While most of the instant messaging apps out there in the tech market support sharing of animated GIF images, WhatsApp has been making sure that there is no sort of any hurdles and hiccups in GIF support.
The popular IM app has been testing the GIF image sharing feature on its Android version for quite some time now. Though many users had somehow tweaked out a way to send GIF images on WhatsApp, an officially full-blown release was on the horizon. Now, WhatsApp version 2.16.15 for iPhone has finally received its whole-hog of animated GIF image sharing support. The latest iOS update arrives with the ability to send, create, and receive GIFs on the IM platform efficiently, with ease for free.
The new updated WhatsApp version 2.16.15 for the iPhone comes with a changelog which talks only about GIF support. For those who are unaware, animated GIF images are built with several images that have been stitched together to form a loop-like video, which is limited to just 6 seconds on the WhatsApp IM platform. With this new update, WhatsApp now completely supports the GIF images, so much so, that it even allows the users to create them.
Create a GIF Image
All the users have to do is just record a video of lesser than 6 seconds by using the in-app camera of the latest version of WhatsApp. A new toggle switch will now appear in an edge at the top right with an option to render it in normal video or GIF format. If the users select the GIF option, they will be able to create a looped GIF, which can be shared later with other WhatsApp users as desired.
Live Photos as GIF Images
Apart from creating and sharing new GIF images, the latest update also allows sending of Live photos in the form of GIF images via WhatsApp. For this, the users will have to click on the ‘arrow icon’ representing the Attach Menu present on WhatsApp and then select the option for ‘Select Photo/Video Library’. The users will now have to look for 3D Touch the Live Photo and then scroll to the bottom. There will be many new options which will be displayed that will allow the users to send Live Photo just as a normal photo or as a GIF image. The users will just have to select the GIF option, which will allow them to send the GIF image to the desired user or a group on WhatsApp. However, it is worth noting that this amazing 3D Touch feature has been available only for the users of iPhone 6s models and above. So this feature has been made exclusive to them.
Android Testing
It is a very well-known fact that this feature of creating and sending GIF images is still in the beta mode of testing for the Android users of WhatsApp. With the iPhone users being offered the support for GIF images, even the Android users should be getting it soon. Apart from this GIF image support, WhatsApp is also testing another big feature which is the video calling feature.
Just recently, WhatsApp had introduced a host of editing tools for photos as well as for videos, which have been conceptualized from Snapchat. The instant messaging app now allows its users to write, doodle, draw, and even add emojis to the media content, before sending it to other WhatsApp users. A ‘Group Invite Link’ feature was launched for the iPhone users which allow the group Admins to invite other contacts to join the group via a unique link.