with.

Deutsche Bank's analysis in particular is based solely on a sketchy claim by ValueWalk.

Citing unnamed sources close to Foxconn, ValueWalk reported that Apple would delay iPhone 8 until 2018 over an apparent lack of orders for packaging materials. The iterative LCD-based iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus would arrive on schedule in the fall, it said.

The story prompted Deutsche Bank to predict the following:

Report suggests no new iPhone 8 this calendar year. As we have written in previous research notes, several supply chain reports have suggested that key component shortages and technical challenges could delay the release of a high-end iPhone 8 device this fall.

We believe this report further underscores the uncertainty around the timing of Apple’s next- generation iPhone model.

As mentioned, the investment bank told clients that it thinks the OLED-based iPhone 8 model might not release in 2017 at all. The problem is, Deutsche Bank trusts ValueWalk which lacks any track record in breaking major Apple news.

Even if it did have one, we'd need at least one independent publication confirm the report before we could jump to any conclusions. Apple sources components from multiple suppliers so the fact that it's ordered packaging for the iPhone 7s series from one supplier doesn't mean that iPhone 8 packaging won't come from a separate supplier.

Given the rumored manufacturing problems with iPhone 8, it's more likely that Apple will choose to pre-announce iPhone 8 this fall alongside the iPhone 7s/Plus announcements and then launch the OLED-based device in late October or November.

And if that's how things are going to play out, there's no reason whatsoever for iPhone 8 packaging to arrive alongside iPhone 7s packaging in June and spoil Apple's surprise. Last but not least, delaying iPhone 8 until 2018 would be a huge blow to Apple's bottom line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKqCKdEGEPk

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Take it from Apple's Tim Cook, who said on yesterday's earnings call with analysts and investors that earlier-than-usual leaks and rumors are hurting sales of current iPhones.

Here's what Cook said:

We're seeing what we believe to be a pause in purchases on iPhone, which we believe are due to the earlier and much more frequent reports about future iPhones.

Considering that consumers usually hold off on buying a new iPhone until they see the new model, Cook's remarks have merit and the fact that he actually blamed the hype machine for “a pause” in iPhone sales is pretty remarkable, if you ask me.

Make sense?

Mockups: all-glass iPhone 8 with stainless steel frame via Steel Drake

AirPods manufacturer Inventec reportedly lands orders for Apple’s rumored Echo rival

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 3, 2017

Following claims that Apple has finalized designs for its alleged standalone Siri/AirPlay device, Chinese-language Economic Daily News report Wednesday that AirPods manufacture Inventec has now landed orders for the device.

According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the connected speaker will be Apple's first AI-based smart home device, powered by Siri and supporting AirPlay and other features.

It's expected to take on Amazon's smart home assistant Echo, but will be aimed at the premium segment of the market.

Inventec is the sole assembler of Apple's wireless AirPod products, while iPhone manufacturer Foxconn Electronics is the sole producer of Amazon's Echo devices. Kuo said Apple may announced the device at WWDC 2017 in June. He added adding that the connected AI-driven speaker will be priced higher than Amazon's $179 Echo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io8NU6iTto0

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Other reports have said that Apple's device will feature Beats audio technology and a MacPro-like concave top with built-in controls, with a speaker mesh portion covering it all.

Mockup via iFunnyVlogger on Twitter

Hulu’s $40 per month Live TV service launches, app hits App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Hulu's long-expected live TV service has gone official with today's launch of the Hulu Live TV app on App Store. Designed for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, the software lets subscribers access the entire Hulu streaming library and more than 50 top live and on-demand channels, including FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, FX, NBCSN, FS1, History Channel and TNT.

In addition, live sports from top pro and college leagues, as well as regional sports networks, are available in certain areas. As a bonus, you'll get to stream national news with local feeds in select cities, popular kids shows, can’t-miss events and thousands of popular on-demand shows and movies from many of these channels.

You can choose to subscribe to Hulu with ad-supported Live TV for $40, or an additional $4 per month to get rid of advertising. Advanced features are available for extra money, such as Cloud DVR which lets you record live TV to watch your favorites on your own time, the ability to watch concurrent streams on multiple devices, as well as track and record games from your favorite teams with a My Teams feature.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT-7kxJDX-o

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For an additional $15 per month, you can upgrade Cloud DVR functionality with up to 200 hours of cloud storage and the ability to fast-forward through commercials. Unlimited simultaneous viewing on as many screens as you want is an additional $15 per month. And if you purchase both add-ons, you'll save a cool $10.

As soon as you launch the app, you're greeted with all-new onboarding experience.

Firstly, you're asked to log in with your Hulu subscription credentials. The app cannot be used unless you're a subscriber. The setup procedure then takes you on a quick tour of the app's main features such as your personal live TV lineup, a My Stuff section and more.

Next, you can optionally tell the app about the kinds of shows you prefer to watch, helping it recommend content that's tailored to your needs. Finally, you can add your favorite shows and movies to the My Stuff section, or skip this step and set up these items at a later stage.

The app lets you create up to six personalized profiles so everyone in your household gets to enjoy their own personalized Hulu experience with their own collection of shows, movies, networks and more. Like with other services, the more you watch, the smarter the system gets.

You can browse Hulu's library while you watch with a Fliptray feature that lets you quickly find what else is on, change the channel, or get recommendations of what to watch next. Just tap the Fliptray button during playback to get started with this multitasking capability.

The app supports iPhone and iPad with iOS 10+ and the fourth-generation Apple TV.

A free seven-day trial of Hulu Live TV is available to new and eligible subscribers. As a cool bonus, Hulu will let you try out each of the add-ons for one month without being charged.

Download Hulu Live TV from App Store.

Tim Cook is auctioning charity lunch meeting at Apple Park

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 3, 2017

Would you like to have a lunch with Apple CEO Tim Cook at the company’s impressive Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California? If so, bid on the Charitybuzz website before May 16 at 3pm EDT for your chance to score an one-hour lunch with the CEO of the world’s most powerful publicly traded corporation.

At the time of this writing, nine bids have been entered for a total of $84,888 with the auction listing an estimated value of $100,000. Proceeds from the charity auction will be donated to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.

The lunch is valid for 2 people.

Cost of the meal is included in your bid and the experience cannot be resold or re-auctioned.

Travel and accommodations are not included.

“We expect all winning bidders and their guests to conduct themselves appropriately when attending an experience won at Charitybuzz,” the charity marketing firm said. “Polite manners and respect for the generous donor and adherence to any rules or parameters are a must.”

From the Charitybuzz listing:

As CEO and a member of the board of directors, Tim is overseeing a company-wide effort to use 100 percent renewable energy at all Apple facilities and has helped improve conditions for workers who make the company’s products.

He is also continuing Apple’s efforts to advance the company’s inclusion and diversity and to invest in schools where technology can have a tremendous impact, as part of the ConnectED initiative.

Under Tim’s leadership, Apple initiated a program to match employee donations, has given millions of dollars to the American Red Cross and is the largest corporate donor to (RED) to fight AIDS in Africa.

Cook is a busy man: the website notes that it may take up to one year to schedule the lunch based on availability. The winning bidder and their guest(s) will be subject to security screening (this is Apple we’re talking about after all).

This is how much Cook’s previous Charitybuzz campaigns have raised:

$515,000 in 2016 $200,000 in 2015 $330,001 in 2014 $610,000 in 2013

Apple’s boss was recently honored with the Newseum’s Free Speech award for creating technology that has changed the way people communicate and for using his position to take a public stand on issues like racial equality, privacy, the environment and LGBT rights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFhcnzSmH-E

While this is the fifth year in a row that Cook has partnered with Charitybuzz, it’s the first year that the winning bidder gets to visit Apple Park.

The most recent 4K drone footage of Apple Park shows continuing construction progress as finishing touches are being put on the new campus sprawling across 175 acres of parkland with 9,000 freshly planted mature trees.

The main ring-shaped build is clad entirely by the world’s largest panels of curved glass and files as the world’s largest office building. And with 17 megawatts of rooftop solar, Apple Park will run one of the largest on-site solar energy installations in the world.

Microsoft’s new mouse has bendable tail

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

Microsoft's hardware division has been building some of the nicest mice and keyboards for years now. At today's education-focused event in New York City, the Windows maker briefly showed off a new Surface Arc Mouse.

Positioned as the perfect travel companion to the company's new touchscreen Surface Laptop, the wireless mouse was designed with a bendable tail and other features such as a touch-sensitive surface akin to Apple's Magic Mouse.

The Bluetooth device snaps into the curved position to power up. When you're done using it, simply snap again to flatten and power it down.

At just 2.91 ounces, or about 83 grams, Surface Arc Mouse is pretty light, too.

And here it is in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkwSh2q-1yE

Other features include a touch-sensitive plane for simultaneous vertical and horizontal scrolling, Bluetooth 4.0, the curvature that conforms to your hand, up to nine months of battery life via the two included AAA alkaline batteries, left and right buttons and more.

The Bluetooth device boasts high imaging rate that adapts dynamically to a whopping 1,200 frames per second, ensuring smooth performance with up to a thousand points per inch and tracking speed of up to 30 inches (approximately 762 millimeters) per second.

Surface Arc Mouse is available for pre-order via Microsoft Store for $79.99 in three distinct color finishes: Burgundy, Light Gray and Cobalt Blue.

It's scheduled to start shipping this summer on June 15.

New features announced for Minecraft: Education Edition

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

As part of Microsoft’s event held earlier today, developer Mojang announced that Minecraft: Education Edition is getting new features. The educational version of the popular open-world game designed specifically for classroom use will be gaining a Code Builder feature, Command Blocks and other enhancements via an upcoming update due later this Spring.

Code Builder

With Code Builder, educators and students can explore, create and play in the Minecraft world, all by writing code. Students can connect to popular learn-to-code platforms: ScratchX, Tynker, Code.org and a brand new open source platform, called Microsoft MakeCode.

Check out Code Builder in the video presentation embedded below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rKuSlgqePo

Players start with the familiar Minecraft tools, templates and tutorials, with additional resources at their disposal allowing them to easily engage with computer science concepts as they design and create.

Command Blocks and Classroom Mode

Command Blocks, a new feature, will be part of the upcoming Minecraft: Education Edition version 1.0.1 due later this Spring. That update will also bring out a few other perks, including additional languages, villager trading, adventure mode, concrete/terracotta blocks and llamas.

Lastly, Classroom Mode for Minecraft: Education Edition has been updated with additional toggles to support teaching and learning. The update gives educators additional toggles to manage chat and blocks that cause damage like lava and TNT, weather and mobs.

Availability

Microsoft says classrooms in more than a hundred countries have used the educational edition of Minecraft, with its professional learning community having created 30,000 profiles and hundreds of educator-created lesson plans.

Download Minecraft: Education Edition for Mac/Windows via education.minecraft.net, where you can also join an open beta of Code Builder if you'd like.

The software maker said that a one-year subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition is now included with qualifying purchases of Windows 10 computers and tablets.

The regular edition of Minecraft is gaining a Marketplace feature, basically an in-game store where players can buy Minecraft customizations made by independent developers.

Marketplace is coming via the version 1.1 Discovery Update.

Microsoft unveils touchscreen Surface Laptop, its $999 MacBook rival

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

At its educational event held this morning in New York City, Microsoft unveiled Surface Laptop, its $999 MacBook rival available for preorder beginning today ahead of its planned release this summer.

The device runs the new Windows 10 S operating system, the company's answer to Google’s Chrome OS, and features a clamshell body weighing at 2.76 pounds and measuring 14.47mm at its thickest point and tapering down to 9.9mm at its thinnest point at the front.

Taking on MacBooks

Surface Laptop runs either Intel’s seventh-generation i5 or i7 processor and sports vapor chambers integrated into the anodized aluminum finish on the rear to help keep it cool.

It's got a 13.5-inch PixelSense LCD touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio featuring 3.4 million pixels (withCorning’s Gorilla Glass 3 for protection) and supporting the Surface Pen stylus. “This is the thinnest LDC touch model every created and put into a laptop,” says Microsoft's Panos Panay, who took to the stage to unveil the new products today.

Say hello to Surface Laptop

Watch a reveal trailer for Surface Laptop below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74kPEJWpCD4

The laptop is outfitted with a 14.5-hour battery.

That’s “up to four more hours of battery power than a 13-inch MacBook Pro” and “more battery life than any MacBook Air on the market today,” says the Windows maker in another comparison between its new notebook and Apple's MacBook line. The Windows maker claims you can watch as many as fourteen episodes of your favorite TV show in one sitting, without ever plugging in.

The device's keyboard has a 1.5mm travel, with the backlit keys made from the same material used for premium Surface Pro covers, called Alcantara fabric. The speakers are integrated underneath the keyboard, but there are no speaker grills or holes.

In terms of connections, Surface Laptop comes outfitted with a regular USB port, mini DisplayPort and the conventional Surface power connector, but no USB-C.

Windows 10 S or Windows 10 Pro?

Because it runs Windows 10 S, Surface Laptop can only run apps offered on Windows Store.

Google Chrome is not found on Windows Store and Spotify’s app with support for Surface Dial will be coming to the store early this summer. If you want to run apps not found on Windows Store, you can optionally upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for a one-time $49 fee.

Because Windows 10 Pro is the full version of Microsoft’s operating system, upgrading may result in reduced battery life and performance, cautions the Windows maker.

If you need to use an app that isn’t in the Windows Store, in just a few clicks can go to the Windows Store and switch to Windows 10 Pro. But you shouldn’t. This device, this OS, they’re made for each other, and together they offer so much. It’s everything you love about Windows, Office, and Surface, made pure and elegant in an unbelievably thin and light package.

Microsoft now has three families of Surface devices in its lineup: the Surface Pro 4 notebook/laptop hybrid, the all-in-one Surface Studio and the new Surface Laptop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HCVUCqZoHI

Availability and pricing

Surface Laptop is available for pre-order via Microsoft Store starting today.

The entry-level $999 model uses Intel’s seventh-generation Core i5 processor with Intel HD Graphics 620, four gigabytes of RAM and 128 gigabytes of flash storage. The $1,299 model uses 256 gigabytes of flash storage and eight gigabytes of RAM.

The more powerful $1,599 model comes outfitted with Intel’s seventh-generation Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640, eight gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes of flash storage. The flagship $2,199 model upgrades your storage and RAM to 512 and sixteen gigabytes, respectively.

Surface Laptop comes in four colors: Platinum, Burgundy, Cobalt Blue and Graphite Gold.

The notebook will start shipping this summer on June 15. For a limited time, Surface Laptop comes with an offer for one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal and one terabyte of free storage on OneDrive, giving you full access to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

Drone footage reveals Apple Park is starting to come together

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

Apple announced a month ago that its futuristic new $5 billion headquarters in Cupertino, California would be named Apple Park. New drone footage from videographer Matthew Roberts now shows that Apple Park is finally starting to come together although some sections are still under construction.

Although first employees began moving in last month, construction workers will be finalizing landscaping and putting additional finishing touches around the new campus until year-end.

Clockwise: huge tunnels leading underneath the main building, the visitor kiosk, a fitness center for employees and the main entrance to the underground 1,000-seat theater for press events.

Apple has been able to plant a lot of mature trees around the campus over the past few weeks and has reused most of the massive pile of the earth it dug up for landscaping work .

The main ring-shaped building, large enough to house 13,000 employees, is being finalized as we speak. And now, watch the latest birds-eye video of Apple Park from Matthews.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFhcnzSmH-E

Other facilities are nearing completion as well.

Aside from the main ring-shaped building, other nearly-finished facilities include the Tantau Avenue parking garage above ground plus the massive parking garages below ground, the secure research and development centers found on the outskirts of the campus, the kiosk for visitors and tourists and the giant tunnels running underneath the main building.

Solar panel installations on the roof appear mostly complete.

On the other hand, there are some unfinished structures on the site but they're expected to be completed in a matter of weeks. As mentioned, some sections of the main building have been open to employees since the beginning of April.

How do you like Apple's new headquarters?

Undercover factory worker spills the beans on security measures to prevent iPhone leaks

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

As part of his summer project, NYU grad student Dejian Zeng spent six weeks working undercover in a Chinese factory operated by iPhone manufacturer Pegatron. In a video interview with Business Insider's Kif Leswing, he reveals some of the security measures designed to prevent unwanted leaks as part of preparations ahead of iPhone 7 production.

Here's an interesting excerpt from the interview:

In the workshop, we were originally producing iPhone 6s and during that time that we were in the workshop they were already building up some facilities or infrastructure to build the assembly line for iPhone 7.

And they had this big curtain that blocked everything.

While we were in the same workshop, we saw nothing. And later on, we were moved to another sub-factory building to do work there for a while, because they need to rebuild the assembly line that we are working on also.

The following points from the interview stood out for me:

It's “impossible” for workers to take photos, let alone carry some components out Workers are required to leave their phones, keys and other metals in a locker room No metal is allowed inside the factories There are security cameras in every assembly line Security involves access cards, facial recognition cameras and metal detectors

The security level increased sharply ahead of iPhone 7 production.

For starters, management at the factories installed two metal detectors and increased their sensitivity, in turn creating problems for female workers wearing bras.

“All of a sudden, on that specific day, they couldn’t pass the security door, and they needed to go back and change everything,” said Dejian.

He says regular assembly line workers were strictly prohibited from bringing their cameras or phones inside the factories, unlike high-level managers who could bring their phones.

“I’m not sure whether photos can get leaked by that,” he said.

But even high-level managers were asked to wake up their phone's screen every time they went through the metal detectors so that security personnel could determine that they weren't carrying an unfinished iPhone unit concealed in a fake phone case. And if a worker does get caught attempting to carry an iPhone out of the factories, they're sent to the police.

In spite of all the security, leaks do happen and they're a fact of life.

Who's to stop a person from running to the press to tell them what they saw inside the factories? After they started building iPhone 7, some employees were able to confirm to the media that the device would come without headphone jack and with two cameras on the back.

“Those are some things that we can see and we can remember and we can tell the media later on,” said Dejian. Apple is known for holding its contractors to the highest security standards.

In that regard, the following excerpt is revealing:

When I was producing iPhone 6, I did see Apple come for audits. I think it was two or three times.

And every time when they come, the manger in the factories got very nervous. They would tell us you need to follow the procedure and sit straight, and don’t talk.

When they kicked off iPhone 7 production, Apple staff was there “every single day”.

Factory workers are reportedly aware of how popular the iconic smartphone is and think it’s “very cool” that they get to see Apple's unreleased products before anyone else.

The full video interview is available on Business Insider.

Google says Apple Watch support will be returning to Maps for iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2017

Google has confirmed that it will be bringing back support for Apple Watch to the Maps app for iPhone and iPad at some point in the future. In a statement issued Tuesday to AppleInsider, a spokesperson for the search giant said: “We removed Apple Watch support from our latest iOS release, but expect to support it again in the future”.

The company provided no explanation for the removal of Apple Watch functionality from Maps for iOS, which went largely unnoticed because it wasn't mentioned in App Store release notes.

As we reported yesterday, recent updates to major iPhone apps like Google Maps, eBay, Amazon and Target came stripped of all Apple Watch support, perhaps indicating that watchOS features in them were not widely used.

Google brought its Maps app to Apple Watch in September 2015, with features like turn-by-turn driving, walking and transit directions for recently visited points of interest. The app lacked other features found in Apple's Maps for Apple Watch, such as no conventional map view and the inability to conduct searches without a tethered iPhone.

WhatsApp testing chat pinning, photo albums, message revoking & other upcoming features

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 1, 2017

The popular messaging app WhatsApp is experimenting with a new pinning feature in the chat list that, when released for everyone, will permit you to stick up to three contacts to the top of the conversation list, regardless of when they last messaged you.

As first noted by AndroidPolice, it was spotted in the latest beta builds of WhatsApp for Android. Other features in an iOS beta of the app include albums, the ability to revoke a message after it's been sent, sending your real-time location to friends and family and more.

WhatsApp Albums, another upcoming feature, is in its early stages of development. Eventually, it will let you create custom albums of photos for sharing with individuals and groups.

Like other WhatsApp features, albums use end-to-end encryption.

According to WABetaInfo on Twitter, the unsend feature may be remotely enabled in the latest stable version of WhatsApp. Full support for rich notifications is being worked on, too.

Recent WhatsApp updates brought us improvements like the ability for Siri to read aloud newly received messages, text-only statuses, two-step verification for your account, sending messages offline, searching for animated GIFs from Gify and more.

You can join the WhatsApp for Android beta channel on Google's Play Store, by tapping Join Beta at the bottom of the listing. WhatsApp for iPhone betas require a jailbroken device.