AppShopper

While some things seem to slow down just before the holidays, app developers are apparently an exception if the number of major updates this week are any indication. While all of these apps are free and therefore pose no risk to your wallet, I still wanted to highlight them in case you’re considering a paid alternative that may be less functional comparatively after these updates.

Instagram, the popular photo sharing service, has updated its iPhone app with a new camera interface, the addition of a new filter, Willow, and Foursquare integration. In related news, Instagram removed support for Twitter cards, a feature that allowed Twitter’s own official apps to show thumbnail views of users’ Instagram photos within timelines, from its service. If you’re using a third-party client like Tweetbot this change doesn’t affect you. Yet, at least.

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  Photography
  

  Instagram

  Last Changed:

  3 weeks ago

  Rating:

  4.50 (57581)

  Version:

  3.5.1

  iOS iPhone

  Instagram Over 100 million users love Instagram! It's a free, fun, and simple way to make and share gorgeous photos on your iPhone. Pick from one of several gorgeous filtered effects or tilt-shift...

Speaking of the official Twitter apps, Twitter’s iPhone and iPad app also got an update this week, adding features that put it in competition with Instagram when it comes to pictures: filters and basic photo editing tools.

Twitter notes Instagram’s removal of support for Twitter cards in the text describing what’s new in version 5.2:

We understand that you are experiencing issues with viewing Instagram photos on Twitter. Instagram has decided to disable its integration with Twitter and as a result, photos are no longer appearing in Tweets or user photo galleries. While tweeting links to Instagram photos is still possible, you can no longer view the photos on Twitter, as was previously the case.

Why do I feel like I need some popcorn before seeing what happens next between Twitter and Instagram?

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  Social Networking
  

  Twitter

  Last Changed:

  3 weeks ago

  Rating:

  4.50 (3442)

  Version:

  5.6.1

  iOS Universal

  With Twitter, you can watch the world unfold like never before. • Get real-time stories, pictures, videos, conversations, ideas, and inspiration all in your timeline. • Follow people and your...

The iPhone app for Flickr, the Yahoo-owned photo sharing site, got an update giving it a new interface and – drum roll, please – filters! And, Yahoo also released a brand new iPhone app for its free email service. Yahoo! Mail hit the App Store yesterday and requires iOS 6 or later.

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  Photography
  

  Flickr

  Last Changed:

  3 days ago

  Rating:

  4.00 (127)

  Version:

  2.11.858

  iOS iPhone

  Get the power of the world’s largest photo-sharing site in the palm of your hand! ★ "It’s the best mobile photo app out there" - Forbes ★ ★ "The new Flickr...

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  Productivity
  

  Yahoo! Mail

  Last Changed:

  1 week ago

  Rating:

  3.50 (336)

  Version:

  1.5.3

  iOS Universal

  Yahoo! Mail, now available for your iPhone and iPad! With an easy to use interface, this app lets you:   Stay connected • Access your inbox in just one tap • Receive automatic notifications...

All right, enough about filters. Apple updated its Find My iPhone app to offer driving directions to help you get to that lost iOS device. While you may or may not have confidence in the map data, they should at least point you in the correct general direction. You’ll need to be running iOS 6 to get these directions, by the way.

If you don’t already have Find My iPhone, I’d definitely recommend that you download this free app and enable all of your iOS devices to use it. Here are Apple’s instructions on how to set it up. I’ve read several stories detailing how users found their lost or stolen iPhones or iPads with this app and service and while I don’t recommend that you attempt anything dangerous like trying to take your device back from a thief, it can be incredibly useful in any situation when your shiny bundle of Apple joy goes missing.

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  Utilities
  

  Find My iPhone

  Last Changed:

  9 weeks ago

  Rating:

  4.00 (868)

  Version:

  2.0.2

  iOS Universal

  If you misplace your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, the Find My iPhone app will let you use another iOS device to find it and protect your data. Simply install this free app on another iOS device,...