WhatsApp has launched its new native application for macOS through the Mac App Store. A move that makes it easier to install, update, and ultimately use Facebook’s new app on Mac. This move comes a few months after the release of the new version and could sooner or later be repeated with other devices.
A small change in the right direction
Let’s remember that it was during the month of August when Facebook introduced a new WhatsApp app for Mac. However, until now, the application was only available on the company’s website. Now, it is accessible directly from the Mac App Store, making it easier to download and install.
The testing phase for the new macOS application began in July of last year, and the results seem to have been fruitful. The current version is notably faster and more efficient in terms of hardware resource usage. Thanks to Apple’s Catalyst technology, the app has moved away from the heavy Electron technology and has inherited features from the iPhone version, such as group calls, a highly requested function by users.
One notable aspect of the WhatsApp application for Mac is its ability to operate independently from the mobile version in terms of connectivity. Although it remains a complementary application that requires initial account setup through the phone, once configured, it is not necessary to have the phone connected to use it.
With this move, as Halloween also arrives on WhatsApp, Facebook merges the iPhone’s App Store app with the Mac App Store app into a single application. This move sets the app on the path to becoming cross-platform. Along these lines, it’s worth mentioning that WhatsApp is also exploring new horizons with recent updates and the beta version of an application for iPad, although we have no information on when it might be released.
The new WhatsApp application for Mac is free and requires iOS 12 or later for the iPhone and macOS 11 or later for the Mac. To download the new WhatsApp application for Mac, we simply need to go to the Mac App Store and search for “WhatsApp.” The download and installation process is just as simple as it is on the iPhone. A step in the right direction.
