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Instagram photo filter and sharing app for iPhone
Sharing
Of course export to Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr and even Foursquare is a cinch, but Instagram also has its own photo sharing stream. It allows you to upload and share photos with followers and friends who also use Instagram. You can find fellow users by searching your address book on your iPhone, through Facebook or Twitter, or by searching for Instagram usernames within the app. Once you add your friends, you follow their stream just like Twitter, but instead of 140 characters and the odd image, you get a stream filled with beautiful and creative images -- well that bit depends on who you're following, so I guess it's not guaranteed.Function
Actually getting your image into the app is a breeze. You can either take a new photo directly in the app, or use one from your camera roll. The latter option allows you to use HDR images should you be wielding an iPhone 4, adding an extra dimension to your photos. Once the image has been pulled into the app you're presented with an image crop tool that allows you to adjust the area of the image you want to play with. Unfortunately it looks like Instagram is limited to a square image, so if you were hoping to get the whole photo in the picture you're going to have to crop it or shrink it quite considerably.
Once you're happy with your selection you're presented with the 11 pre-defined image effects, plus the option to leave the image as-is. Selecting the desired filter shows you a live preview ready for you to save and get your image uploaded. The sharing process is simple. Name the image, give it an optional location and check the services you want it to be published to. Pressing done then uploads the image to the various services and into the Instagram stream for any of your followers. Once it's in your stream people can like it and comment on it in a similar manner to Facebook. Finally, your pictures are available direct from the Instagr.am site (like this one).
Verdict
Instagram is a nifty little free app, it's got plenty of filters and is simple to use and share the results. While there are many competitors available for the iPhone -- some free, some not -- Instagram sets itself apart through its sharing services. So if you're looking for a photo app it's worth considering; it could be the next big thing in photo sharing.Instagram [iTunes] - Free
Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsBarusch BenitezOct 7th 2010 3:31PM
You didn't mention its biggest flaw. It image output is a mediocre 600 x 600 pixels
cookiebitsOct 7th 2010 4:49PM
How is this a flaw?
The idea is to take photos and share them on the web (on their servers), not printed out on an A2 poster. Also smaller images makes for faster post-processing and uploading.
For an app and service that is FREE, you have to admit it's pretty sweet. And if you don't like it, then uninstall it. It's not like you have anything to lose.
Barusch BenitezOct 7th 2010 5:05PM
Even if you just want to share a photo; 600x600 is very poor for today web standards
MaxOct 7th 2010 4:02PM
Everytime you get a new app you act like it's the greatest thing ever. You should sit back and take a breath.
First of all, a single app that lets you take photos, apply filters, and upload it to its own service has been around a while: Best Camera.
However, why would one upload images to yet another service, when you can upload it to where your friends already are: flickr or facebook, to name 2.
Hipstamatic, which you brush aside here, also has one-click posting to FB, flickr, tumblr, and email. Plus it has a huge following and far superior effects that this app. There are actually several apps, like TiltShift (and others) that allow easy upload.
cookiebitsOct 7th 2010 5:06PM
Good point, there is a lot of hype around this app. It might not be revolutionary, but it is a really cool app.
Also I've found that unlike most camera apps, Instagram seems to have a much bigger focus on sharing, rather than it being a side feature or afterthought.
Michael DeMarcoJan 27th 2011 10:48AM
@Max instagram let's you share on twitter, facebook, tumblr, flickr and a few others. It's not perfect, but I dig it. I'm also still a fan of tiltshiftgen
cookiebitsOct 7th 2010 4:52PM
Got it as soon as it was available and love it.
Only thing is I wish I could save images without sharing them, or saving the geolocation without making in public, but that's what the built in Camera app and Hipstamatic is for I guess.