Gone are the days when sending links on WhatsApp would only show the recipient the URL and nothing else. A fresh version of the messaging app’s Android version that’s still to receive a wide rollout, accompanies your links with rich previews to make them better looking.
This is quite a nascent feature; so expect it to take a few weeks until it’s available freely for everyone. Right now, if you wish to test it you’ll need to download version 2.12.312 of the app from the WhatsApp for Android beta upload page.
Once you’ve done that, typing or pasting a URL in your text tab results in a relevant image or icon popping up above it. You’ll be able to see these link previews even after you’ve sent them, but they will unfortunately not be visible to the person who receives the message.
WhatsApp believes in slow rollouts of fresh features; so expect the next few versions of the application to expand the visibility of the rich link previews to the recipients as well. As pointed out by Android Police, these previews are not working with image links at the moment.
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It was just yesterday that we reported about the iOS version of the app having been blessed with a new update. It allows the utility to take full advantage of the 3D Touch technology that has been introduced by Apple through its new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus models.
WhatsApp 2.12.312 with its rich link previews can be grabbed now either through its maker’s beta upload page or via APK Mirror. It’ll take some time for this feature to be rolled out through the Google Play store.