iPhone, iPad and Mac users get a new free app in the latest update
With updates to the operating systems that power Apple products like the iPhone, the iPad and MacBooks being released today, there are a host of new features available on your devices.
But there’s also a new app that users will get as part of the updates – and it’s completely free! Freeform is a powerful new app designed for collaborators to come together and brainstorm on one document. The app is automatically added when you complete the latest software update.
Apple says, “Freeform helps users organize and visually lay out content on a flexible canvas,” adding that users don’t have to worry about layout styling or page sizes. The tool even allows you to add other files and view them without leaving the Freeform board.
The basis of Freeform is an infinite canvas. You can constantly expand the space you work in, allowing new ideas to be added to an ever-changing space. A range of pen, pencil and brush types are displayed, and users can draw on the canvas with a finger or an Apple Pencil. The idea is to allow seamless transition between notes and sketching ideas.
In addition to drawing and writing, users can add a host of different file types to their canvas. Photos, video, audio, documents, PDFs, links to websites and map location links, sticky notes, shapes, diagrams and more can all be added to the canvas. Users can even use their iPhone or iPad camera to add images or scanned documents directly to the document.
Plus, to aid virtual collaboration, users can make Facetime calls from within the app. This means you can chat with others working on the document and watch the changes they make in real time. Once you’re done, you can export the canvas as a PDF file, allowing you to share your ideas externally.
I just had a quick play with it on my iPad and my iPhone, and I’m impressed. It is very easy to use even with no prior knowledge. It’s definitely a better experience on an iPad, mainly thanks to the Apple Pencil support and the larger screen size.
For most people, this is unlikely to be the kind of app you use every day, but it’s certainly useful for planning out larger projects, especially when you need to include several different media types. For anyone who regularly plans projects, this could be a godsend – and for free? Well, it’s a no brainer!
