I recently shared some thoughts on several iOS Shortcuts Automations that I’ve been using to help reduce battery drain during the day on my iPhone 15 Pro Max. See that post here.
After writing that post, I came across a very helpful YouTube video by Stephen Robles: 10 Shortcuts to Save your iPhone Battery. His video gave me a couple more ideas which I’ve incorporated into my automations.
In particular, he pointed out that in addition to putting the iPhone into Low Power Mode, another setting to change to further reduce battery drain is to turn off the always on display. So I’ve updated my automations to do both – whenever I put the iPhone into Low Power Mode, I also turn off the always on display setting. And vice-versa – so that when I turn off Low Power Mode (like when I’m charging the phone) I turn the always on display back on.
In our fast-paced digital world, efficiency is key. Apple’s iOS offers a powerful tool for streamlining daily tasks through its Shortcuts app. iOS automations allow users to create custom workflows that trigger automatically based on various conditions, such as location changes, battery levels, or device connections. These automations can significantly enhance your iPhone experience, saving time and reducing the need for manual interventions.
In this post, I’ll share some of the iOS automations I’ve set up to make my daily life smoother and more efficient. These shortcuts demonstrate how small, automated actions can add up to a more seamless mobile experience.
When I Leave Home
Set Low Power Mode
One of the first automations I’ve set up triggers when I leave my home. As soon as my iPhone detects that I’ve left my home location, it automatically enables Low Power Mode. This is particularly useful for conserving battery life when I’m out and about away from home.
When I Come Home
If Home, Turn Off Low Power Mode
Complementing the previous automation, I have another set to trigger when I arrive home. This automation checks if Low Power Mode is active and turns it off. At home, I typically have easy access to chargers, so maximizing battery life becomes less critical.
CarPlay Automations
My car has CarPlay which offers excellent opportunities for automation, enhancing both safety and convenience while driving. I’ve created a few automations triggered by when my iPhone connects or disconnects from CarPlay.
When CarPlay Connects
When my iPhone connects to CarPlay, it triggers a series of actions:
– Music: A selected playlist starts playing automatically, setting the mood for my drive without requiring me to navigate through music apps.
– Message: The system sends an automated message stating “Now leaving [location]”. This keeps important contacts informed about my movements without my manual input.
– Maps: The Maps app opens automatically, ready for me to input a destination if needed.
When CarPlay Disconnects
Upon disconnecting from CarPlay:
– Message: An automated message is sent saying “Now arrived at [location]”. This provides a convenient way to let others know I’ve reached my destination safely.
iPhone Battery Management
If Not at Home and Battery < 70%
To ensure I don’t run out of battery unexpectedly, I’ve set up an automation that triggers when I’m not at home and my battery level drops below 70%. This automatically enables Low Power Mode, helping to extend my battery life when I might not have immediate access to a charger.
If Connected to Power
Conversely, when my iPhone is connected to a power source, an automation turns off Low Power Mode. This allows the device to perform all functions at full capacity while charging, ensuring background tasks and updates can proceed normally.
These automations represent just a fraction of what’s possible with iOS Shortcuts. By automating these small but frequent tasks, I’ve reduced the cognitive load of managing my device and improved its efficiency. The beauty of iOS automations lies in their customizability – you can tailor them to fit your specific needs and lifestyle. I’m having fun experimenting with using iOS automations!
Note: This post began with me making a mind-map using Mindnode on my iPhone. I then exported it in Markdown format. Using the new Claude 3.5 Sonnet I wrote a prompt describing what I wanted to write, included the Markdown from Mindnode as input and asked Claude to write a first draft beginning with some background on iOS automation. I took Claude’s first draft – which was quite good – and refined it with my own edits before publishing it here.
Have the winter blues got you yearning for something more?
As winter rains descend upon Northern California once again, I find myself embracing the cozy ambiance indoors while embarking on a journey of discovery amidst the inclement weather. Instead of succumbing to the lull of hibernation, I’ve delved into a world of newfound inspiration and innovation, primarily through the vast expanse of online resources.
Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing some of my recent discoveries here. Perhaps you’ll find something of value from what I’ve found! Included is a nifty tip below for quickly capturing fleeting ideas during the day, creative uses of ChatGPT, a series on how some great authors actually write, a field guide on personal productivity, an online course of developing your PKM (Personal Knowledge Management) system, and more. Let’s get started…
A couple of years ago, I was hardly aware of YouTube. Once in a while I’d see a video returned in one of my Google searches – often for help in fixing something or another. Somewhere along the way, I discovered all of the content on YouTube – and, in particular, the value of YouTube Premium which enables uninterrupted and background YouTube video playback..
Now, YouTube is my spare time enjoyment channel – where I discover new creators sharing new ideas and stimulating conversations. Have you discovered any hidden gems online during your rainy days? Share your discoveries in the comments below! Here are a couple of my recent delights:
Have you ever lost a great idea in a blink? Rich Bowlin has a great YouTube channel that is a goldmine with down-to-earth, straightforward how-to videos about using iPhones and iPads.
Inspired by one of his videos on the use of shortcuts, I built one that captures fleeting ideas with just two taps on the back of my iPhone! Imagine never losing another one of my brilliant thoughts again! I can quickly enter text about the idea which it appends to a daily note for today – or creates a daily note for today if it hasn’t already been created. Later, when I have time, I can open that note and be immediately reminded of my fleeting ideas from early that day. Here’s Rich’s video where he describes his approach.
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