Instagram is launching a Windows Phone app today, enabling more people to share their photos on the Facebook-owned photo-sharing social network. The move comes less than a month after company CEO and co-founder Kevin Systrom teased Windows Phone users that it would be arriving in the “coming weeks”. But while it’s great to see the app on Windows Phone, it initially ships without support for videos, along with other missing tools.
In its move to bring the popular app to Windows Phone devices, the company says that it spent time focusing on creating “an awesome experience” with Instagram’s core features. However, while the fundamental app exists, it’s not without some differences.
So we know that it’s a somewhat subdued app, but what else is missing? As Engadget reports, some features have not yet been added, including photo tagging, viewing geotaxis, and taking a photo from within Instagram — yes, that’s right. Windows Phone app users can only import photos taken from another app and then import it.
However, to be fair to Instagram, the company did say they weren’t finished yet, specifically: “We’re not finished, and our team will continue developing the Windows Phone app to keep releasing features and bringing you the best Instagram possible.” A Facebook spokesperson tells us that the Instagram app is a beta version and there was a desire to get the app out before the holidays.
As Microsoft continues to tout the powerful cameras Nokia has affixed to its Windows Phone devices, it’s also important to have a way for people to share those photos and Instagram wants to be that service. And while users can take advantage of Path, Vine, Flipboard, and Hipstamatic’s Oggl, none have the audience size like Instagram — more than 150 million users throughout the world. And not to mention the strong ties to Facebook, its parent company.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
Some interesting design changes have been made to accommodate the Windows Phone platform, specifically the navigation buttons have been moved to the top of the app. When editing a photo, the filters remain at the bottom of the screen, but the rotate, add border, tilt-shift, and enhance buttons are now located at the top. Besides these modifications, users will have the same old Instagram experience that they have on other devices.
Although this is a great achievement for Instagram — it certainly a sign of parity with iOS and Android, it’s also a victory for Microsoft. It finally has a service that could potentially entice more users to switch over to Windows Phone.
Instagram will be live in the Windows Phone Store for Windows Phone 8 devices at 11am PST / 2pm EST today.
Update: The app is now available in the Windows Phone Store
➤ Instagram for Windows Phone
Photo credit: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.