Instagram just rolled out a pretty big update, the first since the Facebook acquisition, to the iOS version of the app. There were big changes to the explore tab and a revamped profile tab, but there was also one hidden shortcut in the app that is going to make a lot of lives easier.
I learned of the smooth trick from a Tumblr post by MG Siegler that pointed to a tweet from a lead Facebook designer, Keegan Jones. Here's the tweet:
Cool @instagram 2.5 trick: Long press on the camera button to access your camera roll.
-- Keegan Jones (@keeg) June 25, 2012
It's as simple as it sounds, but incredibly useful.
The next time you open Instagram on your iPhone to post a photo from your Camera Roll, instead of waiting for the camera to load, then navigating to your photos; simply press and hold on the camera icon. After a few seconds your Camera Roll will appear and you can finish posting form there. It saves you a few seconds and makes for a better experience. Unfortunately, Android users, it looks like you're left out on this one.