Instagram for Android let users send live videos in Direct.

Instagram has been on a roll issuing updates this year that proved to be popular with users and today, they’re adding a new feature that makes it easier to invite friends to watch your live videos or invite friends to watch a live video you’re watching. How this works? Keep reading, it’s dead simple.

When you go live, tap the Direct icon at the bottom of the screen to send your video to friends. They will see the live video in their Direct Inbox. However, if they don’t to see it live, they’ll get a message saying the video has ended. Instagram also gives users the option to disable the option to send their live videos in Stories settings. Viewers also can send live videos they’re watching in Direct messages using the same Direct icon at the bottom of the screen.

This update is part of Instagram version 26 for Android in Google Play. I do not see it yet in the Store, but it should not be long or in time for you to share your festive videos.

Source: Instagram

Instagram update lets you remix photos and control photos & videos replays.

Today Instagram is releasing an update that will let you ‘remix’ pictures you received via direct message from your friends. In simple terms, you will be able to edit, resize, move, draw and add stickers to the picture. And there is more to it.

Once you receive the picture via direct message, tap and hold the camera in the message to snap a picture to add to your reply. The original picture will also be included in the reply, thus giving you the ability to edit both using the methods mentioned above.

In addition to ‘Remix’, Instagram also now lets you control replays. You decide whether your friends can view your messages once with “One View” or several times with “Allow Replay”. Instagram says that “photos and videos sent with “Allow Replay” loop automatically and your friends can tap and hold to pause.”

Both features are available starting today in Instagram version 24 which is available for download in Google Play Store.

Source: Instagram

Instagram adds private post sharing as messages.

Depending on your geographic location, some of you may have received this update already. But for those who, like me, are in the same timezone, you may want to check the latest update to the popular Instagram which adds a nice feature to Instagram Direct. The latter lets you send photos privately to your friends and delete the photos a la Snapchat. Let's see what is new in Instagram version 7.9.2.

As I said above, the new feature that will pique your interest, is the ability to share posts from your timeline as messages, which makes it very convenient to say establish a discussion with your friends on particular topics. Instagram added an arrow under each post and a simple tap will pull up the messaging interface for you to add the recipients. In case some of you maybe wondering, this does not replace a regram. The latter lets you share a post for all to see on your timeline whereas sharing post as messages is private.

This update also include the following features:

• Send photos, videos and text messages back and forth to keep conversations going.
• Name group conversations so they're easy to find.

Head over to Google Play Sore to download the update.

Instagram launches Instagram Direct to privately send photo, videos and text messages.

Instagram Direct was announced in mid-December last year and has finally found its way to my Android devices a month later. Indeed the update showed up in Google Play today on both my Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 (2013). So, what is Instagram Direct? 

With the growing popularity and competition from apps such as SnapChat and WhatsApp, the introduction of private sharing was the next logical step for Instagram, even if these competing apps are no threat yet to Instagram; or maybe they are. The Direct feature introduces a new way to send photos, messages and videos directly to one or up to 15 followers directly. 

How that works? Simple. Once you're done editing your masterpiece and instead of using the same steps to post, tap Direct and choose the people you want to send the picture to. It's as simple as that. No you just cannot instantiate a chat session with your followers. To set Direct in motion it all starts with a photo and you will see the avatar of your online friends light up.

Now check the updates on your Android device and start privately sharing your photos, videos while chatting with your followers. If the update hasn't appeared on your phone/tablet yet, go to Google Play directly to get it.