Instagram introduces Layout, a separate app for creating photo collages (coming soon to Android)

One can argue that Instagram is largely responsible for this boom of photo collage applications found in app stores like Google Play. The fact that Instagram never felt the need to build this kind of functionality into their app — or allowed users to share more than a single photo at a time — meant hardcore IG’ers had to search elsewhere.

There’s a huge business built around it too. Perform a quick search and you’re sure to find endless pages of apps. While a few get the job done, most feel like a hack job with a user interface that’s clunky, and output quality that can be lacking.

Rather than build this functionality inside Instagram (like many of their users have been clamoring for), Instagram is introducing a completely separate app. It’s called “Layout from Instagram” and it allows users to compile photo collages for easy sharing to the photos-only social network.

The app is painfully easy to use. You can either snap photos on the spot using Layout’s photo booth feature, or you can select from the most recent photos in your gallery. Photos from your gallery are grouped in separate tabs: all, faces (which only chooses photos with people in them), or recents (photos you’ve recently used in an collage).

After you’ve selected the photos you’d like to compile, you can choose the layout that suits your photos best and then adjust them accordingly. You can drag and drop to reorganize, tap a photo to bring up the handles and resize, or mirror and flip to mix things up. After you’re satisfied with the way your photos look, you can share to Instagram, Facebook, or anywhere else.

Instagram says ‘Layout from Instagram’ will be hitting Android devices in the coming months, with iOS availability right now.

Emoji Hashtags coming in Instagram for Android update #:)

Hashtags are as synonymous with social networks as terrible smartphone photos and useless never-ending monologues from your most annoying friends. Emojis fit into that same category.

And for Instagram, those two can now become one in the same. Instagram has introduced a new featured called “emoji hashtags” that allows you to use Emojis in your hashtags. One example might be “#:)”, where the smiley face is actually a standard smiley face emoji (or any other emoji for that matter). The picture will be recognized as a hashtag that you can click to explore similarly-tagged posts.

We’re not sure what the practical need for this is, but it’s always nice to have these sorts of quirky options available to you for whatever you might need them for in the future.

Today’s update also brings us three new filters, all of which serve to make outdoorsy shots look, well, more outdoorsy:

• Lark: Desaturates reds while making blue more profound


• Reyes: Brings a dusty and vintage look


• Juno: Tints cool tones with green, makes whites more vibrant and strengthens warm tones

You can see the effect the different filters have on a photo with the samples seen above. It’s nothing huge, but it’s always nice to get a wider variety of options to find that perfect look for your photo. You should be able to find Instagram version 6.2 over at Google Play as soon as today so be sure to upgrade and play around with the new filters and hashtag features.

[via Instagram]

Instagram puts a ban on bare butts with newly revised community guidelines

There seems to be a major butt fetish going around these days, more so than ever. Hey, I wont judge. If that’s the sorta thing you’re into, you’ll probably be seeing a lot less of it on Instagram. The Facebook-owned social network revised some of their community guidelines today, adding wording that specifically outlines their ban on “nudity.” We’re sorry to tell you, but bare butts — not matter how artistic — are included. Sir-Mix-A-Lot is rolling in his grave (wait — he’s still alive?). Here’s the direct quote:

“This includes photos, videos, and some digitally-created content that show sexual intercourse, genitals, and close-ups of fully-nude buttocks.”

The Community Guidelines also updated their “don’t be rude section” detailing various forms of harassment which include “encouraging violence or attacking” anyone based on religion, gender, race, sexual orientation or anything else. In other words: don’t be a dick. It’s something that will take you far in life, but people always have difficulty heeding on the internet.

With more and more young’ins flocking to Instagram, it’s probably better this way. We will note that photos of breast feeding or mastectomy scars are still allowed, so feel free to continue posting those.

Instagram rolls out new photo editing tools for Android first, coming soon to iOS

Well, I’ll be… Never thought I’d see the day an app update would hit Android users before those on iOS, especially an app as big as Instagram. I have to admit… it feels kinda good.

In any case, an update to Instagram — available now on Android and coming soon to iOS — is bringing a few new photo editing tools to the social network. The 2 new options include the ability to alter the tint of shadows in an image (Color), and lighten up shadows for a retro film look (Fade). While Color intensity can’t be adjusted, Fade can, allowing users to add a little or a whole lot.

In another small, but huge addition, Instagram is finally giving users the option to subscribe to their favorite ‘grammers. Simply hit up someone’s profile page, click the 3-dot menu and select “Turn on Post Notifications” and you’ll receive a notification on your phone every time that person uploads a new photo (previously, I had to use an IFTTT recipe to accomplish this). This is extremely useful for those that follow a boat load of people on Instagram and often times miss out on photos from their favorite users. This option is available right now for both Android and iOS users.

With every passing update, Instagram is slowing finding itself poised to tackle hardcore photo editing apps like VSCO Cam who have typically offered users a far greater set of tools and higher quality uploads. Now, if Instagram could only drop the square requirement, increase the resolution of their photos, and fix the poor upload quality on Android devices — they just might be able to sway over photo enthusiasts.

You can find Instagram 6.19.0 on Google Play right now.

Instagram (Playboard) | Instagram (Play Store)