Siri Shortcuts Offer Scope for Limited Spotify Interactions in iOS 12

[MacRumors]

Last month, when we asked MacRumors readers what they hoped to see in iOS 12, one of the most frequent requests was improvements to Siri, specifically Spotify integration. Currently, Siri can open streaming media apps like Spotify, but it can't play songs or video from third-party sources.

While Apple has yet to explicitly support the functionality, one of the components in the newly-announced Siri Shortcuts feature in iOS 12 could pave the way for Siri-controlled playback, should Spotify choose to implement it.

Siri Shortcuts lets users connect certain third-party apps to Siri to greatly streamline voice controls, allowing them to connect app-specific actions to an invokable Siri phrase.

As noted by TechCrunch, the Siri Shortcuts feature includes a "Play Media" intent that will let users summon audio and video media from third-party apps, and could theoretically be used to direct Siri on iPhone or HomePod to a designated playlist or artist on Spotify.

It's not yet entirely clear how deep this kind of integration can go, but it's likely to operate much less seamlessly than Siri controls for Apple Music. The Siri Shortcuts that Apple demonstrated during its WWDC keynote for instance were limited to sequential actions across apps, suggesting the "Play Media" intent is a one-off command that relies on specific pre-made shortcuts to playlists, artists, and the like.

Still, in theory, Siri could be used to play an artist or playlist from Spotify, and then the listener could use the standard Siri media playback functions to control the listening experience. But that's still some ways off Siri's existing integration with Apple Music, which extends to individual interface controls and even artist/genre queries.

The other issue of course is that it all depends on whether Spotify chooses to implement Shortcuts, but the new feature in iOS 12 is at least a positive sign that Apple is evolving Siri toward increased compatibility with third-party streaming services.

Article Link: Siri Shortcuts Offer Scope for Limited Spotify Interactions in iOS 12

 

[TechGod]

Shortcuts are one of the best things Apple has added.

I wonder if these shortcuts can also be used without voice?

E.g when you arrive at a certain location it automatically runs through a set of actions you’ve defined?

 

[chfilm]

Is there a way to watch this wwdc talk about shortcuts ?

 

[verniesgarden]

Shortcuts are one of the best things Apple has added.

I wonder if these shortcuts can also be used without voice?

E.g when you arrive at a certain location it automatically runs through a set of actions you’ve defined?

I’m with you. I really hope shortcuts are the Automator of iOS. It really could be an IFTTT killer on the iphone

 

[Mike MA]

Is there a way to watch this wwdc talk about shortcuts ?

If „it just works“ still would be around, we could simply ask Siri.

Well, at least there’s some progress into the right direction.

 

[itsmilo]

It’s like Apple is like „lol we have no idea how to fix Siri so lets have our users fix it for themselves“

 

[agsystems]

Is there a way to watch this wwdc talk about shortcuts ?

I believe so - I don't have a developer account and I am able to view the videos

https://developer.apple.com/videos/wwdc2018/

in specific
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2018/211/

 

[Abazigal]

I’m with you. I really hope shortcuts are the Automator of iOS. It really could be an IFTTT killer on the iphone

It will probably work more like workflow, albeit with Siri integration.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

It’s like Apple is like „lol we have no idea how to fix Siri so lets have our users fix it for themselves“

It’s a pretty neat stopgap measure until they make Siri smarter imo.

 

[Rudy69]

You know what I would like? My phone to launch Spotify and play my music when it connects to my car instead of opening Music and saying “no data” because there’s nothing in there

 

[tzm41]

This is the product of Apple buying Workflow. I think they don't offer much automation at the moment (user has to trigger the scripts, not IFTTT style), but they might enhance it.

 

[agsystems]

It’s like Apple is like „lol we have no idea how to fix Siri so lets have our users fix it for themselves“

I think both can co-exists - there is no way for Apple to create every imaginable Siri intent - IMO, this might cause folks to use Siri more - ex: pizza hut or Dominos can offer a Siri shortcut for a regular order you place and then you don't even have to open the app to re-order.

 

[iSayuSay]

Spotify will never be as good as Apple Music with Siri integration. No matter how many shortcuts it makes

Unless of course, Apple buy Spotify.

 

[walnuts]

I think Apple Music is “supported” by HomePod because the HomePod talks directly with Apple Music’s servers. If one used these Siri shortcuts, it would introduce the iPhone and (for example) the Spotify app as intermediaries.

To put another way, HomePod plays Apple Music directly. I think these Siri Shortcuts would just get your iPhone to airplay an app to the HomePod.

 

[EdT]

It’s a pretty neat stopgap measure until they make Siri smarter imo.

It may not be a stopgap and that may not be a bad thing. Every few weeks some Alexa/Google Home data leak/privacy violation storycomes out. It’s no longer NEWS it’s now just ‘news’, with only a small emphasis. But they keep occurring. If a shortcut is stored locally and based upon a specific phrase then you lose the ability to say similar questions or commands but you don’t have to worry as much about being spied upon.

 

[Phineasgage1848]

It may not be a stopgap and that may not be a bad thing. Every few weeks some Alexa/Google Home data leak/privacy violation storycomes out. It’s no longer NEWS it’s now just ‘news’, with only a small emphasis. But they keep occurring. If a shortcut is stored locally and based upon a specific phrase then you lose the ability to say similar questions or commands but you don’t have to worry as much about being spied upon.

I have the same feeling. I think this is totally’s Apple’s reply to everyone that is asking for Siri to “do more” while still maintaining their privacy standards and preferring to do things on device. It’s a really intriguing idea that I hope works out!

 

[ericthered926]

Isn’t there a new SiriKit implementation for media? https://developer.apple.com/documentation/sirikit/media Does this not directly give Spotify the ability to include voice commands without having to use Siri shortcuts?

 

[macduke]

It would be better if Siri shortcuts worked more like a recording of an action that you perform and she can just play it back in the background using the actual app. Otherwise won't developer have to stick Siri buttons all over the place? Or will those actions show up as available under each third party app listed in the Shortcuts app and a developer might only tag important ones, such as the itinerary info shown off in the keynote? It would be great if Spotify could expose all of their core controls through this API and they were made available inside the Shortcuts app.

 

[jacjustjac]

You know what I would like? My phone to launch Spotify and play my music when it connects to my car instead of opening Music and saying “no data” because there’s nothing in there

“Hey Siri, quit doing that and play Spotify instead.”

Tbh, I think something changed recently, because more often then not my Spotify starts playing instead of Apple Music.
[doublepost=1528385495][/doublepost]Considering you can launch Spotify playlists from a URL, if Apple adds URL launching to Siri Workflow, you don’t need Spotify to do anything.

 

[groadyho]

You know what I would like? My phone to launch Spotify and play my music when it connects to my car instead of opening Music and saying “no data” because there’s nothing in there

I'm confused. In my car when I get in the music on either Amazon or Google music picks back up where it left off last time I was in the car. The wife has a v30 and I have a s9 plus and both work that way. Is that the phone that does that, the apps or the car system that does that?

 

[jst_testing]

I think this is a faster way to make Siri useful, as you can virtually assign all kinds of actions to get to the information you need in any app that includes these shortcuts.

Very interesting approach...

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

You know what I would like? My phone to launch Spotify and play my music when it connects to my car instead of opening Music and saying “no data” because there’s nothing in there

That's a bug in your car's media system. My Tesla doesn't do anything when I connect my phone over bluetooth - I just get in the car, open podcasts (on my iPhone), and pick something to play.

 

[Danny Miller7]

I wonder when Siri is going to get "Smarter" Like really "Smarter"