Facebook adds dark mode to Messenger app but leaves WhatsApp fans disappointed
WhatsApp’s 1.5 billion users are all aching for a ‘dark mode’ update to brighten their lives.
But Facebook has cruelly withheld this much-anticipated feature at the same time as handing it to some Facebook Messenger users.
Dark mode flips the app’s colour scheme, toning down the brightness and replacing white backgrounds with black.
It might sound like a frivolous upgrade, but WhatsApp’s hardcore aficionados are anxiously awaiting the change.
Some people who have already gone to the dark side claim their phone batteries last a bit longer when they turn its backgrounds black.
It’s available for iOS and Android users who are running the latest versions of their phone’s mobile operating system.
Now Zuck’s all-conquering social network has even given dark mode to people running the latest version of its Messenger app for Windows 10, which is now being rolled out across the world
Sadly, WhatsApp users still don’t have a dark mode.
In December, the owner of the world’s most influential WhatsApp blog has said the new feature is finished and will be made available soon.
‘It is ready, but I’ve no idea when it will be released,’ tweeted WABetaInfo, which examines the code of beta versions of the app ahead of public releases.
However, the app investigator also highlighted several missing features in the iOS version of the messaging service.
The iOS dark theme is ready, except for:
No status updates cell.
WhatsApp Settings > Profile cells.
Phone number, About, Business details cells in Contact info.
Encryption cell.
Contacts list cells.
Storage Usage cells.
Cells in Backup section.
Wrong group description cell color.— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) December 19, 2019
WhatsApp users have been eagerly awaiting ‘dark mode’ for months or even years.
But some of them have found a sneaky way of accessing the feature right now rather than waiting for its official release.
WhatsApp is believed to be carrying out final testing of the feature, which will be rolled out to iOS and Android users at some point soon.
On Twitter, several Android users claimed there’s a way of accessing the mode immediately.
They said that all you need to do is open WhatsApp, copy a link to a YouTube into a chat and then open it so it displays ‘picture in picture’ inside the conversation.
The trick worked for some people, but not for others.
Yes it works! ???? While keyboard is open
Thank you pic.twitter.com/pMHQ353qEC— Meet Doshi ❁ (@meetdoshiii) December 10, 2019
WhatsApp has included a new ‘dark wallpaper’ in a beta version of its software, the code detectives at WABetaInfo have discovered.
This was hailed as evidence that a full dark mode is finally on the way.
‘In the 2.19.327 beta update, the Dark Theme is not available yet, but we found some hidden tracks about its improvements,’ WABetaInfo wrote.
‘In particular, in this beta version, we found that WhatsApp is working on a Dark Default Wallpaper, based on the same night blue colors of the Dark Theme!
‘Implementing the Dark Wallpaper might be one of the last things that WhatsApp had to implement. We are finally getting closer and this Dark Theme seems amazing!
‘We don’t know when the Dark Theme will be released, but we will certainly publish an article about any other change and an announcement when WhatsApp is rolling out the feature for everyone!’
The road to darkness has been long, torturous and emotional.
Earlier this year, some WhatsApp users were hit hard by a rumour suggesting the dimmer mode would never be released to the public.
????WhatsApp beta for Android 2.19.327: what’s new?
We're getting closer: WhatsApp is working on a Default Dark Wallpaper for the Dark Theme (under development)!https://t.co/gX3cqcZG4e
NOTE: The Dark Theme is not available yet and it will be enabled in future.
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) November 8, 2019
‘I know that it might be very ironic, but WhatsApp has completely removed the dark mode (that was under development) in the Android app,’ WEBetaInfo tweeted.
The news prompted a minor outpouring of rage.
‘WhatsApp is going to be dead,’ one fan tweeted.
‘There are no interesting features anymore.
‘Honestly, I won’t update WhatsApp anymore until i know that there is a new interesting feature.’
‘WTF?’ another person roared. ‘OUR DAM EYES HURT AT NIGHT WHERE TF IS DARK MODE?’
Apple has already embraced dark mode which is built into iOS 12 and it became available on its computers with the release of MacOS Mojave.