Think of it as a new type of Tasker app that can trigger certain things to occur based on certain conditions being met. For example, you can set the app to automatically text a message your spouse when the app detects that you have left work. Or you can have it send you a reminder to take an umbrella with you in the morning if the weather calls for rain.
The way it works is by creating rules, or “recipes”, on the on{x} web site, and syncing them to your phone. That’s right… you cannot create or edit rules directly through the app on your phone. You have to do it all on the web site. It actually makes sense since the only way to write a recipe from scratch is to do it in JavaScript code right on the site.
Luckily, any recipe can be shared and reused by others. Microsoft hopes this will catch on and build a huge library of useful and currently un-thought-of recipes. Eventually you’ll be able to find that perfect recipe without having to write it from scratch. When using an existing recipe, it’s easy to change the basics (like your email address or message you want texted) by just clicking… no coding necessary.
I tried on{x} today with mixed results. It did indeed successfully text my wife that I was leaving work as soon as I drove a few feet away from the building, which was great, but for some reason when I set it up to email me Android news at 7:12pm as a test, the time came and went with no email in sight. Could simply be a bug in that recipe, and I only tried those two so far. The app’s user interface is very clean and uncluttered, as it should be. I do wonder how much battery this will suck up.
Right now, the app is getting some negative reviews because it requires you to log in with Facebook and there doesn’t seem to be any other way to log in. No big deal right now since it’s still basically a beta, but let’s hope future versions add more options.
Oh, and as to why this is on Android only right now… Microsoft apparently is using Android’s less-than-air-tight security to test the app and work out all the kinks before writing it for the much more locked down Windows Phone 7. Seems smart to me to test it in the Wild West. Works for me.
source: wpcentral
via: engadget
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