The MindNode app brings clarity to brainstorming sessions, says Ross Henderson, business development manager at Coast Digital
Developed by Ideas on Canvas GmbH
Supporting devices: iPad, iPhone, Android
MindNode is a mind-mapping application that makes it easy to record meeting notes, log brainstorming sessions and even track business relationships or take contacts during networking events. The distinctive nodes make is easy to map conversations in a logical fashion, while colour coding ensures notes are recorded in an easy-to-digest, understandable format.
MindNode also allows the swift and easy sharing of nodes, making it particularly useful for delivering meeting notes or working collaboratively on projects.
Functionality
The touch functionality of MindNode is particularly well executed using the iPad or other tablets, although at a push the smaller screen of a smartphone can be used. From a one-touch start-up, creating nodes and branches is simple and intuitive. Especially useful is the option to template complete maps, allowing you to set prompt questions that help shape conversations.
From a visual perspective MindNode offers extensive personalisation, with options to colour the background and borders, the size and font of text and the style of branches. The customisable visuals can be used to produce MindNodes in branded colours, which is particularly useful when sharing with clients or when colour-coding branches in regards to priority.
Arguably the most useful aspect of the MindNode app is the way it shares the output. Within a few taps you can share a node using email, MMS, applications such as EverNote and Dropbox, or even store it in iCloud. This makes it fast and easy to distribute meeting notes or the product of a brainstorming session. The ability to export in multiple formats (PDF, Text, PNG image and OPML) also ensures each recipient can view the end product, regardless of whether they have downloaded the application.
One element of MindNode that could be improved is the voice recognition and annotation functionality, as it unfortunately suffers similar problems to other voice recognition apps and software.
From my experience with other note-taking apps, there are two more functions that I would like to see. The first is a voice recording function that records the entire meeting, but also highlights when a note was taken during the meeting (similar to AudioNote). The second would be the ability to attach sketches in a similar way to Inkflow and Paper, to give more visual representation of ideas.
Design
For any note-taking app the key to successful design is an easy-to-use interface that enables the rapid taking of clear and concise information. MindNode achieves this by laying out the notes in a mind map format, which may or may not appeal to some users.
For me, this way of recording thoughts is ideal and the ease of creating presentable notes back to clients on-the-fly is far more efficient than writing up notes at a later date.
Overall the design is utilitarian and works well with the touch interface of modern tablets and phones. For a functional app such as this, there is little call for flashy visuals and a convoluted interface. In this respect, Ideas on Canvas has kept it simple and should be applauded for doing so.
Overall opinion
MindNode has rapidly become my ‘go-to-app’ for meetings and is now being used across the business development team. It allows me to record what can often be abstract conversations during meetings into a logical format, which importantly can be understood later on.
Instantly sharing a PDF copy of the notes is particularly useful. In some instances, I have sent the meeting notes to a client as I am leaving, giving me the edge over the competition purely through demonstrating enhanced efficiency.
Having instant access to all of my MindNodes also helps me stay ahead of developments and approach each client interaction well informed, which is paramount in a business development role. Overall, I would argue that MindNode is one of the better note-taking apps out there for business, particularly if you appreciate the visual style of recording information used when mind mapping ideas.
