At this meeting, held on 24th February, we experimented with collaborating using Apple’s new Freeform virtual whiteboard app and discussed recent Apple news. Members also raised a number of topics.
Freeform
Robert and DaveK demonstrated collaborating on a virtual whiteboard in Apple’s new Freeform app. Robert used the app on his Mac and Dave used an iPad. Features they demonstrated included:
- Sharing a Freeform board for collaboration and controlling the collaboration settings.
- Using an Apple Pencil to draw on the board.
- Adding pictures, video and documents.
- Adding and editing shapes including spitting shapes, resizing and rotating them.
- Changing the style of shapes, copy and pasting the style and setting it as the default.
Apple have a Freeform user guide available. Use the table of contents at the top to see all the information.
Apple News
We discussed recent Apple news including:
- Important security vulnerabilities which are patched in iOS 16.3 and macOS 13.2.
- A sealed original iPhone selling for $63356 at a recent auction.
- A warning not to use AirTags to track children and pets.
- The recent increase in UK prices on the App Store.
Member topics
- Alan had watched the documentary The Spy in Your Mobile available on iPlayer.
- Alan brought up using Apple Music alongside a local music library. DaveK mentioned that it’s possible to set the Music app to allow Apple Music tracks to be added to a playlist without adding them to your library.
- DaveK mentioned the website Discogs as a source for information about digital albums that don’t include sleeve notes.
- Alan recommended Music Magpie for buying CDs of music not available on Apple Music.
- Ben mentioned the volunteer rescue group Drone SAR for Lost Dogs UK.
- Elliott mentioned some strange problems on his Mac with menus automatically closing that turned out be be caused by the Escape key being held down on his keyboard. Always worth checking that a key is not held down or stuck when your Mac behaves strangely!