You could say WhatsApp is giving iPhone users a little something extra. The app is in the process of testing these moving parts in the latest build, and it shows when a text comes in. It has been making waves with some users already.
Why your iPhone chat might be a little different soon
Gone are the days of messages just popping up. Now the bubbles have a way of easing into view. You don’t have to do anything differently to use the app, but it does lend a certain fluidity to a conversation, particularly when you have a lot of back-and-forth going on.
If you are in the middle of a lively group thread, this kind of transition can make the whole thing seem a bit more refined and quick, with no added fuss.
What you will see in a chat
There is some report of a soft animation as a message comes in. No new buttons, no tricks to pick up. The text is there and the bubble has made its entrance, and you have a cleaner look on your screen for it.
It is an interface of sorts that is still very much the same old WhatsApp, but with a more premium air to it.
Outsized impact from a small change
This is where micro-animations come in. The way an app feels is often about those little things. The substance is the same, but it doesn’t feel as rigid. And it is a way for WhatsApp to not be left behind by the competition who have gone with more dynamic looks.
They are also part of a steady stream of updates we have seen over the last few months on both iPhone and Android. From the calling screen to the chat menu, there have been some changes. Even widgets and status have had a pass at being improved.
A design refresh, without the fanfare
But you won’t find any radical reworkings here. They are toying with some AI as well, but you can be sure they are not going to do anything to put off their older users. What you get is an app that is current, not unrecognisable.
For the time being, if you are on the iOS beta, you can have a look at the animated bubbles. WhatsApp is running with them to see what people think and to work out any kinks. Don’t expect to see a firm date for a general release any time soon.
What to make of it all
Some of these trials never amount to anything. This one is no different; it is up to the numbers and the reception. Here is where things stand:
– In the works on the iOS beta
– Nothing confirmed for a broader audience
– No date on the calendar
The user side of things
You won’t be using the app in a new way, but there is a sense of motion in a busy chat that can be a relief. It is easy to see what is new and what isn’t. Once you have it, you will want it to stay.
When you are on WhatsApp every day, it is the small improvements that count.
Where it goes from here
Assuming the response is good, we may see this in a proper update for the iPhone. If not, it is likely to remain a novelty for the beta crowd. One way or another, it is a sign of the times: small steps to keep the app simple.
We will have to wait and see if this bit of style is here to stay.
In the end
These animated bubbles are not going to change the world, and that is fine. They are there to make a conversation a bit more pleasant to be in. For an app you are in so often, it is hard to argue with that.
