MindGenius for iPad top rated mind mapping app

In the days prior to the launch of MindGenius for iPad, we’ve had over 2000 downloads with excellent customer feedback currently leaving us the top rated mind mapping App in the App store. 

After carrying out extensive Beta testing on the App, one of our top priorities was to maintain our desktop product DNA in the new App such as the Map Explorer and the ease of which you can add branches and hopefully the excellent feedback shows this has been achieved.

Here’s what some of our MindGenius for iPad users have said so far:
Mary Duggan, Senior Planning Manager, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust:
“With MindGenius for iPad, I can immediately synch the map that shows my current work portfolio and priorities so it’s always there, and can be checked really quickly on the go. I can also synch my favourite templates like my Benefits Scoping Paper, Business Case, and Project Initiation Document so that I have them all at my fingertips. There is also a big advantage for me in that I don’t have to carry my laptop to meetings when I want to make notes.”

Paul Callaghan, Products Director:
For me the biggest benefit of the new MindGenius for iPad app is the fact that I can capture ideas anywhere. As a Products Director, I am constantly in meetings and away from my desk. With the new iPad app I am consuming maps a lot more, I can look at them anywhere and take notes. It’s so simple to use and gives me instant access to any of my maps.  Navigation through larger maps is sublime using map explorer and well ahead on anything else in the market.

Or read a few early reviews from the App store:

Great App ★★★★★ by - Version 1.0 - May 15, 2012
A long time user of Mindgenius and an avid iPad fan, this app is the best productivity app. It allows me to throw all manner of ideas down and structure them afterwards, enabling creativity rather than preventing it! Neil Stanbury

No nonsence mapping - MindGenius is Brilliant ★★★★★
by Dmacdav - Version 1.0 - May 13, 2012
So simple to use, so quick to create maps when customer facing, this is a great extension to the desktop application. MindGenius does all the hardwork for you - just type and hit the + key and it draws the map without you having to pull a branch here, there and everywhere. MindGenius is a high productivity tool that somehow makes it easy for you to work things out, think thing through, spot gaps, fix problems - I would find it really difficult to get through my volume of work without it Great that the iPad app stick to the desktops DNA in terms of rapid data entry and the explorer which not only allows you to quickly find info in a large map but CRUCIALLY allows you to focus on one element and hide everything else except context - I think its this clear space that frees your mind by providing absolute focus in context. So more effective than panning - which to me takes you to a cluttered space. Love it! Key to good use - keywords not sentences and think of sequence of events when developing maps

Great productivity tool ★★★★★ by Mary in Yorks - Version 1.0 - May 11, 2012
My favourite productivity tool comes to the iPad! I use it's big sister on a daily basis to help me manage projects, plan presentations, take notes in meetings, capture complex ideas... It works beautifully on the iPad and really is intuitive to use. You will wonder how you ever managed without it.

Fantastic app ★★★★★ by Callyp69 - Version 1.0 - May 11, 2012
Quick, slick and extremely useful for dumping your thoughts to explore and expand further. Also great for capturing and structuring information during meetings. Navigation through larger maps is sublime using map explorer and well ahead on anything else in the market. Well done to the team behind this product.

Best mind mapping tool for iPad ★★★★★ by Brokenworld - Version 1.0 - May 11, 2012
Best app I've seen for creating mind maps on the iPad!

MindGenius ★★★★★ by FunnFarm - Version 1.0 - May 11, 2012
I love this product. I have used it at work on my Windows computer and could not wait until they made it for Apple and iPad. My iPad is at every meeting I attend and MindGenius is running and I am using it to take notes and helping me organize my thoughts. I love that I can 'free flow' my thoughts and do not need to worry about what I write and if it is under the correct main branch because it is so easy to 'move' your notes and align your thoughts. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Прекрасно / Perfect ★★★★★ by iGremlin - Version 1.0 - May 10, 2012
Шикарное приложение для майндмэппинга! Знаком с с его РС-версией уже несколько лет. Всегда выручает в сложных ситуациях. Из приложений для построения интеллект карт - лучшее на сегодняшний день. Надеюсь, коммерческий вариант будет более ливерным в цене, чем вариант до РС.

편리합니다 ★★★★★ by ㅆㅆㅆㅆㅆㅃ - Version 1.0 - May 14, 2012
가볍고 편리합니다. 꼭 필요한 기능만 알맞게 갖춘 앱입니다. 강추!

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MindGenius for iPad now Released

MindGenius are pleased to announce the release of MindGenius for iPad, the perfect tool for capturing information on the go. This App is free and available now. Download App.

In creating the App we have gone to great lengths to ensure that we have retained the DNA of the MindGenius desktop application. We have made sure that key features have been delivered on the iPad such as a ‘Type & Return’ equivalent to quickly add branches and of course our Map Explorer which is particularly relevant and useful on this platform.

MindGenius for iPad is now the only application that is 100% compatible with the MindGenius Desktop, maps can be exchanged with the desktop via email or Dropbox and all information will be retained.

MindGenius for iPad is ideal for taking notes in meetings and seminars, creating quick to do lists, and anywhere else you require a fast intuitive method to think things through. MindGenius for iPad can help you improve your personal productivity and is fully compatible with MindGenius for PC.

Highlights

• Simple gestures to add and move branches, allowing you to quickly capture and structure your thoughts.
• Use Output Tree or Map diagram layouts.
• Add multiple branches without interruption, initiate Add branch to access the keyboard then simply Type and select ‘+’ to add multiple branches.
• Includes the unique MindGenius Map Explorer which allows you to focus in on any branch in your map to expand and add more detail.
• Pan mode, extends the navigation capability of the map explorer while browsing large maps.
• 100% compatible with MindGenius desktop; Notes, categories, resources, pictures and action properties are all retained.
• Send maps between the desktop and iPad using Dropbox integration or email.

Download Now

And to get you started quickly with the app, view our short video:

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Coming Soon – MindGenius for iPad

MindGenius are pleased to announce the upcoming release of MindGenius for iPad.


In creating the App we have gone to great lengths to ensure that we have retained the DNA of the MindGenius desktop application. Making sure that key features have been delivered on the iPad such as a ‘Type & Return’ equivalent to quickly add branches and of course our map explorer which is particularly relevant and useful on this platform.

MindGenius for iPad is now the only application that is 100% compatible with the MindGenius Desktop, maps can be exchanged with the desktop via email or Dropbox and all information will be retained.


MindGenius for iPad is ideal for taking notes in meetings and seminars, creating quick to do lists, and anywhere else you require a fast intuitive method to think things through. MindGenius for iPad can help you improve your personal productivity and is fully compatible with MindGenius for PC.

Highlights

• Simple gestures to add and move branches, allowing you to quickly capture and structure your thoughts.

• Use Output Tree or Map diagram layouts.

• Add multiple branches without interruption, initiate Add branch to access the keyboard then simply Type and select ‘+’ to add multiple branches. 

• Includes the unique MindGenius Map Explorer which allows you to focus in on any branch in your map to expand and add more detail.

• Pan mode, extends the navigation capability of the map explorer while browsing large maps.

• 100% compatible with MindGenius desktop; Notes, categories, resources, pictures and action properties are all retained.

• Send maps between the desktop and iPad using Dropbox integration or email.

After lengthy and extensive BETA testing, MindGenius for iPad will go live within the next couple of weeks. The application will be FREE to download from the Apple store, watch out for our release announcements soon!

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Short and to the Point: Branch Names

This month I am going to discuss the importance of using short branch titles in your MindGenius maps. Without them, many significant benefits of your MindGenius maps will be lost.



The long branch title problem

We've all cringed at PowerPoint presentations which are full of large blocks of text instead of bullet points. Especially when the presenter just reads the slide verbatim, adding no apparent value to what has being visually presented.

Yet many people fall into the same trap when they create their MindGenius maps. They put in swathes of text into their branch titles and do not recognise that they have significantly reduced the effectiveness of the maps they have produced.

When people look at a map which has large amounts of text in the branch title they find it difficult to identify the key messages that are contained within the information presented. All the glue words that we use in verbal communication seem to hinder, rather than help, in the visual communication medium. The highlighter pen businesses profit greatly from this.

The inherent structure of the information is not readily apparent which hinders understanding. You have to mentally discard the glue words to identify and understand the structure, instead of your eyes communicating the structure directly to your brain. This significantly slows down the rate of understanding the content of your map.

In extreme cases, your map can appear unappealing to the eye. It is not memorable, just a series of large text blobs.

Long Branch Titles

A side effect of long branch titles is that it flattens the map structure shown in your Map Explorer and makes navigation through your map to find and view specific content much more difficult.

Short Branch Titles

Short branch titles 

There are significant drawbacks in using branches with large amounts of text. Keep your branch titles short and to the point.


Easy to say, but it is not necessarily easy to do. There is always the temptation to add another word to make the branch title less ambiguous. However, before you know it you are creeping back towards the swathes of text scenario. The secret is in knowing when to stop.


Keeping your MindGenius branch titles short and to the point requires self-discipline but it does become easier with practice.


Here’s how I do it. I reduce the information I wish to communicate to its essentials by identifying the key words (e.g. nouns, verbs) or phrases by mentally highlighting them. I then create the structure of the information using parent/child branches structures. I don’t worry about losing the 'detail' or the 'finer nuances' of the information that are contained in the richness of our language. If needs be, I can put the grammatically correct representation of the information in the notes associated with the branch. The Note icon indicates to the reader that more information is available if they require it.


The previous map, with long branch titles would be changed to the following:

Try this 

If you want to practice developing your short branch title skills then try the following:
• Create a dummy parent branch,[e.g., type ‘A’ and hit return] and paste your wordy text into the branch note.
• In the Notes Editor Highlight the key words in the block of text.

• Then put a meaningful summary title in the dummy branch title and create a child branch structure to reflect the key words.

What branch title length? 

Now comes the big question. How short is short? What is the optimum number of words for a branch title? The mindmapping purists would say one word per branch title. I take a more pragmatic approach. I believe that the answer depends on the purpose of the map, its intended audience and the ramifications of the map’s information being misinterpreted.


The shorter a branch title is, then the more ambiguous its meaning to a reader can become. You could say that ambiguity is the ally of creativity and the enemy of deployment.


When you are seeking to be creative you do not wish to restrict the avenues of thought that people could pursue.

If I was facilitating a brainstorming session then I would tend to use single word branches where possible in the idea generation phase.


If I made the branch title ‘red door’ then the brainstorming participants may limit their thoughts to scenarios with red doors.  


If instead I made the parent branch ‘door’ and it’s child branch ‘red’ then the brainstorming participants have a much wider range of avenues of thoughts to consider such as other colours, other traits of a door, etc.


However if I was seeking to instruct someone on how I wish some procedure to be performed then I would want to ensure that they clearly understood what they had to do and that there was no room for misunderstanding. In such a case I would use a few words (up to five) words in the branch title to zero in on the specific aspect I wished to address and provide the detailed instructions in the note associated with the branch. I would also add some child branches to provide them with the key points associated with the detail.


So my rule of thumb for branch length is one word for maps used to facilitate creativity and the development of ideas and up to five words for instructional maps, augmented by details in the branch notes if required. But remember, it is a rule of thumb. Don’t let it get in the way of your map being fit for the purpose you intend it for.


So there you have it. Keep your branch titles short and reap the immense benefits that MindGenius maps can give to you and your organisation.


As ever, if you have any questions or queries, Ask Gordon


Visit the MindGenius site at www.mindgenius.com. 

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Sharing Complex Book Ideas in Map Format –Biographies

Last month we published an interview with Jim Mather where Jim discussed his top business books. It proved to be a popular topic, so this month, Jim is explaining which book tops his list in biographies.

How do you choose which biographies to read?

Generally, I read biographies of people I admire or people, whose lives and experience indicates that I could learn from them.

I recognise that sounds a bit worthy and boring - but the fact is if these factors are not present it is hard for me to keep my interest alive and read through to the end of the book: for they usually all have sad endings: the hero dies.

What are your top ten biographies?

• Davic MacCullough, John Adams
• Jospeph Elli, Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
• Ron Chernow, Alexander Hamilton
• Martin Luther King Jr, The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr
• Mahatma Gandhi, An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth
• Tim Pat Coogan, Michael Collins: A Biography and De Valera: Long Fellow, Long Shadow
• Andy McSmith, John Smith: A Life, 1938-1994
• Ricardo Semler, Maverick
• Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals - The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
• Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

What is your top book out of this and why?

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals - The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

And the reason is that the book does something that doesn't always happen with biographies: it gives other supporting players proper credit for shaping events and shows the subject of the biography in a wider context.

Including facing many problems that we ourselves face in managing relationships, other people and competing "truths".

What is the most important thing you have learnt from this book?

It underpins my firmly held belief that there is no such thing as the single, lone hero who makes everything right - but rather that any success needs many people working closely together with common goals, goodwill, trust, collaboration and mature means of handling inevitable conflicts.

Why should we read it?

It reinforces the point that diversity and different people of different opinions are more likely to help create something that is innovative and resilient – than a pack of group-thinking yes men or women.

Have you read any of these biographies? What would be your top book in this category?

Purchase Team of Rivals - The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln on Amazon

Visit the MindGenius website www.mindgenius.com.

Jim Mather served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament from 2003 until 2011. In 2007, he was appointed Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism: a role he served until he stepped down from front line politics last year. He started his career as a Chartered Accountant before moving to IBM in IT Sales & Marketing roles. Following IBM, Jim, and his fellow directors, successfully built and sold “Computers for Business”, a Scottish based reseller of leading computer brands. Last October Jim joined MindGenius’ sister company Gael Ltd as Chairman, and he is also a visiting Professor at The University of Strathclyde. 

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Ask Gordon - Biggest Benefit of MindGenius

For over a year now I've been writing Ask Gordon articles and in that time we've covered a variety of subjects such as Problem Solving, Facilitation, Domain Research, Risk Management, Audit Preparation.

Then just last week, someone asked me an interesting question. What aspect of MindGenius do I value the most? It's a bit like being on Desert Island Discs and being asked which record would you select to go with you if you were to be a castaway on a desert island.

What would your answer be? My answer, which may surprise you, was not to pick any of the techniques that I have written about in previous Ask Gordon articles. Why? Because the key benefit that MindGenius gives me is the ability to quickly extract the thoughts hidden in my head and stimulate the generation of new ideas and insights. It provides me with clarity and understanding on the subject matter I am addressing.


I, like most people, find it difficult, if not impossible, to consciously focus on more than one line of thought at a time.

MindGenius gives me the ability to record my ideas and present them in a visible form. My brain feeds off of these stimuli and recognises linkages between them which spark insights and inspire new, creative paths to explore. Once they are recorded, MindGenius provides me with a host of features and capabilities to produce an effective end result. But that end result is only as good as the ideas that it is based on.


So the essential value that MindGenius provides me is the ability to quickly record and arrange my thoughts. It is the key stepping stone to everything that I do.

How does this work in practice?

When I have to do something, my normal approach is to create a new map with the subject as the core then start typing.


As I type, my map develops and the creative juices start. I'm often surprised by how much my understanding of the subject has developed, and often changed from the initial outset, in just doing this for 5 or 10 minutes.

MindGenius is non-intrusive and its simple method of recording does not interfere, or distract me from the thinking activity.

The map structure automatically builds as I type. You’d be surprised how much you actually know about certain subjects, particularly those relating to your areas of expertise. So you can end up with large maps. However, unlike with paper, MindGenius allows your map to expand in whatever direction you wish to take.

I never feel overwhelmed or overloaded by the large amount of information that I generate thanks to MindGenius. I can see the structure which provides me with a high level overview, letting me see the big picture. 

If I see potential linkages, I can visually identify the inter-relationships. I record such linkages there and then because if I move onto another activity, that potentially valuable linkage is likely to be lost forever. It is often from such linkages that extremely valuable new insights are generated.

If there is an area that needs further development, or which poses an obstacle, then I mark it with a category. Later on I filter on the category to identify those areas in my map that I need to revisit.

In summary, MindGenius acts as a catalyst for my brain. It facilitates my thinking and helps me record it so it can then be developed into effective outcomes. It provides me with clarity of thought and allows me to manage large amounts of information effectively.


MindGenius is also particularly useful in teasing out the knowledge and experience of a group of people in such a manner that it is a positive learning experience for those involved as well as producing an invaluable record of what's been said.

So what do you think? How much value do you, or your organisation, place on ideas? What aspect of MindGenius do you value the most?

As ever, if you have any questions or queries, Ask Gordon.

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Sharing Complex Book Ideas in Map Format

Jim Mather served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament from 2003 til 2011. In 2007, he was appointed Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism: a role he served until he stepped down from front line politics last year. He started his career as a Chartered Accountant before moving to IBM in IT Sales & Marketing roles. Following IBM, Jim, and his fellow directors, successfully built and sold “Computers for Business”, a Scottish based reseller of leading computer brands. Last October Jim joined MindGenius’ sister company Gael Ltd as Chairman.

Jim comes as a very prolific user of MindGenius – having used the system to capture ideas and energy in nearly 200 sessions with communities and industrial sectors across Scotland in his time as minister. In doing so, he helped people see the benefits of increased collaboration, cohesion and the need to define a unifying purpose.

In embarking on this approach, he recognised that he needed to connect with bright people and their ideas so in addition to dialogue with others, he became a voracious reader of books that offered insights and strategies that could help him and Scotland improve.

Here he details what attracted him to such books and why he chose to map them out using MindGenius:

Have you always been an avid reader? Not really, but senior challenging roles soon persuaded me that I need to know more than I could ever learn from conversation or trial & error.

Perhaps I was influenced by John Adams, the Second President of the USA, who once said “I must judge for myself, but how can I judge and how can any man judge, unless his mind has been opened and enlarged by reading.”

How do you select books to read? I have been looking out for books that were able to help me fulfil my roles and build arguments for autonomy, collaboration, mediation and the development of common cause – all of which were also important to Scotland.

But the big secret is to talk about these books and share the ideas in them – so that others know that you are a reader of quality books – and then you can expect thoughtful and appropriate recommendations from a widening circle of like-minded people. This in turn allows you to recommend more good books to others and you can then enjoy a constant stream of worthwhile books and better conversations – constrained only by time and money.

What type of books? I am tempted to reply with one word:- “worthwhile” – but not all of them met that criterion for I made some mistakes and got a few poor recommendations.

They cover most aspects of business life: Biographies, Leadership, Strategy. Mediation, Systems Thinking, Economics, Inequality, The Financial Crisis, Evidence-based management, People and motivation.

And of these my current top ten is as follows:

1. The New Economic for Industry Government and Education by W. Edwards Deming
2. The Age of the Unthinkable by Joshua Cooper Ramo
3. Trust by Anthony Seldon
4. The Puritan Gift by Kenneth & William Hopper
5. The Living Company by Arie de Geus
6. The Origin of Wealth: by Eric Beinhocker
7. Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahamed
8. Stabilising an Unstable Economy by Hyman Minsky
9. The Truth about Markets by John Kay
10. The Cost of Inequality by Stewart Lansley

Why do you create maps of the books you read? It is an attempt to drill the ideas into my head and into my conversations. I read books with highlighted pens in hand and then return to the book to transfer the highlighted text into a mind map.

Once captured in a mind map, I can review a complex book in ten minutes and share the ideas with others – but most of all I can use it to encourage others to read important books and get to grips with big ideas that deserve debate and implementation.

Can we focus on your favourite book and can you tell us about this book? The Puritan Gift by Kenneth & William Hopper

Why is this book your top book?

• This great book suggests that many in the West and the USA have lost their moral compass in the managing of business and the economy and calls for an end to short-termism and the rebuilding of our economy in a new spirit of togetherness – based on core principles that guided previous generations to success.

Learning points
The USA was great in the era where the Puritan Principles reigned supreme.
They spoke in favour of:

• Everyone working together in common cause
• Trying to create a better life for everyone
• Working at individual competence
• Being open to new ideas and new technologies and the need to challenge orthodoxies
• Willing to join the dots and take steps to ensure improvements took place

They highlight the damage done by the Scientific Management of Frederick Taylor, who sought to simplify and time all work processes – triggering unintended consequences:

Demoralised staff

Lack of trust between management and staff

The fallacy that saw managers move to new sectors without deep “domain knowledge”

The short-termism that ruled Wall Street and the City of London

Finally, why should we read it?
They will persuade you that there is a better way and that your voice can be heard because:-

• They ask the key question “Do you think India and China will let Wall Street and the City cream their profits off the top?”
• They offer us the chance of getting back to fairness and fundamentals and having a New Beginning

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Puritan-Gift-Reclaiming-Financial/dp/184511986X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331830467&sr=8-1

What are your top books and why?

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