This is why WhatsApp Web sucks so hard
Hooray, WhatsApp has finally graced us with a web client! With the arrival of WhatsApp Web, what at first glance seems like good news, turns out to be a sham upon closer inspection. Here are the main reasons why WhatsApp Web is so bad.
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1. Does not work with iOS
Even though we sit here at AndroidPIT all comfortable in the awareness of our superiority over iPhone owners, Apple still represents a huge part of the smartphones in the world.
The new WhatsApp Web client only works with Android devices, which, while it suits us just fine, alienates a whole bunch of WhatsApp fans. And that's just not cricket.
As justification, the company has cited problems with multitasking and push notifications. This brings us directly to the next point.
2. Only works in combination with the app
WhatsApp Web is no standalone web app, but instead only works in combination with your smartphone. The reason for this is that WhatsApp Web is merely an interface between WhatsApp on your smartphone and in your web browser.
This means that only WhatsApp messages received on your smartphone will be forwarded to the browser. WhatsApp must therefore be installed on your smartphone and running in the background, otherwise the web-based service will not work.
Other instant messaging services like Hangouts and Telegram are significantly more advanced in this regard, because they not only work with the app on your phone, but they also work independently.
3. Only works with Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a good browser, no question, perhaps the best there is. But that doesn't mean that everyone uses it. Other Web browsers like Firefox, Safari, or even Internet Explorer are still out there, and to limit the WhatsApp Web experience to Chrome users alienates fans of those other browsers.
4. Your smartphone battery suffers
As already mentioned above: WhatsApp must be running on your smartphone or at least running in the background in order to function on the web. So even if you're chatting exclusively on your computer, your smartphone battery still has to feed WhatsApp to send and receive messages, which are then sent to your PC, adding an additional burden to your poor old smartphone.
5. WhatsApp Web kills your data allowance
Say you're sitting cozily in your favorite cafe, sucking up their Wi-Fi on your laptop and chatting like mad on WhatsApp Web. What you may not have realized is that WhatsApp Web is running everything through your phone, so if you haven't switched over to cafe Wi-Fi you'll be chewing your way through your mobile data the whole time, especially if you're sharing pictures like crazy.
It's fine if you're aware of it, but who thinks to switch their mobile data to Wi-Fi when they're using their laptop? And what if there is no free Wi-Fi and you're using an internet stick? WhatsApp Web is only really worthwhile if your smartphone is connected to Wi-Fi.
Conclusion: Nice idea, but not yet worth it
The idea behind WhatsApp Web may sound good on paper, but the implementation is pretty clumsy for a big company like WhatsApp/Facebook. Even Facebook Messenger has a better web client than WhatsApp
While the WhatsApp Web service will undoubtedly get better, with cross-platform support, standalone functionality and support for more web browsers, the current setup sucks.
Translated from an original article by Nico Heister for AndroidPIT.de
I truly hate WhatsApp desktop and web app. It is bloody impossible to send 1mb of a file and takes a lifetime to be sent, if ever!
It's now year 2020 and the PC app is still crap. I want to leave my smartphone in my car, as I usually do, otherwise I'll drive off without it. However, the PC version requires that it's with me, which is just pathetic. Do these developers have nothing better to do than to produce mediocre software whilst stuffing their fat faces with Mars and Snickers bars?
It's even more sad that Facebook thinks we're fooled by their paid third-world trolls all defending their shitty design decisions.
2. because it has end to end encryption for maximum security so only device it has been set up on can decrypt messages. messenger and telegram dont have this type of encryption so you can use them on any device
Hard or easy, WhatsApp "sucks" them hard!
In the 90s there was ICQ which was easier and faster than this WA sh*t.
It's 2018 and WhatsApp sucks maybe more than ever. Everything Facebook touches falls apart.
This post is old so I hope by now the author has changed their mind. Whatsapp Web is one of the most advanced web applications out there and its developers really need a permanent seat on the pantheon of web development! The application uses the cutting-edge technologies and there is an exceptional degree of creativity and innovation that went into its development.
If you failed to notice this, it means only two things: you're a fool or you're nil!
Sorry, but the only thing that changed since this article was published is that it now supports iOS and other browsers.
You still have to leave your phone on, connected and running the app on the background, whereas every other major IM client (like LINE, Telegram, Kakao Talk etc.) doesn't have this BS requirement. You just validate your client (i.e., desktop PC) with an SMS and you're good to go. LINE even has a Chrome app, by the way, in addition to the desktop and Windows Store versions. WhatsApp has none of that.
These guys need a seat on the pantheon of crappy web development, that is.
such an advanced web application, with extraordinarily cutting edge technologies, and yet it sucks so hard when the goddamn QR scanner doesn't respond and it heavily depends on the phone app instead of letting you connect directly to their server, and for the worst reasons
I use whatsapp on Android phone while on the move.However when using it on Android tablet at home, persistent VERIFICATION of the registered number is required. This is a pain in the butt. Is a single verification insufficient ???? I don't have the same problem with Hangouts.
wow. these reasons stink!
1) it's not whatsapp's fault (or facebook's for that matter) that iOS doesn't support this kind of thing.
3) There's this http://tiny.cc/a10qux which let's you run it in a separated window, so you can use firefox or whatever.
5) if you're in a Café with WiFi, I don't see why you wouldn't use that on your phone aswell.
2,4 and 5) even if you still need the app and it drains your battery and data, this is way more handy and comfortable than typing all on your phone. and regarding the battery: it is much more battery consuming to be on your phone on whatsapp, since the display eats the most battery, so using whatsapp web will save a lot of battery, actually.
Its time that they bring up Windows App (standalon) like Viber, Telegram.
https://solariz.de/de/whatsapp_desktop_standalone_app_windows.htm
That is not an native app, its a wrapper around the web app. Really sucks.
It would be nice to see them make a WhatsApp application for PC like Skype or Viber. Still...it's a good start. Personally, I just connect my phone to my home's WiFi and leave it charging since the battery will be low after a long day and then I just use WhatsApp Web. But still...it would be nice to have a desktop application. Anyone else misses the Facebook Messenger desktop application ? :(
Do you use the Hangouts desktop application?
I'd like to imagine a Facebook Messenger desktop application similar to the Hangouts one.
And yes, I still miss the Facebook Messenger desktop application.
About the WhatsApp Web... I wonder if it will still use the smartphone connection, or they'll change that. It's kinda bad, in a way.
https://solariz.de/de/whatsapp_desktop_standalone_app_windows.htm
They actually had one which worked a lot better this crappy web interface that doesn't play multimedia files at all, and doesn't inform when new messages arrive at all, but the morons disabled its usage, even if the end user prefers to do so.
Yet another gigantic organization full of idiots who destroy excellent software and shoot themselves in the foot all the while.
Unbelievable how retarded this millennium is proving to be!
"Even though we sit here at AndroidPIT all comfortable in the awareness of our superiority over iPhone owners"
This! Haha.