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I'll stick with Microsoft OneNote for now. It's cross-platform and doesn't have these ridiculous limitations.
Then it’s clearly not for you. I want to like Onenote, but it’s a horrible clunky app compared to Notability (which is also available cross platform) and other similar apps.
 
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I won’t upgrade to ios16 until Apple will enable again the iPad being a home hub. Shame on Tim…
I don’t have an Apple TV nor HomePod I Im not gonna buy it (having a far powerful and better speakers and a Amazon stick)
 
I don't think they're worked up or laughing hard -- I think they used "laughingstock" because it is silly and subject to ridicule given that they require an entire iOS update to get the app. Some people don't like updating firmware until a while after the release, and given all the bugs as of lately, makes sense to want Freeform but not an entirely new update.

The issue isn't that it is part of iOS but that they didn't just make it an easy download from the App Store on eligible devices. I assume this app won't be used by a vast number of iOS/iPad users so again, just odd that it required an entire update vs. an easy download.
I can understand Apple wanting to coax users into their latest OS for marketing and cohesive experiences (whether users like it or not) but the lame part is that this was another signature feature of Apple's latest OS that was not released with the OS, full external monitor support for iPads is also still MIA. I'm looking forward to trying out this app, but things have gotten to where you can't trust that what Apple promotes will make it to users when they say it will and in the form they presented, the convoluted and unintuitive Stage Manager is the most glaring recent example.
 
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Then it’s clearly not for you. I want to like Onenote, but it’s a horrible clunky app compared to Notability (which is also available cross platform) and other similar apps.
Do they support Wacom drawing tablet (or any other like XP-Pen) out of the box? I mean not like a mouse pointer, but with pressure sensitivity and other features, like switching between eraser and pen? If so, I would like to give it a try! Cause I don't like Microsoft's application so much.
 
Does it have an infinite canvas? I use Defter Notes for this on the iPad and might want to jump ship.
 
Do they support Wacom drawing tablet (or any other like XP-Pen) out of the box? I mean not like a mouse pointer, but with pressure sensitivity and other features, like switching between eraser and pen? If so, I would like to give it a try! Cause I don't like Microsoft's application so much.
I don’t know. I got rid of my Wacom Tablet and used my iPad tethered to my MacBook for Photoshop. Kind of like a Wacom Cintiq.
 
Has anyone tried an app called Muse?
It came out well before this was announced, and let's you embed "boards" with just about any type of content into other boards, infinitely.

It's not Apple's, but I think Freeform could've been a lot more useful if it followed the container-within-container format like Muse. And if you're still looking, try their trial. It's pretty cool.
https://museapp.com/

and no, it's not my app.
 
I don’t know. I got rid of my Wacom Tablet and used my iPad tethered to my MacBook for Photoshop. Kind of like a Wacom Cintiq.
So it's almost what I said :D
>Apple just disabled it and want me to but 10 times more expensive iPad for that purpose
Yeah, in that case it's not for me.

P.S. I've checked note apps that you mentioned, and no, they don't support pressure sensitivity and require you to manually choose thickness.
For now OneNote is still the only note-making app (AFAIK) that fully support pencil on MacOS.
I hoped Freeform do the same, but it doesn't ☹️
 
Might be useful, but advertising a whole OS update with an App that could have been released independently makes it a laughingstock.
Develope a device that permits movement in only one direction, determined by a person’s initial movement. Put me in that device, and tell me to draw a straight line. Look in amazement at the squiggles and abrupt changes in direction that I still manage to unintentionally produce. Every “we will release your creativity!” software or device is doomed to abject failure when I try to use it.
 
The Article says you can draw on a sticky note , am I missing something , I can draw over the top of a sticky note, but if I move the note , the drawing stays where it is . I dont appear to be able to group/flatten the note
 
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Does no one know of Jamboard by Google?

Basically the exact same thing but with improvements by Apple.

Strange I haven't heard anyone mention it or the likeness.
I was thinking of this. The Apple Pencil is certainly a win for Freeform, but if I’m understanding correctly Freeform is single platform. That will keep Jamboard (and even Padlet) ahead of Freeform for many people.
 
Freeform is already ready as…Numbers

Freeform is a redundant application from Apple.
To use Freeform you need the latest beta of IOS, iPadOS and Ventura.
For some of us, due to its availability on only newer Macs, Ventura is unplayable, and neither can Freeform, as it appears to be part of Apple's Core applications.

This makes collaborating on your own document very difficult, let alone with other users.

Unnecessary:

It is a waste of energy and resources to develop this application because:

.Most of it is already in the iWork suite
.The few added features can be better implemented in the iWork suite.
.Many new APIs, made available by Apple, are not used.
.Functionality from Notes is not used.

Because I can't run Ventura I will do the comparison with 2 iPads and my Monterey macOS
I divide the comparison into a number of categories

Startup:
Format Similar to Notes
no tags possible
no sub possible

Options:
1: sticky Notes
No option to start left at the top
No scalable text
Limited number of colors
Editing options less than in Notes and iWork added description not visible with icon or flag.
Only text can be copied to other app, not the sticky note itself, not even as PNG
.multiple selected objects will not become one object in other apps, including iWork or Notes
Don't snap to the selected canvas

2. Shapes
1. No difference with the iWork suite
2. No ability to save custom shapes
3. Some borders around objects are incomplete

3. Text
1. More limited than iWork
2. Attributes are lost when copying to iWork

4. Drawing
1. Largely Similar to iWork
2. No option to make straight square like in Notes

5. Unlimited canvas
1. Also present in Numbers

6. Media
1. Insert files
1. A Lookup is created. Document not being added?
2. Where are the freeform files, how open are they?
2. Scan: Similar to Notes, including text recognition
3. Camera: Similar to Notes and iWork
4. Video: only 4:3 and no 16:9, in iWork yes

7. Choose background
1. Only two options
2. Easy to create in iWork using a template

8. Web version: no web version yet
1. iWork has a stable and well-functioning collaboration mode that has just been improved.
And it works on windows machines, using the iCloud version.

Positive:

1.PDF support
Inserting a PDF document works well. It is shown with Preview.
An option that's easy to add to iWork

Inserting a link: Works faster than in iWork
Easy to add to iWork

Comments:

Insert web video:
Option works much better in iWork, embedded playback
In Freeform it's a link

iWork and especially Numbers is much more extensive, more flexible and with some minor adjustments an excellent alternative.

"It is a waste of energy and resources to develop this application because:"

Please write a letter to Tim C, Craig F, and Apples Board, giving them a piece of your mind. Stat...before it's too late and Apple implodes due to its wasteful use of energy and resources.
 
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I love Freeform. First time I've installed public betas of iPadOS and macOS, which I did specifically to try out Freeform.

To those wondering why Freeform is tied to an OS update, I speculate that it may have required some under the hood tweaks to how iCloud works. A podcast called metamuse from the makers of another great infinite canvas app - Muse - discussed the challenges of combining a fast & fluid inking experience (120 fps) and reliable sync across devices (let alone realtime collaboration). It's non trivial.

Most infinite canvas apps seem to either use a cloud-first model (like Microsoft Whiteboard), where inking and moving objects just doesn't feel quite as fluid as it should OR are native apps (like Concepts), but do not allow realtime collaboration or cross-device syncing.

Of course iWork apps and Notes already have some of this "best of both". My assumption is that Freeform takes this "native, but syncs fast" to another level.

Excellent assessment based on actual use - THANK YOU!
 
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Could be a great application for K-12 teachers. Other similar applications that I know of are subscription based.
 
I have affinity designer - its way too complex for UX design

Illustrator is Adobe and the price they charge for apps is insane

I don't think generally feature rich vector illustration applications are an exact match for UX design. My opinion of course. However having worked on many apps on many teams, Sketch or Figma is used for this purpose
Vectornator? Amadine? Or even Sketchbook?
 
Maybe part of why Evernote just sold to Bending Spoons. Can't imagine the introduction of this is going to help them keep users, they've already been bleeding for years as they tried to figure out how to monetize the platform. The great additions to the standard Notes app over the years have really killed many of the unique features of Evernote, and this addition further moves into their feature-set.

Spot on!

Ten+ years ago I was deep into Evernote for a variety of purposes. But then Apple introduced Notes and I switched due to its simplicity and "just works" nature across all Apple devices. I like how Apple has subtly evolved its utility over the years without increasing complexity of use, while Evernote sadly became a much more complicated to use App

I suspect Freeform will be on a similar trajectory as Notes.
 
Spot on!

Ten+ years ago I was deep into Evernote for a variety of purposes. But then Apple introduced Notes and I switched due to its simplicity and "just works" nature across all Apple devices. I like how Apple has subtly evolved its utility over the years without increasing complexity of use, while Evernote sadly became a much more complicated to use App

I suspect Freeform will be on a similar trajectory as Notes.
I used Evernote too but not religiously. I considered a premium subscription at one point but realized I didn't have enough need for such (though I do know many found big value in it). When they went to allowing only 2 devices on the free plan, I largely stopped using it and since Apple has improved Notes, I've completely gone that way. Still may have some old notes to transfer off of Evernote but clearly they're not that important, as I've left them there for years now.
 
Running iOS16.2 & MacOS13.1 betas. Opened FreeForm, fiddled with it for 5 minutes, closed FreeForm. Done. Next...
 
It feels like Apple wants it to be a core part of the OS. It isn’t a normal app. Maybe Apple is planning to integrate it everywhere.
It seems as if Apple currently is (IMO appropriately) planning to integrate everything that they do everywhere. The real question is whether or not Apple will suck us in to building enterprise-critical workflows for a few years using Freeform, then totally, totally scr*w us in the future by deciding on some Apple whim that "sorry, we are not going to do that any more" like Apple did by canceling Mac Project, then like Apple did by canceling Aperture, then like Apple did by canceling FileMaker Runtime versions.

Each of those arbitrary Apple screw-the-users decisions cost my small business and many others very serious money. Yet I remain a very supportive user, go figure. But from experience I warn others: Do not trust Apple to continue application software in the future.

Users also should not forget the learning curve investment involved with apps. Not only do all the workers involved spend a lot of time learning an app like (new) Freeform or (canceled after years) Mac Project, or (canceled after years) Aperture, or (canceled after years) Filemaker Run Time, but there is an additional substantial period of unproductive time involved for each worker needing to learn some new workflow after Apple's whim cancelation cripples an enterprise workflow.

And I did not even mention the hundreds of hours of work lost due to flaky Apple Photos that was alleged to supplant Aperture, because after all these years I have become inured to Apple and others releasing beta-level software as being ready for public consumption.
 
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It seems as if Apple currently is (IMO appropriately) planning to integrate everything that they do everywhere. The real question is whether or not Apple will suck us in to building enterprise-critical workflows for a few years using Freeform, then totally, totally scr*w us in the future by deciding on some Apple whim that "sorry, we are not going to do that any more" like Apple did by canceling Mac Project, then like Apple did by canceling Aperture, then like Apple did by canceling FileMaker Runtime versions.

Each of those arbitrary Apple screw-the-users decisions cost my small business and many others very serious money. Yet I remain a very supportive user, go figure. But from experience I warn others: Do not trust Apple to continue application software in the future.

Users also should not forget the learning curve investment involved with apps. Not only do all the workers involved spend a lot of time learning an app like (new) Freeform or (canceled after years) Mac Project, or (canceled after years) Aperture, or (canceled after years) Filemaker Run Time, but there is an additional substantial period of unproductive time involved for each worker needing to learn some new workflow after Apple's whim cancelation cripples an enterprise workflow.

And I did not even mention the hundreds of hours of work lost due to flaky Apple Photos that was alleged to supplant Aperture, because after all these years I have become inured to Apple and others releasing beta-level software as being ready for public consumption.

"Do not trust Apple to continue application software in the future."

Apple will continue to offer specific applications to the extent they can add or maintain value with their own secret sauce. Apple Notes is now going on 10 years and I see no reason for it not going at least another 10 years.

Regarding Aperture... When I was evaluating both Aperture and Lightroom 15 years ago I tried both programs for a month or so and chose Lightroom. It was clear from the beginning it was a far better program - especially in handling brush-based non-destructive editing.

Also, Adobe's underlying and primary existence is based on image/color science, while Apple's was not. There was no way Apple would ever top Adobe in that field. Looking back, that was the best decision I've ever made having more than 100,000 (might be closer to 200K) edited RAW files in multiple LR catalogs.

As there are already a few outstanding project management programs available there's no point in trying to compete from behind. Ditto for drawing programs (MacDraw), and many others.

That said, while Freeform isn't broadly unique in function, there's enough there for Apple to have a good start competing with others, with Apple's own secret sauce. I can see it going far. In the same way Notes has, while Evernote is flailing,
 
I think anyone who works in a creative environment, especially one that involves collaboration with others, will jump on and use Freeform.

Probably they're already using Figjam and don't see much reason to switch to something Apple exclusive with limited accessibility.
 
Weird.

Since it's not something that interests you, what about it makes you laugh so hard? Being part of iOS is certainly not an issue or problem. And for sure not to get so worked up about.

The problem is Apple requiring a whole OS update just to install one app. That’s ridiculous. Why didn’t they make things easier and just release Freeform in the appstore for download? we’ve had enough of requiring a full software update for every change Apple wants to make. Some of them can certainly be made without a whole OS update, but stubborn Apple refuses to budge.
 
The problem is Apple requiring a whole OS update just to install one app. That’s ridiculous. Why didn’t they make things easier and just release Freeform in the appstore for download? we’ve had enough of requiring a full software update for every change Apple wants to make. Some of them can certainly be made without a whole OS update, but stubborn Apple refuses to budge.

That's not a problem.

The app probably requires an OS update (beyond 16.1.1 for iPhone) in order for all features to work properly.

Imagine the never-ending whine-fest here if Apple simply released the app and features didn't work immediately.

Or, for whatever reason, Apple wants it part of the OS, like Mail, Safari, Notes, Contacts, Stocks, Calendar, Photos, Weather, and on and on.
 
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