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.

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)

Google+ Photo “Stories” are now showing in Google Now

A cool feature from Google+ is now making its way to Google Now. “Stories,” which is a feature that automatically creates a story from photos based on location, has begun showing up in users’ Google Now feeds. The card shows a preview of the story, which you can then tap to go to Google+ and publish for your followers to see or just enjoy for yourself.

The notification for a new Story used to show up in Google+, but with the news of Google+ Auto Backup moving to Google Drive it would make sense that this notification also moves. If you want to use Google+ Stories there are a few things you need to do.

1. Turn on Google Location History


2. If you store photos on Google Drive, show your Drive photos & videos in your photo library


3. Use Auto Backup on your mobile device or computer


4. Make sure Auto Awesome is on


5. Add your home & work addresses in Google Maps


6. Take a lot of pictures

If you don’t like the Stories feature you can disable it by turning off Auto Awesome. Do you use Google+ Stories? Have you seen the notifications in Google Now?

[via Google+]

LG G4 teaser shows off impressive photo samples, likely after editing in Lightroom [VIDEO]

It’s been said that for an Android manufacturer to beat the iPhone, they first have to beat its camera. It’s true. On a software level, Android is constantly evolving, adding intuitive features that leave iOS behind in the dust. While that’s all good and dandy for some of us, software features don’t often sell a phone. When shopping around for their next smartphone, we’re seeing consumers place a higher priority on a phone’s camera capabilities (you can thank social networks for sparking this trend).

With both the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 readily available for purchase, it’s clear LG has to do something to keep our wallets closed just a little longer. Despite a massive LG G4 leak last week, LG continues teasing the device, highlighting some of the phone’s standout features ahead of launch through a series of teaser videos.

We’ve already seen a brief teaser showing off some of the G4’s upcoming camera hardware — more notably its new f/1.8 lens — but as my mother always told me, the proof is in the pudding. For all those curious to see actual output, LG has enlisted the help of professional photographer Colby Brown to tout the phone’s photo taking abilities.

The 2 minute video shows off a variety of actual photos taken with the LG G4, showing rich vibrant colors with samples that easily rival full-sized DSLRs. What LG doesn’t mention is how much time and effort was spent in post editing to get the photos to look just right.

In the video, you can clearly see Mr. Brown using Lightroom 4 (photo editing software) to view the images, so it’s not exactly like they’re trying to hide it. Not only that, without actual photo samples, 1080p video makes it tough to see other aspects of the image. Things like noise or fine details — all the other things that make up a quality photo. So it’s hard to judge by these photos alone.

One thing LG forgot to mention — but was revealed in last week’s leak — was the stock camera app will also provide an option to shoot in RAW. Something the Galaxy S6 doesn’t provide, not even with its “Pro” shooting mode. Because the video runs by the sample images rather quickly, we took some snapshots and put them in a gallery for your viewing pleasure. Check ’em out.

You may have seen a similar ad campaign from Apple called “Shot on iPhone 6″ which shows off various photographs of breathtaking landscapes taken with the phone. Sure they look amazing, but the truth of the matter is most people will never travel to the Alps or jungles of Venezuela to take a photo. Instead, it’s the real world things like kids running around a naturally lit living room, or food in a restaurant I’d be more interested in seeing. What do you guys think? Will the LG G4’s camera live up to the hype?

Google Maps adds rental car information and improved photo viewer

Google Maps has long been one of the best features of Android. Sure, it’s also available on iOS, but there’s nothing quite like using it on an Android device. Google relentlessly adds new features and improvements to keep it on top. The latest batch of features includes rental information and a photo viewer.

If you have a rental car reservation tied to your Google account you will be able to bring up that information when searching the area. You’ll see the pick up or drop off location and reservation number. Google has also improved the photo viewer so you can see multiple photos of a location. Other improvements include a new “Your Places” screen, and the removal of “Shake to send feedback” being enabled by default.

Google Maps version 9.10 is rolling out right now. Download from Google Play.