IntelliGantt MindManager Add-In Release Candidate

TeamDirections recently posted information about IntelliGantt on their blog and I thought that you would be interested in finding out more information about this MindManager Add-In.

TeamDirection is just about ready to release its IntelliGantt Add In for MindManager 7 Pro, but we'd like a few volunteers. So far we've confirmed it works in the Netherlands and in South Africa, but there are a lot more countries and PCs out there.

If you'd like to try it out, you can first see what the Add In is about. I could describe it, but the visuals are much more compelling.

OK, I will describe it-- Take you basic MindMap, add an intuitive, interactive Task List and Gantt Chart, mix SharePoint Workspaces and Members and fold in the ability to bi-directionally synchronize updates. Voila, you have an IntelliGantt MindManager Add In.

Hmm... maybe its better to check out the screencast.

Then download it from our site. We do ask you to register, but we will do a 25% discount to all downloaders when we release next week.

Thank you very much for your interest!

It's Feeling Like Summer Now

It is hard to believe that it is August 1st already and that the summer is running away from me. It is really hot and humid here on the East Coast but it is nice to know that the New Jersey Shore is just around the corner. It seems that this is the peak time for summer vacations and not as many people are spending their days reading blogs. At this time I am asking for your help to find out what kinds of things interest you so that I can tailor the blog to your needs. Please feel free to comment-it would be a great help for me going forward. Regards Brian

An Inside Look at MindManager 7 Mac

I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker for this webinar, An Inside Look at MindManager 7 Mac, and to share how I am using Mindjet MindManager in the classes that I teach at the graduate level in assistive technology. If you are not familiar with MindManager you can preview the recorded webinar and find out about all of its new features on the Macintosh which I really enjoy. You will be able to view some of the mind maps that I have created and find out how I use it when I teach. You can also download the mind maps that were used on the webinar and if you don't own Mindjet MindManager you can download a trial version form the Mindjet website. You should also know that there is a version of MindManager for Windows as well and there file compatibility. Enjoy the webinar!

MindMeister Adds New Features

The MindMeister Team shared this update with me which I thought you would find interesting. MindMeister is an online application that allows you to do mindmapping right within your browser With each update the program adds more and more functionality. One of the really powerful features is the ability to share your mind maps and collaborate with other people over the web. Check it out and tell me what you think.

What's New in MindMeister

* Links on ideas

Support for internal (between maps, or also to individual nodes) and external (websites, email addresses) links on ideas

* Automatic layouter

No more overlapping ideas and branches with the new auto layouter - can also be triggered manually on "messed up" maps by pressing F8
* Note and link previews

Notes and links on ideas can now be previewed by hovering over the respective icon, including site previews
* Reworked, more organic lines

We've changed the line drawing mechanism so that mind maps now hopefully look more organic. The poll in the last newsletter went in favor of the slightly rounded lines (with about 40%)
* Automatic canvas resizing

The map canvas will automatically resize to the size of the map, e.g. on import of large maps or when adding lots of ideas
* Changes view date slider

In changes mode the footer will display a date slider that you can use to constrain the time period for which changes are shown. Clicking on links in notification mails will only highlight changes since your last visit.
* Start new map from idea

You can quickly create new maps from ideas through the right-click menu, and the new map can automatically be linked to the current one
* Export as PDF

The map canvas will automatically resize to the size of the map, e.g. on import or when adding many ideas
* Enhanced printing

Choose whether you want to print in full size or fit to page, and with open or closed branches
* Browse public maps

You can now browse, search and view all public maps on MindMeister - let us know which ones you like through the good old star rating system!
* and much more...

Interesting Paradox - Choices

Gladwell - TED Talk - Malcolm Gladwell talks about providing choices that people don't even know that they want.





Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central belief of western societies: that freedom of choice leads to personal happiness. In Schwartz's estimation, all that choice is making us miserable. We set unreasonably high expectations, question our choices before we even make them, and blame our failures entirely on ourselves. His relatable examples, from consumer products (jeans, TVs, salad dressings) to lifestyle choices (where to live, what job to take, whom and when to marry), underscore this central point: Too many choices undermine happiness.

Mindjet’s Project Management Jetpack

If you are using Mindjet MindManager for project management then you will want to take a look at their current release of the Project Management Jetpack. The Project Management Jetpack consists of a White Paper on how to use MindManager Pro to get the most out of jumpstarting your projects with MindManager. Additionally, Mindjet’s Project Management Jetpack includes 19 templates that will help you:
* Prepare a business case
* Gather project requirements
* Collaborate on scope
* Identify project risks and issues
* Present project status
* Develop project checklists

Project Management Jetpack is available directly from Mindjet, Inc.

TouchGraph Visual Search Engine

Being able to visually see the links between ideas and information is a very powerful tool as we search the Internet. Using a very familiar mind mapping metaphor, TouchGraph has developed a visual search engine that can display the network of connectivity between websites as reported by Google's database. I tried it out by typing "web 2.0" into the search field and what resulted was a set of web sites that were interconnected and laid out very much like mind maps. Clicking on any one of the website brings up additional information in the left pane. You can use TouchGraph with Facebook, Google, and Amazon to do a search. Check it out and let me know what you think.