Comments for Vic's Picks

Comment on Southbeach Modeller by Chrys

Chrys — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:27:55 +0000

Mac users report positive experience on Parallels. Version 3.0 released May 2013, includes auto-layout.

Comment on CmapTools by Vic

Vic — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 03:55:41 +0000

I don't have a Mac, so can't try it out but the CMAP forum has a couple of entries describing this, and a reply from @acanas (presumably Dr. Alberto J. Cañas, one of the originators of concept maps himself) says: by acanas » Fri Aug 31, 2012 3:00 pm Are you sure that you have changed the settings so Mountain Lion will accept all applications? Our Installer program has not been updated to provide a signature to Apple, and until we get a new version of the Installer program from the vendor, you need to go to the System Preferences, Security & Privacy and at the bottom select "Anywhere" where it states: "Allow applications downloaded from:". See this page OS X 10.8.2 is Mountain Lion, isn't it? Vic

Comment on CmapTools by melissa bartlett

melissa bartlett — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:07:04 +0000

I keep trying to download cmap to my MacBook Air (v.11) with OS X 10.8.2 and when I try to open the installer icon after the download, it tells me the file is damaged and should be moved to the trash.

Any tips? I’ve tried right mouse clicking by the way…..

Melissa

Comment on Inspiration by Vic

Vic — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 07:22:55 +0000

Two things contribute to this, in my view:
- there are so many capable software mappers now available free (see http://www.mind-mapping.org/VicsPicks/category/free-2/)
- Inspiration’s appearance looks a little old fashioned.

Inspiration does have strong support in US schools, I believe. And something in its favour is that it isn’t limited to the tree-branches hierarchical form of mind maps, but can construct concept maps as well.

Comment on Inspiration by Cindy K.

Cindy K. — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 17:50:27 +0000

How come I don’t see more people using Inspiration for their mind maps and other visual organizations? We have a copy of it that I have wanted to teach to my boys to use for school, but wondered why, in the mind-mapping world, it seem little-used? Is it more difficult to use than the more popular products out there? Or is it more expensive?

Comment on Compendium by Vic

Vic — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:37:11 +0000

You can’t go far wrong in my opinion with XMind, but if you have budget, check out Mindjet’s MindManager. It offers more and is very suitable for business planning.

Hope that helps.

Vic

Comment on Compendium by Connie

Connie — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:59:31 +0000

Seeking guidance in the selection of an affordable mindmapping software for use in business planning for a new healthcare company. Thank you for your assistance.

Comment on Freeplane by Vic

Vic — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 01:10:52 +0000

Hi Priya,
The only software I can think of that does that is Topicscape, but that may be overkill for your purposes. It can export a topicscape (which is a 3D concept map) to OPML within HTML and makes some Javascript that gives the fold/unfold function of the nodes that you’re looking for.

I don’t think the free student version can do this type of export, but you could check.

Vic

Comment on Freeplane by prd

prd — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 23:43:44 +0000

Hi Vic,
I want to use a mindmap to graphically represent types of data. It would be great if I could export to html, with collapsed nodes with the option of the viewer being able to expand the nodes. I am currently using Cmaps. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!
thanks,
Priya

Comment on iMindMap by Mary K

Mary K — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:13:34 +0000

There is a version of iMindMap for andoid.

Comment on About Vic’s Picks by Vic

Vic — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 08:07:15 +0000

Well, you wouldn’t put confidential material there, it’s true. But not everything is sensitive. It’s like uploading to Biggerplate – you can publicise your mind maps if you want to, or not.

Actually I’ve never known them take anything from their server to exploit, but I don’t load stuff up. And those terms are self-contradictory: by granting the rights they claim, the submitter’s rights to copyright protection are indeed diminished.

Vic

Comment on About Vic’s Picks by Vic

Vic — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 07:58:25 +0000

Both free version and Pro version are desktop apps. You don’t have to be logged in to the online server to use them so you can use them wherever you are with your laptop.

Vic

Comment on About Vic’s Picks by LT

LT — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:12:23 +0000

XMind’s Terms of Service for their upload service is a concern:
“Nothing in these Terms of Service change, affect or diminish in any way whatever rights Submitters may have in the Submissions. By submitting the Submissions to XMind, however, you hereby grant XMind a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the Submissions in connection with the Site and XMind’s (and its successor’s) business, including without limitation for promoting and redistributing part or all of the Site (and derivative works thereof) in any media formats and through any media channels (except to the extent limited by, and expressly stated in the applicable additional terms and conditions for, services offered by XMind). You also hereby grant each user of the Site (subject to such limitations, if any, that may apply with respect to premium services) a non-exclusive license to access your Submissions through the Site, and to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display and perform such Submissions as permitted through the functionality of the Site and under these Terms of Service.”

That puts the lid on using XMind’s sharing platform to collaborate.

Comment on About Vic’s Picks by LT

LT — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:57:06 +0000

Thanks Vic. I am also trying out Xmind’s free version but the “cons” of this version for me is that I can’t enter in task information or export out to MSWord, etc., without paying for the Pro version. I’m not a fan of their subscription business model of having to login in order to obtain the Pro version (doesn’t work for me if I’m on an airplane trying to work or not on the Internet) – but I can be wrong about this. The one nice feature of Xmind is their drill down/up feature which MindMaple doesn’t have. The drag/drop capability of MindMaple to create child/sub topics is very intuitive.

I don’t mind paying $50 (just not $250 or $399) but it’s a question of who will get my $50: XMind or MindMaple. Jury’s still out for me.

Comment on About Vic’s Picks by Vic

Vic — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 04:29:12 +0000

Hello,
MindMaple’s on my list to go into mind-mapping.org, but I haven’t got round to an evaluation of it yet. The first thing I spotted in its favour is that it lets you place nodes freely. Too many mind mapping programs want control over the layout of our maps!

But before you pay $50 for software, I’d suggest you look at Xmind’s free version. It does a good job, is powerful, and lets you upload maps to their server for others to download.

Vic

Comment on About Vic’s Picks by LT

LT — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:54:31 +0000

I came across what appears to be a new offering: http://www.mindmaple.com I’m new to this and looking for appropriate software more for project management and task management, brainstorming of tasks, etc. Mindjet’s software seems to be an overkill (and expensive). Interested in your take of mindmaple’s offering.

Comment on About Vic’s Picks by Vic

Vic — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:36:10 +0000

Off the top of my head, I can't think of one. I use iThoughtsHD on the iPad, but on Windows, the only pad-enabled mind mapper I know of is MindManager, but when I last used that on my antique and now non-functioning Toshiba Portege pad, it was only pen enabled. That was before multi-touch, anyway. I've put a question up on the Mindmappers' Forum and I'll mention it on Twitter. Vic

Comment on About Vic’s Picks by Mike

Mike — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:26:15 +0000

Trying to locate a concept or mindmapping software for Windows that is at least two-point multi-touch. You might add touch-screen friendly as another category? At any rate, if you have a recommendation we might consider for a wall mounted HP TouchSmart 9300 with Win7, we’re looking for apps to consider in an educational environment. We found TouchMind but it doesn’t seem to actually work very well for us.