Creating the Next Great Novel or Something to That Effect …

Here is the workflow to use MindManager 8 and Google Docs to create a novel, presentation, white paper, etc etc … the power of this combination and the ease of use creates the super set of tools for a mobile worker, web worker, road warrior, novelist, etc etc ….  I used this technique today to produce a working roadmap to a presentation that I am giving in a business meeting next week … you can use this technique to include and ensure that no detail is left out and all of the ideas flow and mesh properly … such is the power of mind mapping and the cloud…

Shot 1 shows the map that I created to show this technique … this is your basic roadmap and can encompass any of the end results you need to create … I have used it for extremely large project documents, white papers, presentations, roadmaps … only limited by your needs ….

This next shot shows the embedded browser with the google doc there … I created the doc outside of MM8 and simply pasted the address into the browser … once the doc is linked in the map, you have instant access to it and you can choose to open it in a seperate window outside of MM8 … this allows you to make either quick changes or go into a full fledged writing mode …

This shows an intermediate step I do whenever I get ready to print a document … because the work is in google docs, you have all of this in the cloud and not resident in the sheet … so I simply select all in the doc window and copy to a note resident within the map… this allows the proper format when you get ready to print your Next Great Novel ….

Finally, here is a screen shot of my work in a standard Word document …. you have options on how you want numbering, include a table of contents, insert the map, etc … this is the export to Word … you can also export to a web presentation or even a powerpoint presentation … this technique is very powerful and really allows you to produce quality work without wasting time and energy … makes everything FLOW … have at it ….   

The Cloud provides the Ultimate Solution ….

Today I had time to extend the process that I had started a few weeks back and have now successfully taken a great stride of utilizing all the power of mapping that MindManager 8 provides and create true portability of and use of mindmapping …

Mindjet offers a service called Mindjet Connect or Web that is the answer to collaborative use of mindmaps, but from my perspective the answer to remote access of one of the most essential tools I use … here is a simple map that I created to show how this works … by using the embedded browser to create the links to my google docs and comments (spreadsheets and presentations too …) I now have a unique document that allows for all of my info to be right at hand … Don’t forget that you can also use the embedded spreadsheet and other tools to create quite a complete unit …

The real magic comes about when you upload the sheet to your workspace … simple process of importing your sheet and it will now reside in your workspace in the cloud …

You open the sheet on the web browser and look at your original map in all its glory … AND all the links … the neatest thing of this implementation is that the links now open up the google document in a new browser window and multiple sheets give you multiple tabs so you can go from window to window as needed …

One final note, because the connect feature is designed to be interactive and collaborative, your desktop version of the file can be updated when you get home with the work you did at your meeting or presentation … this will allow for work on the map as you are in the field … as they sometimes say … a truly WOW moment ….

MM Time Saver & Possible Netbook Center …

With the increasing penetration of netbooks into the mobile space, I kept thinking a quick methods to hit all of the important functions that one would need on the fly and how they could be implemented … several obvious choices occured …. use the new google chrome method of creating standalone windows for applications …. open up firefox with saved tabs ….. all based on premise that almost anything we do now can be found in the cloud …

As I thought about this and wondered about resources on the smaller netbooks and speed of use,  I tried a little experiment using MindManager 8 and the embedded browser (note that I already use it for project dashboard to keep all maps, docs and sheets linked into an active space – one map) … this first screen shot shows a quick map of the idea … I opened up all my google apps in one map and simply hit the links to open them in the browser … one big distinction here is the windows are being opened and closed within mindmanager rather than being switched in a windowed environment … the resources used by doing this should be extremely manageable and would serve the same utility as having multiple applications and windows on your desktop but without the bloat of leaving all of the working ….

The second screenshot shows an email that I  transformed into a document (see earlier posts on using gmail within MM8) and you can see now that it can be instantly retrieved from my gdocs account and I use that to make notes, etc on something that appears to be significant as far as thoughts go ….

Lets extend this one more time by looking the dashboard  with a map I made and highlighted in showing the integration of MM8 and Evernote … note how this now uses the dashboard and has the map as integrated into the dashboard … the utility is obvious now, you can integrate a project you have isolated now right into your current dashboard without skipping a beat, just insert a map and go ….

The last item I tried was using the browser to work on a  spreadsheet right in the map … I now have ALL my current work right on the map and it serves as a true dashboard … rather leaving all the windows and work open up individually, open up the one map and instantly have all the access of multiple spaces that you need (not to mention the ability to alter what you want opened as easily as adding or deleting from this map) and not have to waste all the resources of the netbook or any machine ….  I am not using a netbook, but would be fascinated to hear from those using them how this idea works for you ….

Memory Jogger Jogged Me …

It has been awhile since I used Jot (which went paid)  … then I used Sandy (which went by way of the dodo) and I had tried reQall  which was OK, but at that point I just didn’t feel like I wanted to invest the time anymore searching for a phone assistant …  let me digress a moment to give you the functionality that I was looking for …

The Memory Jogger function that I was trying to find was a program that would allow me to call from my phone and get the note transcribed for me rather than having to stop and write things out (horrible handwriting, so it was a toss up to even being able to discern the idea later) … so with that in mind, I got an email from the folks at reQall reminding me of my free account and announcing more depth to their offering ….

Well, there are two levels of service and I am happily using the free level, as I explore this and use it over the next few weeks, the paid service may be valuable, but that will be examined … this does all I want and much more … I have a blackberry (I note iPhone and windows mobile clients also) and the downloaded client using the service is a great todo list and active idea list … unique to this service is the ability to post to different lists and then have it all nicely displayed on your client or you can even retrieve them on your phone … I really like the email listing of the transcription as I can then take it to a google doc and have the idea started and I can flesh it out on the google document as I go …

There is much more on this service … glad I got the email and I encourage you to investigate the web page and see if this could prove valuable to you ….

Mashups Part Deux ….

Another tweet another idea … too many things to think about, but here is something that may save a lot of time but will need development …  Chuck threw out an idea of managing twitter on a map to give you visual acuity on ideas that are flying through the twittersphere …

The last post dealt with using MM8 to capture and use thoughts in Evernote … well here is a little mashup that I use and extended to the mindmap idea … I have two twitter feeds that I use and tweet on, ayosh and envir2 … I like to periodically check and stay up on the flow during the day and found that I was spending too much time logging into both accounts … there were lots of workarounds, but I settled on using one of my old favorites, netvibes   …. I set up my twitter accounts in two columns on a netvibes page and was able to monitor and tweet very easily … SO … I simply opened up the page in my browser and set up a one click link to the twitter pages … the next step is the really cool one … notice the branch below the twitter page … I cut and pasted my last post and put it in a branch by itself … you could then arrange all sorts of sub branches, etc to classify tweets you want to followup on OR open up the tiny url and then link the page into your map … having the browser in MM8 makes things awesomely easy …

Using MM8 and Evernote …

Wow, great idea … I am following Chuck Frey’s twitter feed (chuckfrey) and it is a constant flow of ideas on innovation and mapping … today I saw a twit on a suggestion to combine MindManager 8 and Evernote …

Figuring that could already be done, I played with the idea and voila … what a great combination … thanks to Greg Cimmarrusti who posed the question … as you can see from the screen shot, it is extremely easy to use the browser to operate your Evernote web version within the MindManager 8 environment … so at any time you simply go to the evernote icon on your map and click you are there …

You can also open directly to an entry … thus you have access again with a click or better yet, the ability to cut and paste highlighted info right into your map … imagine the possibilities with using this tool as a means to assemble a white paper or presentation from all the bits and pieces in your evernote universe … couple the new browser in MM8 and the robust clipping feature of the new Evernote and you have another powerful combination for your toolbox …..

Showing a Concept Diagram in MM8 …

Building on my use of google docs and MindManager 8, there was a posting on the googledocs blog that spotlighted a new feature that truly rocks … they have introduced the ability to create drawings or sketches both with predefined figures or freehand … it has all the utility of sketching that you can do in many other note taking applications … the difference is that you embed the drawing in a google doc, which of course can be exported in word down on your computer OR ….

Open in a MindManager window by using the embedded browser to illustrate a concept or just open your own personal art work … because it is a document that can be worked, you have an infinite whiteboard AND you can use the collaboration features of docs and make it a group document … have fun ….

Collaboration Meets Social Networking …

I saw this article in Web Worker Daily (one of my must reads) highlighting a new app called manymoon …. the thing that caught me eye is the integration with google docs so you could attach a doc directly from your docs account (also like all others, you can also attach from your computer) … with the recent highlighted use of the google docs in a mindmap, this particular web based application adds another tool to the set … 

The interface is very clean and intuitive and there are twitter like abilities to post what you are doing and float ideas into the cloud … this takes a page out of the popular social networking sites and blends the user experience into a tool that you can use for serious work and collaboration … 

I think the highlight that I saw was the following comment by a user who said …

Nikhil Sama, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, MBA Student
I attend business school and needed a free and simple to use application that lets me manage my assignments and projects with study group members. Manymoon offers a web based tool that helps me track my assignments, papers and due dates. I create a project for each class and track all my assignments, documents and notes for the class. I can also invite study group members to work with me on each class project so that we can help each other out and share notes.
It's an easy to use tool of the future. If you use any social networks like Facebook or LinkedIn then you'll immediately be able to use Manymoon.

This is the end user of the future and this is his take on it … strong message being sent …. I am going to try this out for a few weeks and see … so far so good …

Knowledge Representation … A Visual Cloud

The many metaphors for knowledge to allow rapid assimilation all revolve around being able to “see” ideas and thoughts … think to the rapid growth of tagging of information in enabling the rapid sifting of ideas and information … tagging has reached an almost ubiquitous status in web 2.0 tools …

The cloud has also enabled individuals to use the collective abilities of the “group” to bring value to knowledge that is disbursed and diverse without boundaries or distinctions.  Think of the explosion of knowledge that has occurred over the past few decades … more than all the knowledge combined since the first century of our existence … with this explosion comes the problem of how to address the information and the inception of the term “information overload” …

How can we take advantage of all these bits of isolated information without having things fall through the cracks.  A seemingly daunting task for any individual and collectively more impossible for an organization.

Consider the use of several tools that are “off the shelf” presently and can be combined to create a community application that may be of great value.  I believe the core application to be a mind map to visually represent a presentation, thought or idea.  By using the map as a methodology to distill the essence of any knowledge is the initial building block.  This thought occurred to me today as I discovered Academic Earth which has videos and audios of thousands of lectures and presentations from some of the greatest thinkers and professors from the top of the academic food chain.

If you take any lecture, one could deconstruct the message and create a map showing the knowledge and how it is presented all within the confines of a “picture” of the presentation.  Now link all these presentation maps and tag them to form a cloud of knowledge.  By then operating this large undertaking in the cloud, you would create a readily accessible and efficient repository of great ideas and thoughts.  Since most modern mapping applications have built in search engines, this combined knowledge map would have the uncanny ability to then reference any mention of key terms and create a knowledge mashup on demand.

By combining the visual clarity of a mindmap and the ability to view information on many levels along with the ability to electronically sort and combine, one has created a super set of knowledge which can add great utility to organizations or communities.

Emphasis by Directionality …

As I have made many presentations using mind mapping, one of the things that I think that can help with the visual presentation is to use formatting by directional propagation of ideas as a means to provided emphasis to the picture.

Let me give you an example of this concept … this first diagram is a map created by Mindmanager 8 in the usual organic formatting  style that is inherent in all mind mapping products.  This map is meant to convey several elements that are distinct but related as shown on the diagram … if you look at the center, this is the title or the main idea … feeding the concept are ideas that gave birth to the title and that are shown by the two branches on the right (Idea I & II).  The main idea needs implementation and this gives rise to the Metrics we will use to measure success and the various projects that the idea will spawn … I default to 3 items as I find that is really the conceptual sweet spot.  The last branch is Supporting Ideas and examples … in a presentation this makes great sense and you can follow the idea flow and go for it …. BUT …

Take a look at a reorganization of the ideas by simply taking the directionality of the branches and the way you distribute the information on the document … you now have the same information but formatted in a visually appealing style that allows for almost instant recognition of the flow and emphasis in the document … 

This one works for me and I love sharing things that may enable better use of our basic tools … hope this gives you ideas …

PostIt Notes … Web Style

I have always used PostIt notes … sometimes to the  point of covering over notes with notes … lol   so much for my ffs (funky filing system) … I have been searching on line for a replacement ever since playing with computers … have never found anything that was quite right for my uses … started way back with the original PostIt notes software by the postit note people … the greatest feature was printing out postit notes that I could put on my pile … lol x2 …

Well enter an old web based service, lino it   that I tried a while back … I checked the new feature set and this really looks promising … the key is the very visual nature of the interface … something akin to the corkboard and note metaphor that we are used to … there is something about familiarity that creates that warm and fuzzy feeling … here is the shot of the notes creation panel …as you can see, you have a basic note color pad, but notice that you can have photos, movies, attachments and transparent notes .. quite a note pad to start … once you click on a note, you will have further options to create dated reminders and other formatting features to allow you a lot of choices including tags and icons … whew, lots and lots of ways to create and emphasize.

I like to put notes up for reminders, so the little calendar with highlighted dates for reminders is great and is like all my other electronic calendars … the ease of creation of the basic note makes it effortless to use and like the actual sticky notes, you can put them wherever on the board you like (one other helpful view is the full canvas view on the calendar that allows you to see all your notes at once) …

You can create multiple panels and share public panels for group work and collaboration … anything you can do with a postit you can do with linoit … take the tour and see examples … I think I may finally have something I am going to use ….

Strategic Management – BSC

In today’s environment, it is increasingly critical for businesses of all sizes to ensure allocating resources and efforts to be the best possible use.  Starting in the 50’s with pioneering work from GE and advanced to it’s modern iteration by Dr Robert Kaplan and Dr David Norton, the Balanced Scorecard approach is now being used throughout the world.

In thinking about this system, I think it is a perfect fit for mind mapping to create a system for implementation.  The system creates a dynamic feedback loop to ensure strategy and vision is being carried out on all levels of a business organization.  It also purports to have the ability to discern dysfunctional efforts before they can show up on the bottom line (normal retrospective management) … thus taking a look at this could present valuable insight into the dynamics of business in our evolving and challenging economic climate.

The mindmap I created in MindManager 8 is just a beginning framework for the system.   By utilizing this framework you can flesh out a system to use for your needs.  The design of the metrics to measure lends itself extremely well to this design and insertion of tables or spreadsheets allows for immediate drill down to important items.  On more subjective metrics, one can use the ability of a map to conceal and allow a great amount of detail in the basic structure of the map … the focus feature of MindManager allows you to view your selected area easily with one click.

By laying all facets of the overview to be captured in one map is the visual representation of the blending of Vision and Strategy for all to see.  It creates a “priceless” roadmap to execution for businesses of all sizes and shapes …

Using a Paradigm Shifing Tool ...

I bet that caught your attention .... here is the actual quote "Mind-mapping to me has been as paradigm-shifting as word processing and spreadsheets were; it's a whole new tool or methodology that allows me to (a) be more creative, (b) capture that creativity, and (c) not lose it, stay in control of it." David Allen of GTD fame in a recent interview .... (thanks to Chuck Frey twitter feed) ...

The interview was talking about his new book and taking the GTD system into a new light and utility ... good read and seems like a great book ... I think though the most important thing I took off the interview was the quote and the implications ... I have been evangelizing re the mind mapping tool, the flow of ideas and how I have used it for years now ... it is my primary idea processing and presentation management tool that I use constantly ... David has hit it on the head ... it is a new paradigm-shifting tool that frees the mind ...

If you haven't already discovered it ... go to see MindManager 8 from the folks at Mindjet or XMind for examples of robust tools that work ... You can also find great web based tools at MindMeister or CoMapping that will allow cloud or netbook use (note that both MindManager and XMind also have web capability) ... try it, you'll be amazed ...

Reflections on an upgrade … netbooks

 

One of constant fun things about going mobile is the continuing evolution of the hardware to support our efforts … the main item is, of course, the computer … I have had my trusty thinkpad x61t for well over a year now and it has been a great machine …. extremely fast and solid …. some of the same attributes that went into the original purchase are back to present new standards in machine choice.

Let me digress for a moment as there has appeared a new class of mobile machines that have taken the markets by storm since I have had this machine …. enter the “netbook” class of computing … loosely defined by machines in the 2lb weight category with limited widescreen format and low power processor … as the definition evolves with so many new machines, the ultimate useability factor comes into play.  I have looked and played with many a machine and really thought hard about this choice for mobility, but there are two MAJOR concerns from my standpoint.  Screen size and keyboards … what those represent are the ultimate interface points for us as humans to them as mobile tools ….

Picture spending working time with a new machine … my thinkpad has one of the best keyboards in portable computing, bar none … I have used it for ten hour marathon work sessions using keyboard and pen and it has served me well …. I tried typing on several netbooks and came away with the impression that long stretches of work would be physically impossible … the keyboards are tiny which is the form factor of the machines, this will make the hands need to cramp up to fit the keyboard … not a good idea.  Point two, the screen which represents the second thing that you are in constant contact with … from my standpoint (I have glasses and are moving on in age) the beautify widescreen presentation is an open invitation to eyestrain …. in deference, manufacturers have gone from 7in to 10in and are threatening 12in screens as this factor begins to emerge as a adoption point for many consumers.

Mobility is a wonderful thing and the ability to be useful as a tool is the upgrade consideration that must be extended to any equipment purchase … the siren call of a two point machine is out there, but the ultimate bridge to your mind goes through the interface of man and machine … thus, what you see and how you touch are the basic concerns for any purchase ….

Affinity Diagrams & Flow ...

I have talked about the concept of Flow being the ability of tools like mindmaps to help with keeping the process of thinking enabled and not subject to physical constraints of software or physical tools ... creating the visual connection between seemingly disparate thoughts is the heart of brainstorming and the incubator of ideas and conepts.

Micrsoft Office Labs has one more application that takes a common practice of sticky notes and a whiteboard called affinity diagrams ... thoughts are placed up on a board and rearranged into groupings to discern and reinforce ideas or processes, or simply to put a starting point on further work that needs to be done .... the software availble for download here is called StickySorter ... it is not unlike many electronic postit notes, with a new twist ... once you have arranged and sorted and displayed your thoughts, you can download into an excel or access database or sheet to now refine and/or collect more data or information .... saves file as standard csv format

I have used it for another purpose ... screen 1 shows a note cluster that I simply put up as an example ... great stuff if just for that, the means to create groupings is the essential link for information ... here is where it starts to get fun ... in shot 2, I have taken the first grouping and reordered the info, then asked the software to stack the notes ... voila, I have a really nice representation of work ... you could use this as the basis for organizing info into a presentation, book, white paper ... etc etc clean and easy to use ... try it ...

New Presentation Technology …

The old visual technology for presentations was and still remains the standard powerpoint slide show … my archives on ways to present concepts took some forays away from that, but basically built upon more creative and impactful ways of presentation … the first clues that there were better ways was when I took and Inkseine presentation and used it to convey my ideas, this was simply a much more visceral way of getting ideas across, this was impactful because the vivid images were so different from the norm ….  well I think today there is a serious departure from that melding the old powerpoint tool with the ability to follow a flow not dictated by the slide order, but the ideas ….

This method is like using a mindmap, so what better way to lay out a concept than a map … I normally use MindManager 8 to set up ANY idea or process (although you could use any mapping application that has the export to powerpoint) … the first diagram is an example  of a quick map ….

The first step is to export to export to powerpoint …. (this map represents an example of a new presentation) …. enter the new add in to powerpoint that creates this magic … pptPlex

This is another new tool from Microsoft Labs …. it is a program that takes powerpoint and creates an interactive presentation unlike any that you are accustomed to …   the next pic is what your map now looks like as a pptPlex presentation … note that there are several predefined templates and the application will build your presentation into this format … notice that your map is now represented in the top row of bubbles …

This next clip is what happens with a left click on the first bubble … notice your map topic that was the introduction … I chose for simplicity a top level export, but you can export a rich topic with lots of detail for presentation ….

The magic comes in as you continue to drill into the topic … just left click to get as much granularity as you like …..

 

Then simply right click to go out … and back as far as you like or jump to another area … by having the ability to go to specific topics and direction, the presentation can be a simple powerpoint show as you would normally have, but is also has the ability to go from topic to summary to topic to ???  you go as the flow and the audience dictates … this final shot is the same presentation with a different background (there are several very cool templates to choose from) …  there is a learning curve with this so follow the tutorials … watch the videos first to get an overview, then dig in …. this new powerpoint add-in takes presentations and gives them new life and meaning … this is the tool I have been searching for to take my maps to another level of visual impact ….  awesome …

Computing in 2019 ...

10 years is not a long time, but with technology evolving, the way we interact with it becomes more transparent ... if you think back, when I first started working with "luggable" computing we were operating with command line instructions that evolved to Windows ... computers that were the forerunners of our present laptops and notebooks were transportable and weighed 20lbs (sturdy handles) ... now we feel that 5-6 lbs is heavy for a machine and we are down to sub 2lbs for the new netbooks ... such is what has happened in the evolution of computing mobility and hardware ...

I believe the new evolution that we are seeing unfold is in the evolution of our interaction with the computer ... I highlighted several new programs and things that show the "touch" interface that is bringing natural computing to the forefront ... the transparent manipulation of data and the ability to "flow" through ideas or thoughts is probably the highest use of assisted computing ... watch for new innovation in Artificial Intelligence and other methods of a move towards Singularity as described by Kurzweil ... the implications are that it could be the acceleration of current technology and unknown new technologies that can propel humanity and set the stage for a new era like the agricultural and industrial revolutions did before ... are we in the midst of a paradigm shift for life as we know it (the upheaval in our global economies that we are presently experiencing may be the symptoms) ... are the new keys emerging from the rapid evolution of technologies ....

Take a look at this video from Microsoft Office Labs (via the Future of Things website) on their vision of computing in 2019 ... you will see in it, where the printed newspapers are going (that is happening now), education, communication ... a glimpse from a visionary brain trust ... enlightening and thought provoking ... I think you will see how pervasive and empowering this new interface could be ... the beginnings of a new age?

Like the Movies ….

 

I remember watching in awe at Tom Cruise manipulating data on a huge screen in Minority Report … it was a glimpse into touch screen data manipulation … enter the touch enabled line of HP Touchsmart desktop PC’s and I was able to play with movement and work on a new environment that promised a much more visceral interface with the computer … as many iphone users (and itouch too) can attest, the interface using touch is incredibly intuitive and brings all users one step closer to the future of computing …

I have multi touch capability on my X61t tablet PC and I use it sparingly as the capability is no where near the present environment … the new HP tablets have the touch capability (not the 2730) and the Dell XT2 … these offerings allow you the touch screen like the desktop units … here is laptop magazine’s test of new Dell shipping on April 9th … The HP’s are already available and are playing to great reviews …  enough product plugs, this is where I was going …

In the Microsoft Office Labs blog, there was posted a great video show what they called the TouchWall  … demonstrating this was none other than Mr Gates at a recent conference …. it is a great few minutes spent watching the meshing of the hardware and software to make something like the movies … could this be the future of computing?

I have two more entries that I will be working on in the next few days … I am exploring the use of powerpoint and note applications that rock ….. stay tuned

Taking the Visual Metaphor to Another Level ...

One of my favorite repositories of bits and pieces is MS OneNote ... I use it for inking at meetings and just letting my ideas flow with a tablet .... when I saw on Daniel Escapa's OneNote Blog, I was blown away ... (stay tuned for more neat things that this led me too ... will have more postings soon) ... one of the problems with OneNote for me was it was a great electronic "binder" for my notes, but it also suffered from the same things that paper has, I sometimes forget where I put things ... (although in actual use, OneNote has great search capabilities and marking) but I like to search visually ...

Daniel highlighted a product of Microsoft Office Labs called Canvas for OneNote ... go to the link to watch the video and see the power of this application ... one note, this is not a commercial product and will not be unless it is added by the powers that be, but it sure is neat to play with and use. I took three screenshots to illustrate the process .. everything is intuitive and smooth .. the screen scales effortlessly on my windows vista machine running a dual core processor ... it is smooth and fast ... shot one is the canvas view that shows the whole book as represented by pages in the notes ...

Second shot shows section which you get to with one click ... and the third click give you the shot showing a few pages, you can then click down to one page and scroll and read .. it is incredible how you can get a great overview and drill down to the info ... I think this could be a very useful addition to the program and ties in to the touchwall that I will talk about in the next post ....

The Mobile Suite .. Part Deux

Building on my previous post on the Mobile Suite that has evolved is the recent addition of a bookmarking and more application that has solved countless problems with being mobile and working in the cloud ...

Whenever you are using a browser, the bookmarking function is essential to keep your links and pages in order and at your fingertips ... I have been using Foxmarks for a while and find that it works great to allow a consistent browser environment across multiple machines ... well Foxmarks just changed it's name to Xmarks to signal a move across browser boudaries as they indicate IE and Safari access now and more to come ... this ability to have all your bookmarks and the research you have done is priceless in the scheme of things and will allow you efficient recall of basic items ...

An extension to a previous tip that may be of further help ... by exporting your email conversations into a google doc or any other doc by cut and paste, you now can bookmark in a folder on Xmarks to bring up all of your work docs on that subject or paper regardless of machine you are on ... truly the cloud idea for mobility and utility ... by using the Xmarks to set up a desktop to the work you have saved, you can add and delete current info to a desktop in firefox that will open all of them at once to get you up and going (open a fresh firefox window and open docs, spreadsheets, presentations as you are working, then save group in new folder by saving all tabs before you close the browser) ... now whenever you start work again, simply open that folder will all tabs and bingo !!! GREAT timesaver and of added benefit when you are working on a paper or process or even homework ... no matter where you are or what machine you are on ....

The Mobile Suite ... MM style ...

When being mobile, one of the biggest things to overcome is the ability to have a consistent work environment regardless of your equipment standards ... I have gotten this standardized environment slowly over the years and found several applications that allow this to happen ... let me digress for a minute as I give you rundown on items already employed ...

Because the most easily useful standard is getting and leveraging a simple internet connection, I have settled on the google suite for most of my needs ... as you saw in recent posts, the power of the new google features to create a rich work grouping that allows for very efficient management of several key items ... email, docs & spreadsheets, knowledge or idea management, calendars, and info management in general. Working into this scheme I use Remember the Milk as my task list of choice as it integrates nicely through gmail to allow the email environment to have the todo list simply displayed and useable from your main gmail window. If you look on the RTM website there are two ways to enable integration with gmail ... this is the firefox plug in, you have the choice of even tighter use through the labs feature and that might be the ticket for use on a netbook as it integrates right into the gmail left column to save space .... I suggest playing with both to see what fits better ...

To allow you access to all your important files and synching your work through multiple computers, I have found great utility in Dropbox ... this not only synchs and populates your latest work throughout a population of computers, but also allows access from the web .. thus fulfilling the MM Mobile Suite vision ... I use this functionality to allow for access of application data like OneNote data, MindManager 8 maps, The Personal Brain files, and all kinds of data files that are essential to my work environment ... the beauty of this setup is that whenever I turn on my secondary and backup machines, all the files and data then synchs to last use (one other feature is versioning on the web, this saved my hind portion once when I overwrote a file accidentally ... Dropbox allowed me to restore old version and get going again ... see the revisions button on this screenshot) ...

Will be posting more later on this as there are a few more pieces to go ....