Idea Sketch is a mind mapping app that has been designed for the iPhone and iPad. It works well on both, but I need the larger iPad screen in order to take advantage of the visual representation of ideas and information because I can’t see the whole picture on the smaller screen. Idea Sketch is not super rich in features, but this may be one of its strengths. It’s easy to learn and use.

A mind map begins with a central idea that becomes the name of the “Idea”. The user can turn the mind map into an outline, and move back and forth between map and outline. Additions or deletions in one place automatically show up in the other.

Idea Sketch is not a collaborative tool in the sense that multiple users can work simultaneously on the same mind map. There are, however, multiple options for sharing your work in visual, outline or combined format. You can email your work or save it to a Box.net account so that it can be opened on another iDevice. Alternatively, you can copy and paste into another app. Or, you can save into your Camera Roll. You can even share your work via Facebook.

The screenshots below illustrate what you can do with Idea Sketch.

Concepts can be added independently, without connection to anything else. If desired, connections may be drawn, literally and visually, later. Or, the user may generate connections from the start, from within a node. Any concept can be placed wherever you wish on the screen, relative to whatever else you put there. It’s easy to move a node once you’ve placed it on the screen.

Shape, size and color can be used to link and/or differentiate concepts.

Style can be changed from curved to straight lines with the push of a button.

The user interface is very straightforward, and it offers the option of attaching a note to any node.

It’s easy to switch back and forth between outline and map mode. Anything added in one place, automatically shows up in the other. You can see the “note” that was added to the ‘Cities’ node. The note is open by default in outline mode, but it has to be called up in the mind map. This image also illustrates that you can have as much or as little of the mind map open as you wish at any given time. It’s also easy to compress or expand the view in both an outline or a map.

DropMind is impressive and versatile software that offers both online mind mapping and a downloadable desktop application.  The user interface is intuitive.  Images and hyperlinks can be included, as can icons and symbols from an extensive built-in collection.  Collaboration is facilitated, and a chat feature is included.

DropMind‘s mind maps can be printed, or they can be easily exported as either images or document outlines (.rtf format ) that open in most word processors, including MS Word.  I think this outline feature may be especially valuable to anyone who wants to move from a “brainstormed” mind map to a written document.  Mind maps can also be imported from either MindManager or Free Mind.

DropMind is definitely worth checking out by anyone who values the power of visual representation.  I love one of the tag lines that DropMind uses:  Realize the true potential of your amazing mind! I believe mind mapping can help all of us with this, but I suspect that it is especially helpful for those of us who struggle with text.

The first embedded screen shot below shows what a DropMind mind map can look like.    The second screen shot shows the same mind map as a document outline. The third shows Drop Mind’s user interface. (You can view the embedded screen shots in full screen mode by clicking on the button in the lower right corner.  If that doesn’t work for you, you can zoom in with the slider on the lower left corner and then use the scroll bars.)

XMind is an application that is intended for both personal and collaborative mind mapping.  It requires installation of a downloadable program that is available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating system.  The standalone program, however, syncs seamlessly with the XMind website for online sharing and collaboration.  Mind maps must be downloaded for editing, however, so real time collaboration is not an option.

XMind offers the user options that make it a versatile mind mapping  tool.  Hyperlinks and images are easy to add.  Files can also be added as attachments.  A library of useful “markers” is available.  Backgrounds can be customized.  Mind maps can be collapsed into outlines with the click of a button.  There is considerably more, but this should give some idea.  It is probably also worth noting that XMind uses its own browser when opening linked sites.

When uploaded to XMind, mind maps may be public, or both public and downloadable for collaboration.  If you wish to keep a mind map private, you must upgrade to the paid “pro” version.  Commenting is faciliated, and an embed code is available.  I’ve spent only a few minutes playing with XMind, but I’ve embedded the beginnings of a mind map below.