WhatsApp renames Instants camera feature to Zaps in Android beta
WhatsApp has renamed its upcoming instant camera feature from Instants to Zaps and expanded it to support groups and unknown contacts. Spotted by WABetaInfo in the Android 2.26.46.2 beta update, the feature lets users send end-to-end encrypted photos and videos that disappear after being viewed once.
As WhatsApp's look changes, Meta has begun applying this to instant photos as well. The instant messaging app WhatsApp has renamed the instant and disappearing photo-sharing feature it has been working on to Zaps.
The feature, spotted by WhatsApp leak source WABetaInfo in the WhatsApp Android 2.26.46.2 beta update on the Google Play Store, has not yet been rolled out to beta users.
Previously spotted under the name Instants in the Android 2.26.45.13 beta version, the feature was based on the instant camera experience in Instagram. Photos and videos captured with this camera, which is opened by tapping the lightning icon at the top of the Chats tab, disappear after being viewed once by the recipient. Transmitted with end-to-end encryption, this content remains strictly between the sender and the recipient.
It will also be sent to groups and unknown contacts
During the current development process, WhatsApp expanded the scope of the feature. Content that was initially planned to be sent only to mutual contacts in address books can now be sent to all contacts, groups, and unknown numbers with the new structure. The company also plans to allow Zaps to be sent to channels, though it is not yet clear whether this support will be included in the first release.
A shared Zap will appear directly among other messages in the chat stream instead of in a separate tab. When multiple Zaps are sent consecutively in the same chat, WhatsApp will group them into a single box and display the total count, such as "2 Zaps". This will prevent the chat screen from being broken up.
Deleted after the recipient views it
When a recipient opens a Zap, they will see a dedicated interface with the sender's name at the bottom of the screen. Users will be able to react with any emoji on this screen or type a message directly using the reply bar at the bottom.
Once the recipient views the content, the Zap will disappear, though the sender will continue to see the shared content permanently in the chat screen. However, Zaps will not be listed in the media files section of the chat info screen.
The Zaps feature is currently in development for the Android version and has not even been released to testers. WhatsApp has not announced a date for when the feature will become generally available.
Users in Turkey are already using the instant photo feature. The new update will also be available for users in the country.
Meanwhile, the WhatsApp CEO also announced new features coming to the platform. You can find the details here.
This article was translated from Turkish. Read the original article in Turkish.
