Instagram, being the most popular photo-taking app, doesn't spend as many of its updates adding features and new camera modes. Rather, it often increases speed, performance, and fixes bugs with its updates. The latest version (5.1) for Android devices halves the size of the Instagram app, creates a new, streamlined interface and increases load speeds-all very impressive-to help with global expansion.
The new update, available through the Google Play store, redesigns the look of the app and promises increased load speeds. This performance is particularly important as they expand their market around the world: the app performs faster on lower resolution devices, like the Galaxy Y, one of the most popular phones in Brazil.
"It looks phenomenal on a low resolution device," says engineering manager Philip McAllister. "[This is] definitely one the more laborious things we've done, but it's also one of the greatest aspects of the Android platform - the software is so open that it runs on large devices and small devices."
Global expansion is important, as there's a huge untapped market out there. "More than 60 percent of our users are outside the US, and Android covers roughly half of total Instagram users," McAllister says. The smaller file size allows the app to be more easily downloaded by people with limited coverage or data caps, as well.
Instagram on Android has mostly kept up with the iOS version, but the last redesign took a while to reach the platform. Keeping the software up to date on the plethora of Android devices available, as opposed to just one for the iPhone, has been a challenge according to McAllister.
Source: The Verge