How does the New Updates button differ from the zipBoard email notification?
When collaborating on shared media and documents in zipBoard, zipBoard provides two complementary ways to track changes: the in-app "New Updates" button and automated email notifications. The New Updates button is an in-app "pull" mechanism designed for live, real-time collaboration, while email notifications are an automated "push" mechanism designed for asynchronous communication.
If team members rely solely on email alerts while actively co-reviewing a file, their inboxes get flooded with dozens of micro-notifications for every comment or pin dropped. Additionally, if collaborators assume the workspace automatically refreshes like a live doc, they risk reviewing outdated versions or missing immediate replies from colleagues working on the same asset. On the other hand, stakeholders who aren't actively logged in can fall out of the loop if they don't have automated summaries keeping them informed of milestone status changes.
The New Updates button gives active, online reviewers complete control over their live workspace without interrupting typed drafts or screen positions. Email notifications bridge the gap for offline team members, ensuring project momentum continues asynchronously.
Get to Know the Comparison
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Real Time Sync | Email notification |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Appears when new comment/annotation activity exists while you're viewing the asset | Status change or comment activity, per notification settings |
| Timing | Appears while you're on the page; you choose when to click it | Sent on every status change across all six asset types |
| Requires being online? | Yes, only appears while you have the asset open | No, arrives regardless of whether you're in the app |
| What it shows | A green "New Updates" button, captioned "Updates include annotation changes, replies, and status changes"; click to pull them in | Summary of the status change or comment, with a link back into zipBoard |
| Is it automatic? | No you must click New Updates to load the changes | Yes sent automatically on trigger |
| Use case | Live review sessions, workshops, simultaneous editing | Async review, keeping stakeholders informed without them needing to be online |
Use Cases
- Live Session (In-App Sync): During a live virtual coordination call, an architect, structural engineer, and MEP contractor simultaneously review a 50-page CAD export or PDF drawing set. As the engineer drops pins to flag mechanical clashes on sheet 12, the architect sees the green "New Updates" button appear above their comment panel. The architect finishes typing their current calculation note on sheet 4 before clicking the button, ensuring their draft is preserved and their view doesn't re-render mid-annotation.
- Async Follow-Up (Email Notifications): After the meeting ends, the project manager updates the asset review status to Changes Requested. Off-site clients, city reviewers, and executives who were unable to attend the live call receive an automated email notification summarizing the status update with a direct link to jump back into the exact view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clicking the "New Updates" button trigger an email to my teammates?
No. Clicking the "New Updates" button only refreshes your local browser view to display changes that others have already made. It does not generate new alerts or send emails to other users.
Do email notifications go out for all 6 asset types in zipBoard?
Yes. Automated email notifications trigger across all supported media formats (PDF, Image, Video, URL, Audio, or ZIP).
Learn More about Real-Time Sync
- Does zipBoard show real-time updates on comments? - zipBoard Help
- What is the Best Way to Run Real Time Reviews with External Clients? - zipBoard Help
- What to do if comments aren't updating live? - zipBoard Help
- Do external clients need an account to collaborate in real-time? - zipBoard Help
- What happens if an annotation is edited or deleted while I'm replying? - zipBoard Help
- How do real-time updates work with active filters and sort orders? - zipBoard Help