Mind mapping on the iPad: Please share your experiences

Hi,
I use iThoughtsHD on iPad as a support tool to capture information and then transfer to MindManager via DropBox. I study different topics and I keep my notes in maps as a personalized KMS. By way of example: I listen to or view podcasts on the iPhone while sitting with the iPad to capture information.

The experience of creating mindmaps on iPad is very nice and intuitive, but not "out of this world" or anything like that. The iThoughtsHD app is less powerful than MindManager, as expected, but it is quite good at what it does.

All in all, using mindmaps on the iPad has become the inobtrusive tool I expected it to be. Beyond the hype about the iPad (or mind maps, for that matter), it is a powerful combination to create maps easily and in a portable way. Love it!

Hi

Using ithoughts the best mindmap tool by far to me, and in conjonction Instaviz for something mixing mindmap and diagrams concepts, very useful for programming and decision making...

The import/export functions in ithoughts are the more complete YOU CAN dream of. I use dropbox and mindmanager format to work on PC/iPhone/iPad.

I bought the iPad mainly because of thé productivity enhancement of thèse two apps and théier touch approach.

The main reason for buying an iPad was because of iThoughts. I bought that for the iPhone, but the screen is just too small. iThoughts HD is really a killer mindmapping app for the iPad. I just love the dropbox integration, so that I can also use MindJet MindManager to make changes if needed.

MindMaps in iThoughts HD may look a bit "clean" compared to the more organic style used in some other apps, but that's just a matter of personal liking.

I bought an iPad because I wanted the experience of mapping in this environment. The device only came out in Hong Kong a month or so ago so I'm still building the applications I want to use with it.

I use MindManager a lot and assumed that, as they have an iPhone app, an iPad app would not be long in following, but in talking to the Asia rep it seems Mindjet do not have plans for this. Strange.

I think MindManager on the iPad with the ability to link to Catalyst for file storage and swapping files between iPad and desktop will be an amazing combination - when it comes out!!

In the meantime, based on the comments above, I will try out iThoughts and Dropbox combination.

iMindmap from Tony Buzan came out this week and I now have this as well as the desktop version so I am looking forward to trying this out. The discipline of one word branches is great for some things but I do tend towards MindManger mostly.

I'll get back to you when I've had a bit more experience in the environment.

I can spot a bit of a theme here and I'm no exception. I use iThoughts HD on the iPad in combination with DropBox. My main use of iThoughts is to take meeting notes, especially in seminars. It's surprisingly quick to type on the iPad screen keyboard although I'd like to see pen recognition (using something like the Pogo Stylus) worked into iPad mind mapping software.

iThoughts HD is of course not as feature-rich as desktop tools like MindManager but it does what it needs to and that simplicity is central to its appeal. There are actually some things is does better, like colour inheritance for child topics.

Overall I wouldn't go shouting from the rooftops about iThoughtsHD for iPad, but it's the best I've seen and it serves its purpose well.

Hello Chuck,

Here are my thoughts on your post:

What mind mapping app are you using on your iPad?

I primarily use iThoughtsHD. Though recently I was asked to review Mindo and iMindmapHD.

What applications are you using this mind mapping app for?

I use mindmapping on my iPad as a way to make my Computer-based mindmapping portable. This is why I prefer iThoughts HD because it allows for you to easily take computer-based mindmaps and upload them via WiFi to the iPad. iThoughts also has a very clean, user-friendly design for creating mindmaps on the iPad.

How would you rate the overall experience of creating visual maps on the iPad? Is it everything you hoped for? Or something less, after all the excitement has worn off?

I think the real value is being able to have both the option of creating mindmaps from scratch on the iPad and easily porting mindmaps you’ve created your computer. I think that is where the real value lies. Because I don’t see myself ever completely giving up all the functionality of say a MindManager 9 for any iPad App. But the ability to quickly take most of the functionality of the computer-based map and put it on your iPad is were the value lies – at least for me. Now, as for strictly creating a mindmap on the iPad, I would have to say that iMindmapHD is pretty interesting. For those who follow the very strict rules of mindmapping espoused by Tony Buzan (i.e. 1 word per branch), this app might be for you. Personally, I think that is rather limiting. For me you get much more from mindmapping when you relate concepts rather than strictly words. Also, though it makes great use of the tactile nature of using one figure to create branches when you add text it takes you away from the mindmap via a text box. That is not as intuitive as iThoughts which allows for text on the actual mindmap. So, I think in the end it will be a matter of preference and what you aim to accomplish with your mindmapping – whether on the iPad or via your computer. ---Chance Brown

Hi Chuck,

I started with iThoughtsHD and it does almost everything it should do for me. I think everything is said in the other comments. I'm also using iMindMap Mobile HD at the moment and must say that I enjoy it more - it's less structuring thoughts and more mind mapping the Buzan way. But for me it also is missing some important functions.

On http://www.creamatics.nl/nl/downloads/Artikel%20-... you'll find a review of iMindMap.

Hans Terhurne

Like the others, I use iThoughtsHD on my iPad. Most of my iPad notetaking is done with Evernote. I share my MindManager maps between Catalyst, my Macbook Pro and my iPad. Sharing between my Mac and my iPad is through Dropbox. I create most of my maps on my Mac, store them on Catalyst, and transfer some to my iPad. On the iPad I can have access to the mindmapping information. For example, I keep track of all my personal investments using MindManager. I can review or edit the investment map on my iPad. When I read a book, I usually take notes on the book in mindmapping format. I am anxious for iPad to add multitasking so I can read ebooks and take mindmap notes on my iPad easily

iThoughtsHD and NovaMind - excellent combination. Quick and easy creation on iThoughts, then make it look stunning on NovaMind. It's great to have the portability of the iPad combined with the power and flexibility of NovaMind.

i don't have an ipad but i think iThoughts HD should be a good software for that as it is extensible to Novamind,Freemind and Mind Manager. I personally use it on my ipod touch >> http://www.productiveorganizer.com/to-do-list/min...

its one of the first note taking app and sticking with it is good as the developer really wanna make it useful for you guys.

i am not paid to say this lol.

I just bought iThoughtsHD and as a long time "manual" mind mapper I was very impressed.

I'm a business user and use the process for creating Keynote presentations, developing training documents, business planning, video planning, writing technical articles and many other uses. It needs to be a graphical process for me to get that quick creative start on an issue and iThoughts is a program that doesn't get in the way of that process. It also really suits the iPad interface.

One item I would love to see is a tiered numbering system option (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 then 2.0 etc) and an export to Pages (or Word) without the graphic. This then can become the starting outline for the written documents. I created this by emailing myself and copying the text into Pages. Turn the text to all black and change the bullets format to tiered numbers. It was quite simple to do but I would prefer if it was part of the export options.

I also liked the way the notes came out as an italic in the emailed text. The notes are not part of the presentation but they are reminders of what I need to include under the section or a note for pictures to be included.

Keep it simple so the app doesn't get in the way of the creative process.

I looked very closely at all the other mind mapping apps and iThoughts is by far the best for me

I have iThoughtsHD on the iPad, and on my MacbookPro, I use the latest beta version of Freemind with some custom key mappings. On Freemind, my hand never has to leave to find the mouse. All navigation and editing controls are on the keyboard, which is a major boon when taking notes.

With all of the iPad MindMapping apps, I have yet to find one that powerfully supports an external keyboard (via BlueTooth) for really rapid note entry.

For example, here are the keys that I use in MindMap on the Macbook:
[ARROW KEYS] Navigate around nodes
[ENTER] - Create sibling
[SHIFT-ENTER] - Create child
[CMD-ENTER] - Edit Node
[TAB] - Collapse, expand branch.

Does anyone know of a good iPad app that helps with this?

Thanks,
-Mike

Hi. I'm a lawyer. I work on big cases that run for a number of years and use mindmaps to record key information & issues and plan out what needs doing but I havent yet found a mindmap that can then turn these action points into a really good schedule/to do list. I was hoping this is something that might come with the new apps being developed for iPad. Any suggestions?