Instagram has just been updated to version 4.1 — the first major release since video landed in the Facebook-owned photo-sharing app.
With this update, users can now import video from their library, and iOS users can take advantage of a photo straightening feature. The most important change, however, is that users of Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich are finally able to share videos. Considering that ICS currently amounts to a whopping 22.5% of all Android users, this was a significant segment to leave unsupported.
The new ability to import video from your smartphone’s library — rather than having to record content within the app — contrasts Twitter-owned competitor Vine. For many, the absence of video import was quite frustrating, and this is a welcome change. It also means that videos can now be heavily edited pre-import, which will likely result in more commercials and other professionally-produced content on the service.
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!
This update is rolling out now on iOS and Android. That photo straightening is absent on Android is a bit disappointing, but that’s not by any means a key feature for the app.
Image credit: AFP/Getty Images
Disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link. While we only ever write about products we think deserve to be on the pages of our site, The Next Web may earn a small commission if you click through and buy the product in question. For more information, please see our Terms of Service.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.