Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is dropping support for iPhones running on iOS 9, according to a recent report from WhatsApp tracker WABetaInfo. Version 2.21.50 of WhatsApp beta, according to the report, does not support devices running on iOS 9 or previous. WhatsApp has not updated the change on its FAQ page yet, but it is expected to be updated when this version of the app rolls out for the public.
According to the official FAQ page, the company states that its instant messaging platform currently supports all iPhones running iOS 9 or above. For Android, the page states that it supports all Android phones running Android 4.0.3 or above. KaiOS 2.5.1 or newer are also eligible. This means that the current stable version of the app supports iOS 9, but the next update will drop the support.
In a separate development, WhatsApp is reportedly planning to release an improved version of its Archived Chats, WABetaInfo reported. This feature is still under development, but sources told WABetaInfo that WhatsApp is preparing some UI improvements for the Archived Chats cell, which will be visible only if a user has any chats in their archive.
All notifications from Archived Chats will also be muted, which means that users won’t get to know when they receive messages on archived chats. The sources told WABetaInfo that this feature will be optional.
WhatsApp, which is fighting a mass boycott against its updated privacy policy, recently reminded users about the updated policy coming into effect starting May 15.
This new interface will appear only if a user has any chats in their archive section. “If you have a chat in the archive, the cell will be always pinned to the top,” adds the report.
As shown in the tweet, if a user has any new message from their archived chat, they will see a counter in the cell, just as they see when they are mentioned in a group. Both these aforementioned changes are likely to be rolled out soon.
