Video: hands-on with Apple’s new Shortcuts app in iOS 12

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Officially unveiled at the 2018 Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple yesterday released an upcoming Shortcuts app for developer testing, and iDownloadBlog took it for a spin.

The Workflow-like software lets you connect shortcut operations to Siri, making complex tasks as simple as speaking a custom voice command. As a matter of fact, Siri Shortcuts is both an app and a dedicated section in the Settings app on iOS 12 under Siri & Search.

TUTORIAL: How to create Siri Shortcuts and make your life easier

Any app on iOS 12 can work with Siri and expose user actions to the system.

This permits Siri intelligence to suggest an action at just the right time, such as ordering a coffee in the morning or kicking off your afternoon workout routine.

But first, take a look at our hands-on video walkthrough of Siri Shortcuts.

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You will use the Shortcuts app to create a series of actions from different apps that can be carried out with a simple tap or a customized voice command.

Developers can take advantage of this new capability using Shortcut APIs.

Based on Workflow, a powerful iOS automation app Apple acquired last year for an undisclosed sum, Siri Shortcuts will be included in the commercial release of iOS 12 this fall.

With custom shortcuts set up in the Shortcuts app, customers can even ask Siri on their HomePod to execute complex home automation scripts on other devices.

I’m very excited for Siri Shortcuts.

How about you?