Author: Matthew Cassinelli

Categories
Gear News

Apple Pencil Pro Lets You Run A Shortcut With A Squeeze

Screenshot

Apple’s newly-launched Apple Pencil Pro for the M4 iPad Pro includes a special squeeze gesture that activates a special palette or unique commands depending on your app – in a new change for Apple Pencil, “Shortcut” has been added to the list, letting M4 iPad Pro activate a shortcut from anywhere by squeezing the Pencil.

Chris Lawley, iPad expert on YouTube, shared the demo in this clip from his M4 iPad Pro review:

This update is super exciting for iPad Pro users who take advantage of Shortcuts, letting them map any command to the Apple Pencil and trigger it with a quick gesture – and more than one action can be assigned using Scripting actions like Choosing From menu or If to change the purpose depending on certain conditions.

As YouTuber Stephen Robles quipped on his podcast Primary Technology, “It’s an Action Button for iPad!” – the first time iPad users have universal access to a hardware control to trigger Shortcuts, a feature that’s been available on Apple Watch Ultra and the Pro lines for iPhone in recent years.

Assigning the squeeze gesture to a shortcut is a great update for Apple Pencil with the new Pro line and definitely gives power users a reason to upgrade – I’m looking forward to playing around with shortcuts from my Shortcuts Library and seeing what clever techniques I can come up with.

Learn about the new Apple Pencil Pro and M4 iPad Pro from Apple.

 

Categories
Announcements

Upcoming Speaking Appearance – iOSDevHappyHour: May 2024!

From iOS Dev Happy Hour:

The goal of #iOSDevHappyHour is to allow current and aspiring iOS Developers a place to share experiences, share knowledge, simply hang out, build community, and even enjoy a drink or two online. Join us at this month’s event!

This month’s event includes:

  • Community guest speakers
  • Three breakout rooms (topic-based and random assignments)
  • An Apple gift card giveaway (must be present!)

From their announcement on Mastodon:

Next up in our series of expert speakers: Matthew Cassinelli is going to be giving a talk about App Intents at our May event!

I’ve got 15 minutes on App Intents – hope to see you there!

Sign up for the event.

Categories
Apps Shortcuts

iOS 17.5 Adds Quartiles to Apple News: Get These Puzzles Shortcuts

Today, Apple has released iOS 17.5 to the public, bringing with it a new game to the Apple News+ Puzzles section: Quartiles.

Quartiles divides a word into four parts, letting you select from the available tiles to form a word – each game has five rows, letting you adding up your score for each row to get the highest points possible.

Once you’ve visited the Puzzles, Crosswords, Crossword Mini, or Quartiles sections of the Apple News app (available for Apple News+ subscribers), the News app will “donate” suggested actions to the Shortcuts app for each section, which you can add to your custom shortcuts and run to quickly jump into the corresponding part of the News app again.

I’ve collected all four sections as individual shortcuts, which you can get in the Apple News folder of my Shortcuts Library. You can place this in a Shortcuts widget, add these to any of your Home Screens, or even open them from the menu bar on Mac – that puzzle is yours to figure out.

Quartiles is quite fun and, being so Wordle-adjacent, could attract casual gamers who might not be drawn to the Crosswords or Crossword mini features of Apple News – I’m sure Apple wouldn’t mind, since gaming is a fairly significant driver of revenue for the news business.

Happy gaming!

Categories
Siri Shortcuts

Apple Will Revamp Siri to Catch Up to Its Chatbot Competitors »

From The New York Times (summary from Techmeme):

Sources: Apple made generative AI a tent-pole project after Craig Federighi and John Giannandrea spent weeks testing ChatGPT and found Siri to be antiquated — Apple plans to announce that it will bring generative A.I. to iPhones after the company’s most significant reorganization in a decade.

Nothing much has been said beyond earlier reports, but the reality of it coming so soon has me stoked.

While you’re here, check out my appearance on MacRumors where I discussed App Intents and how that feature could tie into Apple’s AI efforts.

View the original (via Techmeme).

Categories
Links

Automatically Trigger iPhone Low Power Mode Earlier (with Shortcuts) »

From Tim Hardwick at MacRumors:

Most ‌iPhone‌ users are familiar with the way iOS throws up a prompt to turn on Low Power Mode when the battery reaches 20%. Low Power Mode can also be turned on manually at any time by going to Settings -> Battery and toggling on the switch next to Low Power Mode.

If you find yourself constantly having to turn on Low Power Mode late in the day, you can save some time by setting it up to run automatically when your battery is depleted to a specific custom level. This can be done in the Shortcuts app, as the following steps show.

Been doing this on my iPad for years – 30% is my trigger point.

View the original.

Categories
Apps Links

Personal Link App Plinky Launches To Help You Enjoy The Vast Internet

From Joe Fabisevich on macaw.social:

For the last two years I’ve been working on Plinky, sharing my work publicly while the app has been in beta.

Today it’s finally ready to go live in the App Store, and I’d like to not only share the app with you but share more about why I built it.

plinky.app/download

What is Plinky?

Check out Joe’s launch story on Mastodon and get Plinky.

Categories
Links

Apple’s “Let Loose” iPad Event was Shot on iPhone — With Panavision Lenses

From Stu Maschwitz on his site Prolost:

Apple unveiled their new line of iPads yesterday in a pre-recorded video titled “Let Loose.” As with the previous “Scary Fast” MacBook Pro launch video, “Let Loose” ends with a tag proclaiming “Shot on iPhone” — this time adding “Edited on Mac and iPad,” and the fine print: “All presenters, locations, and aerial footage shot on iPhone.”

During the live stream I actively wondered if the iPhone acquisition of “Scary Fast” had been a one-time thing. “Let Loose” looks great, as all Apple videos do, but some shots featured a shallower depth-of-field than is possible with an iPhone-sized lens and sensor combo. At the end of the event, I wondered publicly on Threads about this.

Great details from Stu as usual, and an awesome look at how to soup up your iPhone with extra gear.

View the blog post (via @5tu on Mastodon).

Categories
Links

New iPad Pro and iPad Air Product Bezels Available For Your Designs

From Mike Stern on Mastodon, sharing updated Apple Design resources:

What’s almost as exciting as our new iPad Pros and iPad Airs? Why, of course, new iPad Pro and iPad Air product bezels for your designs available as PSDs, PNGs and in the @Sketch product bezel library in all colors!

Somewhere in the world (Italy) Viticci’s ears perked up.

View the original (via Mike Stern).

Categories
Links Shortcuts

Add Your YouTube Watch Later To The Home Screen With Shortcuts

From Levi Allen on Threads:

Best phone addiction change I’ve made lately is creating a shortcut to my watch later YouTube playlist (instead of having YouTube app on home screen)

YouTube long form is consistently my favorite platform to consume on. I constantly run into new ideas. I save almost 10videos a day to my watch later playlist. Feels refreshing after watching for 30-60mins. Doesn’t make me feel like a dopamine addicted wacko.

I’ve been using this method since way back in 2019 – except I keep it in my Shortcuts widget.

Get my Watch Later shortcut, check out my folder of shortcuts for the YouTube app in my Shortcuts Library, and view Levis’ post on Threads or below.

 
Post by @leviallen
View on Threads

Categories
Apps Links

Elite Hoops Coach Whiteboard Adds Widgets and Shortcuts For Basketball Teams of Any Size

From Jordan Morgan on mastodon.social:

My update for Elite Hoops with an emphasis on iOS features is out now! I’d love it if you checked it out, even if you aren’t a coach or the target market.

The widgets, especially, turned out fun. And you may dig some of the animations and stuff from the “What’s New” screens.

Elite Hoops is such a cool app, I wish I could use it coach a rag-tag team of up-and-coming basketball players at my local community center to victory at the Big Game – but for real, check it out.

Get Elite Hoops on the App Store, read the blog post, and view the original post.

 

Categories
Apps Links

How To Make Mac-Style App Icons Easily With Squircle

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Miká Kruschel on mastodon.social:

Inspired by @rafa’s https://docktor.site, I created Squircle – a free Mac app that adds the correct corner radius, padding, and shadow to square app icons following Apple’s design guidelines. Just drop the square icon in and out you get a single png or an appiconset for Xcode.

Take a regular icon, drop it into this app to get the right style, and then use Get Info on an Application and drop the PNG into the icon on the top left – once you launch it again on your Mac, the icon will update.

Get Squircle for free on the Mac App Store, and view the launch post from Mikà.

Categories
Guest appearances Links Podcasts

Automators: Shortcuts Update with Matthew Cassinelli

On Friday, May 3, on the Automators podcast, I had the pleasure of joining host David Sparks for an excellent discussion:

Shortcuts guru Matthew Cassinelli joins to discuss the state of shortcuts and some of his favorite automations.

Check out Automators in Apple Podcasts or listen to the episode below:

Continue reading “Automators: Shortcuts Update with Matthew Cassinelli”

Categories
Shortcuts

New in the Shortcuts Library: Accessories shortcuts

I’ve just added a new folder to the Shortcuts Library — my set of Accessories shortcuts to toggle your HomeKit accessories and scenes with the hidden Toggle Accessory action in Shortcuts (used in the Home widget).

For individual devices or accessories, select the device from the Toggle Accessory action. For complete rooms, set up a scene to control all the lights, then add the scene to your shortcut.

Get the shortcuts:

  • Toggle Living Room lights: Activates a Home scene set to control all the lights in my living room, turning them on/off depending on the current state.
  • Toggle Family Room lights: Activates a Home scene set to control the lamps in my family room, turning them on/off depending on the current state.
  • Toggle Studio lights: Activates a Home scene set to control multiple lights in my studio, turning them on/off depending on the current state.
  • Toggle Office lights: Activates a Home scene set to control multiple lights in my home office, turning them on/off depending on the current state.
  • Toggle Studio Key Light: Turns my Eve Switch on/off depending on its current state, which controls the large 42” softbox in my studio for filming.
  • Toggle Studio Fill Light: Turns my second Eve Switch on/off depending on its current state, which controls the secondary softbox in my studio space.
  • Toggle the bedside lamp: Switches the Hue light bulb in my bedside on/off.
  • Toggle the Sound Machine: Turns my Eve Switch on/off depending on its current state, which controls the sound machine we have in our bedroom for drowning out little noises and providing a constant background sound to sleep to.

I first discussed the hidden Toggle Accessory action in my stream with Stephen Robles back in April (starting at the 26:02 mark).

Check out the folder of Accessories shortcuts on the Shortcuts Library.

 

Categories
Gear

Time For Me To Upgrade To Elgato’s Green Screen XL »

From @elgato:

No more wrinkles. 😎🟩 Learn more about Green Screen XL: https://t.co/RKKOIuf5uG pic.twitter.com/Bx1IGNo0sw

Alright fine, I’ll replace the wrinkled one in my drawer I’ve never used with a real one.

View the post and get the Green Screen XL from Elgato.

 P.S. You can use my Elgato Partner code ZZ-CASSINELLI for 5% off at checkout.

Categories
Guest appearances Links Podcasts

The MacRumors Show: Apple’s AI Powered Shortcuts for iOS 18

On Friday, April 12, on the The MacRumors Show podcast, I had the pleasure of joining hosts Dan Barbera and Hartley Charlton to talk about Shortcuts and what could happen with App Intents at WWDC:

Matthew Cassinelli, one of the minds behind Workflow, joins us on this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show to talk Apple Shortcuts and potential improvements and AI features coming to the app in iOS 18. Workflow was a unique iOS app that allowed users to create macros for executing specific sequential tasks on their device. In 2017, Apple acquired Workflow and, the following year, it was rebranded as “Shortcuts.” Shortcuts have since become a key part of Apple’s ecosystem and can be used for a huge range of powerful, automated actions. Matthew was present at Workflow throughout its transition to Apple and now offers his own library of complex Shortcuts, which you can access over on his website.

Last year, a report from The Information claimed that ‌iOS 18‌ will introduce some major AI features to Siri and the Shortcuts app. Apple apparently wants ‌‌Siri‌‌ to be able to help users automate complex, multi-step tasks with voice-based commands and have much deeper integration with Shortcuts, such as by potentially helping users build them. We break down Apple Shortcuts for beginners and look at some of the many use-cases for the app, as well as consider where it could go next with AI. 

Check out The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts or listen to the episode below:

Continue reading “The MacRumors Show: Apple’s AI Powered Shortcuts for iOS 18”

Categories
Gear

You Can Change The Elgato Prompter Between Text, Chat, and Display Modes »

From @elgato:

With a built-in 9” screen, you can use Prompter to display video scripts, stream chat, or even mirror any window or app from your computer automatically.

[Video]

I mostly use the Prompter in Display Mode to mirror my whole desktop and pull up specific windows like Zoom or Ecamm when I want to look directly into the lens.

I want to try Stream Mode with Twitch chat while gaming later this year, but I haven’t found a good workflow for Text Mode and video scripts just yet…

View the post and get the Prompter from Elgato.

P.S. You can use my Elgato Partner code ZZ-CASSINELLI for 5% off at checkout.

 

Categories
Shortcuts

New in the Shortcuts Library: QuickBooks shortcuts

I’ve just added a new folder to the Shortcuts Library — my set of QuickBooks shortcuts for accessing the most important parts of the QuickBooks Self-Employed experience.

Add your banks and transactions, stay on top of quarterly taxes, and view your reports as your business grows:

  • Open QuickBooks Self-Employed: Opens the homepage for QuickBooks Self-Employed on the web. If not signed, will redirect you to the login page.
  • Log transactions: Opens the Transactions page in QuickBooks Self-Employed so you can view, update, and tag transactions as needed.
  • Manage bank accounts: Opens the QuickBooks page for connecting your bank accounts – use this to set up new accounts or update your connection if it falls out of sync.
  • Log mileage with QuickBooks: Opens the QuickBooks mobile app so you can log mileage for business trips directly in the app.
  • Check miles logged: Opens the Milage Log of QuickBooks Self-Employed so you can track how many miles you’ve travelled as business expenses.
  • Check business taxes: Opens the Tax page of QuickBooks Self-Employed so you can stay on top of tax bills, due dates, and other notices.
  • Check quarterly taxes: Opens the Quarterly tab of the Tax page for QuickBooks Self-Employed so you can view and file your quarterly taxes (to avoid paying in one big lump-sum the year after).
  • Show QuickBooks reports: Opens the Reports page of QuickBooks Self-Employed so you can track and visualize your progress.
  • Import transactions: Opens the page for importing transactions into QuickBooks Self-Employed (for anything that can’t be handled directly through your bank).
  • Manage Intuit account: Opens the account manager for QuickBooks Self-Employed on Intuit’s site.

Check out the folder of QuickBooks shortcuts on the Shortcuts Library.

Categories
Links Shortcuts

New shortcut helps users find product manuals and guides on Apple’s website »

From 9to5Mac:

With the help of the Apple Support website, users can find a lot of information about the Apple devices they own. This includes things like technical specifications, guides, and support articles. However, all this information used to be spread across multiple pages – but Apple is changing that with a new “Documentation” page.

I’ve updated my folder of Apple Support shortcuts to include a new “Show Apple Support documentation” shortcut.

Read the full article.

 

Categories
Newsletter

What’s New in Shortcuts – Issue 104

From Issue 104 of my Shortcuts newsletter:

Welcome to Issue 104 of What’s New in Shortcuts!

We’re far out of the Apple Vision Pro hype cycle and WWDC tickets are in developers’ inboxes already – however, iPad rumors are still swirling for May as well.

iOS 17.4 has been released, which brought new actions to Shortcuts for the Action button, as well a general stability that’s been much needed – there are still Feedback reports to file for 17.5, however.

In the Shortcuts Catalog, I’ve been going deep on entertainment shortcuts, plus Mac window management on the livestream. Plus, I linked to many videos, app updates, and stories worth checking out.

Here’s what’s new in Shortcuts:

Read the full issue on MailerLite.

Categories
Gear

Smart Profiles Swap Your Stream Deck Layout Automatically When Switching Apps »

From @elgato:

Switching between multiple apps? 🔁

Use Smart Profiles to load unique Stream Deck Pedal layouts automatically when switching apps.

[Video]

Smart Profiles are the key way I’m using Stream Deck with Shortcuts – with profiles for most of my apps, I can always access my shortcuts when I open the app on my Mac.

Smart Profiles work on all Stream Decks, but I also use them for the Pedal as they show in the video – when Safari is open, I can tap the left or right bumpers with my foot to switch tabs. 😎

View the post and get the Stream Deck Pedal from Elgato.

P.S. You can use my Elgato Partner code ZZ-CASSINELLI for 5% off at checkout.