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Instagram for Android Nabs 1M Downloads, Prompts iPhone Twitter Spat

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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The release of Instagram for Android was music to many people's ears, as excited Android users downloaded more than 1 million copies of the popular photo-sharing app in less than 24 hours.

The free app was released Tuesday on Google Play, formerly known as the Android Market, and has been a runaway hit with Android users. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom told The New York Times that the app was seeing 2,000 signups each minute following its debut. More than 430,000 Android users, meanwhile, had already signed up to be one of "the first in line for Instagram on Android" during a pre-registration period that began on March 25.

But not everyone was excited about Instagram's arrival on Android. Some iPhone users took to Twitter to express annoyance, some jokingly, that the app is now open to Android users, helping make "Instagram" and "Android" trending topics yesterday afternoon.

One user, @matthewtpain, wrote that he was, "bummed to see Instagram is coming soon to Android. I like the exclusivity of iPhone users only."

"I'm annoyed that instagram is coming to the Android soon... it should just be an iPhone thing," wrote Twitter user @Anthony_CA.

Meanwhile, one user, @iFollowBlindPpl wrote, "Don't follow me on instagram if you got an Android. Only iPhone users following this way. Im blocking Android users. This is war."

"I'm absolutely #outraged that Instagram is on Android now," Twitter user @Chino_Wanker wrote, likely in jest. "Now it's gonna be populated by people who are poor and can't afford an iphone."

Overall, however, most iPhone users don't seem to be bothered.

"To be clear, 99.99% of iPhone users will have absolutely no opinion about Instagram arriving on Android," @jamesburland wrote.

Instagram first debuted in October 2010 for the iPhone, and up until yesterday was only available for iOS devices. The app lets users add different custom filters to photos in order to change the colors, mood, border, and tonality of their snapshots.

The release of Instagram for Android came several weeks after Systrom tipped its arrival at last month's SXSW conference in Austin. At the time, the app was not quite ready for primetime, but Systrom said that "in some ways, it's better than our iOS app. It's crazy."

What do you think of Instagram being made available for Android? Did you download it? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for PCMag's full review of the Android app. Until then, check out our review of the iPhone Instagram app.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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