The wait for Android users is over. Instagram, the beloved iPhone app, has finally been released for Android. Google Play officially launched the app on Tuesday.
Overall, most Android users will say that this app was well worth the endless wait. It’s not hard to believe that Instagram for Android is a huge hit. According to Mashable, over 1 million Android users downloaded the app within the first 24 hours of its release.
Instagram uses filters to quickly edit pictures taken on your iPhone or Android device and are uploaded to a photo stream. With the ability to “heart” and comment on others pictures, Instagram creates a community amongst friends. Viewing images from your friend’s daily life, and even just seeing what they deem worth of posting, provides a new insight and connection with your Instagram buddies.
Instagram for Android is exceptionally straightforward with no explanation needed. Signing up for an account is a breeze and taking your first picture as well as navigating around the app is easy to learn.
Instagram is very user-friendly. Take a picture, add a caption, select if this should be uploaded to any or all of your social networks, and post! I can’t imagine this process getting any easier, which is definitely a plus.
Another great feature of this app is users can take an image on their regular phone camera, and upload it to Instagram later for editing. This is a great feature if you need to take a shot of something, but don’t have time to upload it to Instagram right at that moment. Another pro of this feature for Android users is if you have a great image on your phone from a few months ago (before Instagram was available on Android) it’s not to late to edit it with an Instagram filter and post it for your networks to enjoy.
Instagram does require images be cropped to fit within the size requirements of the app. This is a great feature that provides consistency with all images, but may require a new learning curve when users capture some images. For example, if you want a wide image to show up in the shot, you might need to stand back before taking the picture.
While the wait for Instagram on Android may have been painfully long for some smart phone owners, we are now only a few clicks away from being a part of the once exclusive Instagram world. If you haven’t done so yet, go check out Instagram for Android. You won’t regret it.
