Earlier this week, Mindjet announced the launch of version 1.2 of Catalyst, its slick web-based mind mapping and collaboration application. This release offers a number of new capabilities that may be quite useful to business users.

MindMeister, the undisputed leader in the web-based mind mapping space, continues to release new features and functionality on a regular basis. Just announced: MindMeister 4.0, which make it more attractive as a business tool.

CS Odessa, the developer of ConceptDraw MINDMAP, recently announced the availability of a free extension for Google Wave, ConceptDraw MindWave, that enables users to create visual maps within Google’s exciting new collaborative environment. This neat tool brings an important visual element to collaboration within Google Wave, which is almost 100% text based.

BossDev, the developer of Spinscape, recently released version 2.0 with a wealth of new and improved features in a polished, fast and intuitive user interface. It also includes some exciting new capabilities that push the envelope of what’s possible with mind mapping applications. Here’s a review of its most exciting new features.

Mindomo recently launched a major update to its popular web-based mind mapping application. This version includes a number of capabilities that will be appreciate by business users, including task and project management tools and adding collaboration features.

Pearltrees is a new social bookmarking tool that behaves much like a mind map. But this recently-launched web-based application is still a little rough around the edges.

Is Google’s Wonder Wheel – a mind map-like way of displaying search results – a useful tool or just an intriguing piece of eye candy? You decide!

Spicynodes is a new web-based mind mapping tool developed by the Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement (IDEA) that aims to help organizations to create a more “humane,” usable interface for navigating large amounts of information. It offers some intriguing functionality that’s worth a deeper look.

Inspiration Software, the developer of the popular Inspiration mind mapping software program, recently announced updates to its web-based Webspiration mind mapping service. These improvements add functionality to an already solid toolset, and help to give it a greater focus on the needs of business users.

Michael Deutch, writing in the Mindjet Blog, recently announced some significant updates and enhancements to MindManager Web, the web-based version of the popular mind mapping tool. This update includes over 100 usability improvements.