MindManager
{{Short description|Commercial mind mapping software}}
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| developer = Mindjet
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| genre = Mind mapping
| license = Proprietary commercial software
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MindManager is a commercial mind mapping software application developed by Mindjet. The software provides ways for users to visualize information in mind maps and flowcharts. MindManager can be used to manage projects, organize information, and for brainstorming.
{{As of|2015|12}}, Mindjet had approximately two million users,{{cite web |title=Could Mind-Maps Make SharePoint More Lovable? |author=Marshall Kirkpatrick |url=http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/could_mind-mapping_magic_make_microsofts_sharepoin.php |work=ReadWriteWeb |date=14 November 2011 |access-date=19 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419182015/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/could_mind-mapping_magic_make_microsofts_sharepoin.php |archive-date=19 April 2012 |url-status=dead }} including notable customers such as Coca-Cola, Disney, IBM, and Wal-Mart.{{cite news |title=Mindjet boosts online collaboration with Catalyst |author=Glen Chapman |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jAtF77pDeYcjJL7H5N3Z7ykx4n3w |agency=Agence France Presse |work=Times of Oman |date=8 October 2009 |access-date=19 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505051153/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jAtF77pDeYcjJL7H5N3Z7ykx4n3w|archive-date=5 May 2012}}
Features
MindManager provides ways for users to visualize information using mind maps, and with the release of MindManager 2016 for Windows, now includes flowchart and concept map creation tools. The digital mind maps can be used as a “virtual whiteboard” for brainstorming, managing and planning projects, compiling research, organizing large amounts of information, and for strategic planning.{{Cite web|title = MindManager 2016 offers all-in-one visual mapping solution|url = http://mindmappingsoftwareblog.com/mindmanager-2016-for-windows-review/|website = Mind Mapping Software Blog|date = 15 October 2015|access-date = 2015-12-07|language = en-US}}
MindManager also has features that allow budget calculations and formulas, Gantt chart views of project timelines, and guided brainstorming. Documents can be attached to mind map topics and viewed within the MindManager application. Links, images, and notes can also be added to mind map topics and viewed and searched in a side panel.
Development
The software that became MindManager was originally developed by Mike Jetter in the mid-1990s while he was recovering from a bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia. Jetter's goal was to develop a program that would overcome the limitations of creating mind maps with pen and paper, such as the inability to easily move items around. Following his release from hospital, Jetter decided to sell the software.{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-04-11/from-adversity-software-success |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705030606/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-04-11/from-adversity-software-success |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 5, 2012 |title=From Adversity, Software Success |date=11 April 2005 |work=BloombergBusinessweek |access-date=30 October 2012}} The software's mind maps were initially based on the method created by Tony Buzan.{{cite news |title=This is no PowerPoint presentation; More execs embracing Larkspur firm's visual software for organizing ideas |author=Benjamin Pimentel |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4G2X-7YY0-00G9-20K8&csi=8172&oc=00240&perma=true |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=2 May 2005 |access-date=26 October 2012}} Over time, however, Mindjet has developed its own style of mind mapping.{{cite web |url=http://www.mindmaptutor.com/2009/04/mindmanager-software/ |title=MindManager Software by Mindjet |author=Faizel Mohidin |date=4 April 2009 |work=MindMapTutor.com |access-date=26 October 2012}}
The software was originally marketed under the name "MindMan — The Creative MindManager".{{cite news |title=Dream Weaver |url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/19980615/1084.html |author=Jordan Ayan |work=Inc. |date=June 1998 |access-date=30 October 2012}} In 1999, it was rebranded as MindManager.{{cite news |title=MindManager 3.5 UPDATE! The World-wide Leading Idea and Knowledge Management Tool With Integrated Internet Conferencing |work=Business Wire |date=8 January 1999}} Originally only available for Windows, MindManager expanded to Mac OS X in 2006.{{cite news |title=Mindjet Brings Industry-Leading MindManager Software to the Mac |work=Business Wire |date=31 May 2006 }} With the release of version 7, the Windows version of MindManager adopted the ribbon interface first seen in Microsoft Office 2007 and introduced support for Office Open XML.{{cite web |url=https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/officerocker/2007/05/24/mindjet-mindmanager-7-becomes-fluent-with-the-ribbon-interview/ |title=MindJet MindManager 7 becomes Fluent with the ribbon: interview |last=Strange |first=Darren |date=May 24, 2007 |publisher=Microsoft |work=MSDN |access-date=December 31, 2016}} In 2011, mobile versions of MindManager were released for both iOS and Android.{{cite web |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=5317-PG41-JCMN-Y1Y3&csi=299488&oc=00240&perma=true |title=iPad for Business Round-Up: Mindjet, snagR and More |author=Klint Finley |date=4 June 2011 |work=ReadWriteWeb |access-date=2 November 2012}}{{cite news |title=Work Collaboration Innovator Mindjet Adds New Collaboration Products, Garners Two Million Paid Customers and More Than One Million Mobile Users in 2011 |work=Marketwire |date=7 February 2012 }} Later that year, the company acquired Thinking Space, an Android-based information mapping application,{{cite news |title=Mindjet Buys Thinking Space, Launches Mind Mapping App For Android |author=Robin Wauters |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/13/mindjet-buys-thinking-space-launches-mind-mapping-app-for-android/ |newspaper=TechCrunch |date=13 December 2011 |access-date=19 April 2012}} and Cohuman, a social task management service,{{cite news |title=Mindjet Unleashes Creativity with Online Collaboration Tools |author=Tony Bradley |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/239868/mindjet_unleashes_creativity_with_online_collaboration_tools.html |newspaper=PC World |date=12 September 2011 |access-date=19 April 2012}} which the company developed into a collaborative, cloud-based service to complement MindManager called Mindjet Connect or Project Director.{{cite news |title=Cohuman + Mindjet = Idea management from inception to execution |author=Jessica Stillman |url=http://gigaom.com/collaboration/cohuman-mindjet-idea-management-from-inception-to-execution/ |newspaper=GigaOM |date=25 November 2011 |access-date=19 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405005631/http://gigaom.com/collaboration/cohuman-mindjet-idea-management-from-inception-to-execution/ |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}
In September 2012, the Mindjet company combined all of its software, including MindManager, Mindjet Connect, and its mobile offerings into a single product, also called Mindjet.{{cite web |url=http://www.channelbiz.co.uk/2012/09/21/mindjet-woos-channel-with-simplified-software-sales-approach/ |title=Mindjet woos channel with simplified software sales approach |author=Matthew Finnegan |date=21 September 2012 |work=ChannelBiz.co.uk |access-date=19 October 2012}}
Mindjet moved away from the single-product offering in mid-2013. The stand-alone mind mapping product was again named MindManager, with a more expansive version tailored to large enterprise adoptions called MindManager Enterprise released in 2014. MindManager Enterprise added sharing options including viewing/editing within Microsoft SharePoint. A MindManager mind map viewer also became available with MindManager Enterprise 2016.
On August 9, 2016, Corel announced that they had acquired the Mindjet MindManager business.{{cite web |url= http://blog.mindjet.com/2016/08/mindmanager-joins-corel-2/ |title= MindManager Joins Corel |author= Corel CEO Patrick Nichols |date=9 August 2016 |work= Mindjet.com |access-date=15 August 2016}}
Reception and awards
MindManager has received generally positive notice from reviewers. MindManager 2016 for Windows took first place in Biggerplate's{{cite web|url=http://www.biggerplate.com/|title=Free mind mapping software templates and mind map examples}} MindMapper's Choice poll.{{Cite web|title = Biggerplate Annual Mind Map Report 2015|url = http://www.biggerplate.com/annual-report-2015|website = www.biggerplate.com|access-date = 2015-12-07}} MindManager 8 received four out of five stars from TechRadar,{{cite web |url=http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/pc-mac/software/home-and-reference-software/mindjet-mindmanager-8-679388/review |title=Mindjet MindManager 8 review |author=Ian Osborne |date=28 March 2012 |work=TechRadar |access-date=26 October 2012}} while MindManager 9 received 3.5 out of 5 stars from PC Magazine and 4 out of 5 stars from Macworld.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2380615,00.asp |title=MindManager 9 |author=William Fenton |date=25 February 2011 |work=PC Magazine |access-date=26 October 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.macworld.co.uk/macsoftware/reviews/?reviewid=3296423 |title=MindManager 9 for Mac review |author=Alan Stonebridge |date=11 August 2011 |work=Macword |access-date=26 October 2012}} MindManager was chosen as one of the top 5 best mind mapping tools.{{cite web |url=http://lifehacker.com/five-best-mind-mapping-tools-476534555 |title=Five Best Mind Mapping Tools|date=21 April 2013 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.mindmanager.cc/xinwen-wangpin-5-zuihao.html|title=Five Best Mind Mapping Tools}}
MindManager also received a number of awards, including "Collaboration Product of the Year" for 2008 by Intranet Journal,{{cite web|url=http://www.intranetjournal.com/articles/200802/ij_02_22_08a.html |date=22 February 2008 |access-date=2 November 2012 |title=Collaboration Product of the Year: Mindjet MindManager 7 |publisher=Intranet Journal |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713051021/http://www.intranetjournal.com/articles/200802/ij_02_22_08a.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 }} a Jolt Productivity award for Design and Modeling tools from Dr. Dobb's Journal,{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-17-2006/0004322465&EDATE=| title=CMP Media Announces Winners for the 16th Annual Jolt Product Excellence & Productivity Awards |date=17 March 2006 |access-date=26 October 2012}} and "Best of CeBIT" in the Personal Software category in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=638246&TICK=CEBIT&STORY=/www/story/05-26-2004/0002182489&EDATE=May+26,+2004 |title='Best of CeBIT America' Award Goes to NEC Solutions Disaster Recovery Fault Tolerant Solution |date=26 May 2004 |access-date=2 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510141925/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=638246&TICK=CEBIT&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F05-26-2004%2F0002182489&EDATE=May%2B26%2C%2B2004 |archive-date=10 May 2009 }}
See also
References
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