The Apple App You’ve Been Ignoring (and Why You Shouldn’t)
Issue 26
Tech Vitals
August’s app of the month - Apple Freeform
Apple’s Most Overlooked Productivity App
What if I told you the best productivity app for your iPad and Mac has been sitting on your device since the day you updated to iOS 16.2… and you’ve probably never opened it?
It’s called Apple Freeform.
On the surface, Freeform looks like just another whiteboard app. But once you start using it, you realize it’s one of the most flexible, visual tools Apple has ever made. It’s perfect for people who think in mind maps, flowcharts, sticky notes, or mood boards.
Here’s what makes it so good:
Infinite Canvas – Zoom and pan as far as you need. No page limits.
Real-time Collaboration – Up to 100 people can work on the same board simultaneously.
Apple Pencil Support – Draw, annotate, and sketch like you would in Notes, but with more freedom.
File & Link Support – Drop in PDFs, photos, videos, documents, sticky notes, and even web links—then preview them without leaving your board.
Alignment Guides & Locking – Keep your boards organized and protect key elements from accidental edits.
I’ve used Freeform to plan YouTube videos, design social media graphics, and even map out processes that would have otherwise lived in a notebook. And while it’s amazing for iPad + Pencil, I’ve been surprised by how much I enjoy using it on my Mac with a mouse for more structured layouts.
It’s not perfect, Apple still hasn’t made it talk to Apple Notes or Reminders, which feels like a missed opportunity, but as a free, built-in tool, it’s hard to beat. For many people, it could replace paid software like Miro or Milanote entirely.
If you’ve never opened it before, this is your sign to give it a try. You can also check out the full YouTube video here.
Creator Heartbeat
ChatGPT5 was released this past week. It is now the default model and has reasoning built in.
It will automatically select what model should be used based on the prompt being entered, which solves a longstanding problem that I had with how AI companies are naming their models and the wildly different results you’d get from one model to the next, depending on what you were trying to do.
For consumers like me, it was confusing and frustrating to try to pick the right model on your own and sometimes switched mid chat, making this more upsetting.
With this new model I decided to give it a test run to help me tailor my Notion database to my YouTube process. You should all know how much i love Apple Reminders and Notes, but sometimes I just wish everything was in one place, a place that would save me time and add some functionality at the same time. This may or may not end up being Notion long term, but it is good to have options.
ChatGPT led me through different database setups and realtionships within Notion that basically mirrored all of the functionality i love about the apple apps, but in one singular place.
I will be making this available for purchase as well as soon as I figure out the Notion store vs setting up a Gumroad or similar account.
I would love to also create a Craft template!
This way I have a free option, with all of my YouTube videos on Apple Notes + Reminders and a paid option for Notion and Craft in case those apps suit your style best.
Get Subscribed and stay tuned for that!
Content Radar
Gary Vee on the 505 Podcast
Gary is a polarizing figure. I definitely don’t agree with everything he says but occasionally i need some Gary Vee hopium. This was one of those weeks.
The rocks at 505 somehow secured a podcast with the boss man himself and it was a great listen. Sure there were some of the same stories you’ve heard Gary tell countless times, but I listened via Snipd and tood away many highlights.
I’ll leave you with one.
Everybody who's listening right now is one piece of content away from their life being different. Do you know how insane that is? It's crazy. -Gary Vaynerchuk
I can’t say that this is false. One of my early YouTube videos when VIRAL for me. Think only 10s of subscribers and a video gets 10,000 views.
That alone was a big enough hit of motivation to keep me going. Even through periods of time where views are down, it feels like subscribers aren’t growing and I can’t do anything right, then BAM! Another video hits. Either way though I’ve commited to being consistent on YouTube and posting online and I’m working towards that same level of consistency with the newsletter.
It has been a thrilling ride so far and it feels like I’m just getting started.
Pulse Check
What’s coming up
For Perspective Season 2, Episode 2 - Tech News
6 Months with Forever Notes
Apple Freeform App of the Month Shorts, tips, tricks and use-cases
Connect and Engage