A quick-thinking duo of developers beat both Pinterest and Instagram to the iPad market by releasing a hybrid Pinstagram iPad app.
The developers behind the Pinstagram desktop app – a mashup of Pinterest and instagram – have released a version for iPad, even before Pinterest and Instagram get it together to release iPad versions of their apps themselves.
Pinstagram presents your Instagram photos in Pinterest’s waterfall-style layout, providing Instagram users with an easy way to view their photos on mobile devices and, most importantly, desktops. It was released as a desktop app in May, when it provided a much-needed solution to Instagram’s lack of desktop usability.
The desktop and iPad apps are the brainchild of two developers, Pek Pongpaet and Brandon Leonardo, who came up with the idea for Pinstagram during a conversation about venture capital. When thinking of comparisons start-ups make as during VC pitches, they arrived at “Pinterest for Instagram” as the most interesting example. From there, the conversation turned into a challenge, and the two started working on the idea to see what would come of it.
The desktop app took a mere weekend to build. Shunning trends, the developers haven’t yet released an iPhone app, with Pongpaet telling Mashable: “If people are already using Instagram on their iPhones, it would be duplicating Instagram’s effort. We’ll never be a better Instagram than Instagram.” Instead, they are focusing their efforts on filling gaps Instagram has left.
With the release of the iPad 3, and an opportunity to make the most of its new retina display, the Pinstagram iPad app was the next logical step. Pinstagram for iPad is optimized for use with iPad 3s, and provides a more user-friendly photo browsing experience (including a full-screen mode) without sacrificing any of Instagram’s features. Pinstagram isn’t the first Instagram mash-up app, but the desktop app’s success demonstrates how, although the popularity of mobile browsing has soared, many people are still using their computers to visit websites. Apps like Instagram might be forward-thinking, however with websites that are designed for mobile use, they leave desktop users unable to make the most of what they could offer.
Instagram fans can still use Pinstagram to like, comment on and share photos using Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. You can also search popular photos and keywords to see what other Instagrammers are posting.
The app is available from the iTunes Store for free.
Hannah is a freelance writer from London, UK. Having completed a degree in English, she discovered a passion for all things digital, and enjoys nothing more than writing about online communication, marketing and anything Apple-related. When she's not researching the latest app releases or ogling new gadgets, Hannah enjoys writing about personal development, yoga, and exploring the world. | Google Plus
