Please note: this article was last updated in 2009. For the latest information on MindMeister for iOS, visit mindmeister.com/apps
As some of the Techcrunchers (or followers of Ouriel Ohayon) among you might know already we recently entered into mobile device territory by acquiring MindMaker, one of the few native iPhone mind mapping tools currently available in the App Store.
No need to bring up iPhone sales stats or any other justification for that decision here, as the reality today is that any self-respecting web (2.0) app needs an App Store sibling to complement its online service for users on the go.
Our ultimate goal is to provide our users with an exceptional mind mapping experience, wherever they are and whatever device they use. A native MindMeister iPhone app is a big step towards achieving that goal. We acquired MindMaker because it’s a great app and gives us a sound headstart in developing a MindMeister application, which we’ve wanted for months (the common name genealogy was just a bonus). The colorful look and feel of the maps in MindMaker is obviously a bit different to our mostly blue maps, but the rest of the app was so well done that it helped us a great deal in getting started.
Melchior, the main developer of MindMaker, even gave us a hand in integrating it with the mindmeister.com API and getting the syncing working. Here’s a quote from him from our press release:
MindMaker started out as a pet project but quickly became one of the leading iPhone apps for mind mapping”, says Melchior Brislinger, developer of MindMaker. “MindMeister’s acquisition brings an integration with a premier web-based service and will accelerate the further development of MindMaker.
The ability to sync data with your online MindMeister account is pretty nifty, we think, particularly for a collaborative tool where different people might update the same data all the time. Create a draft map on the tube, sync it back to the cloud once your 3G connection is up again and let the others finalize it.
Right now we’re busy completing the integration. The app will support graphical views of a user’s mind maps, similar to the one in our award-winning web interface. Essential editing functions will be supported on the iPhone / iPod Touch as well, with many more features to be added in upcoming releases.
Syncing between the iPhone app and mindmeister.com will most likely be made available as a Premium feature – that means for paying MindMeister users only. Existing MindMaker customers will get a special discounted upgrade offer for a MindMeister Premium account.
So what about all the Blackberries, Nokias and Palm Pre’s out there? Well, for us it was clear that we wanted an iPhone app first, before following that up with other mobile interfaces. We’re Apple people and we admit it. And really, it’s just such a great device, no?
Congratulation to this deal!
Can\’t wait to see the adapted version of MindMaker with MindMeister sync.
Greeting from Aachen
Andreas
Any clue about the release date?
This is positive to hear about, as it shows that mind-mapping is set to become even more of a powerful tool for mental networking. Some of the mind maps that I have seen and/or made have had usefulness that would not have been there had the content been presented as standard text. Spreading MindMeister to iPhones could do quite a bit to expand the user-base, and allow for viewing/refinement of the numerous maps that are already publicly visible on the service.
This is great news. Can you say anything about the upgrade path for the existing app? And do you expect the new app to be free?
I\’m wondering if I should buy the current app right away or wait for the MindMeister integrated version.
– Torben
Paris – not 100% sure about the release date yet, but hopefully mid-end Feb.
Torben, you might as well just buy MindMaker now, the new version most probably won’t be free either, and you will be able to import all your MindMaker maps!
Oh! I am very happy to hear that because I would like to use it on my iPhone instead of the current other map apps. Please release it asap.
Great news, as an owner of the MindMaker app I am pleased.
Really excited to get my hands on the MIndmeister app as Mind Mapping is my number one way to get organized and focused.
That said, I also export my completed maps to OPML and then reuse/import them into Omni Outliner Pro, MIndmeister has no OPML export. ;-(
Sadly, I now have to export to Mind Manager then export the mmap file to OPML – is this something that could be added to the development road map soon? i.e. OPML export with notes?
Congrats on your acquisition!
OPML import / export is on the roadmap, but right now we work on other interesting features. Stay tuned.
Till
Congratulations!!
Can\’t wait to Geistesblitz my Iphone mindmaps into my MindMeister webspace 🙂
Hi guys – how is this project progressing? I\’m very excited by it but it\’s already May.
Any indication of a release date?
Not having access to my mindmaps on the iPhone makes me sad…
Any risk of you putting out an Android version for people who are suspicious of iPhone hegemony?
Just purchased the app. I have a premium account. How do I sync edits to a map? Confused.
Also, how do I delete an Online mind map from the app? Again, confused. If this can\’t be done, I want my money back.
Thanks for your help!
All edits to maps are synched automatically when you close the map. (provided you have an internet connection, if not the map is put into \”Pending\”). Online maps can\’t be deleted from the app for safety reasons. Please contact support at mindmeister.com for further enquiries.
Is this App able to type japanese?
Yes, with a Japanese keyboard.