My hosting company rolled out a fix in the underlying PHP software that runs most of mind-mapping.org on July 22nd.The fact that this had broken the site was brought to my attention by a helpful user (thanks Sue), saying “Oh, no! I just posted a link to you.  Have you gone for good?”

Well, fortunately not.  It took a bit of communication with the host-company support staff to find out what had happened (and get a gracious apology) but now the hiccups are over and it’s back.  A case of one bug hiding another apparently.

Vic Gee

http://www.mind-mapping.org/
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software

New on mind-mapping.org this week, there are even more new, browser-based mind-mapping apps, and some bits and pieces of news about other events.

Ekpenso

Ekpenso* is a new, web-based mind mapping application in the first stages of development, but they are offering off-line use with Google Gears from the get go.

* Footnote: According to their web site, “Ekpenso” is Esperanto for idea or thought.  Not a lot of people know that…

Mindjet Connect

Given MindManager’s reach — almost certainly greater than any other commercial mind map software** — the most important announcement recently must be the web server application launched by Mindjet.  This works with MindManager to support collaborative use of mind maps. 

I’ve got a couple of questions in at MindJet about the clients it works with and pricing anomalies.  Will fill in on these later.

Update July 16 2008: One lost email and a re-send later, I can now say how users interact with Connect.  You can use : The full desktop product (MM7 SP2); Firefox 2.0; Safari 2.0 (Mac); IE 6.0 (with XP); and IE 7.0 (with Vista) to access and edit mind maps hosted on the Connect server.

On price the range  for the standard package is:
1-9 users, $11.99/user/month on a month by month basis (less if you commit to a year)
50-99 users, $8.99/user/month for a 1-yr contract.

** Second footnote: OK, all you FreeMind folks, I know you almost certainly have way more downloads than any other mind map software, but I carefully wrote “commercial mind map software”, OK?)

Mind42 no longer Beta

Mind42 has come out of Beta.  It is still free, but they say they’re working on a ‘pro’ version.

Wisdomap

A new web-based mind map application from the UK, this one focuses on associated clips, images and other and multimedia related to a mind map but separated from the map itself to reduce confusion.

More about Chuck Frey’s re-organization of his blog

After his move, Chuck has gathered all his valuable reports and research in one place here: http://mindmappingsoftwareblog.com/research-reports/ 

Vic
http://www.mind-mapping.org/
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software

New on mind-mapping.org this week are three map-related tools: C-TOOLS, CharTr and Mind2Chart.  And two that have been updated - VUE and MindVisualizer.

C-TOOLS

C-TOOLS is a server / web based combination for making concept maps in an educational environment.  It even has an automated mark-students’-work-as-you-go capability.

CharTr

It’s early in the life of this project but it is making progress.

Mind2Chart

Not a mind mapping product, but an add-on for MindJet’s MindManager that can produce Gantt charts from a mind map with project management data included.

MindVisualizer

MindVisualizer has been upgraded with multi-centred mind maps, and the association descriptions needed for proper concept maps.  Well worth a look.

VUE

 I have been hoping for screenshots from VUE and now I’ve found some on the site.  VUE recently became VUE 2.0, by the way.  Aimed at education, this has interesting possibilities for presentations.

That’s it for this week.

Vic
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software

First it was Paul, now it’s Chuck.  Chuck Frey, author of one of the leading mind mapping blogs has moved to a new address: http://mindmappingsoftwareblog.com

Well, I’m off to change his entry in on my list of the canonical mind map sites, mindmapsearch.org as well. 

Is this the start of a trend?  Where shall I go then? (No rude answers please!)

Vic
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software

No, it’s not me that’s moving.  Nor this blog. 

I just heard from that exciting producer and publisher of hand-drawn mindmaps, Paul Foreman, that his site has moved to http://www.mindmapinspiration.co.uk 

Although his site is not mentioned in mind-mapping.org because that focuses on articles and mind mapping software, it has a well-deserved place on my list of canonical mind map sites, mindmapsearch.org, which now points to the new location.

Vic
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software

New in the Mind-mapping.org database this week:

Text2Mindmap

Using a simple indented outline-format text file (no section numbers, just tabs) this web-based application can build a simple tree-structured mind map.

Thoughtograph

This is mind mapping software that shows a tightly-integrated outline on the left, with the map on the right.

GNletting Mindmap

A basic concept mapping / mind mapping browser-based application.

For details of these, see their entries at the main site.

Regards

Vic

Chuck Frey has done a comparison of the functions of some of the web based mind mapping services.  Starting from Tiffany Brown’s comparison chart that I blogged about almost a year ago (here: “Valuable comparison of four web-based services“), he did a great job of updating that and adding the new kid on the block, MeadMAP as well.  With Tiffany’s permission, he has now published this extended, in-depth comparison.  And what’s more, you can download it free.

For each of these web apps: MindMeister, Mindomo, Mind42, Comapping and MeadMAP - he has covered over 60 features and capabilities, including an overview (versions, pricing); map formats supported; map level features; topic-level features; import options; export options; publishing options; collaboration and other features.

Combined with Mind-mapping.ORG’s price and summary information on the Nineteen web-based mind mapping applications this makes a vital addition to the information available to those needing help in making a choice.

Great job Chuck!

Vic
http://www.mind-mapping.org
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software

New entries in the Mind-mapping.org database this week:

MeadMAP

MeadMAP is new.  It inherits Comapping’s left-to-right structure.  Their emphasis is on use by students and in the educational field.

Spinscape

Getting to use Spinscape is by invitation only at present.  Bravely ignoring the 12 existing browser-based mind mapping applications, some of which go back to 2006, they claim in a press release that their “goal is to create the next level of mind mapping, Mind Mapping 2.0″.  Not much information available at present - I’ll update the database when there is.

Imindi

I had some more information from Imindi in a comment to this blog (thanks guys), so I’ve been able to add a couple more screenshots and description to their entry in the database, but this is in private Beta, so there’s still not a lot available. 

Vic

There are four additions to the mind-mapping software database at mind-mapping.org this week:  An on-line diagram drawing service, a text analyzer that produces visualizations of the relationships of terms in a document, a software modelling tool that now has a mind-mapping capability, and an educational graphic organizers site.

DrawAnywhere

A free on-line diagramming application.

LexiMancer

A tool for analyzing text and presenting its content in visual form based on word usage.

Visual Paradigm

A UML modelling tool for software analysis and design, which had a mind-mapping function added at the beginning of 2008.

LexIcon Graphic Organizers

This site houses a large variety of graphic organizers that can be used on-line by schools and students to practise thinking skills, and can be shared with others.

If you know of any graphically-based tools for organizing information that don’t yet appear in mind-mapping.org do leave a comment here, or email me.  My email is vic at this domain.

Vic

Often, you’ll see posts about mind mapping software for Macs.  Sometimes the author will mention surprise at how many there are.  I came across an example at Mike’s Silver Mac blog and thought it would be useful to pull together a master list, and here it is:

BrainMine  –  http://www.neuralmatters.com/
Compendium  –  http://www.compendiuminstitute.org    concept maps
ConceptDraw  –  http://www.conceptdraw.com/en/products/mindmap/main.php
Conception  –  http://www.parlog.com/en/index.html    concept maps
Consideo  –  http://www.consideo.com/index.html
Conzilla  –  http://www.conzilla.org/wiki/Overview/Main    concept maps
Curio  –  http://www.zengobi.com/products/curio/
DeepaMehta  –  http://www.deepamehta.de/
Flying Logic  –  http://flyinglogic.com/
FreeMind  –  http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
GraphViz  –  http://www.graphviz.org/   concept maps
i2Brain  –  http://www.i2brain.com/
Incubator  –  http://www.mindcad.com/
Insight   –  http://www.ceryph.com/    concept maps, commercial version of Cmap
Inspiration  –  http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/kidspiration/index.cfm    (and Kidspiration)
JUDE/Think!  –  http://jude-users.com/en/modules/news/article.php?storyid=14
Life Map  –  http://www2.ucsc.edu/mlrg/mlrgtools.html    concept maps
MindManager  –  http://www.mindjet.com/
MindNode  –  http://www.mindnode.com/
MyMind  –  http://www.sebastian-krauss.de/software/
Novamind  –  http://www.nova-mind.com/
PersonalBrain  –  http://www.thebrain.com/
Pimki  –  http://pimki.rubyforge.org/    (Personal wiki with a Mind Map feature)
Prefuse  –  http://prefuse.org/
Protege-OWL  –  http://protege.stanford.edu/overview/protege-owl.html
Semantica SE  –  http://www.semanticresearch.com/
Shared space  –  http://www.shared-space.net/
SMART Ideas  –  http://www.smarttech.com/products/smartideas/index.asp    concept maps
Spark-Space  –  http://www.spark-space.com/business.htm
Tinderbox  –  http://www.eastgate.com/
VUE  –  http://vue.uit.tufts.edu/index.cfm    concept maps
VYM  –  http://www.insilmaril.de/vym/
Xebece  –  http://freshmeat.net/projects/xebece/
Xmind  –  http://www.xmind.org/

You can find this at the site with screenshots and other details, by selecting Mac and Mac (OS9) from the “Refine software list” tab at top right.

Oh, and don’t forget all the browser-based mind mapping and concept mapping web services.  In principle, all of these should be runnable on a Mac, but I have no information on how Safari-friendly they are.  If any Mac users would care to share their experience running these, please comment here.  Four pages giving all the details for web-based ones are here: http://www.mind-mapping.org/web-based-mindmappers/

Vic
The master list of mind mapping &
information management software