Workflow is a name familiar to most if not all the iPhone users. It is a very useful iOS app which allows you to combine functionality of various apps as well as different steps required to achieve an action. In simpler words, it makes a button which does all the things for you in the background, you just have to press it once and your job is done. With Workflow, one can create GIFs out of camera photos, convert websites into PDF and what not by a single touch. Workflow, a kind of automation tool got so popular that Apple decided to acquire.
The acquisition of Workflow by Apple was in rumors for a while and finally on Tuesday, all the rumors were set to rest when TechCrunch confirmed the acquisition news for the first time. No financial details were revealed though. Complete team of founders- Weinstein, Conrad Kramer, Ayaka Nonaka and Nick Frey will be now part of Apple team and we might see inclusion of some of Workflow’s automation and productivity tools in upcoming versions of iOS starting with iOS 11.
“We are thrilled to be joining Apple. We’ve worked closely with Apple from the very beginning, from kickstarting our company as students attending WWDC to developing and launching Workflow and seeing its amazing success on the App Store. We can’t wait to take our work to the next level at Apple and contribute to products that touch people across the world. ” TechCrunch quoted Ari Weinstein, Co-Founder, Workflow.
Strangely, Apple did not remove the app from the App store, but made it available free of cost for everyone’s use. This sounds much merrier than it actually is. Although the app is free now, but several awesome automation features, which competed with Apple’s product, are removed from the latest update. Release notes inside the app show that only Apple Maps is supported in maps actions. Now, the Translate Text workflow is powered by Microsoft Translate, and workflows that involve Uber, Telegram, Pocket, Google Chrome or Google Street View are no longer supported.
“The Workflow app was selected for an Apple Design Award in 2015 because of its outstanding use of iOS accessibility features, in particular an outstanding implementation for VoiceOver with clearly labeled items, thoughtful hints, and drag/drop announcements, making the app usable and quickly accessible to those who are blind or low-vision.” Apple added while speaking about Workflow.
What engineers at Apple were unable to do it better than a 3-membered team of smart technicians, so they decided to acquire the company and hired the whole team.
Anup Singh is a professional writer with a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Durgapur. His love for content writing started 2 years back with writing articles and paper descriptions for college magazine. From then on, he has developed his skills as a technical content writer. He is also a passionate lyricist.