Yet for all its various chart types, XMind does not allow free-form charting. All of the chart types share the same tools and formatting options, so there’s no significant learning curve to prevent you from making full use of all of them. Organization charts, flow charts, project management charts, and Fishbone charts are offered as well. Even when importing and exporting complex documents, XMind never threw up a pinwheel. I encountered no freezes or unexpected quits in daily use on a MacBook Pro. Interface design aside, the overall user experience with XMind is satisfying. XMind goes beyond mind maps with templates for org charts, flow charts, and the aptly named fishbone chart. None of these design choices are inherently wrong, but they don’t deliver the Mac experience. Font management also bypasses Apple’s tools in favor of a toolbar-like configuration that doesn’t offer previews. Color palettes are straight out of Excel, including the Automatic option thankfully, clicking Custom opens the standard Mac color picker. One window, three or four panes, tabs in each pane-this is a classic (and wanting) Microsoft design pattern. Placed side by side, XMind for Mac and Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express for Windows were clearly separated at birth. Like many multi-platform products, XMind runs on Mac OS X, but doesn’t feel as comfortable as software that uses Mac design patterns. XMind comes up short on interface design. Trying to remember an arcane keyboard combination or, heaven forbid, reaching for the mouse can really harsh your mind-mapping buzz. While pressing return may seem too simple to bother mentioning, the fact is that most mind mapping programs make populating the map harder than it needs to be. Adding child and grandchild branches is a simple matter of pressing return or command-return. When you create a new document, XMind enters Brainstorm Mode, creating and selecting the central topic. XMind is a model of simplicity for populating a new map. Child branches radiate out from there, using text, colors, and graphic embellishments to articulate the ideas. XMind 2008 Pro (version 2.3) stays true to the mind mapping ideals, though Macintosh standards are the occasional victim.Īll mind maps start with a central topic. Mind mapping aims to prevent those cranial logjams through a process that gets the ideas out quickly, without needless organizational burdens. All of us have created a new, blank document only to stare at the vast empty space wondering what to do next. Go through the apps list above and pick the suitable option for you.Getting thoughts out of your head and into your Mac isn’t always easy. It can help you get plan-out huge projects on the go. With a single click, the software will turn your mind map into beautiful, dynamic slideshows.Īs for export options, one can export the slides as PNGs, embed the whole presentation on the website, or even broadcast it live to their collaborators online.īrainstorming is easier than ever with dedicated mind mapping software. The standard feature list is comparable to rivals but what sets MindMeister apart from the rest of the options is the built-in presentation mode. And surprisingly, it works perfectly fine, and I had no problems navigating and using the software on Google Chrome. MindMeister is completely web-based, meaning you can use it across anywhere on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Used by over 14 million users worldwide, MindMeister emphasizes design to deliver one of the aesthetically pleasing mind mapping experiences. Price: Free (Premium subscription starts at $2.49 per month) The real action happens with an upgrade to MindNode Plus. MindNode offers a free version with a basic editor. Once done with the process, you can easily share it to Apple Reminders, a task management app, or any other app in various formats. You have complete control over how you want to design the idea on the board. As for styling, MindNode packs beautiful themes and custom stickers. It removes all the distractions and lets you focus on one thought at a time. My favorite function from the bunch is the focus mode. Opt for the mind map to visually rearrange nodes and add new thoughts. You can create an outline for an organized, hierarchical view and observe how it grows as a mind map. The software takes you to the default blackboard, and you can start adding elements such as blocks, images, emojis, and more to the board. Even a beginner can start building the thoughtmap without prior experience. I like how the app offers a detailed tutorial upfront to get started. Most mind mapping software offer a giant canvas to connect the dots.
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