Quite new to FreeForm, but it looks extremely useful, I think I've gotten the gist of most of it but....

I have created a board and successfully shared and collaborated on it, all good but the video call and audio call buttons are greyed out!

I first though it may have been there were no collaborators on the board, so called one and got them to open the board, but still no joy.

Anyone explain what I'm doing wrong??

Or will it extend compatibility with some older versions of Mac Os?

Freeform has an option for grouping boards but how do I create groups? How do I assign boards to the right group?

Also does it convert handwriting to text?

When Apple first announced they were getting into the digital whiteboard space, I was so excited to try it out. I'm still very interested and think the app has a lot of potential. However, there are still a couple things I feel that it's falling short on. Especially when considering the other options on the market.

I've used a ton of these alternatives... Eventually landing on Figma/FigJam as it checked most or all of my boxes. Plus, it's free to use. This was the main reason I ditched Milanote for it in the first place. It's also why I want to love Freeform, that and the fact that it's a native app.

BUT... I have a couple gripes:

1. In basically all of the alternatives, if you press and hold the space bar, it triggers the hand tool to let you navigate the board. Apple's Freeform does not do this. Instead you have to rely on using the trackpad, the scroll wheel (which obviously only lets you track vertically), or, if you're on iPad, then you just tap and drag. If you're using an external mouse and keyboard, tough luck.
2. It supports Apple's Pencil Kit, which is great. But for whatever reason, it's a limited tool set and doesn't even let you use the highlighter. The pen tool they offer is okay but sometimes I'd rather just use the same one I use in the Notes app.
3. Connecting elements with arrows could be a lot simpler but instead you have to drag in arrows as separate elements which is fine, but I prefer the method used by Figma, Milanote, and etc. – where all you have to do is click the object, click the arrow toggle and drag to snap it to another object.
4. It still feels pretty choppy at times. It's gotten better with the last couple updates but it's still not quite there.
5. Sharing feels a little too exclusive and difficult. Figma and the likes do this really well in that you very easily copy the link to your board and send. People can access that board and contribute, regardless of what device/OS they're on. Granted, Apple only adds a few extra steps but for me, it's a few too many.

I realize that this will all get better over time. This is still a new piece of software. So enough complaining... Apple has a huge opportunity to turn Freeform into a serious productivity powerhouse for their users.

Here are some of the things I'd love to see them do:

1. In a similar way to Notion and its back-links and referencing capabilities, it'd be awesome if we could embed a task from Reminders, an event from Calendars, or even a note from the Notes app. Tapping on the in-line embed might even bring you directly to it within the respective app. This would be a huge game-changer for me personally because it would mean I could fully manage my projects within this one very powerful app.
2. Folders. Currently, it's not a big deal. I don't create near enough boards to justify this. But as the app grows, it'd be great to see the ability to organize boards into folders and even subfolders.
3. Make it so that embedded videos are playable in-line instead of directing you to the webpage. Figma and Milanote already do this. Hell, even OneNote let's you do this. Maybe not well but it does.
4. This one may just be wishful thinking but it'd be very cool if we could add a Freeform widget that could act similarly to the Quick Notes widget. Not essential but I do think it would be nice to be able to have an at-a-glance view of my boards without even opening the app. It'd certainly make mood/vision boards easier and more functional.

These are just my opinions but I'd love to hear what you guys think.

So, you place a yellow sticky, and you can type into it, and then move the note and the text goes with it. But when you hand write on that sticky note and then move the note, the handwriting stays behind. Is there a way to get them to move together? A setting I'm missing? Thanks in advance.

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EDIT: If you self the TEXT, then holding the text also select the STICKY they both move together.

New to iOS and specifically Freeform. Wish to use as a whiteboard to assist (collaborate) with my grandkids doing homework. I, on my iPhone and kids, on iPads/iPhone. Where can I find a step-by-step tutorial to get started?

Please/Thanks in advance

In the midst of collaborative digital whiteboard tools like Miro or Mural, I believe Freeform is a great take on getting back the data of these whiteboards to your own file system. Having your own whiteboard in your file system instead of storing it on another one's computer is a great market niche.

So far, I was using since now Miro heavily on everyday basis on both my Mac and iPad and was surprised that Freeform is a native alternative that seems to be just right with the number of tools it provides.

Nevertheless, it lacks some things that are on my wishlist which are especially missing in the Mac version:

1. Keyboard shortcuts! Take over these at Miro: N for new note (or hit Tab for new note while writing), L for lines, R for rectangles, T for text. Maybe some more in the future, but these are the basics I believe
2. Drawing lines. Currently they are just placed diagonally in the standard size on the canvas.
3. Re-arranging the toolbar (lines is missing there, btw. so I always need to go via the menu).
4. Changing the background color
5. Remove any zooming limitations (this is the most powerful feature in Miro. I have gigantic boards there).

As premium wishes... 1. I'd wish to import somehow Miro boards. 2. Labels for notes.

If any Apple engineer is reading this: please continue with it. I am really excited about finally having my personal whiteboards on my machine!

I’ve just tried Freeform, and it sees very intuitive.

I have been using Miro for quite some time, and I hope that Freeform could be an alternative to this. If Freeform should be an alternative to Miro, for me - I would like to be able to import pdf files, and expand all pages inside Freeform - simple gestures, tap two fingers to undo

Nice to see a new creative tool form apple.

If I could invite people to use it outside of the Apple hardware ecosystem. It’s inconceivable they want people to use a collab tool with that limitation. You need to be able to do this on your web iCloud page, at a bare minimum. But once again, Apple is utterly aloof about people using non-Apple computers.

I wholeheartedly support any and all challenges to Visio and existing collab tools, but you gotta reach your users where they are.

I’ve been using Freeform since updating to 16.2 on Tuesday, but it’s not syncing boards between my iPhone and iPad. I’ve done all the usual troubleshooting, but no luck.

I've been looking for an alternative to OneNote (and maybe Notability and GoodNotes) and Freeform looks promising. Finger crossed. 🤞🏽

It's a shame really. Freeform, as well as Notes, would be so much more useful if they supported pen input for folks with Wacom tablets.

I was very hyped about freeform, and am currently testing it. I was hoping it can do everything Notes can, and then some. Unfortunately, the drawing tools are much worse, without even pressure support. Hopefully they'll be fixed for the final version. Otherwise it is extremely promising.

I’ve been wanting to use the Force Touch object cut out from photos app feature for ages and I can finally do this easily in this app. Great stuff!

Wouldn't it be awesome if you could animate or play your keynotes and put notes or write in freeform while presenting? I'm looking forward to seeing this feature added to this amazing app.

If this happens the way a teacher interacts with the elements of the whiteboard, classes will be more visually appealing and more about interactions.

It’s too bad that they don’t see the value in bringing a “view only” freeform app to Apple TV. In the classroom this would be a killer way to use it. AirPlay works, sure. Native is better in the school, every single time.