Facebook has just released Instagram Lite. It’s a stripped-down version of the image-sharing platform designed for users in emerging markets. It’s developed by Facebook’s team in Tel Aviv, which is also the birthplace of Messenger Lite and Facebook Lite. The package size of the app is only 2 MB.

The team that designed Instagram Lite said that the focus with this application, just like their other launches, was on users whose smartphones lack processing power, reliable data, and of course, storage capacity. To reach this size, the app focuses on images, messaging, and video, ditching other features and flourishes that fade into the background on the full-fat version of the app.

Some Features Are Removed

The app still has the main feed, as well as the ephemeral messaging feature cribbed from Snapchat – Stories, but not Shopping or IG Live. Gal Zellermayer, who is the engineering manager, said that as well as live filters and other AR effects that are unable to work on low-power devices, animations have been edited down. He cited the example of the cube animation that’s seen when swiping between Stories on different users, a very data- and processor-intensive transition that didn’t work well on older devices, which had been removed. He also added that a lot of extra compression work was handled on the server aside to relieve the burden of the device itself.

Instagram Lite Is Space-Efficient and Fun!

Product manager Michelle Lourie explained that there were a number of additional UI tweaks to meet the needs of “new digital users.” This included removing the trash can that represents a Delete icon, in favor of a simple X, which testers found made more sense. In addition, Lourie said that Stickers and GIFs remain part of the app because, unlike AR filters, they were space-efficient while remaining fun. She also said that the team was currently working on Dark Mode – a feature that countless users were requesting long before Instagram Lite was released.

The iPad app Notability has long been a favorite for those who prefer digital handwritten notes over rushed typing. Bringing amazing news, the app has most recently been made free to download! So now, anybody can download the app for free and use it. Some additional costs will require if only any user wants to unlock the app’s full range of features.

The App

The fan-favorite app Notability has been used for taking handwritten notes on an iPad screen, preferably with an Apple pencil. It includes amazing features like an array of paper formats, vast collections of brush stroke styles, and an audio recording. This killer audio recording feature is highly useful for interviews and lectures where listening and writing are simultaneous. Through this feature, the recordings and written notes get synchronized. The user can tap on the end portion of the note and hear the audio from that exact moment further on. The app is also available for Macs and iPhones, where it mostly helps in reviewing and correcting existing notes.

The Change

The app was on market for the last 11 years at an up-front price of $9. Currently, Notability’s developer Ginger Labs has upgraded the model, making the app free to download. Though, unlocking all the features will cost an additional subscription charge of $15 per year. For now, the yearly subscription is only $12 for a limited period. The users who won’t opt for a full subscription will have some restrictions in using the app. There will be limited numbers of times they will be able to edit a note, and limited numbers of brushes to save as favorites. Also, after the free time ends, the non-paying users will no longer be syncing their notes automatically to iCloud or any other online storage services. This next-gen model of Notability aims to include more users without the hassle of an initial prepaid subscription.