This week has been eventful in the world of apps as two leading social networking giants released updates that pushed them against of each other. And they are none other than Instagram and Twitter. So, are they planning to distance and abandon each other? Are we going to miss the fun of Instagram photos on Twitter streams?
Instagram updates
Well, sadly but true. Facebook-acquired Instagram has announced that it has decided to shed support for Twitter card functionalities. This means that we will not see full images; rather a cropped avatar of images instead. Kevin Systrom of Instagram has revealed that removal of Twitter support from Instagram is intended to target more traffic from the World Wide Web. Systrom has also confirmed that this change is extended effort after they have released a redesigned version of website to enhance user engagement. He confirmed that Instagram images are likely to vanish from Twitter.
The Instagram blog has confirmed about their Twitter update with a short note at the Status blog which states,
“Instagram has disabled photo integration with Twitter. As a result, photos are no longer appearing in Tweets or user photo galleries. While tweeting links to Instagram photos is still possible, you can no longer view the photos on Twitter, as was previously the case.”
Twitter updates
After Instagram, Twitter strikes back with its batch of updates. These updates include introduction of photo filters into mobile version of Twitter. With readily available photo filter options, Twitter users can apply filters to photos uploaded on Twitter. However, Twitter has started up with a meager amount of eight filters currently. Hence, these photo filter updates are not enough to churn Instagram users to Twitter. On the other hand, Instagram has released more improvements for iOS platform and a few for Android users.
Improved camera, new filter, foursquare integration and many more
Instagram calls these updates as “largest upgrade” so far for iPhone and some for Android users. These notable updates include
- An improved camera with Instagram themed shutter lag
- Grid views to scale and crop photos
- New ‘Willow’ filter to apply black-and-white, monochrome effects to photos which is also available from Android 3.3 version.
- Enhanced quality of tilt-shift which will create “vastly more realistic rendering of depth of field”
- Integration with foursquare will show foursquare button to get details on a venue. This will also group and show photos location-wise.
In addition to these, you will also notice larger sized images, more scrolls on user profiles, bigger camera button, a new welcome page. Also a copy of edited photos will be stored on Instagram album instead on camera rolls.
