Windows Phone users have been left out of all the Instagram fun for quite some time, but now the photo-sharing app is making its way to Microsoft-powered smartphones.
Well, sort of — it’s not an official version from Instagram, which is owned by Facebook. And you might not want to download it just yet.
A French developer has created an Instagram app called 6tag, which includes most of Instagram’s features, filters and sharing capabilities to Facebook, Twitter and so on. The free third-party app sounds like a sweet deal for Windows Phone users itching for Instagram, but according to Windows Phone developer Travis La Marr — and as posted to WithinWindows.com and spotted by The Verge — some major privacy concerns exist within the app. (Not to mention the chance that Facebook could pull integration at anytime.)
[related-posts]
WithinWindows.com notes 6tag seems to be keeping a copy of public and private videos on its servers and doesn’t encrypt data; it reportedly sends details such as a username and authentication tokens with uploaded content to its servers in France. The app also doesn’t list a privacy policy, which typically reveals how data is uploaded and protected. This is in violation of Windows Phone App Certification Policy 2.8.
6tag has not yet responded to a request for comment.
6tag isn’t the only Instagram client for Windows Phone. Another app, dubbed Instance is also available for Windows Phone devices. It allows users to upload photos to Instagram and has a collection of filters. It also supports pinning users and hashtags to the Windows home screen. In our experience, Instance has remained a fairly stable app on a variety of Windows Phone devices.
Although Microsoft has reportedly already created an Instagram app for Windows Phone, it’s unknown when — or if — it will officially be approved by Facebook.
Credit: Mashable
