NovaMind debuts advancements for its Windows and Mac programs

The innovators at NovaMind never seem to rest. Within the last two weeks, they have announced a new version of their mind mapping software for Windows 8, which will enable it to work on tablets and other touch-enabled devices, plus a beta version of NovaMind 5.4 for Mac, which features the awesome Presenter functionality from the Windows version.

Here’s what we can expect from both of these developments:

NovaMind for Windows 8

First, it’s important to understand that this program does NOT replace NovaMind 5 for Windows; rather, it’s a parallel product that the developer created to be a part of the action when Microsoft introduces Windows 8 in October of this year.

NovaMind 8 for Windows is a completely new version of the program, developed with a “touch first” philosophy so it leverages all of the tap, drag and pinch functionality of the tablet environment. New topics can be created by dragging outward from existing ones, for example.

The program also gets an adaptation of the layout engine from NovaMind 5, which means compact map layouts in the smaller screen sizes of today’s tablet devices. Themes are also carried over from the existing Windows product.

NovaMind 5.4 for Mac

The Presenter mode that stunned me last year when it debuted in the Windows version of NovaMind has finally been launched for the Mac, and is now in beta test mode. It features:

• An animated introduction slide that is highly customizable
• Easy slide creation, with the ability to adjust the size of the selected map branches within the slide frame (as I’ve said in earlier posts, this capability is essential!)
• Zoom, pan, expand and collapse map branches – within your presentations
• Use the mouse to draw lines on the screen to emphasize parts of your slides
• Switch to edit mode and update your mind map, during the presentation
• Hide the presentation with a single keystroke, if you want to temporarily direct your audience’s attention somewhere else
• Present within a window or full screen. The former option is useful for webinars, where you don’t necessarily want the program to take over the entire screen.
• Use the Presenter in ad hoc mode – in other words, do a walk-through of your mind map without having to define any slides
• Support for the Apple remote

Please visit the NovaMind blog for more details on both of these products.