Instagram now lets you like, comment, and follow users from your desktop

Well, hello. If you pop over to Instagram today, you may notice something different: it’s just rolled out an update to its website which allows you to like and comment on pictures without using the app.

Previously, if you clicked on an instagr.am link from a desktop computer, you were taken to a web version of the image, where you could admire the shot, read some comments, and move on with your life. You weren’t given the option to like or comment on the image yourself — full functionality was reserved for their mobile-only app.

Introducing our new photo page! Follow, like and comment from your browser: instagram.com/p/MbwrDDhQSY/

— Instagram (@instagram) June 28, 2012

The updates to the web version aren’t complete — it only allows you to do basic things like follow the photographer, like and comment on the photo and update your profile. It’s currently a desktop-only update, but Instagram’s user interface designer Maykel Loomans hinted that further changes were in the works:

@_s42 Yeap. More soon. 🙂

— Maykel Loomans (@miekd) June 29, 2012

If you’re looking for the full Instagram experience in your browser, you’ll have to wait a bit longer: you can’t search for tags, navigate to profiles or see popular images from the web version. You can also only follow a new user if you click on a link for one of their images directly.

There’s not even a home screen with recent photos from the instagrammers you’re following, and there is no official word from Instagram as to when (or if) more advanced features will be available.

If you’re looking for that type of functionality outside of their Android and iOS apps, you’re still limited to registering with products like Pinstagram.