05 October,2016 06:00 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
Messaging app Whatsapp has added new camera features which will allow users to write and draw on photos and videos as well as add emojis to them
New Delhi: Messaging app Whatsapp has added new camera features which will allow users to write and draw on photos and videos as well as add emojis to them.
"Today we're introducing new ways to customise and enhance the photos and videos you share with friends and family around the world. With WhatsApp's new camera features, you can now write or draw on photos and videos, as well as add emoji to express yourself," Whatsapp said in a blogpost.
Once a user captures a new photo or video or shares one from their phone, they will automatically see the new editing tools.
"The WhatsApp camera feature now supports the front-facing flash so you can take the perfect selfie. In low light and at night, this will brighten up your screen and improve the quality of your photo," it added.
The new features will roll out on Android phones at the present moment and iPhone soon.
The features are similar to those offered by photo app, Snapchat. Whatsapp has been launching new features including new mentions feature to Group Chats and document sharing for its users.
In September, WhatsApp enabled the mentions feature for Group Chats in which users in a large WhatsApp Group can actually individually tag a specific person during chats. This came as a huge sigh of relief for users in a large family or office group. The feature is available in both iOS and Android versions of WhatsApp.
In August, WhatsApp attracted controversy by announcing its updated global privacy policy, under which it will now share phone numbers of users with its parent company, Facebook. Privacy advocates had raised concerns that Facebook would start mining WhatsApp accounts for data.
But the feature wasn't mandatory and users were given options to easily avoid it.
In July, WhatsApp in its latest Android beta update added a new call back and voicemail feature. Earlier, one had to go back to the chat window to send a voice message but that option is now available directly in the after-call menu which also offers the ability to call the user back.
Also in July, WhatsApp silently launched a new feature - a new type of font similar to Fixedsys in Windows. But, users have to trigger it in a unique way while chatting to be able to utilise it.
WhatsApp, which was acquired by Facebook in 2014 in a USD 19-billion deal, has over one billion users globally with a significant chunk coming from India.
- With inputs from agencies
