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.