WhatsApp Makes The Jump To Desktop!

Facebook’s WhatsApp has just released its Desktop App for Windows 8 (and above) and Mac OS 10.9 (and above), making it available on all major platforms.

But it is undeniably great timing for them too, and good news for laptop and PC users worldwide, as they also just recently hit their 1 billion user milestone, which is quite impressive if we’re honest

The desktop app is very similar to WhatsApp Web (which was released in January 2015) in many ways, however it now supports desktop notifications and keyboard shortcuts (which are always awesome).

WhatsApp said:

“Like WhatsApp Web, our desktop app is simply an extension of your phone: the app mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device.” 

Yes, unfortunately, you need your phone to access it and yes, your phone needs to be connected to the internet.

Here’s the thing though

WhatsApp Desktop and WhatsApp Web is not supposed to be an alternative to your phone but rather a more convenient way of sending messages and files to friends, family and colleagues while you are busy on your computer. This allows their 1 billion users to stay connected even while working.

To access your messages, you need to scan the QR code from your WhatsApp on your phone, which is a very good security measure, and takes just a few seconds, and also made me feel very high tech about the whole thing.

Obviously there are a few features that are lacking at this point (as with any new application), but over time as they improve the app should get better and there will be more features introduced.

Overall, what WhatsApp have done, works very well on the whole. The release also comes at just the right time for me, as it ties in very nicely with their recent added encryption protocol that is turned on by default for all its users.

WhatsApp have down a good job on the app, and it does work on the desktop.

I guess the real question is who’ll use it when they have their phone right next to them in any case.  Still, I like it.