A new offshoot of the popular FreeMind open source mind mapping software adds some powerful research features to it.

iFreeMind is a new app for the iPhone and iPod Touch platform that generates FreeMind-compatible mind maps. Unfortunately, this program has some significant shortcomings that you ought to know about.

Tenero Software Ltd. recently launched version 2.0 of its popular iBlueSky application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It is now available on the Apple App Store as a free upgrade for existing users. In this review, we’ll look at some of its newest and best features.

The developers of XMIND recently released version 3.0.3 of the increasingly popular mind mapping program, which offers a number of new and improved features.

A developer recently launched the first mind mapping application for the popular Blackberry line of mobile devices, called (naturally enough) MindBerry. It appears to make the most of the diminutive PDA’s screen, and leverages the handheld’s keyboard extensively to speed the completion of common tasks.

Lately, I’ve been getting a growing number of messages from readers of this blog, asking specific questions about mind mapping software. I recently realized that the questions they’re asking may very well be shared by many of you. So here are some of the most recent ones, along with my advice.

A number of recent developments have convinced me that 2009 is the year in which mind mapping software will break into the mainstream as a widely accepted business productivity tool. It has reached an “inflection point” where we will see more rapid growth than ever before. Here are the factors that I believe will drive this rapid growth.

TheBrain Technologies has just announced a new version of its popular PersonalBrain mind mapping and information software for PC and Mac OS X. Now in beta testing, PersonalBrain 5 offers numerous improvements and new features.

Bob Jenkins, an well-known Internet marketing expert also known as Bob the Teacher, recently launched DiscoverFreemind.com, a new training resource that aims to help people who are new to visual mapping get up to speed with the free, open-source mind mapping program.