iPhone & iPad App Extensions: A Guide to iOS 8

Leveraging the Power of iOS App Extensions

App extensions provide a mechanism for expanding the functionality of iOS, enabling integration with a wide range of services.

These extensions empower users to customize the Share menu, introduce new actions within Safari and Chrome, and enhance the capabilities of native apps like Photos.

How App Extensions Function

Extensions are packaged directly with their respective applications, meaning installation of the app automatically includes its associated extensions.

It’s likely that extensions for applications you frequently use are already present on your device, though they may currently be inactive.

Capabilities Enabled by Extensions

• Share Menu Integration: Extend the iOS Share menu to include any desired service.
• Browser Actions: Add custom actions and features to Safari or Chrome.
• Photo Editing: Utilize specialized photo-editing tools directly within the Photos application.
• Cloud Storage Connectivity: Seamlessly integrate cloud storage services with various applications.

The core benefit of app extensions lies in their ability to enhance the iOS experience without requiring entirely new applications.

By simply installing an app, users gain access to its extension, streamlining workflows and increasing productivity.

Understanding the Six Categories of iOS Extensions

iOS 8 introduced several distinct "extension points" for developers. While Apple categorizes widgets and custom keyboards as extensions, they are often discussed independently. It’s important to note that Apple reserves the right to introduce additional extension types in future iOS releases.

Exploring the Different Extension Types

These extensions enhance the functionality of iOS 8, allowing for greater integration between apps and the operating system. Each type serves a unique purpose, expanding the capabilities of the platform.

• Share Extensions: These extensions integrate directly into the iOS 8 Share menu, providing users with additional options for sharing content. Content can be sent to various websites or directly with other applications.
• Action Extensions: Action extensions are designed to work with content originating from a host application, enabling manipulation or viewing. Consider web browsers like Safari or Chrome; these extensions can modify webpage content, such as translating text or utilizing a password manager.
• Photo Editing Extensions: Applications offering photo and video editing capabilities can function as Photo Editing extensions. This allows for direct editing within the native Photos application.
• Document/Storage Provider Extensions: These extensions facilitate access and management of files from various sources. Services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive can leverage these extensions.

Through these extensions, users can seamlessly open and save files to their preferred cloud storage provider within any app supporting Apple’s standard file picker.

• Today Extensions: Commonly known as widgets, these extensions reside within the Today view of the Notification Center.
• Custom Keyboards: Third-party keyboard applications are also implemented as a type of extension.

Further Information: A guide on utilizing widgets on iPhones and iPads running iOS 8 can be found elsewhere.

Utilizing Share Extensions

Accessing Share extensions is straightforward. Simply tap the Share button within any application. This button is visually represented by a rectangle featuring an upward-pointing arrow.

For instance, when browsing in Safari, tapping the Share button allows you to distribute the currently viewed webpage to another application.

Managing Share Extension Visibility

Within the top menu – which typically includes options like Message, Mail, Twitter, and Facebook – scroll towards the right side. Locate and tap the "More" button.

A comprehensive list of your installed Share extensions will then be displayed.

• Enable the extensions you frequently use.
• Disable those that are unnecessary.

It’s now possible to disable services like Twitter and Facebook if they aren’t part of your regular workflow.

Furthermore, you can customize the order of this list by touching and dragging the handles to reposition the extensions as desired.

Once you have configured your preferences, tap "Done".

The Share menu will subsequently reflect your selected services and retain your chosen arrangement. Selecting an extension will then share content from the current application with that service.

For example, choosing Pocket will save the current webpage to your Pocket queue, while selecting Evernote will store it within an Evernote notebook.

Leveraging Action Extensions

Action extensions are also accessible through the Share menu on your device. Within browsers like Safari or Chrome, the Share menu typically presents sharing options on the first row, followed by Actions on the second. Simply scroll to the right and select "More" to personalize these actions.