Savvy mind management

Mindjet has released MindManager 8, which is designed to help individuals save time, ease information overload and become more efficient, says the company.

Mindjet further explains that MindManager 8 is a Windows desktop application that allows users to map their ideas and information visually. The map is a visual diagram that imitates the creator’s thoughts, with the interactive benefits of embedded data, live hyperlinks, collaboration capabilities, etc. Mindjet adds that its new offering integrates word processors, spreadsheets, presentations and e-mail and allows users to capture, organize and act upon ideas, data and knowledge without leaving the mind map.

Mindjet reports that new capabilities in MindManager 8 include:

Mindjet Player--transforms maps into fully interactive Adobe PDFs or Flash .SWF files that can be shared with anyone, published to blogs and embedded in Web pages.

Embedded browser--maps now incorporate a browser window so you can view Web pages and PDF documents without leaving MindManager.

Integrated Microsoft Office file editing--ability to edit attached Microsoft Word, Excel, Project and PowerPoint files from within MindManager’s embedded browser, eliminating the need to leave the map and launch a separate application.

Integrated Web services--Google and Yahoo searches can be initiated directly inside a map, with mapped and editable search results that can be refreshed with one click, or automatically updated each time you open your map. (MindManager 8 can also search Amazon, Facebook, MySpace, Microsoft Live Search, eBay and StrikeIron.)

Searchable maps--maps created with MindManager are fully searchable by many desktop search applications.

Automated task management--provides instant summations of task start dates, end dates, level of completion and exception management.

Database linker--MindManager can access data from MS Excel, Oracle, IBM DB2, MS SQL Server, MS Access and MySQL.