Apple’s iWork Suite for iOS Updated With Real-Time Collaboration

Alongside the iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and iTunes update, Apple has also updated the iOS versions of each iWork application.

The update, which was revealed at the company’s media event last week, brings cross-platform collaboration features. The feature, which is still in beta, syncs document changes across devices in real-time.

Document editors can easily distinguish who is modifying a spreadsheet, word processing file or presentation based on user colour-coding. The addition arrives as a competitor to existing productivity software suites including the web-based Google Docs and Microsoft’s Office 365, both of which have featured collaboration tools for years.

The update also brings improvements to functionality and usability on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, improved iCloud downloading, and brings support for Wide Color displays (like the ones featured in the newly announced iPhone 7 and 7 Plus).

The update to the iWork suite of applications (Numbers, Pages, and Keynote) on iOS is now available for all devices iOS 10-compatible devices. A Mac version will arrive with macOS Sierra on or around Sept. 20.