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Browse Instagram on the Web
Tired of looking at photos on a tiny mobile screen instead of on your huge laptop or desktop screen? Take a look at Extragram's Web version of Instagram.
Instagram has set off a photo frenzy. First it was just on iPhones, but after making its way to Android, the photo obsession has really taken off (even in real life, since you can create photo strips from your snapshots). Unfortunately, most of your interaction with Instagram takes place on your mobile device. While the mobile user interface is slick and the app works pretty well, Instagram doesn't have its own Web UI (for now). So it can become a little annoying when all you want to do is see Instagram photos on a big screen.
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So if you're looking for the best way to browse your photostream online, Extragram's Web site is where you'll want to start. Not only does the site look classy, it has almost all of the features that Instagram does for photo viewing.
Note that you will not be able to share pictures from this Web interface on your Instagram account. This Web site is for the viewing and discovery of photos only.
Extragram's Web interface.
(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)The best thing about Extragram is the larger picture size. Instead of looking at a smaller, scrunched square for each picture, you'll see beautiful, large images that show a photo's details that can get lost on a smaller screen.
To get started, just sign in to Extragram with your Instagram account using the login link at the top of the page. By default, you'll land on the Popular tab, which will show all pictures that have accumulated a lot of Likes from other users. You'll also see tabs at the top right-hand side of the site for your personal Feed, Likes, Profile, Search, and Account settings.
Extragram's tabs.
(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)The Feed tab is for those you follow, Likes will show all photos for which you have clicked the heart icon, and Profile shows a stream of your own photos. If you're not sure what you want to look at, check out the Discover tab. This will allow you to see actors, music, fashion, sports, personalities, food, media, and other featured feeds.
If you'd like to share your photo feed with someone else on the Web, you can do so through the Settings area of the Extragram Web site. However, the other party may still need an Instagram account to view your photos depending on your privacy settings.
Overall, Extragram is a good way for using Instagram in your Web browser. The extra-large images and easy navigation give the mobile app a bit of competition -- though it would be even better if you could upload photos. You might also be interested in checking out Ed Rhee's coverage on the Instagram for Chrome extension.
