iOS & MacOS Shortcuts

In your day to day, how many things do you manually do in clusters that could be done automatically?  How many things have been made easier with your phone anticipating and assisting your next steps?

iPhone users can already schedule Focus Time at given times, and Siri can estimate your commute time when you leave your home for work.  But through the Shortcuts app, you can do even more.

Many apps, especially those that assist with productivity and wellness, are designed with Shortcuts integration in mind–if you receive a call from a client, for instance, Asana could create a task for you.  But why stop there?  Why not create a morning routine that orders your favorite coffee beverage for you when you leave for work, while in the same trip, playing the latest episode of your daily or weekly podcast while you travel?  And at the end of your daily grind, you can program your shortcut to prompt you to journal about your day.

The triggers can be time-based, location-based, or the app can even listen for audio cues like the sound of a doorbell or a baby crying.  Many of the apps you keep on your phone are likely to have a few handy steps ready to go, but if you want something more sophisticated, you can build one completely from scratch using scripting tools and APIs.

The Shortcuts app comes preloaded on all new iPhones and iPads, but in case you’ve deleted it, you can recover on the App Store.  It is also available for Mac users.

Author: Michaela Klamt