Facebook iOS app updated with Instagram-like photo filters

Facebook has recently rolled out an update to its iOS app, and with it came a range of new features that made it easier to chat and share multiple photos, among other things. Facebook has provided a detailed changelog, and this helps users identify the new features they can expect with the update. Along with the update, Facebook has also thrown in various Instagram-like photo filters allowing a user to get creative with photographs before uploading it.

This year in April, Facebook bought Instagram in a high-profile acquisition for around $1 billion in cash and stock. It appears that Facebook is keeping Instagram as a standalone application, along with utilising its features in its dedicated iOS app. This would make it a lot easier and more importantly quicker for users to upload pictures on Facebook with filters instead of going through another app and uploading it from there.

This also gives users who do not have Instagram or any other photo editing app to get creative with images before uploading it to their Timeline or a photo album.

The What's New section does not show these photo filters being added

Apart from this hidden feature, the Facebook update also features options such as the ability to swipe left anywhere in the app to quickly see who's available and send a message, add friends you message most to the top of your Favorites, share multiple photos fast and When sending messages, see who's active so you and your friends know how soon to expect a reply.

Download the new update to Facebook here.

Over the last few days, there has been a lot of talk about Twitter adding photo filters to its mobile apps. It appears that Facebook has stolen the spotlight from it as it has already added this feature.

According to the New York Times, Twitter is planning to update its mobile apps to introduce filters – much like Instagram – and allow users to quickly click pictures, and share them over the microblogging website. Though it might seem unnecessary to introduce the Instagram-like feature to a wildly successful social networking website, it may help users share photos more easily without having to download an extra app.

In recent news, Facebook has been pushing to make its privacy settings easier to understand and use. According to an announcement by the social networking giant, those signing up for a new account on Facebook will be greeted by a detailed description of how the privacy settings work.

Through the new feature, users will learn about default settings, selecting an audience for information shared on Timeline, access to their data, how they interact with applications, games and websites, how ads work on the site, tagging people and things, and finding friends on Facebook through search and contact importers.