Spoke with the developer today, he said this is on their list of things to do but it requires them to integrate messages directly in the app as opposed to parsing it out like now.
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Launch Center Pro is a Speed Dial for Everything on the iPhone
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Spoke with the developer today, he said this is on their list of things to do but it requires them to integrate messages directly in the app as opposed to parsing it out like now.
I have no problem with this app existing, but it's utterly pointless. I've never been more than a few clicks or swipes away from reaching my destination on the iPhone. This idea that everything must be delivered at lightning speeds is a cultural thing that can really get out of hand, and this application is a good example of that. How fast is fast enough, is your time really that precious that everything must be automated? What's next, a tooth brush that applies it's own toothpaste in the morning when you wake up, and a shower that turns on automatically and sets the optimum temperature? I realize these comparisons might seem like a stretch, but it honestly seems like that's the direction we're headed in. Let's try not to become too dependent on technology, there's a fine line between productivity and just pure laziness.
I agree to that.
What are you going to do with your extra time saved? it's like those cars that acclerate in 2.3sec from 0-100km/h instead of 4.5sec -> what are you going to do with the extra 2.2 seconds?
We tend to spend so much time on our electronic devices, this is not going to improve the problem...my two cents.
Having bought the original version for $3 and now paid $3 for the pro version, i still cant see the benefit to this app when the majority of my apps are not supported. Is there a list of URL's you can add yourself?
I agree setting up shortcuts that actually benefit an iOS user is sort of a tough task because most of us are anal enough that we have our apps organized for the maximum ease of use anyways.
The difference between the two versions are not really worth the upgrade IMO
The thing is that we do spend too much time with our devices... so in my opinion, anything that lets me finish whatever I'm doing with my phone a bit faster and get back to real life is a win.
That said, I'm not sure that this particular app would realistically save me any time, though there are some other things that might.
maybe it needs to be in a new thread but i'd love to hear about what functions/shortcuts other users have created.
right now i'm trying to figure out some custom URL's like foursquare check in, facebook status update etc.
So far the only luck is entering them as web shortcuts, downside is you may need to keep entering your password. I did add google calendar new event, facebook post so far.
right now i'm trying to figure out some custom URL's like foursquare check in, facebook status update etc.
So far the only luck is entering them as web shortcuts, downside is you may need to keep entering your password. I did add google calendar new event, facebook post so far.
How is this really that different then a folder with my "most used apps" in it placed on my dock and or home screen?
That's not sarcasm, truly asking because I really don't get it.
That's not sarcasm, truly asking because I really don't get it.
I haven't bit on the 2.99 price tag yet. (I write this as I drink my 5 dollar latte) I would like to see something more in the terms of SBSettings. The only main thing that is a pain is going to home screen and clicking the "Settings" app and then go into a specific setting (sometimes buried in other menus) and adjusting them that way.
Come on Apple.
As for opening up certain apps and do certain functions in them hasn't been that big of a hassle for me.
Come on Apple.
As for opening up certain apps and do certain functions in them hasn't been that big of a hassle for me.
I just wasted 2.99 on this...
So let's take instagram:
This app takes me straight to the camera, but it takes 2 taps 1) to launch the app, then other to launch Instgram
If I go to instagram directly:
1) Launch Instagram 2) tap the camera icon.
So exactly what's the point of this?
So let's take instagram:
This app takes me straight to the camera, but it takes 2 taps 1) to launch the app, then other to launch Instgram
If I go to instagram directly:
1) Launch Instagram 2) tap the camera icon.
So exactly what's the point of this?
I have purchased the app last week and here is my answer.
From what I can see, Launch Center Pro is like having another Springboard within iOS Springboard. While the list of supported app isn't huge (about 80 including built-in apps) and list of actions even smaller (about 20), it does provide some compelling benefits for power users.
- Spring-loaded folder: Tap and hold a folder then dragging your finger to the app (or action) to launch. If you release your finger without selecting, the app will return to the main page.
- Launch Center Pro launches extremely fast. Well, the initial page is nothing but a cached image of a home page, so it merely gives you the impression of extremely fast app launch, but the lag is fairly minimal and the app feels very snappy.
- Lots of wasted screen area. iPhone home screen can hold 20 apps (4 by 5 grid). Launch Center Pro is mere 12 (3 by 4). Settings button opens nothing more than an about page.
- Shortcut actions for messages, email, and phone call are done very well. The app is worth it for this these shortcut actions, brightness toggle, and flashlight alone.
I agree with this assessment of LC Pro. As is, it's certainly worth the $2.99 I paid for it. With a few additions, some of which will require changes to iOS, it would be even more useful.
Beer Can BMW in your video....
I love the 24 Hours of Lemons beer can BMW in your video. I have raced against that car for the last two years at Summit Point. I love that you included it in your video.
I love the 24 Hours of Lemons beer can BMW in your video. I have raced against that car for the last two years at Summit Point. I love that you included it in your video.
You forgot the part where you have to flip through a dozen homescreen pages to find Instagram, presuming it hasn't gotten moved around by installing new apps. This app puts stuff in predictable places. You could probably launch your key apps without looking at the screen.
Apart from the fact that you can make shortcuts to call specific contacts, search certain apps, etc.
If all you care about quick launching is one or two apps, just put them on the dock, you don't need this app.
Few things... First, this has been the most bungled release of an app I have ever seen. I purchased the original app a few weeks before they announced this Pro version, and like many other users was miffed with the way developers were handling this upgrade, because let's face it that's what it is. It isn't a new app from the users point of view, it's the old app with icons instead of rows. There was then a series of blog posts that tried to fix the PR mess, and they just ended up causing a bigger one.
That said, I'm a fan of App Cubby, and I don't think there was any malicious intent here, I just think they put zero thought into the way they were going to release this upgrade, and were then left trying to dig themselves out of a hole... so I ended up upgrading anyway.
On to the usefulness of the app. The video really doesn't do justice to what the app is capable of. Here's a few things I have set up, to illustrate how I use it. I also think the name can confuse people, this app isn't just an extension of the dock so you can open up apps. Yes, it does that, but it's more about getting to specific actions and shortcuts to certain parts of apps faster.
Contacts Group - The video actually deals with this nicely. There aren't many times I'm in the Messages & Phone app when I'm not trying to send a text to a specific person or making a phone call. Keeping them in the dock, or outside of a folder on the home screen is, IMO, a waste of space. I've set up a Contacts group with a Dial Pad, New Message, and various Call Contact x, Text Contact x shortcuts. The way groups work is you tap and hold on the group in the main screen and swipe to the appropriate shortcut.
Movies - I'm a movie junkie, and there are various things I do on my phone on a regular basis involved in this. Three of the main ones are searching Roger Ebert's site (not for his "reviews" but for recommendations), Checking into Trakt (GetGlue like site dedicated to Movies & TV), and searching IMDb. So again, I created a Movies group. IMDb is a supported app, so that shortcut was straightforward, but Trakt & Ebert's site are not. This is where custome searches come in, you can add custom bookmarks, but automatically append text to them. For example:
- Go to Ebert's site, run a test search, and retrieve the URL for the results page, which is: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/section/bossv2?q=TEST
- Create a new Bookmark Shortcut, name it however you please, and add that URL minus the TEST part, then click the Input Prompt button, and select Keyboard.
- The result is when I swipe to the Search Ebert shortcut, I'm presented with a blank text box (the appended search URL is hidden) & keyboard within Launch Center Pro, I type my search, Safari launches and I'm given the results. This is much faster than launching Safari (I apologize if my impatience is ruining society), finding bookmark, clicking search field, etc. It also means I don't have to have an Ebert bookmark on my home screen or dock.
- I did the same with Trakt to make Check-Ins easier.
OmniFocus - I'm using the append text method I mentioned above to name common actions I add to OmniFocus. For example if someone suggests an album to listen to I have an Add Music action, which adds "Listen to " before anything I type. It's also a benefit to do it this way because you don't have to wait for OF to launch to enter your task, you enter the task in LCP, and just click save when OF gets around to opening.
Translations - A few people I follow on Twitter sometimes post tweets in French, I can simply copy the tweet from my Twitter app to the clipboard, jump to LCP, click my iTranslate action and iTranslate opens with a translation for whatever was in the clipboard.
I don't see this app as a major time saver, although not having to wait on apps to load before typing in my search is nice (I'd much rather the wait occur after I've typed my search), what it is a great utility for common tasks & a space saver. You don't have to keep apps your only using for searching specific things, like IMDb on your first homescreen. Apps like that can be shoved in a folder, and forgotten about. The action you want to complete is always readily available in your dock.
I'd be interested in finding out how others are using the app as well, because I've only started playing with it.
That said, I'm a fan of App Cubby, and I don't think there was any malicious intent here, I just think they put zero thought into the way they were going to release this upgrade, and were then left trying to dig themselves out of a hole... so I ended up upgrading anyway.
On to the usefulness of the app. The video really doesn't do justice to what the app is capable of. Here's a few things I have set up, to illustrate how I use it. I also think the name can confuse people, this app isn't just an extension of the dock so you can open up apps. Yes, it does that, but it's more about getting to specific actions and shortcuts to certain parts of apps faster.
Contacts Group - The video actually deals with this nicely. There aren't many times I'm in the Messages & Phone app when I'm not trying to send a text to a specific person or making a phone call. Keeping them in the dock, or outside of a folder on the home screen is, IMO, a waste of space. I've set up a Contacts group with a Dial Pad, New Message, and various Call Contact x, Text Contact x shortcuts. The way groups work is you tap and hold on the group in the main screen and swipe to the appropriate shortcut.
Movies - I'm a movie junkie, and there are various things I do on my phone on a regular basis involved in this. Three of the main ones are searching Roger Ebert's site (not for his "reviews" but for recommendations), Checking into Trakt (GetGlue like site dedicated to Movies & TV), and searching IMDb. So again, I created a Movies group. IMDb is a supported app, so that shortcut was straightforward, but Trakt & Ebert's site are not. This is where custome searches come in, you can add custom bookmarks, but automatically append text to them. For example:
- Go to Ebert's site, run a test search, and retrieve the URL for the results page, which is: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/section/bossv2?q=TEST
- Create a new Bookmark Shortcut, name it however you please, and add that URL minus the TEST part, then click the Input Prompt button, and select Keyboard.
- The result is when I swipe to the Search Ebert shortcut, I'm presented with a blank text box (the appended search URL is hidden) & keyboard within Launch Center Pro, I type my search, Safari launches and I'm given the results. This is much faster than launching Safari (I apologize if my impatience is ruining society), finding bookmark, clicking search field, etc. It also means I don't have to have an Ebert bookmark on my home screen or dock.
- I did the same with Trakt to make Check-Ins easier.
OmniFocus - I'm using the append text method I mentioned above to name common actions I add to OmniFocus. For example if someone suggests an album to listen to I have an Add Music action, which adds "Listen to " before anything I type. It's also a benefit to do it this way because you don't have to wait for OF to launch to enter your task, you enter the task in LCP, and just click save when OF gets around to opening.
Translations - A few people I follow on Twitter sometimes post tweets in French, I can simply copy the tweet from my Twitter app to the clipboard, jump to LCP, click my iTranslate action and iTranslate opens with a translation for whatever was in the clipboard.
I don't see this app as a major time saver, although not having to wait on apps to load before typing in my search is nice (I'd much rather the wait occur after I've typed my search), what it is a great utility for common tasks & a space saver. You don't have to keep apps your only using for searching specific things, like IMDb on your first homescreen. Apps like that can be shoved in a folder, and forgotten about. The action you want to complete is always readily available in your dock.
I'd be interested in finding out how others are using the app as well, because I've only started playing with it.
I'm always very careful about buying apps and so far, the handful of apps that I've payed for have been good purchases and I actually use them. Unfortunately this time I wasn't so careful. I saw the video they released and thought, "This is one of the dumbest app idea's I've ever seen." Then I started seeing people talk about it on the forum and other blogs and what not and for some reason that I still can't figure out, I decided to buy it. Now I'm kicking myself wondering what it was that made me pay three dollars for an app that slows you down. People keep putting up these long posts trying to explain how its useful buts its all BS imo. It's like paying 2.99 tap your screen more times than necessary.