Whatsapp's upcoming update can be worrisome for Snapchat

In the year 2013, Snapchat declined Facebook's $3 billion acquisition offer. Since then businesses owned by the social network giant have been steadily incorporating features that rival Snapchat's trademark characteristics like limited-time videos and now live doodle on images.
 
Whatsapp will be receiving a new update that will introduce a host of new features that will put it in direct competition with the likes of Snapchat and Messenger.
 
According to a report by the Android Police, Whatsapp developers have pushed out new updates in the beta channel of the application.
 
The update will introduce better message-forwarding options, Snapchat-like doodle feature, better low-light selfies and probably Messenger-like large emojis.
 
Along with the Android update, Whatsapp will also be rolling out a new version for iPhones in tandem with official iOS 10 release.
 
The update will enable Siri to write hands-free Whatsapp texts using voice command. Other than that, the major update will let iOS users make Whatsapp calls directly from the default contact list of the phone. The new version will also let users interact with the IM application from the lockscreen itself.

In the beta update cycle, version 2.16.262 on Android will bring a doodle feature in the camera interface within the application. Users can also doodle on images from the gallery, a feature that was made popular by Snapchat.
 
Forwarding texts on Whatsapp will also be easier with the ability to select multiple recipients in one go that is available from version 2.16.225 and later.
Similar to iPhones, Whatsapp's in-app camera will shine a bright white screen while clicking all those low-light selfies.
 
The developers have  also pushed a new feature with the 2.16.256 update that will bring new big emojis to the IM app.
 
So far, there is no official release date for the stable Android version but the Facebook-owned company is estimated to release these features in the coming weeks.
 
On the other hand, iOS 10 will be launching tomorrow and the new Whatsapp updates will follow up closely.