WhatsApp is working on integrating YouTube inside the app; launches new features for iOS app

WhatsApp is testing a new feature of its iOS app where users can play YouTube links shared in conversations inside the app. This means that the users will not have to leave the app to check the YouTube video links that their family or friends have shared with them using the app. According to the report by WABetaInfo, the interesting part about this new yet hidden feature is that WhatsApp will use Picture in Picture (PiP) implementation to integrate YouTube videos into the app. [caption id=“attachment_390179” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Image Credit: WABetaInfo[/caption] The functionality is not only limited to just viewing the videos in a restricted pop-out box but instead, users can also pinch on the PiP mode to expand the amount of screen that the YouTube playback uses. The report points that users can tap on the video to open the video in a new section inside the app to view the video in the full-screen mode. [caption id=“attachment_390180” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Image Credit: WABetaInfo[/caption] The PiP mode can also be hidden if you want to read your messages without pausing or closing the YouTube video by swiping towards the right. The Pip mode gives you three buttons to control the playback which include the full-screen mode, play or pause the video and the third option that allows the users to close the mode. One thing to note here is that this feature is still in development and the feature may change from its current version. The report points out that the PiP mode vanishes when you change the chat conversation. This feature is only available on iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S+, 7 and 7 Plus and there is no indication about Android or Windows Phone versions for WhatsApp.  Last but not the least, WhatsApp released 2.17.40 version for its iOS app which includes features like video streaming, share any file type using the app, ability to pin chats, ability to forward an album without selecting what all pictures you want to forward along with a new ‘Calls’ section in the app.