iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 Betas Introduce Freeform App

With the macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 16.2, and iPadOS 16.2 betas provided to developers today, Apple has introduced the first version of the Freeform app that was first introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

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Freeform is a digital canvas app that is designed to let iPhone, iPad, and Mac users work together collaboratively in realtime. Multiple people can contribute images, notes, scribbles, documents, web links, PDFs, and more, with content added visible to everyone.

Apple's Freeform app is designed to work with the Apple Pencil on ‌iPad‌, and it can be used with FaceTime for visual feedback between Freeform participants.

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Top Rated Comments

dantracht Avatar
41 months ago
More interested in giving this a try than stage manager.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sorgo † Avatar
41 months ago
Who needs the Metaverse when we get a virtual bathroom stall, for free?! ?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lazyrighteye Avatar
41 months ago
Of all the features of iOS 16, this, for me, holds the most interest.
I leverage Notes, daily, on my iPad mini 6 (with Pencil 2). It's proven a really powerful aspect of my current workflow. I'm curious to see how/if Freeform might fit within, or replace, that Notes-based workflow.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarAnalogy Avatar
41 months ago
It’s always interesting to see the sample data Apple puts in their promotional images. Apparently everyone that uses an iPad for work is a community organizer or other nonprofit.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
41 months ago
I wonder if it keeps track of who contributed what to the board, because I might want to prank people with ding dongs and such.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chrjy Avatar
41 months ago
Freeform - essentially Apple’s answer to Miro or similar. They have probably seen all their UXers using Miro and thought they should develop their own version.

Miro is awesome for fast collaboration and I don’t know of any UXers who don’t use it. Probably be a few iterations before Apple can compete with Miro though. Our design team uses Miro everyday…be lost without it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)