WhatsApp is definitely the most popular free application for sending a message. Even when it was acquired by Facebook for a cool $19 billion, it pretty much stayed true to its roots. We all know WhatsApp is awesome but wouldn’t it be cool if you can quickly access your favorite contacts when reading conversations or sending a message? Well, there is a widget that will let you quickly access favorite WhatsApp contacts from the iOS 8 Notification Center. And you don’t even need to jailbreak.
How to Quickly Access Favorite WhatsApp Contacts on iPhone:
Step 1:
You will need to download and install an app called Shortcut for WhatsApp Plus from the App Store, don’t worry it’s free. As you might have guessed from the name, this app gives you quick access to your frequently accessed WhatsApp contacts.
Step 2:
After installation, launch the app and make sure that you give it permission to access your WhatsApp contacts. It will be then followed with a quick walkthrough on how to use this app. Tap "OK, got it!" to proceed.
Step 3:
Pull down you Notification Center and ensure that you are in the “Today” tab. At the bottom, you should see a notice that a new widget is available. Tap Edit and on the next screen, tap the green plus icon next to the "Shortcut WhatsApp Widget". This will add the widget.
Step 4:
Open the Shortcut for WhatsApp Plus app and from here, you will be able to add the contact but you need to do so manually. Tap the big green plus button to start adding people from your contact list.
NOTE: The free version is only limited to three contacts. If you need more, then you will have to pay for an in-app purchase of $0.99 so you can add as many contacts as you want.
Step 5:
Now, pull down your Notification Center and in the "Today" view, you should be able to see the names of the contacts you’ve added. Tap a name to open WhatsApp directly from the Notification Center, and you’ll see your most recent conversation and you can send a message.
Normally, this kind of widget will only be available through Cydia but now, more and more third-party apps are being released with the aim to improve popular apps like WhatsApp. [via WonderHowTo]