Launch Center Pro 3
Tech for taking real–world shortcuts
$24.99 (or $9.99/year subscription) From Contrast, contrast.co
Made for iPhone, iPad Needs iOS 11.2 or later
Launch Center Pro presents a grid of large icons, each of which you can set to perform an action. To carry out actions, the app makes use of ‘URL schemes’, a mechanism that can send instructions and even data to other iOS apps.
Actions range from simply opening an app to a particular page, to using various pieces of data to, say, add a to–do with a deadline, notes, and tags to a list in Things 3.
Apple’s apps mostly offer the first kind, but many third–party apps offer more opportunities. Don’t be put off by how URLs can look (see below), as you can set them up from an indexed and searchable list of actions.
A challenge for the app is that Apple’s free Shortcuts tool provides a Today view widget, to which important (multi–action) workflows can be pinned and run from the Lock screen. You can also set phrases to run workflows hands–free with “Hey Siri”.
Launch Center Pro has those too, but this version goes further with a brand– new convenience feature and a welcome — if overdue — improvement to an existing way to trigger actions.
The latter is the ability to set multiple schedules on an action — so a notification, which runs an action when tapped, appears at meal times, say. We found this useful in our type 1 diabetes regimen to prompt us to test our glucose level and run a workflow in which we could then log it in — all done from one notification.
The exciting new feature is the ability to scan NFC (near–field communication) tags. Place an iPhone’s top near one and a notification for the paired action pops up. A tag on our glucose meter allowed us to kickstart our workflow when snacking. Tags cost $5 in strips of five, but you really need an XR/XS/ XS Max to get good value, as those can scan whenever the screen is on; on older models you have to open the app.
If you can see a way to apply NFC and scheduled actions to your life, the price here is easily worth it.
the bottom line. If you own the right hardware, this is a compelling iOS add–on. Alan Stonebridge