The Magazine

B-Roll: Instagram adds a link to Foursquare

6

on December 11th, 2012

Instagram’s iPhone app was updated yesterday to include several new features, one of which takes users out of Instagram and directly into the Foursquare app.

A new Foursquare button now appears on Instagram’s location pages which takes users to the relevant venue page within the Foursquare app, or to the mobile version of Foursquare’s website when the app isn’t installed. It makes an easy way for Instagram users to learn more about the location including ratings, hours, menus and more photos.

It’s an interesting move since it takes users out of the Instagram app completely, a rare feat among mobile apps. Other than taking users to the maps app, developers are typically wary of sending users away from their own app to an unrelated one (although Foursquare does allow this for its connected apps platform).

Coincidentally, the update hit on the same day that Instagram parent-company Facebook added Foursquare to its developer showcase. The page highlights Foursquare’s use of mention tagging and the sign up with Facebook option.

Other updates in Instagram include a new filter (Willow), an improved camera interface, and tweaks to the filtering screens. Filtered photos are now also saved to a separate “Instagram” album instead of the camera roll.

  • http://www.benfortney.com Ben Fortney

    Some observations: 1) doesn’t look like the Android version got the 4sq feature, new filters are live though 2) this is a little curious considering IG and FB are fueding with Twitter right now. I like it, but I think there’s a lot of jostling behind the scenes right now. 3) still no active link on the web profiles that IG has been focusing on 4) IG for Android has always had a separate Instagram folder/album.

    • http://aboutfoursquare.com Chris Thompson

      I haven’t had any luck getting IG to run on my Android test platform today, so couldn’t check. Thanks for the clarification!

      There’s no doubt there’s a lot of jockeying behind the scenes, which is why I find it so surprising that IG would willingly send someone out to the Foursquare app.

      • http://www.benfortney.com Ben Fortney

        There’s definitely more to the story. I agreed with you that the IG acquisition had as much to do with location data than it did photos, would love to know if 4sq threatened to pull the plug or at least used it for leverage.

        Regardless, a “non-aggression pact” benefits the users.

    • Flavio

      Me too. Despite it was advertised, I don’t have the 4sq button neither on my smartphone nor on my tablet.

      • Dukko

        Same here!

  • http://www.benfortney.com Ben Fortney

    Nothing on my Gingerbread phone or ICS tab, guess they haven’t worked that into the mix yet (which isn’t such a surprise since most 4sq upgrades hit iPhones first.)

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