WhatsApp Testing Mac App With Native Apple Silicon Support

[MacRumors]

WhatsApp is developing an updated Mac app that features native Apple silicon support, with the company today providing a TestFlight beta to allow some Mac users to try out the new version of the app.

Apple silicon Macs have been able to use the Electron-based Intel version of WhatsApp for Mac since 2020 thanks to Rosetta 2, but there has been no native version available. An Apple silicon optimized Universal app should run faster and should use less resources on M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, and M2 machines.

News of the WhatsApp for Mac beta was shared by WABetaInfo, and the site notes that it is an early beta so some features may not fully function. The Universal version of WhatsApp does have an updated design that has a more Mac-like style with dedicated sidebar, and it is notably quicker than the existing version.

The sidebar features easy access to Chats, Calls, Archived, Starred, and Settings, and the chat interface also has an Apple-like style with Mac icons and a streamlined interface that feels more natural on Apple's devices.

There is no word on when the updated WhatsApp for Mac app will be released, but WhatsApp has been testing it internally for three weeks prior to providing a TestFlight version of the beta, so development is progressing.

Article Link: WhatsApp Testing Mac App With Native Apple Silicon Support

 

[macsplusmacs]

Native Apple silicon support > bloated, memory-eating Electron apps.

Are you listening 1Password?

 

[maxsquared]

It's about time.

 

[4419626]

WhatsApp from Meta.

Hard pass.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I use it a lot and didn’t even know that it wasn’t native. Rosetta is sooooooooooo good on Apple Silicon. Apple definitely hit the ball out the park with this one!

 

[Devyn89]

Don’t they still not have a watch app? Lol

 

[ProVideo]

When Facebook/Meta tells you messages are end to end encrypted and no one else can see them:

 

[macsplusmacs]

When Facebook/Meta tells you messages are end to end encrypted and no one else can see them:

Exactly. Somewhere they need to leave a hole in their system, all their systems, so they can spy on you and then figure out what to advertise to you.

 

[gumbyhw]

No iPad, no watch.

 

[Kylo83]

How long does it take Dam the m1 has been out for ages

 

[Haiku_Oezu]

I was gonna roast them but then I saw the screenshot and it’s not that joke of an “app” they have right now and instead looks like an actual honest to god Mac app??

 

[JGIGS]

When Facebook/Meta tells you messages are end to end encrypted and no one else can see them:

I mean I get it, but couldn't Apple and other tech company easily be doing the same by that logic? Honestly, I don't trust that anything is really secure tbh. Without knowing what goes into to encrypting and tech security I just go by Hollywood movie rules and anything can be hacked.

 

[Cognizant.]

Oooooo ... native data mining.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Stop wasting time on this and release an iPad app.

 

[Bustycat]

Meta reacted so faster (years after the competitors) about writing WhatsApp for Mac!

 

[Bustycat]

Native Apple silicon support > bloated, memory-eating Electron apps.

Are you listening 1Password?

Native Apple silicon support is not conflicted with Electron however. Discord, natively supporting Apple silicon, is an Electron app but not really bloated.

 

[JosephAW]

Can’t wait for macOS to get back down to its normal size when they drop the universal binary version.

 

[Bustycat]

Stop wasting time on this and release an iPad app.

Meta has been wasting time when the competitors already released fully cross-platform apps.

 

[ja']

ugh, i bet you still can’t hide the conversations sidebar or pop out conversations to their own window…

someone say i’m wrong, please!

 

[nvmls]

Oooooo ... native data mining.

Still better than electron data mining 😅

 

[nvmls]

Native Apple silicon support is not conflicted with Electron however. Discord, natively supporting Apple silicon, is an Electron app but not really bloated.

Lol.. who are you kidding? Discord drags like a snail, get real.

 

[Bustycat]

I mean I get it, but couldn't Apple and other tech company easily be doing the same by that logic? Honestly, I don't trust that anything is really secure tbh. Without knowing what goes into to encrypting and tech security I just go by Hollywood movie rules and anything can be hacked.

WhatsApp uses Signal Protocol, and Signal fans claim it is the safest unlike Telegram.

 

[ian87w]

Anybody tried migrating whatsapp chat history from Android to iOS? According to whatsapp, it should now be possible starting iOS15.5 and using the move to iOS app.

 

[sdf]

Native Apple silicon support > bloated, memory-eating Electron apps.

Are you listening 1Password?

People are fond of saying this, but it turns out it also matters how they use Electron. Safari with a single tab open (this one) uses over 1GB. 1Password uses 340MB, and that's with the full app open (and I don't know about you, but I use the full app for 30 seconds at a time).

As a developer myself, I want to hate Electron. But with 1Password, the sky isn't actually falling.

 

[jav6454]

WhatsApp from Meta.

Hard pass.

Well, WhatsApp has been fairly dependable on the privacy part for quite some time on a peer to peer basis. I won't comment on peer to business as that is a can of worms.