Category: Links

Quick thoughts that link out to other sites

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Gear Links

Apple USB-C to SD Card Reader »

From Amazon:

The USB-C to SD Card Reader transfers high-resolution photos and videos at UHS-II speeds to your USB-C enabled Mac, iPad, or iPhone. Designed so it won’t block your other ports, it works with UHS-II SD cards and is backward compatible with other SD cards and adapters.

For years, Apple didn’t make these anymore and relied on a third-party model from SanDisk (which I still use). However, since I always lose the dang thing right when I need it most, I figured I should get another ahead of WWDC.

View the product on Amazon.

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Links

New Vision Pro immersive Environment added to Apple Developer app for WWDC »

From Chance Miller at 9to5Mac:

Ahead of WWDC kicking off on Monday, the Apple Developer app on Vision Pro has been updated with a new Environment. This marks the first Environment available in the Apple Developer app, and it plays on Apple’s artwork for WWDC 2024:

View the original.

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Links

Exploring Conferences: Preparing for WWDC 2024! »

From Rudrank Riyam:

This week will be my third time landing at the San Francisco International Airport to be around San Jose and meet developers from around the world.

I went to WWDC back in 2019 as a scholar and attended community events last year because I did not get the golden ticket.

However, this time, I got one to attend WWDC 2024!

I love impromptu planning, but, I still want to have an idea of how to make the best out of this US trip. After a lot of thinking, it turns out this is what makes me happy:

  • Hang out with old friends I made last year!
  • Enjoy with friends from X (formerly Twitter) whom I am excited to meet this year IRL, and
  • Meet new people!

Great post – this is definitely why I go to WWDC every year.

View the original.

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Gear Links

Which Stream Deck Best Fits Your Setup? »

From @elgato:

Not sure which Stream Deck best fits your setup?

Here’s a quick overview thread. ?

[Video]

Good thread ahead of my event this week – I have all of these now… time to do my own comparison.

View the post and get the Stream Deck from Elgato.

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

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Links News

Apple iOS 18 Siri AI Update Will Let Users Control Features in Apps With Voice »

From Mark Gurman at Bloomberg:

Apple Inc. is planning to overhaul its Siri virtual assistant with more advanced artificial intelligence, a move that will let users control individual app functions with their voice, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The new system will allow Siri to take command of all the features within apps for the first time, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the initiative isn’t public. That change required a revamp of Siri’s underlying software using large language models — a core technology behind generative AI — and will be one of the highlights of Apple’s renewed push into AI, they said.

Additional context from Joe Rossignol from MacRumors on Threads:

An aspect of Mark’s report that stood out to me: iOS 18’s smarter Siri features seemingly aren’t launching until an iOS 18.x update in 2025. I’m sure Apple will preview this at WWDC, and then the features will probably have a “coming in early 2025” label on Apple’s website.

View the original (via 9to5Mac).

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Gear Links

Stream Deck + Pairs Perfectly With the Elgato Prompter »

From @elgato:

Stream Deck integrates seamlessly with Prompter:

?‍♂️ Control Scroll Speed

⚙ Text size ⏯ Pause/Start/Stop

↕️ Scroll up and down with dials

? Turn Prompter On/Off

?: https://elgato.sjv.io/mjc-prompter

[Video]

I have posted before about controlling the Prompter from the Stream Deck +, but now that I’ve had actually had both for a while it’s been excellent to actually use it in practice – the Stream Deck + is basically a must-have for the Prompter because it makes working with scripts so much better.

View the post and get the Prompter and the Stream Deck + from Elgato.

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

 

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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).

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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

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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.

 

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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.

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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”

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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
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.

 

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Gear Links

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.

 

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Gear Links

Stream Deck XL and Stream Deck Mini Have Benefits At Both Sizes »

From @elgato:

“Don’t talk to me or my son ever again”

You can’t deny these models have a certain mood.

I have both the Stream Deck XL and Stream Deck Mini, and both are fantastic purpose-driven designs. The big one is best for having all your buttons visible, while the mini is best for having the right buttons nearby.

I have all my main commands spread out on the XL, but always have the mute switch, scene switcher, or media controls on the Mini ready to go.

View the post and get the Stream Deck XL and Stream Deck Mini from Elgato.

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

 

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Links

15 iPhone Shortcuts YOU Requested: Auto-Texting, Alarms, Music, and More! »

From Stephen Robles on YouTube:

Learn how to build 15 iPhone Shortcuts, inspired by YOU. Automatically play music when an alarm is snoozed, schedule a text to auto-send, make your screenshots look pro, and more.

Stephen continues his Shortcuts series on YouTube by building shortcuts off listener requests – a great watch as always.

View the video YouTube.

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Links

Apple Developer Videos Now on YouTube

Today, alongside the announcement for WWDC’24, Apple revealed their Apple Developer channel on YouTube where they’re now publicly hosting developer videos, starting with everything released from WWDC’23.

Previously, videos were only available Apple’s own website or Developer apps, limiting the potential reach to folks who’d already heard of it – now YouTube users can freely discover and watch Apple developer videos to learn about building for their platforms.

As of writing, there are 40 videos uploaded – so it’s not the complete set from WWDC’23 (yet?) and as such I unfortunately can’t find any Shortcuts-related videos. Once more are uploaded, and folks tune in after WWDC’24, it’ll be super interesting to see view counts and comments on these videos – we’ll be able to see what’s more popular/interesting to folks, as well as check on common questions in the comments.

Plus, for the intrepid Shortcuts user, all of YouTube’s RSS or URL functionality is now available for Apple Developer videos – I’ll be able to scrape the title, thumbnail, and descriptions to make quick embeds on my website, for example ?.

Follow @AppleDeveloper on YouTube.