Facebook-owned Instagram has opted to play a decisive role in a growing new social space – video sharing – and with its new offering of 15-second clips and 13 filters for video will bring the battle to players like Twitter’s Vine and fast-growing social network Keek.
Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom said Instagram has become its own social network in many ways and video has been a vital component that has been missing from the storytelling perspective.
Facebook bought the photo-sharing app firm last year for an estimated US$1bn.
Instagram for iOS version 4.0 is available for download in Apple’s App Store and Instagram for Android version 4.0 is now available on Google Play.
Systrom explained that when users go to take a photo on Instagram, they’ll now see a movie-camera icon.
How to use the new Instagram video service
“Tap it to enter video mode, where you can take up to 15 seconds of video through the Instagram camera.
“You’ll also find that we’ve added 13 filters built specifically for video so you can keep sharing beautiful content on Instagram.
“When you post a video, you’ll also be able to select your favourite scene from what you’ve recorded as your cover image so your videos are beautiful even when they’re not playing,” Systrom said.
He said users will continue to have control over all of their content and only people that users let see their photos will be able to see their videos.
Instagram has also launched a new Cinema feature for iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 users that eliminates shake and stabilises the shot when users are recording video.
