Apple Updates Shortcuts App With New Weather, Alarm, Conversion and Photos Options

[MacRumors]

Apple today updated its Shortcuts app for iPhones and iPads to version 2.1, introducing new capabilities that can be used to create various automations and shortcuts using first and third-party apps.

The new 2.1 version of the app brings new options for creating weather and forecast shortcuts, setting alarms and timers, converting between units, and importing recent photos.

Apple's full release notes for the update are below:

- Use the latest weather in your shortcuts with the new Get Current Weather and Get Weather Forecast actions
- Set alarms and timers with the new Create Alarm, Toggle Alarm, and Start Timer actions
- Convert between a variety of units with the new Measurement and Convert Measurement actions
- Get the most recent set of imported photos from the Photos app using the Get Last Import action
- When running a shortcut from HomePod using Siri, media will now automatically play back from HomePod using AirPlay
- Bug fixes

Learn more and see the full list of changes at https://support.apple.com/HT209087.

Siri Shortcuts, introduced in iOS 12, is a feature designed to let you 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 and can be created and found through Apple's Shortcuts app, available from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Apple Updates Shortcuts App With New Weather, Alarm, Conversion and Photos Options

 

[Polaroid]

YAY playback on HomePod!

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I want to define triggers for shortcuts. Let me just assign a shortcut to automatically run during an event on the calendar, or on a timer, or when I connect to a bluetooth device, or when I enter or exit a location.

Being able to create these little scripts I can run manually is a neat first step, but triggers would take it from nifty to useful.

 

[Polaroid]

WHOAAAAA did my morning routine on HomePod (set lights to certain colour and play music) and lights didn't change but music played at 100 on HomePod, fml.

SO how do I get stir to read weather out to me, I have GET WEATHER but cant figure out how to get Siri to speak it...

 

[LarryNyquil]

> Toggle Alarm

THANK YOU

 

[subjonas]

Cool but I’m reallllly waiting for automatic triggers based on conditions (time, location, maybe even other things like weather, or third party app triggers) and more control over device settings. Not sure why you can’t already do things like turn on/off Do Not Disturb. Maybe security.

 

[Phogro]

YAY playback on HomePod!

Yes! Seriously this should have been in the initial release.

 

[McKodiak]

I've been toying around with Shortcuts and it seems powerful. It would be nice if there was a better way to share Shortcuts among users. The Gallery is nice but real users creating real shortcuts and being able to share them would be fruitful to other users.

 

[dbrewood]

I'm still hoping they'll bring back the AW application.

 

[nitramluap]

No HomeKit triggers still? Ugh...

 

[drinkingtea]

The “Toggle Alarm” Shortcut doesn’t appear to be working. It doesn’t toggle on the alarm when I select it.

 

[fanboi4lyfe]

They use the example of the Nest thermostat controlling in this article. Is there a way to do that through the shortcuts app?

 

[TonyC28]

They use the example of the Nest thermostat controlling in this article. Is there a way to do that through the shortcuts app?

I was wondering that myself. I didn’t think Nest added support for this yet.

 

[RomanEmpire]

I really want to use this app and the theoretical possibilities sound awesome.
however, it‘s just not straight forward accessible to me - I mean, how do I even set up to air play (2) from an app?

 

[viphoana]

You can share shortcuts already and there are dedicated user created resourses such as www.sharecuts.com

I've been toying around with Shortcuts and it seems powerful. It would be nice if there was a better way to share Shortcuts among users. The Gallery is nice but real users creating real shortcuts and being able to share them would be fruitful to other users.

[doublepost=1540981464][/doublepost]Since latest update I cannot run self-created shortcuts using siri. Very frustrating! Get error message "there was a problem with the app...

 

[Phogro]

I was wondering that myself. I didn’t think Nest added support for this yet.

MacRumors has been using Nest as an example of things you can do with Shortcuts since shortcuts was announced, but I don't think there's any official support for Nest. Probably should be clarified at some point....

 

[ignatius345]

I want to define triggers for shortcuts. Let me just assign a shortcut to automatically run during an event on the calendar, or on a timer, or when I connect to a bluetooth device, or when I enter or exit a location.

Seriously, how great would it be to have your phone go into Do Not Disturb during a certain calendar event or location! I hope they keep deepening this integration.

 

[TonyC28]

MacRumors has been using Nest as an example of things you can do with Shortcuts since shortcuts was announced, but I don't think there's any official support for Nest. Probably should be clarified at some point....

It would be a nice addition but I’d be surprised to see it happen.