Shortly after buying Instagram, Facebook launched a new camera app for the iPhone on Thursday that would enable users to share photos faster than ever before.
When the Camera app is launched on the iPhone, three thumbnails of the photos on the users' phone are displayed. With a tap, the entire roll is displayed and multiple images can be selected and shared as a single status update - a feature unique to the Facebook Camera app. Photos will upload as a "Mobile Uploads" album, but appear on the Facebook timeline as a multi-photo status update. Additionally, the Facebook Camera, unlike the main Facebook app, offers 14 filters that can alter the images.
Facebook Camera's home page also features a feed of photos that the users' friends have uploaded or been tagged in. Photos are presented in square format, and can be scrolled through endlessly in the feed. Users can also zoom in and enlarged the photographs. Each photo also features a "Like icon" and commenting feature.
Several tech websites, such as TechCrunch.com, have noted that there are several flaws with the interface. The images and design are not as attractive as that of Instagram, the application that Facebook had acquired earlier. The "Like," comment icons, and counts are overlaid on the photos, disturbing their appearance. Clicking to view existing comments on a photo takes a few seconds to load. Instagram not only has 17 filters to Facebook Camera's14 in addition to light adjustment and tilt-shift.
Facebook announced in April that it had acquired Instagram in a move to improve its photo sharing service. However, according to Wired.com, Dirk Stoop, Facebook Photos product manager stated that "The Instagram deal hasn't closed yet. I can't say much, but we're committed to building Instagram independently."
Even though Instagram has a huge user base of over 40 million users, Facebook is vastly larger at 900 million.
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