How to Combine Siri Shortcuts in IOS 12 Beta for Quick Silent Commands
During WWDC 2018, Apple showed us a new Siri trick in iOS 12 : the ability to assign shortcuts. Instead of hoping that Siri gets it right, you can assign a specific phrase (or even a word!) To a set of predefined actions.
A simple phrase like “ heading home, ” can make Siri text your roommate, play your favorite podcast, and open directions in Maps at the same time. Sadly, Apple’s standalone Shortcuts app isn’t included in the iOS 12 public beta, but there are still some similar shortcuts features that Siri fans can play with.
Setting up quick shortcuts in iOS 12 is easy. Just go to the Settings app. In the Siri & Search section, find the new Shortcuts section. It cannot be missed – it is located at the very top of the screen:
Clicking the plus button to the right of the suggested shortcuts will allow you to set a phrase to perform this action. (And you can click More Shortcuts to see more suggestions). Your choices are limited by what you’ve recently done on your phone, like sending a message to a specific contact or creating a calendar event, but these can be surprisingly specific: you’ll notice that the text message options include message text and calendar. parameters include the name of the event. If you send the same message (“sup”) frequently or create the same kinds of calendar appointments, Siri shortcuts can save you typing time.
You can also combine shortcuts with typing to get even crazier. In the Settings app, under General> Accessibility> Siri, you’ll see an option to Enter text for Siri. Now, when you hold down the Home button, the keyboard appears, and you can send a request to Siri as easily as starting text.
Since you can assign multiple shortcuts to perform the same action, you can give your favorite shortcuts two options: a phrase you say out loud and a keyword you can type quickly.
This method works not only with applications, but also with applications. You can use shortcuts to quickly open a specific webpage in Safari, set a reminder, or start a timer.
Most third-party apps are not yet available in the shortcuts section, but Siri currently works great with Workflow (an app that Apple acquired in 2017 is now free). Unlike Siri shortcuts in iOS 12 beta, workflow actions work with some third-party apps. The workflows you create will appear in the Siri shortcuts menu in Settings when you’re ready to assign them a passcode.