Technologies

Freeform on iPadOS 16.2: Apple’s Stab at a Collaborative Workspace

Apple’s new app is a shared whiteboarding tool you can drop files into.

This year’s updates to Apple’s iPad system software have largely focused on multitasking ideas like Stage Manager, but the newest iPadOS 16.2 update adds compatibility for a new Apple app, Freeform, that aims to be a sort of collaborative whiteboard across iPhones, iPads and Macs. Based on what I’ve seen so far, it could also possibly be a lot more.

Freeform looks like a whiteboard tool, and for the most part, that’s what it is: collaborators can join in and add to a project or see how it’s progressing. I’ve looked at Freeform, but haven’t been collaborating with others using it. I’m curious, now that it’s live, whether I will.

Freeform’s most interesting quality is how flexible it could become. It can have files attached to it, making it a sort of collaborative desktop of sorts, or a shared file system. There are already other ways you could do this with other apps or services, but after Apple’s efforts to extend collaboration with SharePlay for music and movies over FaceTime and in Messages, it looks like part of a common theme to knit together Apple’s products into a multiuser ecosystem.

Freeform is also just a free whiteboarding tool, which could be helpful by itself for laying out a flowchart or presenting some ideas.

The first thing I thought of while using Freeform was of actors, directors and designers sharing scripts, story and design notes, and production updates in some sort of collaborative interface. That sounds exciting, but the problem with Freeform’s collaborative dreams is you need an Apple device to access it. This isn’t a cross-platform tool outside of iOS and MacOS.

When Apple eventually debuts its long-expected VR headset next year, it’ll need some sort of collaborative infrastructure. Will Freeform be part of that picture? It’s way too early to tell, but for now it’s a free bonus tool in iOS 16.2 that you should at least try out.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, July 18

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 18.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Kudos to today’s Mini Crossword for being both complex and clever. There are layers upon layers in the clues. It took me a few minutes to sort it all out. Need a helping hand with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Appropriate word that can precede 7-/8-Across and 3-/10-Down
Answer: HALF

5A clue: Remy’s brother in «Ratatouille»
Answer: EMILE

7A clue: Missouri’s postal abbreviation
Answer: MO

8A clue: Light switch position
Answer: ON

9A clue: Done for laughs
Answer: INFUN

11A clue: Richard of «Pretty Woman»
Answer: GERE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Prefix that means 1-Across
Answer: HEMI

2D clue: In the midst of
Answer: AMONG

3D clue: Super Bowl that featured a 28-3 comeback win by the Patriots
Answer: LI

4D clue: Baker’s powder
Answer: FLOUR

6D clue: Dated feminine suffix
Answer: ENNE

10D clue: Iron, on the periodic table
Answer: FE

Technologies

Wi-Fi Experts Reveal How Trump’s Budget Bill Could Slow Down Your Wi-Fi

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 18, #298

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 18, No. 298.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

The purple group for today’s Connections: Sports Edition might be a tough one. If you like baseball, have been paying attention to big games and know some famous sports names, then you’ll do just fine with the rest of the puzzle. Read on for more hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Check the score.

Green group hint: Defeated.

Blue group hint: A memorable name.

Purple group hint: Not DC, but the other one.