Apple Releases iOS 12 Shortcuts App for All Users, Update Replaces Workflow

[MacRumors]

Alongside the release of iOS 12, watchOS 5, and tvOS 12, Apple today officially launched the Shortcuts app for iOS devices.

On iPhones and iPads running iOS 12, the Shortcuts app can be used to create multi-step shortcuts using first and third-party apps that can be activated by Siri voice command.

So, for example, you can create a shortcut to do something like turn on the thermostat at home using the Nest app, text your roommate that you're on the way with Messages, and open up the Maps app with directions home all with a single "I'm going home" Siri command.

Shortcuts are deeply customizable, with third-party apps able to expose a series of quick actions to Siri that can be incorporated into your Shortcuts recipes. Starting today, thousands of apps are releasing updates with Siri Shortcuts support, giving us our first real look at all of the things that shortcuts can do. Apple's release notes for the Shortcuts app are below:

Siri Shortcuts deliver a quick way to get things done with your apps with just a tap or by asking Siri. The Shortcuts app enables you to create personal shortcuts with multiple steps from your favorite apps. Start from hundreds of examples in the Gallery or drag and drop to create your own.

Shortcuts includes over 300 built-in actions and works with many of your favorite apps including Contacts, Calendar, Maps, Music, Photos, Camera, Reminders, Safari, Health as well as any app that supports Siri Shortcuts.

Use the Shortcuts app to:
- Get directions home, send your ETA and start listening to the news, just by asking Siri
- Add a home screen icon that calls a loved one
- Make animated GIFs
- Make PDFs from Safari or any app with a share sheet
- Get directions to the nearest coffee shop in one tap
- Tweet the song you're listening to
- Get all of the images on a web page
- Send a message including the last screenshot you took
- And so much more...

Shortcuts can be launched from the Today widget, from Search or by asking Siri. You can even add an app icon to your home screen for your favorite Shortcuts.

Shortcuts opens up incredible possibilities to automate things you do regularly on your iPhone and iPad.

The new Shortcuts app was based on the Workflow app that Apple acquired last year, and the Workflow app been replaced with Shortcuts. Shortcuts can be downloaded from the App Store for free starting now. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Apple Releases iOS 12 Shortcuts App for All Users, Update Replaces Workflow

 

[macduke]

Things 3 was just updated to support it. I think I can completely stop using the built-in Reminders app now!

 

[motm95]

I know the quote says "Siri Shortcuts deliver a quick way to get things done with your apps with just a tap or by asking Siri..." but wanted to ask the collective: having not tried the beta, does Shortcuts /require/ the use of Siri? I really don't like talking to my phone and much prefer the tap interface of Workflow.

Also, I have lots of custom Workflows. Will they import into Shortcuts? Seems like Shortcuts is pretty basic compared to Workflow. Any way to keep Workflow too?

 

[William Gates]

So I'm trying to figure out what exactly I can and can't do with this. Can anybody help? I'd like to set the following up:

When I connect to my vehicle bluetooth in the morning I'd like it to close my garage (I do have a HomeKit enabled garage door), get traffic info to my child's daycare and work, and start playing music. Is this possible?

 

[tzm41]

I know the quote says "Siri Shortcuts deliver a quick way to get things done with your apps with just a tap or by asking Siri..." but wanted to ask the collective: having not tried the beta, does Shortcuts /require/ the use of Siri? I really don't like talking to my phone and much prefer the tap interface of Workflow.

Yeah you can still use the same interactions as Workflow.

 

[dannyyankou]

I wonder if Amazon will update the Alexa app with Shortcuts support, that would be handy.

 

[gavroche]

So I'm trying to figure out what exactly I can and can't do with this. Can anybody help? I'd like to set the following up:

When I connect to my vehicle bluetooth in the morning I'd like it to close my garage (I do have a HomeKit enabled garage door), get traffic info to my child's daycare and work, and start playing music. Is this possible?

Your helicopter has a garage.. and has to worry about traffic?

 

[William Gates]

You wouldn't believe how much Paul Allen and Bezos clog up the skyway.

 

[al256]

Updated the app but my hopes for using this with NFC tags has been dashed.

 

[Dormammu]

Not showing in the App Store for me.

Edit: Nvm

 

[Johnnyhandsome]

Alongside the release of iOS 12, watchOS 5, and tvOS 12, Apple today officially launched the Shortcuts app for iOS devices.

On iPhones and iPads running iOS 12, the Shortcuts app can be used to create multi-step shortcuts using first and third-party apps that can be activated by Siri voice command.

So, for example, you can create a shortcut to do something like turn on the thermostat at home using the Nest app, text your roommate that you're on the way with Messages, and open up the Maps app with directions home all with a single "I'm going home" Siri command.

Shortcuts are deeply customizable, with third-party apps able to expose a series of quick actions to Siri that can be incorporated into your Shortcuts recipes. Starting today, thousands of apps are releasing updates with Siri Shortcuts support, giving us our first real look at all of the things that shortcuts can do. Apple's release notes for the Shortcuts app are below:The new Shortcuts app was based on the Workflow app that Apple acquired last year, and the Workflow app been replaced with Shortcuts. Shortcuts can be downloaded from the App Store for free starting now. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Apple Releases iOS 12 Shortcuts App for All Users, Update Replaces Workflow

[doublepost=1537206624][/doublepost]Looks very Windows 10 esque.

 

[benshive]

Not showing in the App Store for me.

Edit: Nvm

I had to search for "Workflow" in the App Store and it showed up as Shortcuts. If I searched for "Shortcuts" it didn't show up.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Same build as the GM, right?

 

[thewebb]

If you can't find it in the App Store search "Shortcuts Apple" or "workflow"

 

[Dormammu]

I had to search for "Workflow" in the App Store and it showed up as Shortcuts. If I searched for "Shortcuts" it didn't show up.

Yup that’s what I did too.

 

[macduke]

How do I get Siri to take input for Things? I created a shortcut to add something to my home list, and when I use Siri with it, it just opens up the app with a text box to type something in, or if I create the same shortcut in Things, it automatically opens up Things with a prompt to create the shortcut. But I want to use my voice. When I try to say "Add to my list clean the gutters", for instance, it adds it to my reminders app. Is it too similar to what the reminders app uses? This is quite confusing.

EDIT: I think I've figured it out. Basically I think my query was too similar to a built-in system item. I also specified that this particular phrase add to my home list, so I'm not sure yet if it would automatically pick up on which list if you didn't specify.

 

[unobtainium]

Can you disable auto-brightness using Shortcuts? I want to create a “driving mode” that automatically disables auto-brightness, launches Google Maps, turns the volume up etc.

 

[Applefanben]

Anyone have a good resource on how to use the app? Or where to get pre-made shortcuts? Seems like a lot of tedious work to get it to flow properly.

Not much of a "it just works" mindset, imho. But I am just now looking at the app for the first time.

 

[Peepo]

I would like to tell Siri to start my truck so I don’t have to go in the app. Hope Ford makes happen.

 

[springsup]

Wow, this is a pretty sloppy re-skin of the old Workflow app. It doesn't feel like a first-party App at all.

• It's full of shortcuts for Apps I don't have, which hide shortcuts for Apps I do have.
  (e.g. Fantastical, Omnifocus, Instapaper, Evernote - I don't use any of them).
• Above also means some workflows are extremely suboptimal, e.g. "Browse favourite subreddits" opens in Safari, not the Reddit App.
• The "News" workflows do not support Apple News, instead use menus of RSS feeds.
• Apple Music genre playlists workflow is just menu of hard-coded web links, so you can't integrate with other actions.
• Some workflows duplicate existing in-app functionality (e.g. Apple Music > "Duplicate Playlist").
• Running a shortcut switches you out of the App you're using, e.g. GIPHY search.

Workflow was always a relatively well-made App, but you expect more from an official Apple app. You expect thorough integration with the other first-party Apps already on the device, as well as other Apple services.

I expected an awful lot more from one of the headline features of iOS 12.

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

I'm generally a power user but this app is so convoluted. I never used workflow for the same reason.

 

[mdorais]

"So, for example, you can create a shortcut to do something like turn on the thermostat at home using the Nest app"

This is literally something I'd love to set up a shortcut for as I own a Nest thermostat. I've been trying to do this in the app for 5 minutes. Either this is false advertising or not intuitive.

 

[JamesVSmith]

You forgot to add “make coffee” to your list

 

[MaxRulz]

This needs to be added to CarPlay. Selecting shortcuts would be great while driving and cut back on distracted driving.

 

[shanson27]

Restart the phone shortcut, any idea ?? Thanks