Pushcut: Shortcuts Automation for Android

This app has the ability to solve major issues with Siri Shortcuts and automations which is why I was willing to pay almost $40 for a lifetime license. However the main feature that most people would want/need requires an additional monthly/annual subscription on top of the lifetime license. Scheduling a one-time server execution/action for a specific date and time should not be behind an additional pay wall for people who already purchased lifetime licenses. Nearly every other “pro” feature of the lifetime license in this app is able to be accomplished by other workarounds or natively in iOS. The one problem it could actually solve, is deceptively locked behind an expensive monthly IAP. 🙄

When you are in a hardware store, you can see the product in its full form before purchasing it. Developers, unfortunately, are far too comfortable to lock their products behind a wall so you can’t even experience it without paying. This app supposedly lets you make widgets, but except for marketing images, one has no idea how you go about making them. The product is the widget. So don’t let me put the widget on the Homescreen. But, I’d like to experience the UX behind creating it before I spend any money. Maybe the widget look nice, but are far too difficult to create.

HomeKit’s automation feature is still a puzzle and somewhat limited. PushCut picks up where Google fell short. The notification feature is really capable when combine with Shortcuts and Home App’s automations. But, the learning curve is pretty steep. PushCut should have built-in animated diagrams explaining how all this work and I can bet that if they do this, this app’s user base would easily double in no time. They really tried to incorporate the same UI language Google uses with Shortcuts, which is very good. But, this type of “configuration” language is very limiting to the normal user who needs to do quite a lot of tests, trial and error, in order to find out the real power of being able to automate shortcuts. I only expect things to get better form here.

Location-based background triggers only work if you have a dedicated iOS device to run as a server. $18/yr for premium would be fine, but that requirement is expensive and feels unnecessary: why does my phone need to connect to another device to run a shortcut that will toggle alarms (as in my phone clock, not security) off or on based on location? --- Response: Unless I'm missing something, without a dedicated device, the location-based triggers only send a notification that you have to interact with in order to run the shortcut. That's the same functionality as the Shortcuts app, which makes this superfluous for my use case.

More and more these perfectly advertised apps that will help people just “do” things without spending a day in a “learning curve” rabbit hole to do baby’s first shortcut. I rejected shortcuts because you need to know more than the average person to make sense of it’s process. It does things, but explains nothing. Useless. I am involved in a career where my logic skills drive the work. As a teacher, it’s infuriating to know how many people are definitely paying for a great reviewed product, that I believe works. But this “figure it out yourself” approach with limited or help disguised as not real help? It needs to work OUT OF THE BOX.