APP WATCH: Instagram launches for Android

04 Apr 2012

We heard the launch was imminent and so it proved, as Instagram is now avaialble to download for Android devices, meaning it's no longer an iPhone exclusive.

At least, it is available to download if you have an Android device with Android 2.2 or above. That's likely to be most of you, we suspect. Once you've got it, you get an app not all that far off that iPhone version, give or take one or two features. That means social snapping with various filtered effects to give your imagery a unique twist, before you send it out to your network of friends.

This release offers up those free custom designed filters and borders, instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Foursquare, interaction with your friends and their photos via your smartphone plus full front and back camera support.

Those missing features? Right now, there's no posting to Flickr, no posterous integration and a few tweaks for images are missing too. But most of that will be put right with future updates, so don't worry too much about it for now. The image output on both iOS and Android is the same too, so you'll be able to compare snaps with friends on rival platforms on a level playing field.

Free, of course, with the app now available at Google Play.