Hands-On With the New Freeform App in iPadOS 16.2

[MacRumors]

When the new software updates were introduced way back in June, Apple demonstrated a new Freeform app that was in development. Freeform is now in the final stages of development, and the app is available in the iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 betas.

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Freeform is available cross-platform, but it works best on the iPad because of the Apple Pencil integration. At first glance, it looks similar to the Notes and Preview apps, offering up some of the same editing tools.

There's an interface with a grid where users can insert drawings, sticky notes, text boxes, shapes, photos, and videos, plus it supports links, PDFs, and other document types. There are all kinds of shapes to choose from, including animals, nature, food, geometry, symbols, arts, science, and people.

Text and shapes can be customized with different colors and styles, and there are quick access tools for edits like duplication and deletion. Undo and redo tools are available, and on the Mac, you can add photos, scanned documents, and sketches from your iOS device using Continuity features.

Multiple Freeform boards are supported, and Apple intends for Freeform to be used collaboratively. All of your boards can be shared with others, and all participants can update a board and add new features, with the changes shown in real-time. As of right now, the sharing features do not appear to be implemented.

Apple will continue to improve the Freeform experience over the course of the beta testing period, adding new features and new functionality.

Article Link: Hands-On With the New Freeform App in iPadOS 16.2

 

[antiprotest]

Anonymous ding dong spam coming up.

 

[Wildkraut]

Ridiculous, tying a such simple App to an OS update, instead of making it available over the AppStore.
Just a confession of failure, that they can't innovate anymore.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I feel like this New Freeform App is going to help me make lots of new friends.

 

[ruka.snow]

So did Apple develop this to make theo own remote collaboration easier and more fluid or just to sell that idea to everyone else?

 

[_Spinn_]

Looks great! I’m very excited to try this out even though I don’t have anyone to try it with 🤣

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

"Freeform is available cross-platform, but it works best on the iPad because of the Apple Pencil integration."

Since when has Apple ever designed something to be better outside of there own eco system?

 

[citysnaps]

Brilliant! Love the simplicity. Loads of people are going to like this.

 

[stinkdieren]

iCloud function/sharing not working (yet?)

 

[citysnaps]

iCloud function/sharing not working (yet?)

It's beta.

 

[citysnaps]

I can see using this with my photographer friends brainstorming and curating sets of photos for projects, exhibitions, book designs, etc.

 

[trhoffmann]

Definitely looking forward to 16.2 with Freeform and the Home app overhaul.

 

[falkon-engine]

Stage manager’s windows need to be free form as well instead of snapping to an invisible grid.

 

[EastHillWill]

iCloud function/sharing not working (yet?)

Did you enable freeform in settings under iCloud?

 

[Ultra Golden Software]

As a custom software developer, I find this app to be promising. Being able to "spitball" with clients and other developers on a whiteboard using a pencil while incorporating links and graphics would be very helpful. Of course there are other platforms like Zoom which provide collaborative whiteboards but they can become expensive for a small business.

 

[stumpapi]

When the new software updates were introduced way back in June, Apple demonstrated a new Freeform app that was in development. Freeform is now in the final stages of development, and the app is available in the iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 betas.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

Freeform is available cross-platform, but it works best on the iPad because of the Apple Pencil integration. At first glance, it looks similar to the Notes and Preview apps, offering up some of the same editing tools.

There's an interface with a grid where users can insert drawings, sticky notes, text boxes, shapes, photos, and videos, plus it supports links, PDFs, and other document types. There are all kinds of shapes to choose from, including animals, nature, food, geometry, symbols, arts, science, and people.

Text and shapes can be customized with different colors and styles, and there are quick access tools for edits like duplication and deletion. Undo and redo tools are available, and on the Mac, you can add photos, scanned documents, and sketches from your iOS device using Continuity features.

Multiple Freeform boards are supported, and Apple intends for Freeform to be used collaboratively. All of your boards can be shared with others, and all participants can update a board and add new features, with the changes shown in real-time. As of right now, the sharing features do not appear to be implemented.

Apple will continue to improve the Freeform experience over the course of the beta testing period, adding new features and new functionality.

Article Link: Hands-On With the New Freeform App in iPadOS 16.2

Everything you demonstrated is already available in Keynote. Nothing new.

 

[nao.sun]

I hope the file type is PDF.

 

[1284814]

What exactly the improvement for iPad Air 4 users. Honestly I have never wished to jailbreak my device that hard this year. Not even the damn Lock Screen customizations. The only good thing is file app update.
BUT,
do you imagine every thing Apple brought to iPad so 16 can be done using a 3rd party app?
except For stage manager.
the shoaetcut app is another one .
hoh here is the best one, auto background removal. 3rd party app can do that too.
bu the name of the great cuthullu where is this inovation they speak of?

 

[satchmo]

Can you add a spreadsheet and have it synched to a Numbers file?

 

[G46&Fbnth5]

"Freeform is available cross-platform, but it works best on the iPad because of the Apple Pencil integration."

Since when has Apple ever designed something to be better outside of there own eco system?

Cross-platform means iPhone, iPad and Mac.

 

[CarAnalogy]

"Freeform is available cross-platform, but it works best on the iPad because of the Apple Pencil integration."

Since when has Apple ever designed something to be better outside of there own eco system?

They haven’t. Cross-platform to Apple means iPhone, iPad, Mac, and maybe Watch and TV.

They call other platforms “out-of-ecosystem.”

 

[SFjohn]

"Freeform is available cross-platform, but it works best on the iPad because of the Apple Pencil integration."

Since when has Apple ever designed something to be better outside of there own eco system?

iTunes for Windows? 😉

 

[BWhaler]

Great overview video. Would be interesting to have follow-up comparison to Miro.

thanks for making.

 

[bgarnett]

Given work in a Windows dominated work environment this would be a more useful tool if Apple were to release for this platform too. It looks cool and an enhanced competitor to OneNote.

 

[MacRumorUser78]

Around we go. Wasn't the OS planned in the late 90s or early 00s supposed to be somewhat like this. A giant whiteboard and it didn't matter what you wanted to do, you just did it. I think it turned into a hot mess. Email is different than drawing, etc.