Instagram Stories

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Instagram Stories:

How to easily share tweets to Instagram Stories in iOS

By

Now it's easy to share tweets in Instagram Stories.
Now it's easy to share tweets in Instagram Stories.
Photo: Instagram

Twitter rolled out an update to its iOS app earlier this week that lets users quickly and easily share tweets to their Instagram Stories. It’s now nearly a one-click operation, but not quite.

Naturally, users have always been able to take a screenshot of a tweets and manually upload it to an Instagram Story. But the new interface takes some of the manual labor out of the process, making it simple and fast. And the results look good!

Instagram removes tool that let users see who’s ‘stalking’ them

By

Instagram lawsuit
It just got harder to tell who's Insta-stalking you.
Photo: Pixabay

The Instagram viewers list — a popular feature for keeping tabs on who’s stalking you on the photo-sharing service — quietly disappeared overnight.

The move infuriated some Instagram users after they lost the ability to see the full list of who viewed their Stories after 24 hours. Users also can no longer see who viewed their Highlights, causing some to take to Twitter in anger.

Instagram wants to be your favorite place to shop

By

Instagram lawsuit
Instagram wants you to shop more.
Photo: Pixabay

Shopping is about to become an even biggest focus on Instagram with a new update coming out today that makes it easier to find what your favorite accounts are peddling.

The photo-sharing app revealed that it is rolling out its Shopping in Stories feature to businesses in 46 countries today, allowing users to tap on an item to quickly learn about it and possibly purchase it through the business’ website.

This is what it will look like:

Instagram Stories turns pretty pictures into buying opportunities

By

InstagramCloseiPhone
Instagram is starting to feel like a giant advertisement.
Photo: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

Your favorite Instagram Story feeds are about to get invaded by more advertisements.

The photo-sharing social network revealed today that it is expanding its shopping features beyond the regular feed and will start letting users share shopping advertisements in their Stories.

Instagram Stories is getting a new ‘Type’ feature

By

Instagram
Instagram makes sharing Stories simpler.
Photo: Instagram

Instagram is taking another swipe at Snapchat with a new feature called “Type.” It allows users to post text to their Stories — without adding a photo or video — and it’s in testing now ahead of a wider rollout. Another Snapchat feature is also on its way.

You can now cross-post your Instagram Stories to Facebook

By

Facebook Stories
Facebook Stories could quickly see a lot more users.
Photo: Facebook

Instagram has started giving users the ability to cross-post their Stories to Facebook Stories.

After testing the feature in Portugal last month, the company is now migrating it to U.S. users. Facebook says it should be available to everyone soon, if not already.

Sticky AI, Battlezone 98, and other awesome apps of the week

By

Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Want to impress the kids by sending them animated stickers of yourself against a funky background, courtesy of the latest AI image recognition breakthroughs?

That’s just one of the picks we’ve highlighted for this week’s “Awesome Apps” roundup. We’ve also got a great note-taking app for Apple Pencil users, a revisited classic tank blaster newly arrived on iOS and Mac, and an update to the massively popular Instagram Stories.

Check out our choices below.

How to view Stories and upload photos to Instagram on the web

By

These Instagram tips will help you connect with photographers who share your interests.
Get the Instagram's app experience on the desktop website.
Photo: Lee Peterson/Cult of Mac

Instagram has been a “mobile first” company ever since its inception. Since then, it has gradually changed its course and brought several features to the desktop and the mobile website. As of now, you can browse your Instagram feed and view notifications on the website. However, there are still app-specific features like Stories and uploading pictures that haven’t made their way to the website.

With features such as Continuity and Handoff bridging the gap between the iPhone and the Mac, carrying the iPhone has become less essential. Unfortunately, I still have to reach for my iPhone when I need to upload pictures or view Stories. Wouldn’t it be great to have these features on the Instagram web version? Let’s see how we accomplish that.

Instagram adds stickers as users flock to Stories

By

insta
Add selfie stickers to your Instagram selfie to communicate with more than one expression.
Photo: Instagram

Snapchat may be popular with the young, but Instagram continues to show it can be young and fun, too.

The photo-sharing network of 600 million users rolled out new sticker tools Thursday in response to the rapidly growing number of people using the Stories feature.

Instagram’s new feature is a ripoff of Snapchat Stories

By

Stories is already seeing more users than Snapchat.
Stories is already seeing more users than Snapchat.
Photo: Instagram

Instagram is rolling out a new feature that lets you post more privately and without the kind of permanence that can get you in trouble.

Sound familiar, Snapchat users?

On its blog Tuesday morning, the company introduced Instagram Stories, which lets you share multiple photos and videos in a single slideshow. It can be shared with select followers without showing up on your more public profile. It then disappears 24 hours later.