Instagram introduces emoji hashtags

It has come to the point where we can’t even communicate with words anymore. Instagram is now letting you use emojis for your hashtags. And you can search for these through the Explore tab. According to BuzzFeed, the most popular ones are the kissy face one, the one with hearts in their eyes, and the one crying because of laughing too much.

The latest update for their Android and iOS apps also introduces three new filters called Reyes, Lark, and Juno.

Source: BuzzFeed | Download: Apple App Store (free) + Google Play Store (free)

Instagram introduces new Fade and Color features to its Android app

Instagram usually updates its iOS app before its Android  app. The photo sharing app has been an iOS-exclusive for a while. Now, there seems to be a role reversal of sorts. Instagram is introducing two new tools to Android before their iOS release. The Android app is getting Fade and Color editing tools.  

As the names suggest, Fade lets you mute colors and soften lines for that darkroom feel. You adjust it via the slider mechanism. Color, on the other hand, offers various tint images to change the hues and, well, color of your image. The version 6.19.0 is already rolling out today. iOS users don't have to wait too long though. It'll be coming to you "in a few days." 

Source: Digital Trends | Download: Google Play Store (Free) 

Instagram debuts standalone app for photo collages

There are a large number of photo collage apps out on the market and they’re crammed with so many features that you don’t know what to do with all of them. Instagram is taking them on directly with its new standalone photo collage app called Layout. It lets you combine borderless multiple photos to show off selfies with your friends or even get a bit more creative with your landscape shots.

The app really is just meant to create photo collages but it’ll let you take selfies with its Photo Booth feature that will take four consecutive shots at once. It’ll let you pick photos from your camera roll. It even has a Faces option so it’ll just show you photos with people in them. And like other photo collage apps, you can adjust and rearrange photos individually to get your layout right. You can flip and rotate images to create mirror effect and the like. Layout is currently just available on iOS but it will be coming to Android in the coming months.

Source: Instagram | Via: Fast Company | Download: Apple iTunes App Store (Free)

Instagram opens beta-testing for Android users

If you love Instagram and are using an Android device, now you can get a chance to try out new features before they go live. The Facebook-owned app is inviting Android users to sign up for beta-testing program. To be a beta-tester you have to be willing to replace your existing Instagram with a beta version of the app, which of course will come with its own set of bugs and other problems. Beta programs are designed for a select number of users to try out new features to see what works and what doesn’t before a wider release.

To sign up, you have to join the Instagram Beta Group on Google+. From there, you visit the tester link and download Instagram from Google’s Play Store to update your existing app. While using this version, make sure to submit feedback through the “Report a problem” option.

Source: VentureBeat