WhatsApp is trying out the global audio player in the desktop trial version, according to the WABetaInfi website. The feature allows you to listen to incoming or outgoing messages while browsing other chats, just like Telegram.
First found in WhatsApp Beta for iOS, the global player puts the audio to play in a separate area of the chat — more specifically, at the bottom of the left column. In it, users can check whose audio it is, they can interrupt/continue playback and see how much time is left to finish.
The function is activated automatically by the messenger if the user starts listening to an audio and enters another chat in the app, so it is not necessary to do anything to continue listening to the message. To stop playing for good, just click on the “X” icon.
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Telegram style
Those who come from Telegram must be very familiar with the global audio player, as the messenger has had an extremely similar function for some time. There, the user can navigate between conversations without interrupting audios in playback and they can also adjust the playback speed without having to go back to the original chat.
On the PC, the Kenyannews managed to try out the function with WhatsApp Desktop in version 2.2204.5, available in the beta access of the app. If you are a tester and the feature is not yet available, it is worth checking the Microsoft Store for any pending updates.
Now that WhatsApp Desktop has the new audio player, the feature is missing only in the Android app — it’s probably already under development. For now, there is no forecast for the release of this tool to the general public.
