Instagram has become an outlet for a lot of creatives over the years. It’s evolved from a platform where we share mundane photos of food and moods to hyper-curated grids — until Instagram Stories was introduced, that is. If you’re one of those people who barely post anything other than stories, here are some easy and not-so-simple ways on how they can look better so you can tell your stories better:
Use the native camera app
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10’s wide angle camera, ultra-wide angle camera, and night mode
Most phones released in 2019 now have at least two different cameras — a combination of wide angle and telephoto, or wide angle and ultra-wide angle. Some even have up to three or four in total. Take advantage of these lenses by taking your photos on the native camera app instead of going straight to Instagram. By using an ultra-wide angle lens you can fit more in your shot without walking several steps backwards. If your phone has a built-in night mode, your low light shots will also turn out much better when you take them using the camera app instead of Instagram’s camera.
“Wrap” your caption around shapes
If your caption is a bit long, get creative by wrapping them around your subject’s shape. If you have a photo of food or coffee for example, you can type the letters one by one around the plate or cup.
Apply your video camera’s built-in filters
Smartphone cameras are getting more and more features each year. On the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 for example, there’s a feature called Live Focus Video where you get a TV glitch filter. This adds a retro, vaporwave aesthetic to your videos without having to install a third party app.
Add doodles
Make your subject pop by doodling around it. You can add dots, lines, hearts, stars, or broken lines around it — whatever you can think of! Doodles can also add a better narrative to your story than captions when Spider-Man appears out of nowhere for instance.
Animate your captions
By simply adding small GIFs like stars around your caption, or integrating word GIFs into your caption can make it look like it’s animated. If you have a Samsung Galaxy Note 10, you can also get animated handwriting with the S Pen using the phone’s native editor whether that’s on a photo or a video.
“Mask” your subject
Another way to make your subject stand out is by “masking” lines or handwriting behind it. Simply write over your subject using any of the pen shapes, then erase parts of the lines or handwriting to make it seem like it appears over and under the subject.
Mix fonts with your handwriting
Instagram’s font selection may be limited but doesn’t mean your imagination should be. Pick any font to write your caption with — ideally anything but Neon — then pick one word to replace with your handwriting. You can also play around with tracking by simply adding spaces in between letters.
The trick in making your Instagram Stories look better is to not overshare and not overdo any of the effects. Just because you can add GIFs doesn’t mean you should plaster the entire screen with them. While it should feel more raw than your posts, be more purposeful in what you share — always try tell a story whether you’re sharing a photo or a video. It’s called Instagram Stories for a reason.
How do you make your Stories different? Share your tips with us in the comments section below.
Apple announced that the App Store ecosystem generated US$ 1.1 trillion in developer billings and sales for the year 2022, as per a study from economists at Analysis Group.
More than 90 percent of these billings and sales were accrued solely to developers, without any commission paid to Apple.
According to economists from Analysis Group, developers generated:
- US$ 910 million from the sale of physical goods and services
- US$ 109 billion from in-app advertising
- US$ 104 million from digital goods and services
The Analysis Group’s study also mentioned that among the key drivers behind the App Store ecosystem’s growth are a rebounding demand for sectors like travel and ride-hailing, as well as advertising spend in social media and retail apps.
Moreover, developer billings and sales increased by 29% between 2021 and 2022, and 27% percent between both 2020 and 2021 and 2020 and 2019.
In particular, small developers found great success in the App Store, growing their revenue by 71% between 2020 and 2022.
The Apple Store’s engine of commerce includes Apple providing developers around the world a global distribution platform which supports:
- 195 local payment methods
- 44 currencies
- 175 storefronts
Strong growth across app categories
According to a new study from the Analysis Group’s economists titled “The Continued Growth and Resilience of Apple’s App Store Ecosystem,” sales from travel and ride-hailing made on iOS apps increased by 84% and 45%, respectively.
iOS app-based food delivery and pickup sales more than doubled too, while groceries more than tripled.
App Store turns 15
The encouraging numbers from the study coincide with the App Store’s 15th anniversary.
Overall, here are some interesting facts about the App Store’s 15-year existence:
- iOS developers have earned more than US$ 320 billion on the App Store (from 2008 to 2022)
- iOS users have downloaded app more than 370 billion times (from 2008 to 2022)
- The App Store has nearly 1.8 million apps to choose from, more than 123 times as many available during 2008
The App Store also remains a safe and trusted marketplace, thanks to its rigorous App Review process and privacy and security protections.
In 2022 alone, the App Store blocked more than US$ 2 billion in fraudulent transactions and rejected 1.7 million app submissions for failing to meet privacy, security, and quality standards.
Recent innovations like App Tracking Transparency and Privacy Nutrition Labels also empower users on how to operate
Though the platform works differently, Reddit is much like other social media platforms. For one, it relies on users signing up for the service to interact with one another through threads. However, Reddit is also similar by offering its API to third parties. If you’re not happy with using the original website or app, developers can create apps tailored to optimize the experience. Unfortunately, those might soon go away.
Recently, Reddit announced a round of changes coming to its API rules. Starting June 19, the platform will charge third parties for access to their API. In a nutshell, any developer who wants to continue offering a tailored Reddit experience must pay up to access the website.
According to the company, the changes are a result of emerging AI technologies which leverage Reddit for language learning. Naturally, the company isn’t happy with being used for free, resulting in a paid scheme coming soon.
Unfortunately, the pricing scheme isn’t affordable for smaller developers who just want to offer a cleaner experience of the website. Apollo, one of the most popular third-party alternatives to Reddit’s main app, recently announced that Reddit is charging US$ 20 million per year to keep the app running as is. Christian Selig, the app’s developer, confirms that the figure is just too much.
Other apps have not disclosed their discussions with the platform. However, their users have already lamented the impending doom of third-party apps and their involvement with the platform as a whole.
For their part, Reddit says that Selig’s figure only reflects a standard rate, rather than a specialized one as discussed with Apollo. The company remains adamant that it wants to be equitable and civil towards third-party apps.
SEE ALSO: Reddit acquires Dubsmash
If you’re wondering why MOVE IT is visible on the Grab app, it’s because the homegrown motorcycle ride-hailing app has undergone a massive overhaul.
Already a TNVS player in the Philippines before the COVID-19 pandemic, MOVE IT received support from Grab for a better overall experience.
The upgraded app has improved safety, reliability, and user experience. This includes a 99.95 percent uptime for seamless booking, especially during peak hours.
Coverage areas currently include the following cities:
- Paranaque
- Pasay
- Taguig
- Makati
- Pateros
- Pasig
- Mandaluyong
- Manila
- San Juan
- Southern Quezon City
- Marikina
The app also features a built-in calling feature, eliminating the need for messaging apps or mobile load to make calls.
Grab’s map and navigation data have also been integrated into the app. When in transit, MOVE IT has a Share-My-Ride feature, ensuring that loved ones are constantly updated about one’s trip.
As for payments, MOVE IT accepts cashless options, including credit and debit cards, with e-wallets soon to follow for further convenience.
MOVE IT is available to download via the App Store and Google Play.
Apple M2 Max MacBook Pro 16-inch Review: Four months later
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will debut a month early
Uniqlo unveils Dragon Ball UT Collection
Home away from home: Next-Gen Ford Everest makes long trips cozier
Sony Days of Play: Discounts on DualSense controllers, titles
-
Hands-On2 weeks agoFinal Cut Pro for iPad Hands-on: Game Changer!
-
Gaming2 weeks agoPlayStation working on more new franchises
-
Features1 week agoHow well do PlayStation games run on the ROG Ally?
-
Gaming2 weeks agoXbox counters PlayStation 5 exclusivity
-
Gaming2 weeks agoPlayStation Showcase: Spider-Man 2, Metal Gear Solid, more
-
Gaming2 weeks agoMarvel’s Spider-Man 2 shows 10 minutes of gameplay
-
Deals2 weeks agoSamsung Super Brand Day sale on Lazada: Up to 50% off
-
Gaming2 weeks agoPlayStation ‘Project Q’ handheld confirmed