The Mind Mapping Software Weblog

Tinderbox update

Tinderbox is a visual mapping tool for Mac OS X that has attracted quite a devoted following of writers, business users and others who need a fast, intuitive way to record ideas and then link them visually. Developer Eastgate Systems has had a Windows version under development for some time now. I recently queried Eastgate founder Mark Bernstein on the status of Tinderbox for Windows. Here's what he had to say about its estimated release date:

"Second or third quarter (of 2006).  We've invested more time than expected refactoring and polishing, but Tinderbox on *both* platforms will benefit substantially from the delay."

I can't wait to play with this product (in the meantime, maybe I should finally break down and buy an iMac!). If you peruse the Tinderbox site, it's obvious that this is a "deep" program with a great deal of well thought-out functionality. Its users tend to be fairly passionate, as evidenced by the posts in the Tinderbox Blog.

One interesting new development: Eastgate has started to schedule "Tinderbox Weekends," where developer Mark Bernstein will train users on capturing and organizing ideas in the program, how to work with spatial hypertext, using Tinderbox agents and more. Mark will also be available to answer questions about the program and how to get the most out of it. The first session is scheduled for April 22 in Chicago, followed by May 13-14 in Boston. Several European dates are also planned. If you live close to one of these locations and want to see what all the excitement is about, then you ought to check out these training sessions.

Project decision and risk analysis for MindManager

The Intaver Institute offers a project decision and risk analysis integrated solution for MindManager. It can be used, along with the firm's RiskyProject software, to define a project plan, assign risks and uncertainties, perform quantitative risk analysis, and present results of probabilistic analysis. For more information, the developer has created a helpful online demonstration. If you're a project manager, this is definitely a program you will want to take a look at!

Spark-Space releases Dutch, Spanish versions

Spark-Space, a mind mapping tool for PC, Mac and Linux, is now available in Dutch and Spanish language versions. I came across this announcement this morning; funny that I never heard of this product before, considering that the developer has been around since 2001. A closer look at the Spark-Space website makes it appear that this may have started out as a visual mapping program for the education market that has now been expanded to appeal to business users.

Additional updates to NovaMind

NovaMind Software Pty. has just announced some additional updates to its mind mapping software for Mac and Windows:

NovaMind 3.0.17 for Mac OS X: This new version fixes a bug that was encountered when exporting NovaMind maps to Keynote 3. It also contains some other small bug fixes, which are detailed on the program's release notes page.

NovaMind 3.0.5 for Windows: This new version contains a lengthy list of bug fixes, which the developer says will dramatically improve its stability.

Using MindManager in tablet mode

GottaBeMobile.com has published an excellent 7-minute video tutorial that clearly and concisely shows how users of Tablet PCs can utilize MindManager Pro 6 to capture and manipulate their ideas. If you've ever wondered what this application looks like on this platform, this video is a very good primer. Great job, guys!

Mindjet adds WebEx collaboration to MindManager Pro 6

Mindjet has announced that users of its MindManager Pro 6 software can now instantly launch a WebEx collaboration session directly from within the application. Once a meeting is set up and team members have been invited, MindManager Pro can then be used to capture the details of the meeting. I think this is a great move for this leading mind mapping software program, because the creation of mind maps is often a solitary affair. In order to get the greatest benefit out of visual maps, they need to be shared with others. This new collaboration between Mindjet and WebEx helps to ensure that will happen. It could also help to expose MindManager to a larger audience of potential customers!

Update on NovaMind

NovaMind has published a newsletter containing updates on the Mac OS X and Windows (beta) versions of its mind mapping software. Here's a summary of what's new:

NovaMind for Mac OS X: Since November, the developer has released 17 updates during the transition from version 2 to 3. NovaMind for the Mac is now universal - that is, it can be used on the new Intel-powered Macs. It also now supports dotted and dashed map connector lines, and has an all-new zoom feature that is optimized for large maps. NovaMind 3.0 supports the use of a pen and tablet to create maps and add your own drawings to your maps.

NovaMind for Windows: Last month, the developer released an "early adopters" (beta) release of NovaMind for Windows, and the program is now in its 5th release. It sounds like the development team has been hard at work, bringing NovaMind for Windows up to a feature-for-feature parity with the Mac version. The developer will continue to release updates on a weekly basis until the new Windows version is completed and debugged. No timetable is given for the official release.

Watch for more details in the months ahead!

A new mind mapping resource site

Mind mapping has a new evangelist, in the form of Shawn Twing, the founder of the new MindMappingStrategies website. Shawn found that mind mapping made such a big difference in his personal and professional effectiveness that he decided to share what he's learned. The result is a professional, well-organized and informative collection of articles, resources and links on mind mapping and mind mapping software. I'd say he's off to an impressive start. MindMappingStrategies.com contains sections devoted to utilizing mind mapping for strategic planning, information management, event planning and accelerated learning. And Shawn tells me he plans to add a few more sections. I strongly urge you to check it out!

What are your key uses of Visual mapping?

What are you using visual mapping for? Please share your thoughts in the InnovationTools Forum. Wallace Tait is compiling information for an upcoming e-book aimed at corporate users of visual mapping software, and he would like to hear from you.

New MindManager resource site: Visual Bubble

Visual Bubble is a new website that aims to be the MindManager resources portal. It contains over 100 enhancements for the popular business mapping software, including add-ins, maps, templates, map parts and wizards for MindManager X5 and MindManager 6. An annual subscription of US$17 gives you full access to all of the site's resources.

My impression? Visual Bubble is a well-done website - very attractive and nicely arranged. There's no question that it's a good idea. But it needs more content. Some sections, such as "how tos," only have a handful of resources. But I'm sure that will change over time, as the site's owners add more content to it. Also, as I tried to navigate from page to page, I kept getting Internet Explorer messages that told me that the page contains both secure and non-secure items, and asked me if I wanted to display the non-secure items. A bit annoying... [note: this has now been fixed - see the comment below]

I look forward to seeing how this site evolves over time, and how many original add-ins and components they plan to roll out. I plan to contact Visual Bubble's owners to learn more about their plans. I'll let you know what I find out!