WeChat suddenly updated! I have been waiting for this feature for 5 years

This article introduces the new features and optimization details of WeChat Android 8.0.50 beta, from video speed playback to search page revision, to mini-program recommendations and music function upgrades. Each update may affect your daily experience. Read this article to quickly grasp the new changes of WeChat, hoping to help you enjoy a more convenient communication experience.

Good evening, my friends!

We have been talking about mobile phones recently. Do you feel like something is missing? Yes, we haven’t talked about WeChat for a long time.

It’s not that Xiao Lei doesn’t want to talk, but in the recent versions, WeChat has mainly made minor adjustments and there haven’t been any major changes.

It was not until early this morning that Xiao Lei suddenly became alert and received an invitation to the beta version of WeChat Android 8.0.50.

Image source: WeChat

Although WeChat’s update log still states that it “optimized some known issues”, it doesn’t bother Xiao Lei at all.

Taking advantage of the enthusiasm of the update, Xiao Lei immediately conducted a detailed experience, and I have to say he is quite good at it.

This time, the Android WeChat 8.0.50 beta version has indeed updated and optimized many functions, and its practicality is fully improved.

Without further ado, I will show you what good things WeChat has updated~

1. Video supports double-speed playback

Xiao Lei often has to check the videos posted by Bige because of work needs. It’s okay if the videos are short, but he is most afraid of long ones.

If several long videos are sent to you at once, sometimes I get busy and can only watch them slowly at normal speed.

The most convenient way is to download it to your mobile phone or computer, and then use a third-party player to accelerate the playback.

Downloading videos, playing them with a third-party player, and deleting them after watching, this whole process is really cumbersome.

I guess many of you have had similar experiences as Xiaolei? Fortunately, WeChat finally heard our voices this time.

In the Android WeChat 8.0.50 beta version, the video playback interface of the chat interface has undergone a lot of changes.

The new version of WeChat has added a "double speed" option for videos, and removed the pause/play button in the lower left corner of the progress bar.

Now if we want to pause/play the video, just click on any area of ​​the video. It is more convenient to operate with one hand.

Old version on the left, new version on the right Source: WeChat

Currently, the speed options on the video interface provide two levels of adjustment: 1.5x and 2x , which is sufficient for daily use.

In the future, when Bige sends me long videos, I can at least cut the time in half and finish watching them directly. I will give it a five-star rating.

Old version on the left, new version on the right Source: WeChat

2. Redesign of the search page

In the new version of WeChat, the WeChat search page has also undergone a wave of revisions.

The icon of the "Search" button at the top has been removed, the font size has been reduced, and the position has been moved up.

The four categories that were originally below the search box, namely Moments, Music, Articles, and WeChat Index, have been hidden.

In the new version of WeChat, you need to click on the search box before four search categories will appear, which is not as intuitive as before.

But wow, there are also good things about this update. Now the homepage of search can display more content.

What do you guys think of this update? As for my opinion, it has both gains and losses~

Left old version middle/right new version Image source: WeChat

3. New category recommendations for mini programs

Xiao Lei dares to say that today's WeChat mini-programs have already become an indispensable helper in our daily lives.

So, in recent years, the ecosystem of WeChat Mini Programs has been expanding, and WeChat has made small upgrades from time to time.

This new version of WeChat has added "Mini Program Recommendations", which can recommend related mini programs based on our usage records.

Currently, the categories of mini-programs recommended by WeChat to Xiao Lei cover mini-games, efficiency and tools, information and entertainment, commercial services, and shopping and consumption.

Image source: WeChat

In fact, there are more than the above 5 categories. Xiao Lei counted and found that the mini program recommendations also include 17 categories in the following boxes.

Here I would like to remind my friends that if you want to get mini-program recommendations, you need to turn on "Personalized Recommendations".

The specific path to enable it is: WeChat-Discover-Mini Program-The little man icon in the upper right corner-Personalized recommendations for Mini Programs-Enable.

Image source: WeChat

4. Add QQ membership binding for music

Xiao Lei and everyone mentioned before that WeChat Music previously provided the function of "watching ads to get free VIP listening".

But what if some people just want to listen to music but are too lazy to watch ads? Well, WeChat has come up with another great solution.

After updating to the new WeChat beta version, click on the music app and you will see a prompt to "bind your QQ music membership".

At this time, click "Go to Bind" to jump to QQ Music to bind your membership and realize the sharing of VIP benefits on WeChat.

So, if you have already opened a QQ membership, you can bind it. Sometimes when you want to listen to music, you can just listen to it on WeChat.

In general, this wave of operations by WeChat has met the demand of listening to music while chatting, and Xiao Lei thinks it is quite good.

Image source: WeChat

5. Address book label management revision

"Grouping in Moments" is probably a must-do operation for many people who post to Moments nowadays. It would be very difficult to deal with if you accidentally post to the wrong Moments.

The new version of WeChat has made a wave of changes to the address book label, with minor adjustments to the interface and major changes to the operating logic.

If you want to create a new label (that is, a group) in the old version of WeChat, you need to select friends first and then group them.

The new version of WeChat requires you to set the tag name first and then choose friends to add, which is the opposite of the old version of WeChat.

In fact, Xiao Lei thinks that the two methods are similar in operation. Which grouping logic do you think is more convenient?

Image source: WeChat

Some small changes

In addition to the above-mentioned obvious functional updates, Xiao Lei also discovered some changes in the Android WeChat 8.0.50 beta version.

6. WeChat status optimization

In the WeChat status "Send One", the old version had a pattern logo on the left, but the new version has removed the pattern and moved it to the right.

It looks a bit cleaner, and putting the send button on the right makes it more like the operation logic of posting to Moments.

Image source: WeChat

7. Card Pack Name Changes

Friends who have been tested in the grayscale version may find that the name of their card pack has changed to "Orders and Card Packs".

Perhaps in the future, the card wallet entrance will also include orders paid through WeChat, making it convenient for us to make quick inquiries.

Image source: WeChat

OK, the above upgrade points are what Xiao Lei experienced in one day.

To be honest, the time was indeed a bit tight this time, and I guess there were some functions that Xiao Lei was unable to understand and experience in time.

Author:Jonty

Source: Xiaolei Bibi (ID: xiaoleibbb)