MindManager 9 Demonstrates Business Productivity Benefits

Christian Harris

Christian Harris, 16/08/2010, posted in "Analysis"

Christian Harris is editor of BCW. Christian is an IT journalist with over 17 years industry experience. In that time he has launched, edited and written for numerous magazines ...more info

Christian Harris is editor of BCW. Christian is an IT journalist with over 17 years industry experience. In that time he has launched, edited and written for numerous magazines and Web sites including PC Magazine, ZDNet, TechWorld, VNUnet, PC Advisor, PCW, GameSpot, Stuff, Press Gazette, Web User, The Daily Mail and The Guardian. As a copywriter/blogger, Christian also works on freelance marketing projects that include producing Web sites and writing white papers, case studies and press releases. Christian has a BA (Hons) in Publishing from the London College of Communication. ...less info

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MindManager, a Web-based app for visually organising and managing information and ideas, has reached version 9.

MindManager is designed to give information workers the resources they need to see the big picture and all the relevant details needed for analysis and planning, within a single, easily-edited view. MindManager 9 claims a “quantum leap forward” by greatly enhancing the usability of the application by allowing it to integrate seamlessly with other applications (Office included), Web services and collaboration platforms.

“For people who have never used mind mapping software before, MindManager Version 9 promises to be the easiest version of this program to use. For corporate IT departments that can’t quite understand why they should deploy a visual mapping tool like MindManager, the SharePoint integration is the “coup de grace,” said Chuck Frey, author of the Mind Mapping Software Blog.

Within MindManager, users have access to tight integration with Microsoft Outlook and Office to keep the constant stream of information for a project organised in one location, a visualisation and dashboard tool for any SharePoint environment with MindManager Explorer for SharePoint and collaboration tools, real-time map co-editing and Web based document storage with Mindjet Catalyst.

Key Features in MindManager Version 9 for Windows:

• Microsoft Outlook Integration – Features more powerful integration with Microsoft Outlook tasks, emails, notes, calendar items and contacts to easily bring relevant information from Outlook directly into your MindManager maps for greater access and visibility into your projects and work. Synchronised branches of Outlook tasks can be added to maps and visualised in MindManager’s integrated Gantt chart.
• Microsoft PowerPoint Integration – Users can now easily use MindManager to research and map out presentations and then export their ideas from MindManager directly into PowerPoint slides to accomplish more, faster.
• Interactive Slide Shows – Unlike ‘broadcast’ presentations, MindManager introduces a new way to present and collaborate on concepts, strategies and plans. Users can launch interactive slide shows directly within MindManager to review selected portions of their map, solicit feedback and update their map content directly in each slide.
• Gantt Chart and Resource Views – Individuals can view task and project plan timelines in MindManager’s integrated and synchronised Gantt chart. Updates can be made to maps by adjusting the Gantt chart or by making changes directly into a map. The resource views highlight when individuals are over or underutilised in both your map and the Gantt chart.
• MindManager Explorer for SharePoint (sold separately) – Visualises SharePoint content in MindManager’s dynamic maps. With bi-directional SharePoint integration, users can more easily discover, aggregate and update their SharePoint content from one or more SharePoint sites.

MindManager Version 9 for Windows is available in three languages: English, German and French, and costs £199 for new users or for a limited time (£99 for an upgrade).