WhatsApp calling now available to everyone, without invite

After running a long invite-exclusive test run (and being in rumors since a year), WhatsApp has finally made the new calling feature available to every user.

Initially, activating the voice calling feature in WhatsApp required many pre-requisites, such as receiving a call from the user with pre-installed calling for activating it in your app. Thankfully, the feature is now readily available with the latest 2.12.19 version of WhatsApp for Android, there is no need to call first in order to activate, the service is pre-activated with the version upgrade.

The users need to install the WhatsApp 2.12.19 version. After the update, new feature such as “Calls log” will appear in the top menu tab, making new call just requires a tap on the “plus” button. The calling feature enables users to hang up, activate the speaker, mute, and switch to chat, and much more. The calls are connected instantly and sound quality is crisp, however, a lot of that depends on the internet speed too.

Also, there stays a chance that the feature might be rolled on the basis of server (it might involve little wait until everyone gets it), many users have already got the feature without the need to call first. Moreover, taking a hint from tips and reports submitted in the Android forums, the feature is can now be deemed as available far and wide.

To download the latest version 2.12.19 of WhatsApp, head over to the Play Store or WhatsApp’s website. If it is being downloaded from Whatsapp’s website then users will be required to enable “installing apps from unknown sources” in the download settings.

Have you updated your Whatsapp? How is the calling feature working for you? Let us know through your amazing comments!

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Samsung Pushing Android 4.4 KitKat Update for 14 Galaxy Devices

A reliable source inside Samsung US yesterday confirmed that Samsung would be roling out Android 4.4 Kit Kat for a range of tis devices starting today and sure enough, 14 Samsung Galaxy devices are receiving and Android 4.4 Kit Kat OS update all over the US. Most of these updates however are available on carrier and product basis, the 14 are just the first batch of devices to receive the latest update of Android OS and other devices will be receiving the update ‘throughout the coming months’ according to Samsung.


The devices that have received or will be receiving an Android 4.4 KitKat first are 

• Samsung Galaxy S3
• Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
• Samsung Galaxy S4
• Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
• Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
• Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
• Samsung Galaxy Note 2
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 3
• Samsung Galaxy Mega
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
• Samsung Galaxy Light
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)

If you have any of these devices, even if you haven’t received an OTA update notification yet, your device will most definitely receive the Android 4.4 Kit Kat update even if not today. Samsung is claiming that the OS update will provide “a more enriching experience” to its users, especially considering the three major points in the changelog: location menu, Google mobile services and better messaging.

Location Menu 

The new OS update comes with a better integrated menu which enables the user to activate Wi-Fi, GPS and mobile network or data with ease while checking how local apps use the battery and which ones have access to location services.

Improved messaging 

Google is working hard to have Hangouts accepted as a messaging app of choice, but Samsung, just like other manufacturers or carriers, have their own. The new enhanced messaging feature on the Android 4.4 Kit Kat makes it easier to choose which application to use and choose from a wide range of updated Emoji icons to use.

Better Google Mobile Service (GMS) apps: With the upgraded Google Apps, users of Samsung Galaxy devices can easily and conveniently back up their data including videos and photos and they can use the improved apps to view, open, share and rename documents and files with ease.

If you have any of the devices that should be receiving the update now, just wait for an OTA notification that refers to an available software update. If you haven’t automatic checking of updates, go to your device settings and manually check for the updates.

If no update is available for your device yet, it won’t be long before your carrier makes it available, just be patient. These Android 4.4 Kit Kat updates for Samsung Galaxy devices are expected to roll out for several months, it is hard to tell when exactly each carrier will roll out the update for their devices 

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