There was much rejoicing yesterday among Android users as Instagram for Android went live in Google Play. The popular photography app has only been available for the iPhone since it launched in 2010, and Android users have been long clamoring for their own version.
When the app went live in Google Play yesterday, Android users rushed to download it. In fact, in the first 24 hours after the app became available, it soared to over a million downloads. What’s more, most Android users appear to be thrilled with the app. Of the 50,000 ratings, 34,000 have been 5-star, with another 8,400 4-star reviews. The app currently has an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5.
It seems, however, that all is not well. Apparently, some Instagram for iPhone users are a little upset that their beloved app is now available for Android. Now, if you’re aware of Instagram at all, you’re probably aware that the app’s users have a tendency to be a little pretentious and/or a bit hipster-y. While most Instagram users are probably not like that (I, for example, mainly post pictures of my dog and my kids), there are certainly some who think a smartphone app with a few filters turns them into some sort of photographic artiste. The release of Instagram for Android brought these… characters out of the woodwork yesterday. Apparently offended that their beloved community was going to get polluted, they took to Twitter to express their frustration.
What’s most interesting about these tweets is the way a lot of them seem to have a racial or class-based undertone. Check it out for yourself:
Now that Instagram is on Android it’s gone from being like The Hamptons to being like a homeless shelter in Brooklyn.
I wish ghetto people couldn’t get Instagram. They ruin everything 🙁
android getting instagram is like Walmart getting Jordans … don’t mind me tho lol
Dear , android users kill yourself ur not about to take over instagram sincerely, iPhone users ??????????????????
In addition to being, well, crazy, these iPhone users don’t seem to have done their homework on the competition. Android is hardly the poor person’s alternative to the iPhone, since most Android phones cost about the same as an iPhone (the new Galaxy Nexus, for example, will set you back $300 with a 2-year Verizon contract, while the DROID 4 comes in at $200). Of course, some iPhone users who ripped on Instagram for Android dialed back the crazy a bit and focused on the more “classic” iPhone vs. Android issues:
iPhone people don’t worry all the android people won’t be on instagram that much their battery life will die after they post 1 picture lol!
The badge says “Taken with Instagram”. The blurry image says “?on an Android Phone”.
@instagram Android has twice as many good apps as it did yesterday.
Thanks toIntagram on my house phone > Instagram on android
Many, however, took to Twitter to express their outrage at the way iPhone users were acting about the whole thing. While many called on iPhone users to show a little class, one user pretty much captured the situation perfectly and showed a pretty good grasp of what people really use Instagram for:
dear new android instagram users : please post pics of food, sunsets, pets, and mirrors cause nobody does that. thanks – me
Finally, one user saw a great business opportunity for Instagram in all this:
How Instagram can become instantly profitable: offer a $1 in-app purchase on iOS that blocks all photos taken on Android phones.
Were you one of the million who downloaed Instagram for Android in the first day? What do you think of it? iPhone users, how do you feel about Instagram coming to Android? What do you think about all the rage from iPhone users? Let us know in the comments.