Workflow for iOS Regains Chrome and Pocket Actions, Support for Up Next

[MacRumors]

Apple-owned Workflow was updated to version 1.7.4 today, re-introducing features that were removed when Apple acquired the app and adding new Apple Music actions.

For those unfamiliar with Workflow, it's an automation tool that can be used to create a variety of workflows to accomplish tasks like creating GIFs from photos, pulling images from a website, calculating a tip, posting photos to multiple social networks at once, and much more.

When Apple purchased Workflow back in March, several actions were removed, but support for Google Chrome and Pocket has now been re-added and workflows involving those apps are now functional once again.

Along with support for Google Chrome and Pocket, today's update introduces new actions for Apple Music users. There's now an "Add Music to Up Next" action and a "Clear Up Next" action for automatically adding content to an Apple Music playlist.

Today's update also includes a long list of bug fixes, which are outlined below:

- Get Distance now supports getting the distance from a specified location
- The order of items passed from a Dictionary action to Choose from List is now preserved
- Fixed getting prices for books in Search iTunes Store
- Fixed making archives with special characters in the filename on iOS 10.3 and later
- Fixed an issue where workflow glyphs in the Today Widget may be stretched and cut off
- Fixed an issue where latitude and longitude may be formatted incorrectly in international locales
- Fixed an issue where .wflow files may fail to open on iOS 10.3 and later
- Fixed an issue where improperly formatted URLs from Pinboard could cause Workflow to crash
- Fixed an issue where booleans may not update when their value is changed inside dictionary fields
- Fixed an issue where handing off clipboard content from the Today Widget or Action Extension may throw a "The file Clipboard could not be opened" error
- Fixed an issue that could cause Workflow to crash on launch
- Other bug fixes and minor additions

When Apple purchased Workflow, the Workflow team said app integrations and the Gallery would be updated on a regular basis, but a later report suggested Apple planned no more updates. Based on today's update, which adds new features, that report was incorrect.

Though two new actions have been re-introduced, there are still features missing from the Workflow app. Maps actions are restricted to Apple Maps, and translating text only works with Microsoft's translation services. Other previous app actions, including Uber, Telegram, and LINE, are still unavailable.

Article Link: Workflow for iOS Regains Chrome and Pocket Actions, Support for Up Next

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Very nice of them to put back these features.

 

[dannys1]

I love the design and idea of Workflow. In reality i've never needed to automate anything on my phone (and I barely use the iPads but wouldn't need to there either)

I keep trying to think of a use for it, but I just can't come up with one - and I sort of really want one, if anyone's got any gaming changing ideas?

 

[Avieshek]

I suppose, they figured something better first.

 

[wayoutwest5505]

Huh ? Never heard of it. I live a very sheltered Life. I'm sure I must need it.

 

[LordQ]

Wondering if we'll see some integration with iOS 11, like when Apple bought Siri.

 

[jgelin]

Wondering if we'll see some integration with iOS 11, like when Apple bought Siri.

I too think it will be a part of the OS as a much bigger feature than as implemented with the API's it has at its disposal now.

 

[fabian9]

I love this app.

As an example I wrote a small workflow to very quickly and easily enter my current weight and body fat percentage to the health app, without having to work my way through the various health app screens. This allows me to track my fitness much easier.

I also wrote a workflow to enter workouts from the cyclemeter app straight into the health app using the "share" functionality. Cyclemeter does have native support to enter workouts into the health app, but it's a premium feature which I wasn't willing to pay for.

 

[powaking]

Haven't found a way to turn on/off personal hotspot via Workflow. Anyone?

 

[lexvo]

I love the design and idea of Workflow. In reality i've never needed to automate anything on my phone (and I barely use the iPads but wouldn't need to there either)

I keep trying to think of a use for it, but I just can't come up with one.

Same here, I've tried several times but never got a serious use for this app (of course it can be useful for others).
Another problem is that a lot of apps don't support URL-schemes or another form of app-to-app communication.

 

[ksnell]

I too think it will be a part of the OS as a much bigger feature than as implemented with the API's it has at its disposal now.

Maybe this will get integrated into Siri to help create more automated tasks?

 

[VulchR]

Good to hear.

 

[Rogifan]

Someone posted on 9to5Mac that Workflow is coming to the Mac. I wonder if this will get stage time at WWDC.

 

[VulchR]

Someone posted on 9to5Mac that Workflow is coming to the Mac. I wonder if this will get stage time at WWDC.

Maybe there'll be function to show the full names in the Finder automatically, given that Apple has been too shiftless to code this as a preference in the OS.

 

[tongxinshe]

Someone posted on 9to5Mac that Workflow is coming to the Mac. I wonder if this will get stage time at WWDC.

macOS has had the same feature for decades, it's called "Automator", it comes with the OS.

 

[VulchR]

macOS has had the same feature for decades, it's called "Automator", it comes with the OS.

It is not exactly easy to use and it is poorly supported by developers.

 

[stevie grant]

I keep trying to think of a use for it, but I just can't come up with one - and I sort of really want one, if anyone's got any gaming changing ideas?

I use it to take selfies of me doing something mundane -- like drinking coffee -- and then making it my avatar. But that's just me.

 

[Jerion]

This reads like Apple is just re-negotiating agreements with the different third parties after the acquisition. As time goes on and they get more agreements done, support will re-emerge.

macOS has had the same feature for decades, it's called "Automator", it comes with the OS.

Automater is good, but it could be better. If they're looking to replace it with something friendlier, more accessible, and more nicely integrated with commonly-used apps, then that's good. Chances are that version 1 will lose some features crucial to niche workflows, though.

Obligatory:

 

[CarlJ]

I strongly suspect Marco Arment nailed it on this one (quoting from twitter):

• Don’t blame Workflow or Apple for removing Google, etc. actions in last night’s Workflow update. It was lawyers, not strategy. 1/x
• A few weeks ago, Workflow asked all supported apps to sign a simple 1-page contract confirming permission to call our URL schemes. 2/x
• People sue Apple over ANYTHING, ALL THE TIME, so it makes sense for their lawyers to be overly cautious like this in an acquisition. 3/x
• I was a bit put off by the need to review and enter into a legal contract for continued Overcast support in Workflow, but I signed it. 4/x
• Google’s lawyers probably ignored such a “small” request or decided it wasn’t worth the hassle or legal risks, so they didn’t sign. 5/x
• And that’s why you can’t have nice things: not Apple being a jerk, but two sets of lawyers being overly cautious, which is their job. <fin>

 

[Zirel]

macOS has had the same feature for decades, it's called "Automator", it comes with the OS.

Exactly, but Automator for Mac needs a "store" of ready-to-use scripts like Workflow has, because most people won't be writing scripts.

 

[ElQben]

One product category which I think Apple is missing out on is a "laptop for normal people/millennials". In my opinion, they should make a (fairly ho-hum) clam-shell laptop that runs a version of iOS that is customized to allow for windowed apps and is also mouse + right-click friendly. If they started it at $699 or so, I think would appeal to A LOT of people who aren't really interested in learning all the ins-and-outs of MacOS. I'd call it the iBook, and it would sell like crazy.

 

[msew]

Is there a site or something where people share their day to day usage with Workflow? I want to use this. I really do but I can't find anything to do with it.

 

[Kaibelf]

One product category which I think Apple is missing out on is a "laptop for normal people/millennials". In my opinion, they should make a (fairly ho-hum) clam-shell laptop that runs a version of iOS that is customized to allow for windowed apps and is also mouse + right-click friendly. If they started it at $699 or so, I think would appeal to A LOT of people who aren't really interested in learning all the ins-and-outs of MacOS. I'd call it the iBook, and it would sell like crazy.

Nope. Then people would complain that it doesn't run x86 software and run to the nearest class action lawyer to sue them for being "confusing."

 

[quaternio]

Is there a site or something where people share their day to day usage with Workflow? I want to use this. I really do but I can't find anything to do with it.

The /r/workflow subreddit often has a lot of things shared and requests fulfilled there.

Just an example, I use it to log work hours and figures to documents in Evernote. I'm a self-employed fundraiser, and I need to keep track of various data for that.

 

[spacemanspifff]

Haven't found a way to turn on/off personal hotspot via Workflow. Anyone?

Unfortunately, I don't know a way to toggle the setting automatically (anyone?) but you can add a button to the Workflow widget to get the prefs app to open to the hotspot screen by using the following Workflow;

(URL) App-Prefs:root=INTERNET_TETHERING
[Open URLs]
[Exit Workflow]

Hope this helps...