WhatsApp releases turbocharged “car mode” today and three more new features; Understand what changes in your app

WhatsApp announced on Wednesday (22) a package of new features that takes the messaging app to more screens, from the car’s multimedia center to the iPad. For those who drive, the highlight is the redesigned ‘Zap’ experience in the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems, which promises to make it easier to use the app without taking your hands off the wheel, especially with audios.

Through the car’s own screen, the driver can now listen to and respond to voice messages, listen to audios, make and receive calls, check call history and access favorite contacts, all in hands-free mode, without picking up the device. The proposal of Meta, owner of the app, is to reduce the need to handle the phone while driving.

According to WhatsApp, the features have already started to be released this Wednesday (22) and will arrive gradually in the coming days, which means that not everyone will see the news at the same time. In-car experience depends on a vehicle that supports Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

The other new features of the update

Outside the car, three features debut together. The first is account creation on the iPad: now you can open a WhatsApp account directly on the Apple tablet, without having to link a cell phone to the tablet.

The second is the integration with Adobe Acrobat: on WhatsApp Web and desktop, it is possible to open PDFs within conversations without downloading the file and make light edits, such as highlighting excerpts and annotating. Advanced features require an Acrobat Pro subscription, at $55 per month.

The third is music sharing: it’s simpler to send a track from Apple Music or Spotify straight to Status, showing contacts what you’re listening to.