instagram

Instagram quietly released a lightweight version of the app for Android users. The new app has been designed in a way that will make it easier to install and browse on devices that are short on space.  Or where there isn’t a great connection. This is a common concern when it comes to Instagram.  The app is insanely huge.  But is a lite version necessary to begin with? It’s being reported that the new app will come in at about 573 KB, which is a fraction of the size of the original app.  You will find that it’s a bit lighter on functionality as well – there’s no messaging capability or the ability to upload videos as of right now.  So is it really worth it?  I mean, that’s all I do in Instagram.  What do other people do?

This is a bit of a ploy on Facebook’s part.  If I’m being honest, there is no surprise with this one.  They are hoping to use this as a way to reach the next billion users and they’re targeting people who live in developing countries.  It’s believed that this app will be better suited for people using low-cost mobile devices with limited access to data.  While I think that a “lite” version of Instagram is useful, I thought about it from the perspective that the app is just huge.  Not necessarily as a way for Facebook to catapult Instagram into the next billion users.  I think that’s kind of shady, don’t you?  I mean, they’re directly targeting people who live in developing countries.  While I am not an expert on developing countries or what their needs are.  But I will say this – Instagram probably isn’t one of them.

instagram

Facebook has done this with Facebook and Messenger over the last few years.  Twitter has one too, and Google recently launched an optimized version of Android.  All of these are intended to have the same purpose, but when I think of Google, I think – sure that could be a useful tool for someone in a developing country as it would give them access to information.  Twitter is a bit of a stretch, but again – access to information.  Instagram and Facebook even – what does that give you?  Messenger would allow you to connect with other people, but who are you connecting with?  I guess I’m just a little skeptical on Facebook’s intentions with this one.  We know that they’ve reached the 1 billion mark with daily active users, and now they’re wanting to get to 2 billion?  Do they know that there are only 7 billion people in the world?

Instagram TV

Don’t get me wrong with this one. I love Instagram – I really do.  I just find it odd that they’re launching this in quiet, and not really talking about what it is.  This is coming on the heels of two pretty big Instagram announcements.  We recently learned about IGTV, and the ability to make phone calls through Instagram, so why keep this one in the dark?  My guess is because of people like myself who feel that there’s an ulterior motive when it comes to launching the app in the first place.