Pixifly is like a time machine for Instagram users

By AJ Dellinger April 13, 2014

pixifly like time machine instagram users screen shot 2014 04 11 at 9 41 44 am — Image used with permission by copyright holder

As you’re reading this, thousands of photos are being added to Instagram. Those photos don’t just occupy the newsfeed of followers. They also color in the lines of a map and timeline, which you can access with Pixifly. This new iOS app serves as a new way to search Instagram, opting to allow users to look for photos by place or time rather than hashtags.

Pixifly puts to use the extra data that accompanies photos to make Instagram shots more searchable and the world more explorable. It’s like having an Instagram time machine. You can travel to any place at any time (OK, any time since the creation of Instagram). Users can type in a physical address or a location name to see photos attributed to those locales. Adding a day or time can make the search even more specific.

We immediately thought this would be a great way to check out pictures from past shows at a music venue or browse photos of food at a restaurant before deciding to eat there. In a crowded downtown area, one could just take a look at photos nearby to see what’s happening and what looks like fun. The map is browsable and interactive so it’s easy to navigate around and check out photos from all over.

Given the fact that users can type in an address, there is some concern in terms of privacy. Odds are you aren’t taking too many embarrassing photos at home and posting them to Instagram, but there is still something a little creepy about knowing someone could type in your address and see all the photos you’ve snapped from home.

Pixifly is available for iOS devices for free. An Instagram account is required to use the service, and Pixifly allows users to like and interact with photos as they would through Instagram. Download it and give it a try, just please don’t be a weirdo about it.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…

Mobile

The 10 best photo editing apps for Android and iOS in 2024

A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and Google Pixel 8 Pro Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Smartphones tend to have pretty good camera systems these days, whether you're talking about the very latest Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 14. But even the perfect photo can sometimes need a little additional pizazz. A little extra sparkle can come in the form of a simple color filter, artificially added background blur, or can extend as far as diving into an image's levels and other advanced features. Heck, now that we're in the AI era, it can also include using a tool to transpose yourself into a medieval setting or swapping a face with a friend.

Mobile

This one thing could make iOS 18 the best iPhone update in years

The Home Screen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple’s WWDC 2024 is just a couple of months away. As with every WWDC, we’ll see what Apple has in store for the next generation of software across its hardware portfolio, including the iPhone with iOS 18.

Rumors have been swirling about iOS 18 and how it will be “one of the biggest updates yet.” We know some features like RCS support in Messages are definitely coming, with other whispers of big home screen customization changes and more.

Mobile

How to add a different home screen wallpaper on iOS 17

An iPhone with iOS 16, showing the new Lock Screen.

If you haven't used an iPhone in a while, or if you haven't tried to update your lock screen, they you might be happy to learn about some of the new customization features that are available in iOS 17. Although iOS has made some controversial changes to its UI, such as moving the notifications to the bottom of the lock screen, they are also more welcome changes to the customization options for the lock screen.

Introduced in iOS 16 was a slew of lock screen customization features to let you tweak your phone's lock screen to your liking, and these same features are available in iOS 17 as well. While the lock screen used to be just a static image, you can now make it more dynamic with options like cycling through collections of your photos, so you can show off your favorite photos of your pets, your family, or beautiful locations that you've visited.