We tested the redesigned Whatsapp: Thumbs up or down? – La Voz del Interior

Material Design is the name of a programming language you’ll get used to listen mention or read: this is the code that Google used to -for example- create its latest operating system Android, Lollipop. So, almost everything runs as an application on relatively new smartphones had or will have a redesign to upgrade the style that products made with this language are.

And Whatsapp is no exception. The instant messaging service faced, with some delay, it is true- which undoubtedly is the most important redesign its entire existence, and although it has not yet reached the Google app store, is now available for download as. apk on the official website of the firm now owned by Facebook. There is no change in functionality, in this case it is only a “facelift” more than nice, giving more emphasis to the images and bringing it closer to the look that is the web version of WhatsApp.

The first thing you see on the new design is a much more naked, clear and subtle transparencies appearance, a feature in almost everything you do with Material Design. The preview image of the contacts is rounded rather than square (at this point is quite similar to the Messenger of Facebook), but if touched each contact’s personal image will open taking up three quarters of the screen, right more to update the photo and place some in a suitable resolution.

The deployment of the attachments section also updated and stylized in its design, but without doubt one of the most obvious changes is the change in color of the top bar, passing the previous green light to a darker green bottle. Similarly, the shape of each message is also updated in a conversation, which now looks much more like a “balloon” text type cartoon.

To install

As mentioned, the application still fails to Play Store, then one option is expected to be available (in which case the smartphone notified of the availability of the update). Although, for the most anxious, entering www.whatsapp.com/android in your mobile browser we will offer to download the installable .apk. Once done download (weighs about 20 megs), but you should go to “Downloads” and run the installation. Depending on the phone, request permission to install “applications of unknown origin” or not. Just have to have a phone with Android 2.1 or higher, made the caveat that does not work for tablets.