17 votes

Proper iOS homescreen link

Posted July 3 by tomf (edited July 4)

Tags: ask.discussion, ios, tips and tricks, screens.home

A fancier way is here — but either is great.

—-

For those using iOS with a bookmark on their homescreen, you may have been plagued like me with Tildes opening in a private window instead of the session where you’re logged in.

I don’t know why I didn’t think about this sooner, but it’s so easy

Shortcuts > New > Create New Tab > Open URL (remove the variable and put in https://tildes.net) > context menu next to the title of the shortcut > Add to Homescreen > Photo (left image option) > select your tildes logo that i forgot to tell you to save

… done. Now Tildes will always open Safari in an authenticated session. ezpz.

10 comments

[6]
Sunbutt23
July 3
Link
I couldn’t figure out how to say this without sounding like an ass: there’s also an app (three cheers). I take it you’re a person that doesn’t like apps? I have a friend like that so I’ve seen it...

I couldn’t figure out how to say this without sounding like an ass: there’s also an app (three cheers). I take it you’re a person that doesn’t like apps? I have a friend like that so I’ve seen it before, it’s just foreign to me.

I don’t mean to be rude, please read all that in a conversational tone and not a condescending tone!

11 votes
1. tomf (OP)
  July 3
  Link Parent
  yeah, there is. I have it but I never got around to using it. I wouldn't worry about the tone at all, though. I'm certain there are others like me that don't use it, though. This is for us. :)
  
  yeah, there is. I have it but I never got around to using it.
  
  I wouldn't worry about the tone at all, though. I'm certain there are others like me that don't use it, though. This is for us. :)
  
  10 votes
2. [3]
  fxgn
  July 3
  Link Parent
  This doesn't really apply to apps like Three Cheers, but I generally avoid apps because they can do much more tracking than websites. For example, see the recent case about Meta and Yandex....
  
  I take it you’re a person that doesn’t like apps? I have a friend like that so I’ve seen it before, it’s just foreign to me.
  
  This doesn't really apply to apps like Three Cheers, but I generally avoid apps because they can do much more tracking than websites. For example, see the recent case about Meta and Yandex.
  
  There's a store in my country which is kinda like our version of Sephora, and they have an app that is exactly the same as the web version of their store, but their bonus card/loyalty program is only available through the app, so I have the app installed.
  
  Recently the app got updated, and now it frequently asks me for permission to see the list of all other apps on my phone, so that it can "protect me against malware". Yeah, no, thanks.
  
  My general guideline is to only install an app for things that need to work offline, otherwise a web version is fine.
  
  5 votes
  1. babypuncher
    July 3
    Link Parent
    That loophole used to get around privacy controls for cross-app tracking by Facebook and Yandex is impossible on iOS
    
    That loophole used to get around privacy controls for cross-app tracking by Facebook and Yandex is impossible on iOS
    
    2 votes
  2. dhcrazy333
    July 3
    Link Parent
    I've gone out of my way to try and purge my phone from most unnecessary apps (you know, the ones that are just a wrapped web browser but with infinitely more tracker controls), but Three Cheers is...
    
    I've gone out of my way to try and purge my phone from most unnecessary apps (you know, the ones that are just a wrapped web browser but with infinitely more tracker controls), but Three Cheers is one of the few that absolutely was going to stay. Simple, functional, not loaded with bloat, and not optimized to try and serve me ads.
    
    RedditIsFun was one of my favorite apps before it got killed, glad to see the spiritual successor for Tildes.
3. ThrowdoBaggins
  July 7
  Link Parent
  I’ve been using Three Cheers for some time (and Backtick before that) but I’m still aware of some features that the web browser version has which the app is still missing.
  
  I’ve been using Three Cheers for some time (and Backtick before that) but I’m still aware of some features that the web browser version has which the app is still missing.
  
  4 votes

[4]

JackA

July 3

Link

I used this "web clip" shortcut script (that I honestly don't fully understand but that I'm pretty sure is safe) to generate a standalone app for the tildes website that way it doesn't have to be...

I used this "web clip" shortcut script (that I honestly don't fully understand but that I'm pretty sure is safe) to generate a standalone app for the tildes website that way it doesn't have to be inside of safari at all. Keeps me signed in even after clearing data in safari and I've been using it for years now.

https://routinehub.co/shortcut/10290/

3 votes

[3]

tomf (OP)

July 3

Link Parent

oh nice. this is slick. shame it needs a profile and all that, but not the worst. good find!

oh nice. this is slick. shame it needs a profile and all that, but not the worst.

good find!

2 votes

[2]

JackA

July 3

Link Parent

Oddly enough I don't even have a profile installed on this phone. I think when I swapped iPhones last it transferred the "app" I created but left the profile behind. I am kinda curious if anyone...

Oddly enough I don't even have a profile installed on this phone. I think when I swapped iPhones last it transferred the "app" I created but left the profile behind.

I am kinda curious if anyone can tell me how this actually functions lol

3 votes

tomf (OP)

July 3

Link Parent

ok! I made it! You need to run uuidgen twice to get the UUIDs to paste in -- but otherwise this works like a charm. I airdropped this over. The big mess for the icon is plaintext Base64....

ok! I made it! You need to run uuidgen twice to get the UUIDs to paste in -- but otherwise this works like a charm. I airdropped this over. The big mess for the icon is plaintext Base64.

tildes.mobileconfig

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" 
  "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>PayloadContent</key>
    <array>
        <dict>
            <key>Label</key>
            <string>Tildes</string>
            <key>PayloadType</key>
            <string>com.apple.webClip.managed</string>
            <key>PayloadVersion</key>
            <integer>1</integer>
            <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
            <string>com.example.tildes.webclip</string>
            <key>PayloadUUID</key>
            <string>PASTE YOUR FIRST UUID HERE</string>
            <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
            <string>Tildes</string>
            <key>URL</key>
            <string>https://tildes.net</string>
            <key>Icon</key>
            <data>
                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
            </data>
            <key>IsRemovable</key>
            <true/>
            <key>Precomposed</key>
            <true/>
            <key>FullScreen</key>
            <true/>
        </dict>
    </array>
    <key>PayloadOrganization</key>
    <string>tomf</string>
    <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
    <string>Tildes</string>
    <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
    <string>com.tomf.tildes.profile</string>
    <key>PayloadUUID</key>
    <string>PASTE YOUR SECOND UUID HERE</string>
    <key>PayloadVersion</key>
    <integer>1</integer>
    <key>PayloadType</key>
    <string>Configuration</string>
</dict>
</plist>

Once you airdrop it over, you accept the profile. It isn't signed, so you need to live with that :)

3 votes