AVOID due to constant security problems. Despite its popularity, I dumped it for better. So has the United Nations. Signal is one worthy alternative. -->"The United Nations officials are not using WhatsApp for purposes of communication as it is unsafe and vulnerable to hacking." https://www.ehackingnews.com/2020/01/un-officials-not-using-whatsapp-over.html
DON'T USE WHATSaPP! Facebook told us how they own all our information on this app. There are safer, more private options including Signal, Telegram, and Apple Messages.
This app seems "free," but the cost is too high, IMO.
The developer's website is the official WhatsApp site - curious how many people here scream "Chinese spyware! Chinese spyware!" - since when Facebook got Chinese?
Keep Chinese SPYWARE OFF your computer. The world is entirely too gullible when it comes to digital warfare. Your content is being stolen and used against you.
Well,from the beginning - I don't know why the connection between my iMac and iPhone broke during moving settings from old 6 on brand new SE.
Secondly it's a real nuisance that the only way of re-connecting them is via QR code with a ridiculous comment that the iPhone may sometimes not read it - with not a word what to do then.
Thirdly the User's Manual isn't the 1st thing I can find on a dedicated website.And this leads straight to the only disadvantage -as to my ... taste - of the communicator.
As far as other issues are concerned it works,it's reliable and generally user's friendly.
Are we kidding? Can’t I use it on iPad and Mac at the same time? Furthermore, "WhatsApp web" doesn’t have all the functions of the mobile version! There are also serious privacy and security issues!
I hope I won’t use it again as soon as everyone’s using Telegram.
AVOID due to constant security problems. Despite its popularity, I dumped it for better. So has the United Nations. Signal is one worthy alternative. -->"The United Nations officials are not using WhatsApp for purposes of communication as it is unsafe and vulnerable to hacking." https://www.ehackingnews.com/2020/01/un-officials-not-using-whatsapp-over.html
This is Facebook-owned spyware. It is impossible to use it without having your phone working, and it is impossible to get your phone working without surrendering your phone number to Facebook where it is associated with your Facebook account if you have one. In any case, Facebook will track you by your phone number in order to expand their $70 billion/year advertising empire. If this is OK with you and you don't mind this grievous violation of your privacy for no return to you, then go ahead and use WhatsApp. 1.5+billion people can't be wrong, right? Otherwise, use Signal https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/60246/signal which has the same capabilities and does not rape you.
Forces update: minus 4 stars.
Says it supports 10.9 (the last OSX that wasn't locked down for your own incompetent good) - yay!: Plus 2 stars
Doesn't actually launch on 10.9: minus 2 and half stars.
Useful and fast chat search function. Also emoji panel has useful search function too. Auto updates, however, not promptly. Using on OS X Mojave without issue.
They are assuming that all users in a certain area use the native language. This is incorrect. As with many, all my devices are set to use the English language. Compared to my native language, English is a more convenient and compact language when it comes to computers and devices.
As I do use my native language to communicate with friends and family, most of the text that I type in Whatsapp desktop is marked by the spell checker as misspelled as it is checking for English language. This is annoying. Give users the ability to disable spell checking which is a common feature in most macOS apps.
Whatsapp is not honoring the general system preferences which are set to NOT spell check at all and when it does it has to use the Dutch / Netherlands dictionary.
Furthermore: remove the auto update feature and/or let users decide if they want this by giving them choice to automatically update or just notify for updates and whether have them installed. I like to be in control of the devices I own. How convenient it may sound, it is not up to software developers to decide if an app needs to be updated.
Confirm version 0.3.1475 does NOT startup on Mac OS 10.9.5, have reported issue to WhatsApp. Previous version 0.3.1242 does work on Mac OS 10.9 and still available to download from Mac App store.
I am on Mac OS 10.9.5. Until now, even though it lacks some important functionalities of the Android version, like video, Whatsapp has worked very well, but since version 0.3.1475 it crashes before it even opens. Useless.
It looks like it updates itself in the background (no option for manual update).
Only English in chat. No option to change language for spell checking (it doesn't use the default dictionary).
No video.
I'm not a WhatsApp user, just tried it a few times, I was hoping this app could ease things but it needs to have the phone connected too while using it, which I find utterly stupid! :-D Can't they figure out a better way? I'm ok with QR code identifying but once done, why not keep the app connected on the same computer, with a password? or your FB account? Or at least, if really needed check the QR code once a month? Buh... :-o
Average messenger, nothing special, but I have to use it cause a lot of my foreign business partners prefer it. Good point that Whatsapp never slows down or lags. Anyway, everyone should have it installed along with other messengers.
If you use WhatsApp, in ANY form, web or desktop (which basically wraps the web site), you MUST read the various articles regarding security concerns with the service. WhatsApp parent company is Facebook; by default unless you opt out, there is a lot of your profile info that is shared with FB. Backups of your messages to the cloud are not encrypted.
Read this article at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an org that stays on top of security and privacy issues
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/10/where-whatsapp-went-wrong-effs-four-biggest-security-concerns
I'm not saying at all that the service is bad or shouldn't be used; I'm simply saying educate yourself about the privacy and security concerns about the service A number of privacy advocate groups have cautioned people to be aware, and have demanded WhatsApp provide greater transparency about its policies.
Also, WhatsApp is one of the most SPOOFED services ever. I don't have an FB or WhatsApp count; I get probably 3 messages a week that I have a WhatsApp message, which is totally bogus.
A side note about why the developer's site looks like crap in some web browsers:
Ignoring the fact that smart web browsers allow the user to "Block cookies and other website data... From third parties and advertisers", the WhatsApp.com website grabs a lot of code for rendering its pages from a third party site. OOPS. Specifically, they grab code from their own 'WhatsApp.net' website. - - The cure of course is to temporarily UNcheck the 'Block Cookies...' setting in your web browser, which I personally do NOT RECOMMEND. IOW it's a Catch 22. Damned if you do. Damned if you don't.
I suggest the developer get its act together and properly write its central .com website without requiring anything from its .net website.
Recommended app when you need to send messages or call someone for free.
I was very surprised to see a lot of my friends already using this.
Very simple GUI that works as expected.
WEaste of time, I only tried to get it because it said it was cross-platform and works on all operating systems; iOS, Android, Mac, Win, etc.
This is NOT true. The second I tried to get it on my Android, which is a really new quad-core 32GB model, the PlayStore says it is not for my device. I wasted a lot of time.
Still looking for something cross-platform. I want to be able to communicate easily across Mac, iOS, and Android. Maybe Linux, but F**k windoze.
You may think, why do I need WhatsApp on my desktop if I have it on my phone? But I noticed some significant pros.
Firstly, it's much more useful if there is a need to send some documents or files to someone and do it quickly as the Internet connection on the computer is faster than on the phone or another device.
Secondly, it easy to type long messages or text abstract using a normal keyboard instead of tiny buttons on the phone.
Thirdly, there is no longer problem with scrolling long conversation or chat. Using a mouse is more convenient in this case.
So, if you use WhatsApp much for conversation, I would recommend to get a desktop version as well.
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As I do use my native language to communicate with friends and family, most of the text that I type in Whatsapp desktop is marked by the spell checker as misspelled as it is checking for English language. This is annoying. Give users the ability to disable spell checking which is a common feature in most macOS apps.
Whatsapp is not honoring the general system preferences which are set to NOT spell check at all and when it does it has to use the Dutch / Netherlands dictionary.
Furthermore: remove the auto update feature and/or let users decide if they want this by giving them choice to automatically update or just notify for updates and whether have them installed. I like to be in control of the devices I own. How convenient it may sound, it is not up to software developers to decide if an app needs to be updated.
Can't they figure out a better way? I'm ok with QR code identifying but once done, why not keep the app connected on the same computer, with a password? or your FB account?
Or at least, if really needed check the QR code once a month?
Buh... :-o
This version not ripe (keeps crashing on startup)
Mac mini (early 2009, 4GB) OS X 10.9.5