Instagram has slightly reworked comments and "likes" in version 1.8, which was released on Thursday. Now users can double tap photos to "like" them, and should they do so, a white heart icon will briefly appear over the photo in question.
The application now includes an interactive comment screen that co-founder Kevin Systrom believes will make in-app comments on photos more akin to the iPhone's native SMS experience. The enhanced comment screen also lets users swipe left or right to delete comments on their photos.
"[The interactive comment screen] makes it easier to see the whole conversation at once," Systrom says. "You can more easily reply to specific people and remove comments you've made or comments on your pictures."
As Systrom indicates, user replies have been improved in the release. Now, when a user wishes to reply to another user in the comments, he or she can type the "@" symbol and the first few letters of the username, and the application will autocomplete the name.
While Thursday's app updates are relatively minor, they are characteristically Instagram in nature -- simple and elegant -- and it's the startup's attention to detail that has helped it continue to attract new users.