Macs are powerful machines designed for personal and professional use. Plus, they’ve become great collaboration tools thanks to regular macOS updates over the years. Some of these tools, such as Freeform, are more recognizable than others.
If you’re looking for fun new ways to work with other macOS Ventura users, brace yourself, you’ve come to the right place. The following solutions work on all top Macs.
Shared tabs
In recent years, Apple has gone out of its way to reinvent Safari’s web browser. In macOS Ventura, shared tab groups have joined the mix. They arrived a year after the tab groups themselves were revealed. The new feature lets you share a set of Safari tabs with friends and family across multiple devices, including Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Even better, anyone using a set of shared tab groups can add tabs that everyone can access.
For example, your extended family is planning a cruise that will include pre- and post-trip hotel reservations. To start planning, you create groups of shared tabs that include links to a few cruise websites and travel sites. After you send these links, family members add additional links for everyone to view.
free form
With Freeform, anyone with a supported device can share a digital whiteboard to collaborate on projects published with macOS 13.1. All you have to do is share or accept a link (via iMessage) and let your creativity run wild. Depending on the device, you can write, type, and draw. There are stickers, diagrams, and over 700 shapes you can use, and you can easily import documents, photos, PDFs, and videos to the board.
FaceTime is built into Freeform, and Apple limits collaborators to 100 per board. All whiteboard updates are synced to iCloud.
Document collaborations
Freeform is just the latest in a series of Apple apps available for collaboration on the Mac. The most popular are Pages, Keynote and Numbers. You can also collaborate with Notes and Reminders.
When you collaborate, you can set permissions for a document, see who worked on it, and view a list of changes. Communicating with participants is also possible directly from the app.
Invitations to collaborate
In macOS Ventura, Apple has significantly changed the way you can collaborate through Messages. These changes include invitations to collaborate, allowing you to quickly share project items. These work with Files, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, Notes, Reminders, and Safari. Third-party apps also support the new feature.
When changes are made, your team members are alerted through the Messages feed.
Airplay
Whether for work or play, AirPlay is a great collaboration tool that “just works”, as Steve Jobs said. With AirPlay, anyone on the same Wi-Fi network can stream video or mirror the screen of an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. You can also wirelessly stream music, videos, photos and more from your Mac to your compatible speakers, Apple TV and select smart TVs.
Shared ratings
Apple’s Notes app has also incorporated many new collaboration tools in recent years. With Quick Note, for example, you can add information to any app or website, capturing your thoughts in real time. These notes may include links to websites, an address for Maps, etc. Like all notes, the Quick Note can then be sent to friends and colleagues, who can edit it and forward it to you.
FaceTime and SharePlay
When SharePlay was introduced, Apple focused almost exclusively on how the feature could benefit users looking to share entertainment content such as videos and music. However, it also works as a great collaboration tool for business use, especially since many third-party apps now support it.
With SharePlay, for example, you and your team can remotely watch training videos on YouTube or review work in progress from a supported collaboration or design app. All you need is an internet connection and a supported device.
With macOS, collaboration is possible in different forms. Whether you plan to use FaceTime and SharePlay, the Notes app, Freeform, or a combination of many different tools, Apple has you covered. It all starts with macOS Ventura.
