WhatsApp for Windows Phone finally gets video recording & more

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

Just as Kik gets an update so does the popular alternative WhatsApp which has now surpassed the former in features. Hitting version 1.8 the WhatsApp team is slowly but steadily adding many new features to the app on Windows Phone and version 1.8 will make many happy.

For one, it finally brings video recording and sharing to the table. Hit the video record button, make a video and off it goes to your contact. Pretty seamless and it should be a big hit for those who want such a feature. Other notable changes include:

  • Enhanced location support
  • Set group icon with web search
  • Abe to block contacts and manipulate block list
  • More accurate "last seen" time
  • Other bug fixes

Quite a huge update when you think about it, so kudos to the WhatsApp team for the continued development and support. You can pick up WhatsApp here in the Marketplace for free.

Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

17 Comments
  • Maybe one day they will get a nice UI too.
  • I love Metro, but WhatsApp could definetively benefit from a few UI changes. I don't like the current font size for messages (should be changeable IMHO) and the lack of color choosing for the theme.
    I like the fact they are constantly updating it like other platforms, though.
  • Isnt it just like the SMS-UI? I think its fine.
    The Icon is ugly tho and the UI lags, better speed would be welcomed.
  • Love the picture of the phone, the mask and the drink. I will go as far to call it a good piece of art and hope you can put it in the WP Center app, maybe even remove the WP Central logo, a bit sensitive since its suppose to show its your great picture. But for the sake of art I would love it. Anyways, flowing as a favorite in my picture hub and lock screen.
  • Ashh, wrong post.
  • They should do a major UI facelift and improving its slow speed before thinking about adding features
  • Agree with RogueCode and Jellybean, just make it look better (especially the messaging UI), even Skype in Beta looks way better. 
  • is it more reliable yet? I kinda gave up on it and switched to Kik after the unreliable message notifications and delayed or missings messages in some instances.
  • Stop adding features and make it faster already! WhatsApp is so god damn slow on WP that it irritates me every freakin' time I get a new message. Not fun to wait for several seconds before the message shows up and overall the app is just slooow.
    The Android version is a dream to use compared to ours (albeit I like the look of the WP app a lot more).
     
    What's this Kik everybody is talking about? I need to check that out. May switch if it's faster.
  • 60 seconds with Kik messenger and I can alreday tell that I will definitely make the switch right away. So much better (at least on WP).
  • I did the same and I agree, KIK is awesome.
    Too bad all my friends use WhatsApp. :(
  • I really only use these messengers to talk with my girlfriend and her only. So we both only need to make the switch so that's not so painful =)
  • Smilys/emoticons still not working :(
  • I have no problem with it .A good update..But then I have an HTC TItan.
    An  iphone whatsapp feature I would love is the ability up export your messages 
     
     
  • Besides the UI needing work, they really need to rework how you send things to people.  My biggest gripe is that if you take a picture, then select send via whatsapp, as soon as you tap a contact it automatically sends the picture to them without the verification like it does in the native text/messaging.  What if you selected the wrong person?  What if you want to add text?  Are the developers even testing the app for usability?
     
    I've sent things to the wrong people so many times now its rediculous.  Most of the time I'm just trying to scroll the contact list but it "taps" somebody and boom there goes the picture lol.
     
    I know you can open whatsapp first, then open the chat for the contact, then take a picture and send a text separately but how inconvenient is that?
    I'm glad they are working on updating it so hopefully they address these things.
  • Still way too slow. Still way too slow. Still way too slow.
    If What'sApp are listening it is also an ugly UI.
  • Nahhh, Skype is here