WhatsApp Adds CarPlay and Android Auto Message Playback, iPad Account Creation, and PDF Editing

WhatsApp is introducing four new features across iOS, Android, desktop, and web. These include a redesigned CarPlay and Android Auto experience that now supports message playback and call history.

The update also brings in-app PDF viewing and editing on web and desktop, the ability to share Apple Music and Spotify tracks directly to Status, and the option to create a WhatsApp account on an iPad without a phone number.

WhatsApp confirms that all four features are now available. The announcements coincided with Samsung's July Unpacked event on the same day.

CarPlay and Android Auto Gain Message Playback

WhatsApp's previous in-car experience allowed users to send new messages and make WhatsApp calls, but it did not support listening to or replying to incoming messages.

According to WhatsApp, the updated experience now lets users listen to messages and reply by voice while connected to CarPlay or Android Auto. The update also introduces call history, enabling users to see missed WhatsApp calls, and access to a favorite contacts list for quicker calls and messages.

Lifehacker notes that the earlier in-car implementation was more limited than those of competing messaging apps, and that these changes bring WhatsApp closer to parity with them.

Additionally, WhatsApp now allows users to open PDFs directly in the web and desktop apps without downloading them first. After opening a PDF, users can edit it within the app, including highlighting and annotating.

WhatsApp states that viewing and editing are managed through Adobe Acrobat integration. These PDF features are available on the web and desktop clients but not on mobile apps.

Apple Music and Spotify Sharing Comes to Status

Users can now share tracks from Apple Music and Spotify directly to their WhatsApp Status. When a track is shared, contacts can open the song in the respective music service. This update aligns WhatsApp Status with other social apps that already support music sharing from Apple Music and Spot…