A new Beta of 3D Topicscape has just come out, and there's an opportunity for keen mind mappers to sign up as Beta testers. In case you don't know, Topicscape is an information organizer that uses a mind mapping approach to let you build a 3D information landscape.

If you're interested in giving it a try, Please go to the Beta application form and choose a user name and password … http://www.topicscape.com/applybeta.php

Full details of Beta 2.0 are in a picture-rich document here:-
http://www.topicscape.com/download/Topicscape-Beta-2.0-what's-new-for-you.pdf

Argey

A wiki, all about mind mapping

A new wiki about mind mapping, concept mapping and associated topics has just been launched. Although it has been built up with very extensive content before launch, you can add to it yourself. All contributions that follow its policies of being written in a way that is clear, factual and without hype are welcome.

Its writers bring decades of experience of mind and concept mapping to this wiki, and are continually adding to it. Use it to learn from, or use it to bring your own experience to this comprehensive resource for the benefit of others.

Argey

Do you edit Wikipedia?

If you'd like a summary of the useful things to know when editing Wikipedia, and you'd like it in a useful quick reference mindmap format, just click this image:



This will take you to the InformationTamers' site. There are mindmaps in various active formats there, as well as a full detail, passive image.

Argey

Information systems, technology and the human factor

Here's a piece, with a detailed mind map, on some new thinking on information systems
http://www.informationtamers.com/VPECT/VPECT-and-business-information-systems.html

Argey

Hand-drawn mind mappers

There's a fun survey over at the topicscape blog: Pick your favorite out of five hand-drawn mind-mappers - or nominate others.

http://www.topicscape.com/blog/2008/09/22/the-great-hand-drawn-mind-mappers-face-off/

Argey

The free 3D mind mapping software - it's been updated

There's a new version of 3D Topicscape Student Edition (the free one) out now.

It plays nicely with Vista Aero theme, runs faster and more smoothly, and has some user interface improvements.

Download this free mind mapping software from the link.

Argey

Made to Stick

I'm all of a buzz with a book I just finished: Made to Stick.

There's a review and a full mind map of it over at InformationTamers:
http://www.informationtamers.com/How-to-present-information-so-that-people-remember-and-act-on-it.html

This is a book full of insight that cannot fail to convince.

Argey

Organizing information graphically for faster comprehension

The story of a search for a better way to organize information has now been told at the InformationTamers site.


http://www.informationtamers.com/Personal-journey-in-information-mangement.html










Read the full story now!

Roy

3D Topicscape Pro update

3D Topicscape Pro version 1.59 is out now. For details of what it does that's new, please visit the What's New page, but in summary:

1. Four, five or six columns of children of the Current Topic - a wider landscape scene in other words;
   

   



2. Extended import from PersonalBrain;


3. Auto-minimize option;


4. Faster Make Current operation for really large Topicscapes.

Argey

New information organizers site

There's a new site on information organizers and it approaches from a new angle - in 3D.

Argey

3D Topicscape Lite new version

We have just uploaded a new version of 3D Topicscape Lite. It is available from the usual place: http://www.topicscape.com/download5.php

and is free to all who have a license. If you are using 3D Topicscape Lite in the 30-day trial period, you can switch to this version now, as well.

This version has a significantly-improved start-up speed and some bugs have been fixed. Enjoy!

Argey

Mindmaps Directory update

Topicscape.com has long had a remarkable mindmaps directory and it has just been updated. There are now more than 700 mind maps from all over the Web.

This is the only library of mind maps that allows you to browse freely, filter according to the type of map (there are concept maps, pure mind maps, bubble diagrams, spidergrams, and others), select by subject in the tag cloud or search by keyword.

Each map thumbnail has a link to its original Web page.

This is an outstanding resource for the business mapper, the student and the creative person looking for fresh ideas and a new approach.

Argey

Free mindmapping software and concept mapping software for students

3D Topicscape Student Edition is design to help students with their homework, essays and acquiring the skills of using an information organizer. Thinking & organizing indeed.

It presents information with the usual Topicscape approach - a 3D landscape - but has a colorful, playful feel with stars in the sky, making it even more fun to use than the other Topicscape editions.

And it is free now, and will remain free.

I'm looking for comments on how well it works for you, so get stuck in and try it. Download 3D Topicscape Student Edition from this page.

Argey

New 3D Topicscape version

Last night a new version of 3D Topicscape Pro went live - it's version 1.55 and has some small bug fixes from the major release of last month.

Click here for the description of new features and here to download.

Argey

Mindmapping styles

Here's a view of styles of "mind maps across the ages".

http://www.topicscape.com/mindmapping/mindmapping-styles.html

TechnoBabble likes 3D Topicscape

There's a very extensive review of Topicscape's 3D mindmapping capabilities at TechnoBabble. They've even gone to the trouble of making some videos.

The mindmapping software weblog picks up review

The mindmapping software weblog echoed RevolutionCalling's review (below), though Chuck Frey says "It's a powerful tool for visualizing information, but I wouldn't classify it as a mind mapping application."

My view is that anyone who is used to mindmapping will find the way of building a topicscape very familiar. The key point is that when a 2D mindmap, built in many popular tools, gets too big to handle effectively, you can port it to Topicscape and see all the relationships and names preserved and carry right on extending it.

In fact in the latest Beta, you can import a FreeMind mindmap to Topicscape and export it back to FreeMind - a full round trip is possible.

Revolution Came Calling

Review of 3D Topicscape on the RevolutionCalling blog.
It's an "extremely effective mind mapper".

Mindmaps Directory

There's a Mindmaps Directory now at www.topicscape.com/mindmaps/

This has thumbnails and pointers to mindmaps all over the Web - hundreds of mindmaps, spidergrams, bubble diagrams, concept maps and the like. You can filter to see just one map type.

Each map has multiple tags so you can also choose to see all the maps relating to a tag (from the tag cloud).

3D Topicscape 1.11

With a great extension of the import and export functions, Topicscape went into a new Beta phase a few weeks ago as 1.1. We have since added a demonstration function that takes a new user through flying and then the steps to make a new Topicscape and search it, so now it's at Beta 1.11. We've had some bug reports and have mostly sorted those out. We had some feedback on how to 'speak' to the user better - that's working its way into the Beta now. (Beta 1.111??)

We are hoping to take this version live in about a month's time (where have I heard that before?)

At that time we shall be removing some, but not all, of the early-adopter discount, so be warned!

Some interesting skins are taking shape - glass, metal - and the Students' Edition is looking Wow, with its colors and shading. Very helpful when you're using Topicscape as a learning tool.