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iOS 27.2 update gives the Shortcuts app powerful features to support iPhone Duo and AI

The iOS 27.2 update comes packed with a comprehensive suite of improvements, including enhanced capabilities for Siri, FaceTime, and Messages. However, for enthusiasts of productivity and automation, the real star of this update is the Shortcuts app, which has received significant upgrades that make it more flexible and intelligent. Perhaps most notable is the direct integration with the iPhone Duo, alongside the expansion of AI capabilities and streamlined shortcut management across various Apple devices.

The foldable iPhone Duo phone


Custom automation for the new iPhone Duo

Although the iPhone Duo reached users’ hands with iOS 27.1, Apple didn’t wait long to provide it with intelligent software capabilities that match its revolutionary design. With the arrival of iOS 27.2, the company added an all-new automation trigger called “When my iPhone is opened or closed,” specifically designed for the iPhone Duo.

From the Phonegram website: A tablet screen displaying the 'Shortcuts' app in iOS 27.2, with an automation menu including 'When my iPhone is opened or closed' settings alongside a list of categories.

This addition allows users to set up fully customized scenarios; such as automatically launching reading apps and workspaces as soon as the large screen is opened, or activating Low Power Mode and displaying quick widgets as soon as the phone is folded. It is a smart feature that leverages the nature of foldable devices to turn the simple act of opening and closing into an instant trigger for daily tasks.


Improved workout triggers and app closing

The improvements didn’t stop at foldable phones; they extended to the automated triggers that users rely on daily across various Apple platforms. The “When I start a workout” trigger has received official support for the Fitness app across iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS, allowing for the seamless playback of music playlists or the activation of a specific Focus mode when starting a physical activity.

From the Phonegram website: A smartphone screen displaying a workout list in a fitness app, including options for Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Rowing, and Functional Strength Training, as seen in the Shortcuts app in iOS 27.2.

App automation also received a smart upgrade across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS; when closing a specific app like Weather, the system is now able to pass the name of the closed app as a useful variable within the workflow. This software adjustment opens the door to building more complex shortcuts that interact with high precision with the apps you finish using, without the need for extra steps.


Expansion of AI languages and editor improvements

As part of supporting generative model capabilities, the “Use Model” action received a qualitative upgrade that enables it to fetch up-to-date information directly from the web in multiple additional languages, including French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish, whereas the feature was previously limited to English only.

From the Phonegram website: Two smartphones displaying the iOS 27.2 Shortcuts app: one shows the 'Tech News and Sunscreen' automation, while the other shows the 'Search Actions' menu with an on-screen keyboard.

Within the Shortcuts editor itself, Apple has added practical touches that increase customization speed. On Mac, window layouts can now be adjusted via options to show actions and shortcut descriptions in the menu. On iOS and iPadOS, users can now edit shortcut names and icons directly from the main library interface, without needing to enter the editor details, making library organization and management much easier and faster.

What is the first idea you would implement in the Shortcuts app if you owned an iPhone Duo? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Source:

9to5mac.com

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