New interesting updates are available for those of you who use WhatsApp with Android devices. In the last few hours a new beta version has been released and it brings the document sharing support. This new beta version 2.12.493 adds a new documents icon to the paperclip attachments list, and, for the moment, you can add only PDF documents. But it shouldn’t take long before WhatsAppers will be able to attach other documents types.
It is important to know that to use this option both the sender and the recipient must use the same version of WhatsApp. The update includes also the removal of an icon. Beta version 2.12.493 in fact hasn’t got anymore the Video option but just the Photo one. By tapping on it you can choose whether to take a photo or shoot a video. Still easy, isn’t it? So, how can you test this new document sharing option?
First of all you need to have a friend who has upgraded his/her device with the latest 2.12. 493 beta version of WhatsApp for Android. Once you are sure that you can share your document with your contact, you can tap the paperclip and then Document. From here you can select from the list of PDFs on your phone which one you want to share with your contact. You’ll be able to see a preview of the document in the chat and the file will then be stored in a completely new Documents tab, which you’ll find in the Media section in the chat’s overflow menu.
And that’s not all. Beta version 2.12.493 of WhatsApp for Android brings also a new Documents folder, which you can find in WhastsApp Media Folder. From this new folder you’ll be able to check the Documents box located in the Media Auto-Download settings. If this is a great news for WhatsApp users, there are other news not so pleasant.
Recent news report that Diego Dzodan, Facebook Executive, has been arrested in Brazil because WhatsApp didn’t share data with police, and exactly for “ignoring a judicial order” for an investigation. What happened? In Brazil Dzoran is accused of ignoring a judicial order in a secret investigation involving organized crime and drug trafficking.
Immediate reactions are coming from both Facebook and WhatsApp. A Facebook spokesperson told Gizmodo that “We’re disappointed with the extreme and disproportionate measure of having a Facebook executive escorted to a police station in connection with a case involving WhatsApp, which operates separately from Facebook. Facebook has always been and will be available to address any questions Brazilian authorities may have”, while a WhatsApp spokesperson added that “WhatsApp cannot provide information we do not have. We cooperated to the full extent of our ability in this case and while we respect the important job of law enforcement, we strongly disagree with its decision.”