WhatsApp desktop for Mac and Windows arrive: Here’s how to get started

Whatsapp has now introduced a desktop app which will be available for both Windows and Mac. The WhatsApp desktop client will offer all the same features and shortcuts, which we have already seen on WhatsApp for Web. However, the difference is the fact that the new app will not depend on the mobile version of the communication platform.

WhatsApp stated in a blogpost, “Today we’re introducing a desktop app so you have a new way to stay in touch anytime and anywhere – whether on your phone or computer at home or work. Like WhatsApp Web, our desktop app is simply an extension of your phone: the app mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device.”

To download the app, visit WhatsApp’s blog from a desktop browser. Open the app and scan the QR code using the WhatsApp app on a smartphone. You can look for WhatsApp Web menu under Settings.

The desktop app is available for systems running Windows 8+ and Mac OS 10.9+ and gets synced with WhatsApp on one’s smartphone. It is because that the app runs natively on the desktop, users will get support for native desktop notifications, better keyboard shortcuts, and more.

WhatsApp has been all over the news for a while now. The company is indeed ramping up it’s service and introducing tons of new features. Along with the rumoured call back button, zip file sharing support and voicemail, WhatsApp is also rumoured to be working on video calls, NFC tags and group invites too. According to Android Police, video calls are coming very soon to WhatsApp, but whether they will be rolled out to beta participants only, to everyone, or as the same silly invite-like system of voice calls, is yet unknown.

In addition, the leak reveal the option to send group invites via links and NFC tags. WhatsApp is also trying out ways with which members of a limited group can invite other WhatsApp users to join as well. Recently, a report by PhoneRadar stated that WhatsApp for iOS and Android will now get a “Call Back” that will show notifications for a missed call with a call back button. With this new addition, a user will be able to dial back, without opening WhatsApp.

WhatsApp will also introduce voicemail for iOS devices. The new “Record Voice Mail” and “Send Voice Mail” buttons will soon allow users to send a voice mail during a call itself. One can also expect the voicemail to record and share in-call audio.

Source: http://tech.firstpost.com

Google Maps May Need a License, IRCTC Data Leak, and More News This Week

It's been an interesting week in tech news, with both scientific development and consumer tech ticking along nicely.

There have been some major developments from India, but one of the most important bits of news that we came across was that the government might be working on a law that could would make it mandatory for Google Maps to get a license in India. According to a draft bill, the Ministry of Home Affairs is planning a law where you need a government license to acquire and to disseminate map data; and there are huge fines if this is not the case. There are also huge fines for "incorrect" depictions of India's borders. While the idea of a law around geospatial information makes sense, the specifics of the draft could be worrying.

The next piece of news from India is also really big - the Mumbai police warned that data had been hacked from the rail ticket booking site IRCTC, which is the biggest e-commerce destination in the country. It later turned out that this was not the case, but there was still serious cause for concern as officials admitted customer data might have been sold, and an enquiry is being conducted. IRCTC has three crore active and registered users, so the information of these users and their cards could be at risk, though officials assured all sensitive information is encrypted before it's stored.

Another huge piece of news for Indian tech enthusiasts was the announcement of carrier billing for Google Play, launched on Idea. This allows people to pay for apps without a credit or debit card - instead, the money is deducted from your prepaid balance, or added to your postpaid bill. Gadgets 360 first reported this on Tuesday, but one development we learned on Thursday was that Idea is charging a convenience fee for all transactions. This could be a spanner in the works - if it's cheaper to use a debit card, and people are anyway not used to paying for apps, then this mode of payment might not catch on. Idea did not respond to a request for comment on the issue.

Continuing the theme of big stories, Reliance Jio has started to roll out its 4G services to the public. It's not the open market yet, but the company has launched an employee referral program through which Jio employees can invite up to 10 people to join the network. These users will get 10GB free voice and data for three months, and also get access to "premium applications" for live TV, video on demand, news, and cloud storage.

Possibly the most exciting tech news right now is that SpaceX successfully landed its Falcon 9 rocket on a floating platform early on Friday. The rocket went into space, came down from a height of around 25,000 miles, and then landed on a floating platform. It's an incredible achievement with far reaching possibilities, though of course, that's all going to be off in the future.

In Brazil, there were some developments around the use of WhatsApp. On Tuesday, a judge ordered carriers to block WhatsApp for 72 hours, a move that affected 100 million users. This was struck down the next day by another judge, but it shows how vulnerable the services that we all rely on actually are.

Meanwhile, one of the more humorous developments took place recently, when the Los Angeles Police Department revealed that it cracked an iPhone 5s, at the same time the FBI was struggling with an iPhone 5c. Apple can't be happy about this news, but it's probably even more upset by the fact that a Chinese court rejected its trademark over the iPhone name. The court declared that a leathermaker can use the iPhone name for its handbags and phone cases. Meanwhile, long-time HTC fans might be saddened (if unsurprised) as the company continues to struggle. The company has seen dismal sales of its new flagship in China, and it's very promising VR division just become a new company.

Source: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/