September 17 - 11:35pm EDT   Brainstorming software company NovaMind has announced a new system for sharing its Mind Maps online, NovaMind Connect. Maps created in the program can be exported into HTML format for others to view and use. While browsing through the shared maps, the branches are shown in outline form, allowing for navigation between each section. Content that has already been uploaded can still be edited, retaining any comments that have been made on branches that still exist. [full story]

August 26 - 8:10pm EDT   Zengobi has announced a major update to it brainstorming and project management software, Curio 5.0. Curio features a freeform interface designed to promote creativity and free thinking. New in v5.0 is a Status Shelf for tracking to-do items over multiple projects and iCal synchronization for events and to-do items. Also new are Idea Space templates and collapsible mind maps. An Inspector bar, figure styles and color-coded dates have been added, and the Scrapbook shelf, search features and cross-project linking have all been upgraded. [full story]

July 18 - 6:00pm EDT   Project Wizards on Friday unveiled a new screenwriting module with NovaMind Platinum, allowing film producers to accurately capture film ideas during planning stages, while simultaneously linking the Mind Map to a script. NovaMind can now use industry standard screenplay formatting options, with several configurable and automatic functions built in, such as text completions for movie elements, and sentence casing of dialog or actions. ProjectWizards is selling NovaMind Platinum for $250. [full story]

February 5 - 12:25am EST   Austin-based Mindcad today unveiled Incubator 2.4, an update to its outlining and brainstorming program designed for visual thinkers. The new version brings with it Leopard compatibility, and the ability to import and export FreeMind maps. In addition to supporting the new XML-based format, users can also upload or download shared maps from MindMeister. Incubator is available in English, German, and French languages, and sells for $50 from Mindcad's website. [full story]

December 26 - 9:20pm EST   As Apple's appeal grows – thanks to the easy-to-use Mac OS X, and the versatility of the Intel processors – the large business and enterprise sectors are starting to adopt the Macintosh platform as a new office standard. Apple has a long history of support from business-minded developers such as Microsoft, Marketcircle, The Omni Group, and CS Odessa, and with them, the company has garnered a variety of productivity software. CS Odessa's ConceptDraw MindMap Professional 5 looks to provide a solid and powerful, but simple way for business professionals to capture brainstorming sessions and put them into a readable flowchart-style plan. [full story]