Siri’s Got the Shortcut

In iOS 12, Siri is getting some serious new skills. Called shortcuts, they’re designed to help you accomplish everyday tasks with a single tap or Siri request.

Siri can now identify actions you do repeatedly and suggest a shortcut to streamline the process. For example, if you always stop for coffee on the way to work, Siri might recommend placing your order with an app at just the right time. You’ll see a pop-up on your lock screen asking if you want to order.

Siri can also remind you to dial in to a conference call on your calendar—then place the call for you, all from your lock screen.

Even better, with the new Shortcuts app, Siri now has the power to take action across multiple apps. Here’s how to get the most out of it.

In the Gallery, you’ll find thousands of premade shortcuts that cover a range of categories, like Photography and Morning Routine.

There are many easy ways to save time here. A shortcut called “Home ETA” calculates your commute time and texts your loved ones an estimate of when you’ll arrive. “Live Photo to GIF” turns your Live Photos into GIFs you can share on social media.

You’ll also find shortcuts for calling your congressperson, calculating a tip, playing your New Music Mix in Apple Music, and much more. Tap your favorites to add them to your Library. You can launch them from this screen—or from the handy Today widget.

You can also use the new Add to Siri button available in many apps to assign a phrase to a shortcut a developer has made. Kayak’s “Trip Info” shortcut, for example, quickly pulls up your flight and hotel details.

The Shortcuts app can create shortcuts too. Simply tap the plus button in the upper right corner of the Library to open a drag-and-drop editor.

You have a huge number of actions to choose from. Many integrate with preinstalled apps like Mail, Calendar, Camera, Maps, and Safari, as well as third-party apps like Evernote, Trello, and Giphy.

Shortcuts

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