iOS 12 brings with it the secret best part of the update: SHORTCUTS!
WHAT IS SHORTCUTS?
Anyone remember that Workflow app? Well back in March 2017 Apple bought it, and at WWDC 2018 detailed how they were integrating it into the system. The result is the Shortcuts app, allowing you to make powerful automation features right in the comfort of your own iOS device!*
To summarize succinctly, Shortcuts is an app that allows you to combine actions from one or more apps into a "workflow" (hence the original app name) to be completed kind of like a program. You chain actions, inputs and outputs, into desired results. There are system apps and third party apps, and it seems like more apps are becoming actionable through updates every day.
There are actually two different kinds of Shortcuts: ones delivered by the system (determined by Machine Learning(tm) that you don't actually need the Shortcuts app for), and ones that users create themselves to create simple or complex actions to do all sorts of stuff. Everyone gets the first, the second...
*iOS 12 or later required offer void where prohibited
Here's the video from WWDC where they demo some stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UThGcWBIMpU&t=31m40s
WHERE CAN I GET IT?
If you already had the Workflow app downloaded, updating to iOS 12 will prompt an app update from the App Store magically transforming it into the Shortcuts app. For everyone else, it's a free download from the App Store!
Download here!
HOW DO I ACTIVATE SHORTCUTS?
There are actually SIX different ways! Note: with the Siri option you can give it whatever activation phrase you want.
From the Shortcuts app itself
THROUGH SIRI
FROM THE WIDGET
FROM THE SHARE SHEET
WHEN OFFERED BY THE SYSTEM
THROUGH SEARCH
HOW DO I MAKE MY OWN MY OWN?
The Shortcuts app comes with an entire editor for system functions AND third party app functions (once those apps have been updated). Think of it a lot like programming: a series of actions to create a desired outcome. You can even get pretty program-y with it, with assigning variables and whatnot. You can even run Shortcuts inside other shortcuts for you Inception fans out there.
Honestly the act of making Shortcuts is kind of a big topic, so this thread will be great to discuss it, however there are also two resources you should absolutely tap into:
THE OFFICIAL SHORTCUTS USER GUIDE FROM APPLE
FEDERICO VITICCI'S IOS 12 REVIEW: SHORTCUTS SECTION
Viticci writes the definitive iOS review every year, but he's also one of the top Workflow/Shortcuts users in the world, and his review is exquisite.
Also helpful are the subreddits, great for ideas or to ask questions.
Workflow
Shortcuts
Siri Shortcuts
The last two are competing, with "shortcuts" being bigger but both having a solid subscriber base.
HOW DO I SHARE MY MASTERPIECES WITH OTHERS?
Of course what good is making the best Shortcut in the world if you can't share it with others? There are a few ways to accomplish this:
1. Each Shortcut can make a shareable iCloud link that others can download and use/modify. For example, here's the one I used to get all these screenshots in here: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/086459f980844520af41925d0137ba42
2. The Shortcuts app comes with a Gallery where you can download some curated options, and tweak them as needed. It's also a great place to get ideas!
3. As time goes on various websites will pop up offering Shortcuts to download, but for now the main one is https://sharecuts.app/ Currently curated by Viticci and Guilherme Rambo and other Apple folks on Twitter.
CREDITS
Images shamelessly stolen from the Apple Shortcuts User Guide and Viticci's iOS 12 review. I am FAR from a pro with this app but I'm working hard to get better, and hopefully this thread will serve as a springboard for other people!
I highly, HIGHLY recommend people read or at least skim both those resources, they're full of information that will only help.
EXAMPLE SHORTCUTS
Comprehensive example Shortcut for those that want to see what is possible and what you can chain together:
Pulled over by the cops: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/8ebe3d63d3c34d04be04fb7b3f1e72e6
Pause your music, lower screen brightness, text someone that you got pulled over, sends current location, opens the front camera and records, then when you stop it it saves to the camera roll and auto sends it to someone else. All texting is done in the background with no confirmation needed.
WHAT IS SHORTCUTS?
Anyone remember that Workflow app? Well back in March 2017 Apple bought it, and at WWDC 2018 detailed how they were integrating it into the system. The result is the Shortcuts app, allowing you to make powerful automation features right in the comfort of your own iOS device!*
To summarize succinctly, Shortcuts is an app that allows you to combine actions from one or more apps into a "workflow" (hence the original app name) to be completed kind of like a program. You chain actions, inputs and outputs, into desired results. There are system apps and third party apps, and it seems like more apps are becoming actionable through updates every day.
There are actually two different kinds of Shortcuts: ones delivered by the system (determined by Machine Learning(tm) that you don't actually need the Shortcuts app for), and ones that users create themselves to create simple or complex actions to do all sorts of stuff. Everyone gets the first, the second...
*iOS 12 or later required offer void where prohibited
Here's the video from WWDC where they demo some stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UThGcWBIMpU&t=31m40s
WHERE CAN I GET IT?
If you already had the Workflow app downloaded, updating to iOS 12 will prompt an app update from the App Store magically transforming it into the Shortcuts app. For everyone else, it's a free download from the App Store!
Download here!
HOW DO I ACTIVATE SHORTCUTS?
There are actually SIX different ways! Note: with the Siri option you can give it whatever activation phrase you want.
From the Shortcuts app itself
THROUGH SIRI
FROM THE WIDGET
FROM THE SHARE SHEET
WHEN OFFERED BY THE SYSTEM
THROUGH SEARCH
HOW DO I MAKE MY OWN MY OWN?
The Shortcuts app comes with an entire editor for system functions AND third party app functions (once those apps have been updated). Think of it a lot like programming: a series of actions to create a desired outcome. You can even get pretty program-y with it, with assigning variables and whatnot. You can even run Shortcuts inside other shortcuts for you Inception fans out there.
Honestly the act of making Shortcuts is kind of a big topic, so this thread will be great to discuss it, however there are also two resources you should absolutely tap into:
THE OFFICIAL SHORTCUTS USER GUIDE FROM APPLE
FEDERICO VITICCI'S IOS 12 REVIEW: SHORTCUTS SECTION
Viticci writes the definitive iOS review every year, but he's also one of the top Workflow/Shortcuts users in the world, and his review is exquisite.
Also helpful are the subreddits, great for ideas or to ask questions.
Workflow
Shortcuts
Siri Shortcuts
The last two are competing, with "shortcuts" being bigger but both having a solid subscriber base.
HOW DO I SHARE MY MASTERPIECES WITH OTHERS?
Of course what good is making the best Shortcut in the world if you can't share it with others? There are a few ways to accomplish this:
1. Each Shortcut can make a shareable iCloud link that others can download and use/modify. For example, here's the one I used to get all these screenshots in here: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/086459f980844520af41925d0137ba42
2. The Shortcuts app comes with a Gallery where you can download some curated options, and tweak them as needed. It's also a great place to get ideas!
3. As time goes on various websites will pop up offering Shortcuts to download, but for now the main one is https://sharecuts.app/ Currently curated by Viticci and Guilherme Rambo and other Apple folks on Twitter.
CREDITS
Images shamelessly stolen from the Apple Shortcuts User Guide and Viticci's iOS 12 review. I am FAR from a pro with this app but I'm working hard to get better, and hopefully this thread will serve as a springboard for other people!
I highly, HIGHLY recommend people read or at least skim both those resources, they're full of information that will only help.
EXAMPLE SHORTCUTS
Comprehensive example Shortcut for those that want to see what is possible and what you can chain together:
Pulled over by the cops: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/8ebe3d63d3c34d04be04fb7b3f1e72e6
Pause your music, lower screen brightness, text someone that you got pulled over, sends current location, opens the front camera and records, then when you stop it it saves to the camera roll and auto sends it to someone else. All texting is done in the background with no confirmation needed.
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