Month: June 2007

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Numbers dropping?

The number of current software records on www.informationtamers.com/mind-mapping has dropped a little, the particularly sharp-eyed reader may notice.  There are two reasons for this.  The first was that I found a duplicate: Thinking In Pictures – also appeared under it’s publisher’s name, Logotron.   That’s been sorted now.

Then as I was wandering around the records, I found some items that have sunk since my last visit.  I have changed those to “Historical” if the site is still present but the download link or contact form doesn’t function, or to “Historical (Defunct)” if there is no longer any trace of the website or the software, even on the independent software download sites.  Changing from current to historical were: eXpertSystem; Informaizer; FaveNotes; ModellingSpace; Skwyrul; WinInfo.

Any information that might resurect these entries will be gratefully received!

Vic

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Change Vision to release mind mapping-only product

Change Vision, Inc. in Japan, has released a trial version of JUDE/Think!, a product for mind mapping.

Their main product, JUDE/Professional is a UML modelling tool that can make mind maps as well.  It is reasonably priced for such a tool, but if you want it just for mind mapping its cost looks on the high side.

Now they’re aiming to overcome this problem by releasing a limited version that does only mind mapping.

It’s only available for purchase in Japan at present, but they say it is to be launched for worldwide sale later.  You can download it for a 20-day trial (Windows/Mac), and they want your feedback.  More details at www.informationtamers.com/mind-mapping

Vic

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The lovely Mindomo: Up and running

Mindomo – the web-based mind mapping service that has been on www.informationtamers.com/mind-mapping since early May – just announced that they are out of Beta and publicly available.

And it’s still free (with ads) for up to 7 maps.

There’s a US$6/month ‘Premium’ version, that:

  1. Is advertisement-free
  2. Has a secure connection (https) to their server [important if you’re using this for business]
  3. Can export maps in Mindjet’s MindManager™ format  [no FreeMind :-(]
  4. Offers encrypted map storage
  5. Ensures priority E-mail support

Vic

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GoalEnforcer added

I’ve just added GoalEnforcer to mind-mapping.org.  This is a project management product that uses a diagram like a 2-level mind map.  Nodes can have start and finish dates and show percentage completed.

Unlike a mind map, the node that starts in the centre doesn’t have to stay there.  You can step around the map and reveal information that was previously hidden, but you’re always limited to the one you have chosen to be the central node and the ones immediately around it.

In addition to the diagramming function, there are added-cost options that give you reporting and other capabilities.

Vic

Updated:  Link fixed, thanks to Maureen…

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“Seminal articles” section added

There is a new division in the “Articles” section: Seminal papers in information mapping

This presents links to articles on concept mapping and other forms of information map by some of the leading authorities in the area: Joseph D. Novak, Alberto J. Cañas, John F. Sowa, Sigmar-Olaf Tergan and others. There is also the full text of one article.

Topics covered are:

  1. Underlying theory of Concept Maps
  2. Semantic networks
  3. Visual representation of knowledge
  4. An overview of concept mapping
  5. Concept maps and web research

I have more and will add them as time permits, because they contain a lot of very useful ideas, research and analysis.

Vic

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ImaginationCubed and WriteMaps added

There are two new entries in the list:

ImaginationCubed: This is collaborative hand-drawing web-based software from G.E. that could conceivably be used for mind mapping.  It is flexible but, as it’s not mindmaps-aware, it is cumbersome for mind mapping.

WriteMaps: This is a web-based, on-line tool for planning web site maps (not mind maps).  It allows only a strict hierarchy.  Unlike some on-line diagramming software it makes good use of a large screen working area.  It works with Firefox only, at present.

As this shows hierarchical maps and can also display the planned web site as an outline, I felt it just about made the cut for inclusion.

Vic

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Welcome to Glinkr

There’s a new on-line concept mapping tool – Glinkr.  It’s a little cumbersome to use at present, but these are early days and there’s no reason to think it won’t improve.  But I have a 24″ screen because I do a lot of mind mapping, modelling and diagramming, and this product confined me to one small rectangle when editing the map.  I hope they’ll open up the workspace soon.

With luck, you should be able to see a map I made of the many on-line mind-mapping, concept mapping and related diagramming sites here: http://www.glinkr.net/map/spot/177/

The links are hard to get at, but are in there.

This will go into mind-mapping.org in a day or so.

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

In case it doesn’t show if you visit their site, this is what I made:

Mapping on my mind (and on line).

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7 diagramming and mind mapping products added to mind-mapping.org

After fussing over the new blog, I had time to catch up with some of the new entries I’ve been accumulating recently (more to come).  The current trend is still mainly for on-line, browser based services.

Cumulate Draw -=-  Free on-line diagrammer.  Could be used for mindmaps but not designed for that.  A poor-man’s MS Visio, perhaps?

SproutLiner -=-  Free on-line outliner.  No security for your outlines (no log in) if you use an easily-guessable name.  I have not tested simultaneous multi-user access but it does not appear to be designed for real-time collaboration.

Flowchart.com -=-  Free on-line diagramming tool.

WikiMindMap -=-  You can’t build your own mind maps with this tool (unless you do it by building a MediaWiki), but you can choose from the millions of topics covered in many Wikis.  I think this is an intriguing tool, but one of the great values of mind mapping is the process – the thinking you do as you build the mind map. I believe WikiMindMap should be seen as a quick way to grasp the structure of wiki articles rather than as a mind mapping tool.

ThinkFold -=-  On-line collaborative outlining service.

MAK (MindMap and Knowledgemanager)  -=-  Knowledge Content Management System – seems dormant.

InfiView -=-  Not a mind mapper or other form of tool for graphical information management, but a development environment for such products.

Projekt S60 -=-  Outliner for Symbian-based mobile phones.

InfoRapid Cardfile System  -=-  A kind of outliner.

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

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What’s all this about “fully instrumented”?

Past versions of mind-mapping.org were limited and made users search for what they wanted from the “all products” list.

Some users asked if I could add a search function so that they could check if a specific product was there.  Others want to to look at, for example, all mind mapping software that ran on a Mac, or all concept mapping and mind mapping products that could be used from a browser, from the Web, with no software to install.  Many wanted to know the cost of software and one person wanted to be able to check all items added after a specific date so that when they call back from time to time, they can see what’s new.

So I’ve added the selection and filtering in a tab at the top-right of each software list page, and each entry shows what I know about price (it’s not always clear on the publishers’ web sites), and when I added the item to my local database – which is always within a week if the information appearing on line.  I decided to cut out the historical records by default, but you can tick a checkbox to see them as well.

Controls in mind-mapping.org

So that’s what I was vain enough to call “fully instrumented”.  I’ve no doubt someone will soon point out an essential missing item and I shall slap my forehead and have to add more.

I did have a request to add reviews for all products.  Hmmm . . . I reckon a very minimal review would take a couple of full-time days, and with, right now, 162 current products, I could say goodbye to a year of my life.  Jus’ ain’t practical, I’m sorry.  But I’m thinking about how to get user reviews on-line without inviting the spammers in.

Vic

See also The Master List

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