The new version of Launch Center Pro looks like it’s a big improvement on the previous version. Having said that it is an iOS7 only update so I’m having to move up before seeing what it can really do. Not that I’m upgrading just for Launch Center Pro, there’s quite a few other reasons too, but I think that Launch Center is a handy way of automating stuff in iOS and that’s something I increasingly need.
Tag: Automation
I like the idea of automating things and getting one thing to control another. I experiment with a lot of stuff like that.
IFTTT and connecting things to other things
I haven’t written about IFTTT for a while now although I’m still a big fan. Of course, of late, their big news is their iOS app. It was a very clever way to bring the service to iOS. They didn’t just bring the web version of the service to the app store. Instead they made it work beautifully, but over and above that gave the app specific iOS only channels. Now that’s clever.
Of course one of the big problems with IFTTT is that it works so well. Which means that actually you can for the most part just forget about it and leave it to get on with what you wanted it to do in the first place. However, I guess that is almost a problem for IFTTT as they probably want you to do more than set up a bunch of recipes and then never return, or rarely return.
So the app addresses that to a degree. I found myself using it for a while and then recently a lot less. Again, the reason is that IFTTT works so well that I don’t need to do anything more.
There are still lots of things I think that IFTTT could improve. Support for multiple accounts for twitter and other services for example, but even without these it is very good.
So, what’s next for IFTTT? Well of course there’s Android. There’s room for an extended iPad version. But always wonder if they could perhaps push a little further than connecting two services. Perhaps they could become IF THIS THEN THAT (AND THIS), or perhaps IF THIS THEN THAT ELSE IF THIS? You get where I’m going anyway.
Who knows. One things for sum. Automation will continue.
When things stop
I had thought that I had all of July to sort out my google reader account. I was wrong. Google reader shuts down on the 1st of July, just over a month away! The realisation only came yesterday. So what should I do? Procrastination hasn’t helped at all, but thankfully feedly have a solution, and not only a solution but one that works with one of my favourite solutions IFTTT. Problem solved.
But it makes me think. We (I) depend on services like google reader, and of course these services won’t go on for ever, companies start things and stop things and when they do you have to use something else of find a different way of doing the things you need to get done. I’m sure at some point feedly will do something different or IFTTT will stop connecting things.
It’s the way of things I guess that’s all, but it does make life inconvenient at times.
My iOS App of the week is …
Pythonista. I’ve been using it to make little scripts to run from Launch Center Pro and it’s quite easy to use so far. I’m enjoying getting to understand how things work and learning about Python at the same time.
But by far the best thing about it is that I’m able to use it for something productive that makes daily tasks easier and that’s really worth doing. So, all in all a great app for automating stuff in iOS and for learning at the same time.
IFTTT Getting more and more Physical
I find it quite interesting to see how IFTTT (If This Then That) is continuing to move from just automating the social web into the internet of things. Of course, it’s a bit of an understatement to say that IFTTT just automates the social web. It’s a huge accomplishment to do it in a way that is simple and easy to use for just about anyone. But for IFTTT to connect social networks and real world devices in the same simple and elegant way is really impressive.
It makes me wonder where they’ll go next. I’d like to see some more social channels and more functionality, nothing major, simple things like multiple twitter accounts and the like. But most of all I’d like to see an iOS app from IFTTT to connect and orchestrate everything. They promised one a while back. I hope they come up with the goods soon.
Getting back to the internet of things and IFTTT I’ve been impressed with their integration of Belkin’s WeMo hardware, and now Philips Hue, but I’d like to see support for Pebble and Twine. Pebble has been talked about but not Twine, at least not so far anyway.
I’m sure that IFTTT will continue to pull more coolness out of the bag. I’m looking forward to it.
Drafts (iOS Automation) updated
I’ve written a bit about Drafts before. It’s had a massive overhaul and added a load of new functionality. I’ve only had a brief play with the new features, and whilst they seem quite useful, it still isn’t the level of automation I’d like to have in my device.
I’ll give it a bit more of a chance, but it doesn’t go far enough.
Actions for iPad could be the automation I’ve been looking for, maybe
Actions for iPad presents as another interesting possibility for automating things. This time automating the use of your Mac from your iPad. Here’s what the app store description says:
Control your computer applications in the best way, your way.
Advanced but incredibly simple to use, Actions is a revolutionary app that lets you interact more naturally with your computer, thanks to your beloved iPad.
You can send a wide variety of commands (see the list below) to any software with a tap and create your personal palette for each one. Your most used actions will be always lying directly at your side, handily and neatly organized in Sets and Subsets.
Each Set is completely customizable with different colors and many icons (+900!), and contextual aware: change app on your computer and your iPad will always show you the right set of actions, it’s automagic!
Actions covers universal digital needs: you can both improve and streamline you workflow with massive softwares as Adobe Suite’s and idly control your everyday apps with ease, or even iTunes remotely from the warm side of your sofa.
Direct manipulation and instant feedback lets you save time and frustrations, transforming your digital experience in something new, closer to the future of computer interaction.
Compose your palette choosing from a wide variety of actions:
- hotkeys
- system commands
- media controls
- windows handling
- launch webpages
- create email templates
- text snippets
MAIN FEATURES
- Mac & Win compatibility
- Wi-fi syncing with auto-reconnection
- Works in landscape and portrait
- Organize your actions in Sets and Subsets
- Highly customizable (Sizes, Colors & Icons)
- 900 icons to choose from for your touchpads
- Multitouch gestures for most used actions
- Automatic set switching
- Target actions to a specific app
- Backup and exchange your sets with your friends
- Built in presets for the most popular applications, such as:
Ableton Live, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Aperture, Evernote, Excel, Internet Explorer, Final Cut, Finder, Firefox, Garageband, Chrome, iCal, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, Keynote, Logic Pro, Mail, Notes, Numbers, Outlook, Pages, Pixelmator, Powerpoint, Reeder, Reminders, Safari, TextEdit, Vlc, Word, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Media Player.
I’m going to see what it can do as it’s only £2.49, which isn’t much more than a coffee, so it’s not like it’s a big investment. Also, the developers have an interesting feature in the works involving macros which could be really useful.
Trying out Pythonista for iOS
I read about this app, Pythonista and how much you could do with it, so I finally buckled and bought it. So far I’ve only got to take a look at the sample code that comes with the app, and that’s quite impressive. However, what I’m really interested in is the ability of this app to effectively script iOS.
I think my next step will be to take a look in the forums and see what other people have made with Pythonista. When I’ve got a clearer idea of what’s possible I’ll write something again.
New automation pages
I’ve added a new page under projects which will eventually have a lot more stuff on automation, in iOS, in Android, and on the web. You can find the main section here and the pearl tree on iOS automation here.
Tasker for Android update reveals the sad state of iOS automation
I saw the new version of Tasker for Android today. It really is very cool stuff, but it also serves as a constant reminder that iOS has very little at all in the way of automation applications or functionality. I’ve mentioned drafts and launch center pro before, but neither of these are a patch on Tasker. It’s a real shame as it’s a gap in the market which I’m sure would be filled if Apple would let developers make something like tasker, but that’s not going to happen for a while yet I think.
I am Ashley Elsdon 