Instagram introduces Music in Stories.

Have you ever watched a movie without sound or music? And did you like it? It probably sounded weird as a soundtrack is essential to any movie and as of today, will most likely become key to your Instagram Stories.

Instagram announced the 400 million people who use Stories every day will now be able to add music to their Stories from a library of thousands of songs. Instagram added a new music icon and when you tap on it, you get access to a music library from which to browse by mood, genre or what's popular. Of course, songs can be previewed. 

Once you've found the song you like and that fits your Story, you can go even further and rewind or forward to the part of the song that best fits your Story. Instagram recognizes "that music can play an important role in how you share your moments and express yourself with friends and we're working hard to bring it to the global community in the future."

Music is available on Instagram version 51 in "select countries". However, the ability to choose a song before capturing a video is only available in iOS only, but the company says this feature is coming to Android soon. If you live in one of those "select countries", look for version 51 in Google Play Store.

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 releases two new tools: Stories Highlights and Stories Archive for Android.

Instagram has been on an update roll lately and today they are introducing two new tools for their users. The first is Stories Highlights. If you’re a serious Instagram user, you know that Instagram Stories are available for 24 hours only. That changes with today’s update. “Now you can more fully express your identity by grouping stories you’ve shared into highlights and featuring them on your profile.” These highlights will appear in a new section on your profile.

To create new Highlights, tap the “New” circle on the left and you will be able to choose stories from your archive. You will even be able to choose a cover and give it a name. Instagram says that your “highlight will appear as a circle on your profile that plays as a stand-alone story when someone taps it.” As I said above, Instagram has removed the 24 hours limit your highlights appear in your profile. However, you have the option to edit or remove them simply by tapping and holding on them.

Instagram will now also let you automatically save stories to your archive. “From there, you can easily switch between your Posts Archive and your new Stories Archive.” The most recent stories will appear at the bottom and tap on any of them to watch and share as a post or “add it to a highlight on your profile.” Before you worry, only you can see your archived stories and you can turn that off at any time in your profile settings.

Instagram is releasing this update to Android and iOS. Sorry for Windows users, as usual there’s nothing for you. Download and update Instagram for Android in Google Play Store.

Source: Instagram

Instagram let users add 24 hours old photos and videos to their stories.

Starting today, Instagram is gradually rolling out a much requested update to its Android app that will let users pick photos and videos from their devices to add to their stories no matter when they were taken. Prior to this update, Instagram allowed using photos and videos taken within the last 24 hours to create stories.

Instagram will also add a sticker to photos and videos more than 24 hours old. But rest assured, those can be easily removed, rotated and resized.

As stated above, this is a gradual update, so you may not see it right away on your device. Check it out on Google Play Store.

Source: Instagram

View Instagram Stories in mobile web browsers.

Instagram Stories lets you "share all the moments of your day, not just the ones you want to keep on your profile." Basically, you're sharing multiple photos and videos in a slideshow format and they will disappear after 24 hours. Up until today, Stories were only visible through the Instagram app on mobile devices. Well no more.

According to Instagram, 250 million users use Stories every day. Instagram will, in the coming weeks, make Stories available to users who use Instagram on the web. Stories is indeed coming to mobile web browsers. Another thing. Stories will be available for viewing only in mobile browsers. But Instagram said in a blog post that users will be able to post Stories from mobile web in coming months.

Until then, point your favorite mobile browser to instagram.com to view Stories when they become available. Otherwise, use Instagram for Android in Google Play Store.

Source: Instagram