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Siri Shortcuts: hands-on with the new iOS 12 feature

One of the most exciting things Apple announced at WWDC last month was a feature called Siri Shortcuts.

Due to launch with iOS 12 this September, the feature is a way to create time-saving workflows that help you perform common tasks with minimal effort. For example, you could create a workflow called “go home” that launches driving directions home in Google Maps, starts your favorite travel playlist in Apple Music, and turns on Do Not Disturb mode. These commands can then be activated by speaking a custom phrase to Siri or by tapping a DIY app icon on the Home screen.

The Shortcuts app is heavily based on Workflow, an automation app Apple bought last year

Although the pre-release beta of iOS 12 is now open to the public so anyone can give it a go, the trial of the upcoming Shortcuts app is only available to select developers at this time. Luckily, the guys from iDownloadBlog have already knocked up an insightful hands-on video walking through the process of creating and using your own commands. It’s well worth a watch if you want to see the kind of power Siri will be able to provide in iOS 12.

This is one of the features that’s got us most excited about the launch of iOS 12, and you can be sure we’ll have plenty more on it in due course!