What is the point of the Shortcut app?

[Nikiforidis]

I am trying to create a shortcut that sends an email to 3 of my work colleagues when I arrive to the office. I want to use my job's email service (exchange) and not my iCloud email, although it seems that the Shortcut app does not support exchange emails yet(?).

I have both the iCloud and the job's Exchange email services connected to my Mail app on the iPhone.

In the Shorcuts app when I enter my jobs email in the "from" section the email address stays grey, if I disable the "show compose sheet" it automatically changes the email address to my iCloud email (which appears blue instead of grey).

Any guesses on my my jobs exchange email appears grey and why it changes to my iCloud email address if I disable the "show compose sheet"?

View attachment 783219

 

[Painter2002]

Nothing says ‘caring parent’ like texting an identical message to all your kids week after week.

You don’t know each persons texts and relationships, but let me ask you how different are your “Hey, how is it going?” texts when you try reaching out to someone? My guess is they are pretty much the same each time.

Also some people send a simple basic text just to let the family members know they are thought of and like to chat, and the kids can respond when they are free.

Rather than judge others on the uses of communication, let’s stay on topic about what makes the Shortcuts app handy.

 

[potaco]

You don’t know each persons texts and relationships, but let me ask you how different are your “Hey, how is it going?” texts when you try reaching out to someone? My guess is they are pretty much the same each time.

Also some people send a simple basic text just to let the family members know they are thought of and like to chat, and the kids can respond when they are free.

Rather than judge others on the uses of communication, let’s stay on topic about what makes the Shortcuts app handy.

Surely you can appreciate the irony of automating something with a single tap under the guise of trying to drive toward more personal communication. A standard template message comes across more like a request for a status report rather than a truly heartfelt inquiry. Are we really that pressed for time that we can't take a few extra seconds to tap out something like, "Hey, how did Nick's baseball game go on Friday?" once a week?

 

[Painter2002]

Surely you can appreciate the irony of automating something with a single tap under the guise of trying to drive toward more personal communication. A standard template message comes across more like a request for a status report rather than a truly heartfelt inquiry. Are we really that pressed for time that we can't take a few extra seconds to tap out something like, "Hey, how did Nick's baseball game go on Friday?" once a week?

I agree that if there is something to say along those lines, then sure. But reality is in these busy lives people don’t always know a lot of what’s going on. Some people have a lot of kids, making it harder to keep track of what’s going on in each child’s life, some peoples kids don’t tell them as much so it’s harder to start off with a more personalized text.

So while I agree that people should try to be personal when sending messages from family, I can tell you that most people don’t. Also, I think the point of a simple, “How are you text?” is more a way to invite your children to respond on their schedule, rather than feeling the “oh god my parent is texting me and want to know everything” that many young adults feel. It’s the approach, one is more passive, a “thinking about you” kind of text, the other can be taken as a more over-bearing (though well intentioned) kind of text.

In the end I am just defending that we should not judge each other’s texts, besides, this thread is a question about an app, not criticism on personal use of those app(s).

 

[Mabus51]

I just downloaded the Shortcuts app that everyone is talking about it had a fast look and I really don't get it, what's the point of the app?

Yea I know it's for shortcuts/faster action, although I don't get it, if you want to write a message you can simply click the Messages app and start writing do you need to open a special app that opens the Messages app for ya?

/plz explain

It’s IFTTT for Siri.

 

[Akrapovic]

There doesn't appear to be any Watch integration. I was hoping I'd be able to say "I'm going for a run" and it could start the workout app on the watch, start my Overcast playlist and start my metronome (although that app hasn't been updated for a long time, so not much chance of that), but it doesn't appear to support the Apple standard workout app, which is a shame.

 

[steve62388]

You don’t know each persons texts and relationships

So you say...

but let me ask you how different are your “Hey, how is it going?” texts when you try reaching out to someone? My guess is they are pretty much the same each time.

But then go on to assume exactly that in your next sentence. #ironicfail
[doublepost=1537299332][/doublepost]

Now, you do not know if he alters the messages each week.

It’s the same message. It says so in the original post.

 

[Painter2002]

So you say...



But then go on to assume exactly that in your next sentence. #ironicfail
[doublepost=1537299332][/doublepost]

It’s the same message. It says so in the original post.

#youcaughtme

I apologize for making a slight assumption that message, take the “your text” out and my point remains the same. I’ll take a bet that a good amount of people text the same form of “Hello” to their loved ones on a regular basis

Oh and if you see any other typos to distract from my point please let me know

 

[TonyC28]

So is this going to be a way of adding Siri support to apps in a way that allows us to customize the spoken command? Can developers add shortcut support to their apps?

 

[hotsauce]

My wife goes to bed earlier than I do and in order to fall asleep I need to browse on my iPhone in bed.

Auto Backlight is enabled, it never goes down to 0%. More like 15% which is still too bright and will wake her up.

Volume must be at 0% in case I accidentally tap a link that creates sound like an autoplay video in Safari or a GIF in Twitter.

DND has to be set manually because I go to bed at variable times, sometimes 11, sometimes 1, and I need alerts while awake and I need them silenced before entering the bedroom.

Alarm does not need to be set on certain days of the week due to my kids schedules. I created two versions of the Shortcut one with and one without enabling the alarm.

Wi-Fi to off is needed because I use it at home only and want it disabled during the work day to save battery and it’s buried in the Settings menu and Shortcuts save time.

We good now?

So, what you’re trying to say is that you are a different person? How dare you!

 

[gwhizkids]

So is this going to be a way of adding Siri support to apps in a way that allows us to customize the spoken command? Can developers add shortcut support to their apps?

Um, yeah...

 

[TonyC28]

Um, yeah...

Sorry bud, I’m not a developer or iOS expert. And frankly these things are confusing so far.

 

[gwhizkids]

Sorry bud, I’m not a developer or iOS expert. And frankly these things are confusing so far.

I hear ya. Your read on this was exactly right. Unfortunately, I don't think Apple has done a great job of making it clear that (A) there are 2 different things going on here [One is the Shortcuts app, which is challenging at first blush and the other is Siri Suggestions, which picks up on things you do often and spontaneously suggests you do them again, such as order coffee on Tuesdays, if you've done it before] and (B) how to use them.

 

[evoga]

So what it's for is for when you want to do multiple actions at once for regular routines that you may have.

If every morning on your way to work you have a set of habits you want to automate you can do that. For example, you can create a Shortcuts command "Get my morning started". You tell Siri to execute this command, and based on your settings it could:

1) Turn you AC up and your lights off in Homekit,
2) Open Maps and give you the quickest route to work.
3) Start your favorite morning commute music playlist in Apple Music.
4) Order your usual coffee at Starbucks,
5) Set your phone to do not disturb so you don't get interrupted at work til you get off.

Obviously this is just a playful example, but its meant to streamline steps you take each day and make those actions easier/faster each day.

Basically this is like creating a custom macro if you are familiar with programming. It's a simple command that can execute multiple actions if you desire.

How do you make the Starbucks app pick the drink and order it with shortcuts?

All I can do is make the Starbucks app open.

 

[eoren1]

So is this going to be a way of adding Siri support to apps in a way that allows us to customize the spoken command? Can developers add shortcut support to their apps?

Best example so far is Pandora. Inside the app, you go to the settings and then Add to Siri. Select a listed station and it will prompt you to record a voice prompt. Once done you can say 'Hey Siri' and then the voice prompt to open Pandora and play that station.

 

[cwanja]

How do you make the Starbucks app pick the drink and order it with shortcuts?

All I can do is make the Starbucks app open.

Will likely take Starbucks updating their app. I assume it was more of an example of what it could do.

 

[TonyC28]

Best example so far is Pandora. Inside the app, you go to the settings and then Add to Siri. Select a listed station and it will prompt you to record a voice prompt. Once done you can say 'Hey Siri' and then the voice prompt to open Pandora and play that station.

I’m definitely imagining the potential of this.

 

[gwhizkids]

Will likely take Starbucks updating their app. I assume it was more of an example of what it could do.

And it wasn’t Starbucks. It was Philz, which I guess is the cool Cupertino coffee hangout.

I’ve noticed that none of the retailers whose apps I have on my phone have updated yet, or have updated without including Siri Shortcuts (Amazon...duh!).

That was my concern all along, because I am afraid that the major retailers will not want to diminish their brands by offloading the purchase function to Siri intents. They actually want you to go to their site and see all the other stuff you can buy too. This will be interesting to see if any play ball. It may be a multi-year process, much like Apple Pay.

 

[atmuwben]

I thought of two possible shortcuts I often do.

1. Turn off light; Set a 25min timer.

Shortcuts doesn't do timers?​

2. Text family member to meet; Share location till end of day.

Shortcuts doesn't do Find My Friends?​

 

[muzzy996]

Is there a way to connect to specific WiFi networks or specific bluetooth devices? These are about the only things I can think of right now that would be really useful to me since getting quickly to WiFi and Bluetooth settings via long press of their icons in Control Center probably isn't going to happen until iOS 20 . .

 

[fitshaced]

Anyone able to write a script that asks for destination when you plug your phone into your CarPlay? Or is that too advanced for this?

 

[gwhizkids]

I thought of two possible shortcuts I often do.

1. Turn off light; Set a 25min timer.

Shortcuts doesn't do timers?​

2. Text family member to meet; Share location till end of day.

Shortcuts doesn't do Find My Friends?​

Timers are possible but you have set one first manually (outside of shortcuts). Then go to Shortcuts and look in the actions under Siri Suggestions. Your timer should be there. If not, exit Shortcuts and do the Manila tuner thing again, reopen Shortcuts and check Siri Suggestions again.

Currently this is the only way to access Clock actions.

 

[gwhizkids]

Anyone able to write a script that asks for destination when you plug your phone into your CarPlay? Or is that too advanced for this?

Unfortunately event and location based triggers are not yet possible.

 

[potaco]

Is there a way to connect to specific WiFi networks or specific bluetooth devices? These are about the only things I can think of right now that would be really useful to me since getting quickly to WiFi and Bluetooth settings via long press of their icons in Control Center probably isn't going to happen until iOS 20 . .

I was looking for that, too, because I spend a lot of time in a location with 2 different WiFi networks that I need to keep switching between. For WiFi, you can toggle it on or off or get the SSID of the currently-connected network, but I couldn't find anything to tell it to connect to a specific one. I'm far from a Shortcuts expert, though, so maybe someone else knows.

It's also really hard to search for help... partially because "Shortcuts" is relatively new, partially because it's a rebranding of "Workflow", and mostly because it's an extremely generic term used just about everywhere in every context.

 

[steve62388]

I was looking for that, too, because I spend a lot of time in a location with 2 different WiFi networks that I need to keep switching between. For WiFi, you can toggle it on or off or get the SSID of the currently-connected network, but I couldn't find anything to tell it to connect to a specific one. I'm far from a Shortcuts expert, though, so maybe someone else knows.

It's also really hard to search for help... partially because "Shortcuts" is relatively new, partially because it's a rebranding of "Workflow", and mostly because it's an extremely generic term used just about everywhere in every context.

What about creating a shortcut that turns your WiFi off according to your arrival at a location? I don’t know if it will definitely work, it’s an idea for you to look into.