How does portal work with whatsapp
What is Facebook Portal? Call on WhatsApp or Messenger
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(Pocket-lint) - A while back, Facebook introduced Facebook Portal, Portal+ and Portal TV, three versions of a video communication device designed to make it easier for you to connect with friends and family.
These are essentially video-calling devices that use Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to call or message friends, family and colleagues.
What is Facebook Portal?
Facebook Portal is a video communication device from Facebook. With the exception of Facebook TV, these devices are smart displays similar to the Amazon Echo Show. These are devices that are styled to look like digital photo frames and to sit nicely in your home as a beautiful and intelligent display until the time comes to place or receive a call.
The focus of these devices is very much on video calling and "putting people at the centre". Facebook hopes the Portal range of smart displays will help connect more people in your life more easily.
There are now four different models of Facebook Portal: Facebook Portal Mini, Portal and Portal+ work on much the same principle. They each have different design aesthetics, but they're both focused on video chatting and meant to make it feel like you're in the same room with the person on the other end of the call.
Portal TV is a little different as it's a device that converts any TV into a giant video calling screen.
As we mentioned, calls can also be placed via Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp, so end-to-end encryption is an option.
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How does Facebook Portal work?
Here are some of Facebook Portal's core features:
Smart Camera and Smart Sound
All the Facebook Portal devices feature AI-powered "Smart Camera and Smart Sound" technology. This tech enables the cameras to recognise people and then follow them around the room and automatically pan and zoom while also minimising background noise and enhancing the voice of whoever is calling.
It's actually pretty clever.
With a wide-angle lens built-in, this also means that the Portal devices can pick up multiple people in the room and track them as they move about. We've seen this in action with Portal TV and Portal+ and it's very impressive. The company says it worked closely with professional cinematographers to ensure the panning and tracking is smooth and not too fast or jarring.
It's also designed to only recognise people and not follow pets, so the call won't be interrupted by a dog or cat wandering into the room. But the company was quick to point out that the cameras only recognise humans in the room, not specific people. No data on who is on the call is sent to Facebook in any way.
Facebook Portal is also built with intelligent microphone tech that includes beamforming to track the people talking and reduce environmental and background noise on the call. This includes as many as eight microphones on Facebook Portal TV, meaning you can easily chat with an entire family when placing a video call on these devices.
Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp
You can use either Facebook Portal to call your Facebook friends and connections on Messenger or your WhatsApp contacts - even if they don't have a Portal.
Calls can be made to and from phones and tablets, and Portal supports group calls of up to seven people at the same time.
When you're not on a call, Portal can display your photos and videos, when your contacts are available to connect, birthday reminders, etc.
Now with Facebook Messenger Rooms, you can use Portal to have a video call with as 50 people.
With that many people, you'll also be placed to hear that you can now blur your background or replace it with a pre-selected image too.
Video conferencing
Facebook has been working to improve Portal by making it easier to use to keep in touch with people no matter the platform. The company has partnered with BlueJeans, GoToMeeting Webex, and Zoom to allow users to stay in touch with more people.
Going live with Facebook Portal
As well as using Portal for video calls, it's now possible to use the various devices for broadcasting on the internet. With the Facebook Live app on the Portal device you can start a stream to your own personal profile or through Facebook pages or groups.
This is clearly a nice simple way to quickly and easily stream to your audience or to your family and friends via Facebook.
Facebook Portal devices come with Amazon Alexa support as standard so you have the ability to watch videos, place calls and more with voice commands. In reality, this integration isn't working too well at present, though Facebook says it is improving it.
You can ask it to check the weather, control smart home devices, order groceries, and more. For more about how Alexa works, and for a list of things you can do with it, check out our separate feature.
Like other smart devices, you can control Portal with a simple voice command.
For Brits and Americans, that command is simply "Hey Portal" - there are then a variety of commands you can follow up with including:
- "Hey Portal, call [contact name]."
- "Hey Portal, play [song title]."
- "Hey Portal, turn up the volume."
- "Hey Portal, set a timer for [date and time]."
- "Hey Portal, wake me up at [time and date]."
- "Hey Portal, what's the weather like in [location]?"
- And more
AR effects and Story Time
Facebook has incorporated augmented reality effects powered by its Spark platform. The point is to make calls fun and interactive. This feature is like Snapchat lenses in that you can apply AR stickers to your face and environment to augment how they appear.
A Story Time experience works in a similar fashion to bring a new twist to reading a bedtime story remotely. Various stories are available with Story Time at the moment, with more promised in future.
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Apps and integrations
Like most smart home devices, Facebook Portal smart devices also have a handful of apps and integrations. Facebook has teamed up with Spotify Premium, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Food Network, and Newsy - and it promises to add more soon.
The device also has Facebook Watch that can be used to watch your videos and videos from Facebook with other people on the call.
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Is Facebook Portal safe?
No internet-connected device is safe from a hack or breach, though given Facebook's previous controversies the company is keen to state that all Portal devices are "private by design".
You can completely disable the camera and microphone by simply pressing a button. There's a switch on the Portal frames that allows you to either turn off the camera, microphone or both depending on your requirement. There's a physical camera cover that can be slid out using this button that blocks the camera off, but the hardware also includes a physical switch that disables the microphones too. So even if they're hacked, they cannot record audio if this switch is on.
Plus, to manage Portal access within your home, you can set a four- to 12-digit passcode to keep the screen locked.
Facebook also promised that it won't listen to, view, or keep the contents of your Portal video calls, and that video calls are encrypted. What's more, the Smart Camera and Smart Sound's AI technology runs locally on Portal, not on Facebook servers. Portal's camera also doesn’t use facial recognition, and you can delete your Portal’s voice history in your Facebook Activity Log at any time.
Despite the news that Facebook staff have listened to Messenger clips, Facebook is keen to point out that you can opt-out of data collection and adjust privacy settings if you don't want your data recorded.
- A security FAQ on Facebook Portal
Writing by Maggie Tillman. Editing by Adrian Willings.
What is Facebook Portal? Here's everything you need to know...
Whether you've heard of Facebook Portal or not, pretty much everyone these days is well versed with video calling. That is, unless you've been living under a rock for the past two years. From catching up with friends and family or organising meetings when everyone is working from home, video calling has become to go-to form of communication when you want a more personal touch.
Video calling is by no means a new way of speaking to people. Skype, Apple's FaceTime and Zoom have been around for 18, 11 and 10 years respectively. But with Portal - originally launched by Facebook two years ago - the social media conglomerate's version aims to make video calling an easier, smoother and altogether more enjoyable experience.
What is Facebook Portal and how does it work?
(Image credit: Facebook)
Buy now: Facebook Portal Go, £149, Amazon
In a nutshell, Facebook Portal is a video calling hub with built-in Alexa smart assistant. As Facebook - or as it's now known, Meta - owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, they can all be accessed in various ways through a Portal device, but to use it, you need to have either a Facebook or WhatsApp account.
There are four different devices to choose from, all with their various benefits, depending on your needs. Using Portal, you can make calls using WhatsApp, Facebook Messsenger or Zoom, with your call appearing on their phone, tablet, or – if they also have one – their Portal device.
And when you're not using it to call someone, Facebook Portal doesn't just sit there with a blank, black screen. It can be used as a digital photo frame, displaying your favourite albums from your Facebook or Instagram account.
What's so good about Facebook Portal?
The majority of video calling these days is done on smartphones or tablets. Aside from the awkwardness of having to hold your phone in one position throughout a call - invariably showing you at the most unflattering angles - the quality of calls on a mobile device are usually peppered with views of the ceiling and can even involve chasing small children around a room just so they can say hello to their grandparents.
Portal frees your hands up from holding a screen when chatting to loved ones. It also has an ingenious wide-angled AI-powered camera that automatically zooms in or pans out to keep everyone in the frame. If you move when on a call, the camera will automatically follow you, even panning out to make sure it's getting everything in the frame and no action is missed.
It's also super useful if - following the pandemic - you're working from home a lot more. Using a Portal for work video calls frees up your laptop or desktop computer, allowing you to speak to colleagues without toggling between endless tabs.
(Image credit: Facebook)
Buy now: Facebook Portal TV, £79, Amazon
What types of Facebook Portal are there?
Portal comes in four formats: Portal, Portal TV, Portal Go and Portal+. The first two devices were launched originally back in 2019, while the latter two were added to the collection this year. The standard Facebook Portal device is mains operated and looks like a digital photo frame with a 10" screen. Portal Go is a wireless version, again with a 10" screen that you can move from room-to-room. Portal TV is a small device, rather like a web cam, that sits either above or below your TV screen and connects to your television, converting it into a large video screen. Finally Portal+ is a supersize stand-alone device with a larger 14" tilting display.
All four have the same connectivity, allowing you to call anyone with a Facebook or WhatsApp account. Prices range from £79 for the Portal TV, right up to £299 for the Portal+, but they're often are available with as much as 50% off, so keep an eye out for discounts if you're keen to invest in one (or more).
What about security?
Facebook is no stranger to scrutiny with regards to people's personal security, so the company has been very careful to include a number of safety features to ensure peace of mind with Portal in your home.
For starters, the flick of a switch disables the microphone and camera, while all four devices also feature an integrated camera cover so you know for sure that you're safe from view. A red light beside the lens makes it clear when both are disabled. Meanwhile, like WhatsApp, all calls have the option of end-to-end encryption, meaning that they can't be listened to, recorded or hacked into.
Related: Best wireless security cameras – the top wifi cameras for keeping your home safe
(Image credit: Facebook)
Buy now: Facebook Portal, £79, Amazon
Is there a monthly fee for Facebook Portal?
Thankfully, no. Once you have bought the device, Portal is completely free to use, provided you have a Facebook or WhatsApp account (but again, these too are free of charge).
Can you watch TV and Netflix on Facebook Portal?
Yes and no. Portal TV is the only device you can stream content on. Portal TV lets you watch shows and video content via the company's video-on-demand service, Facebook Watch. You can watch these in tandem with a call so you and the person you're speaking to can comment on them. Other streaming apps like Netflix and Prime Video are available on Portal TV, as are music streaming services like Spotify and Deezer.
With Portal TV you can also watch movies, tv shows or videos in tandem with friends and family, seeing their reactions in real time. If for whatever reason you can't be together, it's the next best thing.
(Image credit: Facebook)
Buy now: Facebook Portal+, £299, Amazon
What other benefits are there?
Much like Messenger and Instagram, Portal has a host of augmented reality effects to avail of through the Photo Booth feature. You can be a kitten, a bunny rabbit, play games.
.. all via Messenger calls. The oh-so-clever Story Time feature is perfect for reading your child a bedtime story with a difference. Choose from a selection of stories to tell and watch the story come to life around you as you speak. Built-in Alexa allows you to call up your favourite music, check the weather, set timers and control your other smart home devices.
Facebook Portal is available now from Amazon and Currys , priced from £149.
Ginevra Benedetti has been the Deputy Editor of Ideal Home magazine since 2021. With a career in magazines spanning nearly twenty years, she has worked for the majority of the UK’s interiors magazines, both as staff and as a freelancer. She first joined the Ideal Home team in 2011, initially as the Deputy Decorating Editor and has never left! She currently oversees the publication of the brand’s magazine each month, from planning through to publication, editing, writing or commissioning the majority of the content.
How WhatsApp Web works, or How to use WhatsApp on a computer
Despite the popularity of WhatsApp, this is a very non-universal messenger.
Unlike Telegram, WhatsApp cannot work simultaneously on several devices. Or rather, maybe, but with a number of significant reservations. The reason for this, as it turned out, was a problem in the message synchronization mechanism. That is, WhatsApp is not able to track progress from one device to another if they are both offline at that time. In short, game. Nevertheless, the messenger has a web version, but it works far from being as obvious as it might seem. nine0005
WhatsApp Web can be run in a browser on any computer
WhatsApp told how to understand that you have been blocked
browser power and is intended exclusively for desktop devices. In other words, for computers. Because running it on a smartphone in normal mode will not work. You can read more about this in this article. nine0005
How to transfer WhatsApp to a computer
Since WhatsApp is able to work on several devices at once only rather conditionally, in order to connect to WhatsApp Web , you will need a smartphone.
Even though the developers claim that they have canceled the binding of the web version to the mobile one, technically it is still there. True, now the device is needed not to maintain the messenger on the computer, but for authorization. But what does it change?
- Go to web.whatsapp.com from your computer; nine0024
You can only connect to WhatsApp Web using your smartphone
- Open WhatsApp on your Android or iOS phone;
- Press "Menu" or "Settings" and open the QR code scanner;
You still won't be able to connect without a smartphone
- Point your phone at the screen and read the QR code;
- Confirm linking the device to your account and scan the QR code on the PC screen again if required.
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If earlier it was necessary that the smartphone always remain in line of sight from the computer running WhatsApp Web , now it is in the past.
WhatsApp from the phone is no longer relayed to the computer, but is needed simply for pairing. It became more convenient. But the authorization procedure will have to be performed every time after logging out of WhatsApp Web .
Since all messages in WhatsApp Web no longer pass through your smartphone, then the traffic will not be spent, regardless of the amount of data transmitted or received through the desktop version of the messenger. Therefore, it makes no difference how connects to WhatsApp Web : via LTE or Wi-Fi. But keep in mind that when using cellular networks, the load will fall on the mobile Internet, which for most users is not unlimited.
How to disable WhatsApp Web
If you don't want use whatsapp in browser , you can download whatsapp version for computer from this link. It installs like a normal application. But fundamentally, the experience of use will not change this.
The desktop version of WhatsApp , like the browser version, requires pairing with a smartphone for the first access, although it has ceased to serve as a kind of hub.
You also need to disconnect WhatsApp Web from computer correctly. That is, just close the browser tab and leave will not work. If you do this, the messenger will remain open and anyone who can access this computer - especially if it is not your personal one - will be able to access the contents of your WhatsApp. Therefore, you need to act strictly according to the instructions:
How to send photos and videos to WhatsApp without losing quality
- Open WhatsApp Web in a computer browser;
- Wait for its contents to load;
You no longer need a smartphone to log out of WhatsApp Web
- In the upper left corner, click on the three dots;
- In the drop-down box, click "Exit" and confirm the exit.
Only after that the device will be unlinked from your account, and WhatsApp web version will stop working on the computer.
From now on, if you want to access the messenger on the desktop, will have to connect to WhatsApp Web again, following the instructions above. It may not be as convenient, but it is much more secure.
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Whatsapp crashed around the world October 25, 2022
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- Rinat Tairov Editorial Forbes
Thousands of users around the world complained about the failure of the WhatsApp messenger. People report mostly being unable to send and receive messages. Messenger developers said they are aware of the problem and are working to fix it
The WhatsApp messenger has crashed, according to information on the Downdetector portal, which monitors the operation of popular services.
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Residents of different countries reported problems: USA, France, Germany, China.
In the US, users mainly complain about the inability to send messages (73% of complaints), another 23% complain about the application as a whole. In France, half of the users noticed connection problems, in Germany and China, the lack of connection and persistent messages are the two main complaints. nine0005
Users in Russia also noticed problems with the application, shows a similar Downdetector service from Brand Analytics. According to him, 91% of problem reports are related to the fact that the application does not work, 5% complain about problems receiving messages. The service receives most requests from Moscow and St. Petersburg, but there are complaints from Novosibirsk, Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don.
There were over 25,000 messages on Downdetector at its peak that WhatsApp was down, Business Insider India noted. The correspondent of the publication was unable to send a text message, make an audio and video call, and even change her status in her profile.
