New in iOS 12: Siri can turn on the flashlight

Siri has been very useful for many years since its first launch to all iOS devices. Now in iOS 12 it makes siri flashlight a reality. Many users have been wondering why Siri can't do the basic things like turning on or off the flashlight.

As Dave Mark wrote on The Loop today, Paul Alvarado recently asked Apple’s support account on Twitter why Siri could not control the flashlight on iPhone and iPad.

“Why can’t I ask Siri to turn my iPhone flashlight on or off? Seriously, it’s inexplicably inane limitations like this that make me deeply despise Siri,” a disgruntled Alvarado wrote in a tweet in which he copied Apple’s marketing honcho Phil Schiller, CEO Tim Cook and Internet Software and Services chief Eddy Cue (but, oddly, not design lead Jony Ive).

Schiller did reply on Twitter:

iOS 12 “Turn on flashlight” pic.twitter.com/FtAjdwrOG2

— Philip Schiller (@pschiller) August 22, 2018

Schiller’s response is a simple screenshot showing the Siri interface with a request “Turn on the flashlight” and Siri’s response saying the flashlight is on.

How to turn on/off flashlight using Siri:

Simply you just need to ask Siri the following commands:

• “Hey Siri, turn on/off the flashlight“
• “Hey Siri, enable/disable the torch“
• “Hey Siri, flashlight on/off“
• “Hey Siri, torch on/off“

 As you can see, the command has been localized so using the word “torch” that’s common in British English and used in countries like Australia and the United Kingdom works, too.

A simple yet important thing

Invoking the flashlight through Siri is extremely convenient.
It helps you find that keyhole in the dark or, as Dave said, when on your hands and knees trying to look under the couch “for the only battery in the house that of course rolled under there.”

There’s no doubt that many people will be happy with this particular feature in iOS 12, but I’m not sure why we need the latest and greatest iOS software for such a basic functionality.

Any ideas?