The newest beta releases for WhatsApp for Android and WhatsApp for the Apple iPhone are sure to cause some excitement. The new beta versions that have now been released for testing include a set of rather interesting features which could eventually make their way to the final WhatsApp versions that we use.
WhatsApp beta for Android is now on version 2.20.199.8 while the WhatsApp Messenger beta for iOS is now the 2.20.100.22 version. These are available to anyone who has signed up to test WhatsApp beta versions on either platform. As always, the new updates are detailed by the good folks over at WABetaInfo.
The WhatsApp beta for Android 2.20.199.8 is re-adding a Vacation Mode after a gap of a year. During this time in development, it was also called ‘Ignore Archived Chats’ in some WhatsApp Beta versions earlier.
The Vacation Mode has a simple task—to keep your archived chats remain ignored as you always wanted. The thing with WhatsApp’s message notification system is that even if you have an archived chat whiling away time somewhere near the bottom of your messages list, it would pop back up to the top if a new message arrived from that sender.
Now, you will likely be able to leave that option enabled to keep the archived chats at the bottom of your WhatsApp messages inbox even when new messages may have been sent by that sender.
As a user, especially in place like Africa, where privacy has been gaining momentum alongside digital inclusion, this is a welcome development for you, as you will have the option of either enabling this, or letting archived chats come to the top of the window as a new WhatsApp message arrives, and having your virtual life set up to suit your life and work.
WhatsApp In Focus
Heritage: American
Founded: 2009
Worth: 50.7 billion
