Instagram finally allows users to shoot in landscape mode; Square mode also stays on

Instagram has added new layout options in addition to its signature square for pictures and videos in a bid to attract more advertisers and to stop users defecting to more flexible services such as Snapchat.

The move is the first major alteration to the photo-sharing, social media service since Facebook Inc bought it for $1 billion in 2012, and addresses the wishes of many of its 300 million users, who have been constrained by the square format.

“It boils down to giving advertisers and users more options,” said Debra Aho Williamson, a social media marketing and advertising analyst. “You want people to be able to see more of your ad. It’s something advertisers are definitely going to be interested in.”

One in five photos and videos posted on the service do not fit the square format, Instagram said in a blog post. “Friends get cut out of group shots, the subject of your video feels cramped and you can’t capture the Golden Gate Bridge from end to end,” it said.

Image: Instagram Blog

From Thursday, Instagram’s web-based service and its mobile apps running on Google Inc’s Android system and Apple Inc’s iOS will allow portrait and landscape formats, giving both users and paying advertisers more options.

The move should help Instagram in its battle with newer rivals such as Snapchat for users in the fast-moving messaging and media-sharing market.

At the same time, it should attract more advertising revenue for Instagram, which said in June it would open its platform to all advertisers by the end of the year, rather than just to select brands.

Instagram is expected to generate nearly $600 million in advertising revenue by the end of this year and $2.8 billion in 2017, according to projections from research firm eMarketer.


Instagram Video in Landscape - Examples from Instagram on Vimeo.

By comparison Facebook, the world’s most popular online social network, generated more than $12 billion in revenue in 2014. The growing service hit one billion users in a single day for the first time on Monday.

To promote the new formats on Thursday, Walt Disney Co released exclusive footage of its upcoming film, “Star Wars, The Force Awakens,” using the new landscape option.

Instagram for iOS version 7.5 is available today in Apple’s App Store, and Instagram for Android version 7.5 is available today on Google Play.

Reuters

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WhatsApp, Snapchat, iMessage could face ban in UK within weeks.

WhatsApp could soon be banned in the UK, owing to the strict laws on social media and online messaging services.

According to Express.co.uk, UK Prime Minister David Cameron is now looking at new legislation that plans ‘to stop people from sending any form of encrypted messages’.


Today, there are popular messaging services in the UK namely, WhatsApp, iMessage and Snapchat. If the new legislation is passed then all these services could be banned in the UK in the coming weeks.

He reportedly said, “In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which we cannot read? My answer to that question is: ‘No, we must not’.”

With the new Investigatory Powers Bill, Internet service providers, Internet companies like Facebook, Google and others, will need to keep a record of your activity. The new bill, the pace of which has been accelerated due to recent concerns over terrorist attacks, could be passed by Autumn.

Though the complete details of the bill are still undisclosed, it means that the government will now get to spy on users irrespective of whether they are crime suspects or not. Sounds creepy, doesn’t it?

If you run a Google search for the term “WhatsApp ban”, you will find a trail of queries about people asking why they’ve been banned on WhatsApp and how they can be "unbanned". But what if WhatsApp is banned altogether leaving users with no access to arguably the most popular messaging service.

As I mentioned above that WhatsApp could soon be banned in the UK, owing to the strict laws on social media and online messaging services. according to a new legislation to be passed by Prime Minister David Cameron people won’t be allowed to send any encrypted messages. This move is to tackle the recent terrorist attacks and the recent shooting of 27 Britons in Tunisia has now accelerated the process.

In short it means all your Google searches, conversations etc. will be accessible to the government and police at any given time. Currently, British police have to make a request in order to access a user’s texts, calls and other Internet usage if required.

The extent of power that will be bestowed upon the Investigatory Powers Bill is still unclear. However, whatever little I know seem to be detrimental to user privacy. Not many of us want someone snooping over our private messages and content. This decision has already left several Britons fuming. Several have taken to Twitter to vent out anger and frustration.

Executive director of The Open Rights Group Jim Killock told Express.co.uk that, “The government is signalling that it wants to press ahead with increased powers of data collection and retention for the police and GCHQ – spying on everyone, whether suspected of a crime or not.”

Facebook-owned WhatsApp (acquired for $19 billion) is quite popular for more than more reason. It is more personal than Facebook, connects people immediately, doesn’t cost much and is totally ad-free.

Although this response by the UK Government has surprised many, it isn’t entirely new. In August 2011, the UK was a victim to rioting and soon the government began a crackdown on BlackBerry Messenger. In the day and age of free speech and privacy gaining momentum, one can’t help but wonder whether these are intended as a safety mechanism or a means to halt popular movements. In the true sense, it’s a case of the shooting the messenger!

Meanwhile, popular messaging service, WhastApp, has updated its Web app. WhatsApp for Web has now been updated to include mobile-like features giving users more control over chats and group conversations on the web.

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