When you wanted to apply filters to your photos taken with a smartphone you would have to use an app called Hipstamatic, and at the time was the best available. However, all good things have to come to an end, and this was the case with Hipstamatic, as a new kid came along and showed how to do it right.

That app in question was Instagram and offered just what Hipstamatic did, but so much more as well and as such the latter app had to take a back seat. However, things could be about to change, as there is another contender, this time called Oggl, which is from the same company who brought us Hipstamatic.

Instagram vs. Oggl – You might be wondering how the two compare and what changes have been made since Hipstamatic? Firstly, the difference between Oggl and Hipstamatic, well the former now gives the user more control with filters and lenses, something that was the downfall for the latter. You can now make several changes to the photo before and after they have been taken. Once you have taken your photo, you will then be able to upload the image to Oggl’s social networking website. Once on the website other Oggl users will be able to view the images.

The other difference between HIpstamatic and Oggl is the fact that the latter will be subscription-based, but at $0,99 per month it’s not going to break the bank. In with this price is access to the full range of lenses and filters.

The new Oggl service is much like Google Plus was in its infancy, so invite only, more details of which can be find on their website.

Oggl’s aim is to be a lot more like Instagram, but with more than 100 million users it’s going to be a tough ask. Although, it’s clear to see that Oggl has learned from Hipstamatic and improved on it.

One of the most popular cameras of 2012 was the Samsung GALAXY Camera because of the ability to get online while you are out and about and then use services such as Instagram. There are other devices on the market that aim to do the same thing, but the GALAXY is the daddy in our eyes.

However, all that could be about to change in early 2014 because the Indiegogo project from last year will finally become a reality. The Socialmatic is basically an Instagram camera with a difference, because it will also have a Polaroid design much like the popular social sharing app.

Both these cameras will not be in direct competition with each other because they will be aimed at different markets. Firstly we know that the GALAXY camera features will be far more superior to the Socialmatic, and the price will be very different as well.

The Polaroid style Socialmatic Camera is still in its concept stage, but a look at the video below gives you an idea of what is to come. We already know some of the specs, such as 16GB of storage, interchangeable lenses, LED flash, its very own printer like the original Polaroid cameras and also WiFi and Bluetooth.

It’s clear to see that the Samsung GALAXY Camera lacks two of those features, but does have 3G (apart from the non-3G version) and will produce far greeter images thanks to a more superior lens.

Even though you cannot buy the Socialmatic Instagram camera yet this has not stopped it gaining a huge amount of attention, which is mostly from those who love using the Instagram service. Do you believe that such a device would be able to live up to its hype?

Having already seen rumors that Instagram could be coming to Windows Phone because the icon was seen on a Nokia Lumia 620 banner, this led to speculation that this was just a clever piece of Photoshop work. However, more fuel has been added to this rumor since there are now reports that the social photo-sharing app is in testing for WP devices.

If we are to believe this latest piece of news then Instagram for Windows Phone might very well exist and if it does, then it is a kick in the teeth for BlackBerry 10.

It has already been reported that Instagram will not be made available for BB10 devices, and although this will not be enough to put people off purchasing the Z10, it will make them stop and think what else they will miss out on in the future.

Knowing that Windows Phone handsets could soon get Instagram because we are told that the app is in testing, this will surely be a boost for the platform, which as we know is still struggling to hold onto the coat tails of Android and iOS.

Let’s say that this news is the real deal, then we can also tell you that Instagram for Windows Phone 8 (not 7.8) could offer a special edition filter, although we have no idea what this filter would be.

Update: Thanks to our readers who informed us that there is in fact Instagram for BlackBerry 10 devices, but as yet this is not an official version and only a port for now.

There are a number of reasons why you should seriously consider the Motorola S11-FLEX HD headphones, which includes the wireless sound that is claimed to be better than wired sound. The S11-FLEX HD delivers thumping bass, dynamic mid-range, and clear highs. The wireless headphones are adjustable with five different points of adjustment and fit securely.

Other selling points for the Motorola S11-FLEX HD would be the handy five EQ settings that deliver more freedom when listening to your music, increased durability thanks to a moisture-repellant mesh and protective coating that creates a sweatproof finish. The S11-FLEX HD wireless headphones have a price of just under $130, but what if you could pick up a pair for free?

Motorola partners with Instagram – photos are a great way to explain the benefits of a new product and help compliment any videos being used, so it is an obvious choice for Motorola to ask people to submit pictures on Instagram rather than any other service. Instagram is known for being the most talked about photo-sharing website / social network.

The image below is a screenshot of a page that Motorola Mobility is sharing on their official Twitter account. The image pretty much explains everything but in a nutshell you can win a free Motorola S11-FLEX HD by posting an image on Instagram, which explains, “how wires get in your way“. You need to write a caption with your Instagram photo and also include #howiflex. It would also be a good idea share the image with your friends as well. This contest will run until the end of this month and one pair will be given away free every week.

We have also included the official Motorola S11-FLEX HD video below this article, which explains the main specs and features, so have a watch and leave your thoughts in the comments.

If you are an avid user of Instagram ever since it launched on Android, you can update to the new version by heading to the Google Play link here. The new blur effects should keep you very busy when sharing your photos online, but if there was ever a cry for some more improvements, you would probably agree that the developers of the app need to solve the problem of frequent cashes.

After applying the update, some users have complained of crashes when using the new blur effects in the 1.1.0 update. Obviously it’s not happening to everyone, but complaints on Twitter and on the User Reviews section of the Google Play page do suggest that there’s more than a minority experiencing issues.

For those of you that are having no problems with Instagram on Android and are enjoying the new features, what would you like to see come next? Tilt-shift is a feature that is already available on iOS, but would you perhaps like to see some exclusive features on Android, or at least features which both platforms can enjoy at the same time?

If you are just getting started with Instagram, you’ll probably find this little tilt-shift tutorial handy over at the official Instagram blog. Is Instagram crashing more frequently for you now or not?

We’re pleased to say that it looks like the developers of the popular app are definitely on the ball though. They may have taken their time in bringing the app to the Google Play store after a long period of exclusivity on iOS devices, but in the space of a week, the Android version has already seen two updates, and a third update now will add support for the HTC One X.

The update now officially adds support for Tegra 3 devices, with the HTC One X obviously the pick of the bunch. There are also some new bug fixes as well, and a performance improvement for those of you who are enjoying Instagram on tablet devices such as the Transformer Prime.

What’s interesting though is that Instagram has mentioned on the official Google Play listing, that app will feature better support for Tegra 3 devices. That means that the developers are essentially recommending devices such as the One X, the LG Optimus 4X, the ZTE Era and the Transformer Prime if you want to experience Instagram with optimal performance.

So if you are lucky enough to own a HTC One X in Europe now, let us know if you spot any differences in quality compared to using the app with a dual-core Android device. What will the future bring to Instagram now that Mark Zuckerburg’s Facebook monopoly has taken over? Is this a good move in your opinion or not?

First up it’s well known that the Facebook app is lacking in a number of ways, and our readers continue to point out that it needs massive improvements, which considering Zuckerberg points to the “talented team” behind Instagram and that they can now “work closely” with this team shouts a lot to us about the benefits Facebook can gain from this buyout, although $1 billion is a lot for Instagram talent.

Confusion over Facebook buying Instagram – we’ve seen a number of articles asking why would Facebook want to buy Instagram, although most of these ask questions and also offer counter answers, but could this buyout be much more simple than most of us would like to believe? Some people point to tax reasons but we say it could simply be about “competition“, and Facebook not wanting the likes of Google to purchase Instagram first.

Facebook doesn’t need Instagram for the data or users, but when it comes to the word “competition” it has every reason to buy the popular app. Facebook knows pictures share well, something that has helped Pinterest grow massively recently, and one way for Facebook to have more photo control is to buy Instagram rather than letting the competition gain that edge. With this purchase in the bag it would stop the competition having more control of conversations around pictures – could it all really be this simple?

We’ve embedded a video below that looks at the $500 million valuation for Instagram, which is half of what Facebook paid, and looks at reasons behind the deal. You can also read about the Android Instagram app needing an update to help make it better than iOS, and how the app is a little distasteful for some pros.

If you haven’t installed Instagram yet, you’ll find that the app is now happily sitting on the Google Play store waiting to be installed. What you may not know though, is that an update is already available and it brings some initial bug fixes to the app, as well as some crucial improvements related to crashes.

If you have been using Instagram heavily and have experienced several crashes when filtering photos, you’ll be pleased to hear that the developers have already addressed this in the 1.0.1 update and you should be able to use the app problem free from now on.

On a side note, we have seen plenty of cries already for some improvements to the app for Android. A lot of you are requesting a lot more editing options when dealing with your endless photos, while another big request is for the app to become its own entity with some Android specific stylings. As some of you have pointed out on the official user reviews on Google Play, Instagram for Android may just feel like an iOS port at the moment and obviously a lot of you want this to change in future updates.

From our point of view, Instagram has only just rolled out on Android, so give the developers time to work their magic. We wouldn’t want to see any kind of iOS or Android favoritism, but making the app a little prettier to match the lovely Ice Cream Sandwich interface is a good start.

What are your early impressions of the app for Android? Do you already have a list of improvements that you want to see, or are you just happy that it is available on Android at last?

Instagram, along with Temple Run seem to be the two apps which will complete many of your lives. Of course we’re joking, but there’s no doubt that Instagram is easily one of the most popular iOS apps ever and just like Temple Run before it, Android users are now getting a bit frustrated on the lack of a Android Market, sorry Google Play release.

The good news is that it looks like a release is coming very soon. Official sign-ups have now begun on the website, as users can leave their email address in the capable hands of the Instagram makers in return for first dibs on the app the moment a download becomes available.

Is Instagram being over-hyped though, or are you firmly on board the bandwagon that it is one of the finest apps ever to appear on a mobile device? There are alternatives on Android for those that are looking for the ‘filter’ experience when sharing photos online. One app that springs to mind is Vignette – an app which many Android users argue is better than Instagram, but at the end of the day – price is everything to consumers these days and Vignette does require a fee, while Instagram on iOS is free and is fully expected to land on the Google Play store for free as well.

How do you feel about Instagram? Is it truly the holy grail right now in terms of social apps, or are you one of those Vignette users who does not see what the fuss is about? Sign-ups available right now.

Systrom made their way onto the stage at SXSW and showed a Galaxy Nexus with Instagram installed, which this prototype certainly made some Android users jealous and excited at the same time. It has been a long wait for Instagram to make its way onto the Android platform, and with the iOS version getting a lot of press it has not made the situation any easier.

Expectations are extremely high for the Android version – it looks like Systrom want to improve on the iPhone app in many ways, so Android phones are likely to get some nice extras for waiting. This has been hinted at during SXSW when they said, “it’s better than our iPhone app“, although they did explain only “in some ways“. This could be enough for Android users that are sitting on the fence to see what the fuss is about.

We reported earlier that the app is in private beta, although information given out during SXSW shows that it’s already fast, working great on a range of Android displays, and shares photos will a number of the best social networks.

Do you think it’s right for Systrom to disregard the iPhone app that helped Instagram reach more than 27 million users, or are both platforms likely to be enhanced at the same time when the Android app releases? We’ve included a video below showing some facts and figures for Instagram on Android, which also include details from SXSW and well worth a watch.

Instagram for Android recent news: The Android demand met a new high last month with excitement building towards a launch, and we also saw Instagram’s popularity not go down well with pros, which has been quickly followed with beta testing within the last few days. During the last month we’ve also seen the iPhone app receive two updates, v2.1 and v2.2 earlier this month.