Roger Fingas
Developers can now request access to an early version of Apple's Shortcuts app, which lets iOS 12 owners create custom automations triggered through Siri.
Access is restricted to developers only, and people accepted for testing must install the app through TestFlight. In release notes, Apple cautions that "limited actions" are currently available, and won't sync via iCloud.
In fact the Shortcuts beta has several known issues, others being that some actions won't appear when running custom shortcuts in Siri, and it can't yet open apps when a device is locked. Apple also notes that shortcuts provided to the INVoiceShortcutCenter suggested shortcuts API are not available when viewing an app's actions in Shortcuts.
Apple issued a second public beta of iOS 12 earlier on Thursday.
The promise of Shortcuts is the expansion of automation beyond HomeKit to every aspect of iOS, so long as developers enable hooks in their own titles. During Apple's WWDC keynote in June, the company used the example of a custom "I'm heading home" phrase for Siri, which automatically texted a contact with a preset message, adjusted a HomeKit thermostat, turned on a fan, presented estimated travel time, and started playing NPR. In iOS 11, this would require several separate commands.
The concept is similar to the skills and routines baked into Amazon's Alexa. To develop its own equivalent Apple bought out Workflow, which allows automations akin to Shortcuts but more limited.
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14 Comments
Really did not like Workflow and deleted it very shortly after installing. Wonder if Shortcuts will be the magic bullet people have been looking for, or if it's basically wallpaper to cover Siri's flaws.
It's question to find usable workflows and ability to change habit hos you use phone and do things.
Inwiking complicated or simple command with Surinis big bonus. Sometimes doing things with workflow was not faster than doing it old way. And you have to remember you can do it new way.
It tooks me time before I found workflows that realy saved me time.
Like one that trigger google reverse image search right from photos or pic preview or I made simple workflow containing share action that allows me to share pic from Viber directly to pics on iCloud. Something that is not possible directly from this chat app. Expect it can do similar to other apps.
Shorcuts will be as useful as we made them ourselves.
Federico Viticci is going nuts over this on social media. But then he is a heavy workflow/scripting user. I can’t see how the average iOS user is going to understand or want to spend the time creating workflows. Developers seem to be all over this but part of me wonders is this Apple just outsourcing making Siri better to users? Of course no one is forced to use it but if no one other than tech nerds who listen to ATP or Connected podcast use it what good will it be? Hopefully Apple will have a bunch of pre-built workflows that can be easily customized. Or at some point there is a workflow store similar to the Amazon skill store.
