WhatsApp to get voice message widget
WhatsApp appears to be aiming to make sending voice messages even easier. The messaging service is currently working on a new widget for the Android home screen that will allow you to record and send a voice message directly, without having to open the app first.
The new widget appears on the home screen and has a default size of 3 by 1 tiles. Once placed, you can adjust its size. Tapping the widget immediately starts recording a voice message. Once you’re ready, you can choose which contact or group to send the message to. It’s also possible to send the same message to multiple recipients at once.
For many users, this could save time. Normally, you first have to open WhatsApp, find the right chat and only then record a voice message. With the new widget, those intermediate steps are skipped.
The feature is part of a wider strategy by WhatsApp to make key parts of the app more accessible. It was previously announced that the company is working on a separate widget for status updates. This will allow you to see from the home screen which contacts have posted a new status and to quickly share an update yourself.
The new voice message widget has been spotted in the Android beta version 2.26.24.2 of WhatsApp. The feature is currently still under development. Even beta testers cannot use it just yet. It is therefore not yet known when the widget will become available.
