The Download Blog

Like all mind maps, FreeMind for Windows and Mac gives you the flexibility to organize thoughts on a page as they connect to each other and to the larger picture. After all, not all minds reason in subheadings and bullet points. You shape, place, and name that master idea--called the root node in FreeMind--then create child or sibling spokes that relate to it.

FreeMind encompasses a fine range of features, including scads of icons and color formatting options to help you visually organize concepts. It also supports hyperlinks, which allow you to link Web sites and even documents to a map. In addition, you'll be able to export your landscape of thoughts in a variety of formats, including HTML, PDF, and JPEG. As flexible as it lets your mind's representations be, FreeMind works within an older-style logical structure that could get frustrating for some. For instance, you must insert nodes by hand or using a hot key. You can't click and drag to create them, which seems a bit unaware if not mindless.

It's evident how mind maps like FreeMind can hasten note-taking, or help you visualize a project, paper, or process. However, a revamped interface with more of that intuitive drag-and-drop functionality as well as versioning for collaborators would make FreeMind very, very smart.

The Mac OS X Finder works great on its own for finding and managing your files and folders, but what if there was something better? Path Finder offers a slew of options for organizing files and folders, giving you more control over your file system. You can use Cover Flow, split-screen, and icon views, and there are several preview options for finding out more about files before you open them. It also allows you to compress and decompress folders from within the program when you need more space on your hard drive.

For a quick overview of Path Finder for Mac OS X Leopard, check out our First Look video.

Yesterday we featured WikiTaxi, which makes Wikipedia portable. Today's Featured Freeware is WikidPad, which does the inverse: it mashes up Notepad and the generic wiki format to create an eminently "cross-referenceable" tool for keeping track of just about anything. Students, researchers, and other users who need to take notes should be especially interested in WikidPad, given that the format is perfect for taking and organizing notes. The localized cross-referencing system should be an excellent tool for those who need it.

Note that Mac and Linux users should follow the installation instructions from the WikidPad Web site.

The layout will be familiar to users of Notepad and the more advanced Notepad analogues like NoteTab Light. The left pane is a tree of nodes, while the main window displays the wiki page you're currently viewing. The trick is getting familiar enough with the wiki format. The standalone, open-source app sports some useful features to help you along, including the absolutely essential on-the-fly linking. This occurs based on CamelCase and other criteria outlined in the included WikidPad documentation. Reading said documentation is equally essential before using the app, and the app could benefit from some clear and concise tutorials, or links to ones online.

Don't let the steep learning curve intimidate you, though, if you need what WikidPad provides it's definitely worth looking at.

I'm more than a bit skeptical of many of the online fads for staying organized, like 43 Things. They all seem to emphasize learning their system as much as using it, which does not inspire much confidence. WikidPad doesn't work that much differently, so I was hesitant to give it more than a second thought. What it does benefit from is the incorporated note-taking aspect, which links your work to your To Do list, and by an intuitive filtering system intuitive that helps you stay on top of stuff through a wiki lens.

WikidPad helps you organize and cross reference by turning your work into a localized wiki.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Open-source, free, and cross-platform WikidPad works as any wiki does, and its as user-centric as possible because it's contained solely on your hard drive. It doesn't rely on or even offer the option of incorporating others into your work flow. And, as a powerful, auto-cross-referencing note-taking device, it seems to actually be all that it claims. Mac and Linux users should note that the installation is a bit more involved for their systems than it is on Windows machines.

One excellent advantage to WikidPad is that any word typed in CamelCase instantly becomes wikified. You can stop that with a forward slash, or create a title by adding in two pluses. Creating a bullet list is as simple as hitting the spacebar after an asterisk.

This isn't to say that WikidPad is easy to learn. Make no mistake, the learning curve is incredibly steep unless you're familiar with the terminology and keystrokes. The included Help file goes quite deep, but the program could benefit from some concise tutorials for beginners that show just how to go about doing things. I was able to find good instruction on the WikidPad Web site, but it required a bit of digging around to locate.

WikidPad also takes plug-ins, always a benefit when you're looking to add specific features that might not appeal to everybody. One good one that already exists allows you to change a highlighted word from plain text into a WikiWord. WikidPad can also link to images and files on the Web, as well as local ones.

I'm considering writing rough drafts of blog posts and reviews and maintaining a To-Do list in WikidPad for a few weeks, to see how if it makes a difference with keeping track of stuff. If you've got any experiences with WikidPad, let me know in the comments below.

I have to admit that I don't use Apple's Dashboard widgets very often. Though I know there are several useful widgets available I think it might be that, in my business, I often search for a stand-alone solution to whatever the particular problem might be before thinking of Widgets. In other words, I think it's mostly just habit that I moved away from the Dashboard. But I came across an excellent free widget today that just might make me spend more time with widgets.

Switch through the tabs to check your schedule and enter data

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Organized, from iSlayer.com is a handy and elegant calendar widget which helps you keep your schedule organized. On the spare, but sleek tabbed interface you'll find handy world clocks for different time zones; Notes for reminders and thoughts; Events to give you a heads-up of the days appointments; and a ToDo tab for to-do lists. Each of the categories are very smartly done, with options like the ability to show due dates for your to-do lists, and the ability to create multiple calenders for separate tasks. What's more, it shares the same database as iCal and Mail, so whatever changes you make, you know you're always in sync.

Organized is a free Widget for Mac OS X 10.5, but in the interest of the continued development of cool programs, I should point out they politely request you consider a donation. I think once you see how easy it is to stay organized, and the way it works with iCal and Mail, you just might throw a few dollars their way.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Whether you're in college, work a 40-hour work week, or are a stay-at-home parent, keeping track of everything in your life is never easy. Whether it's meetings, appointments, keeping track of contacts, or even what time to pick up your daughter after soccer practice, without some help, it's difficult to keep track of it all.

Fortunately, there's a whole genre of software dedicated to reining in all your appointments, contacts, and important responsibilities. Personal Info Managers are designed to keep all your important information in one place. You can keep track of recurring meetings and appointments, special dates like birthdays and anniversaries, and contact information for friends, coworkers, and business clients. Though it takes some time to enter all this information, once your Personal Info Manager is up to speed, you'll never have to worry about forgetting a phone number or being late to a meeting again.... Read more

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Almost everyone takes pictures when traveling so they have something to bring back the memories once their vacation is over. A few years ago I went to several countries across Europe and took a ton of pictures with my digital camera. When I flip through the albums now, in some cases I'll forget where some of the more nondescript or interior pictures were taken. Today I found a program for Mac which not only solves that problem, but makes it more fun to view pictures from around the world.... Read more

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Whenever a big project is at hand, making sure that you follow through with important details takes planning. Whether it's as mundane as cleaning out the garage, confusing as organizing your daughter's soccer team, or complex as reworking the goals for a team at your company, an outline, a list, or a strategy can help you focus on the over-arching goal. It might be because it's easier to have visuals of bulleted lists or linear strategies to easily convey the steps necessary to complete a project. Think of it this way: Not having a plan of action is kind of like going to the grocery store without a list; sure, you'll remember a lot of stuff you need, but once you get home you're bound to smack yourself in the forehead saying, "Butter! How did I forget butter?"

I recently came across a great program for both Mac and PC that helps make the planning phases of a project much easier. MindManager helps you map out your thoughts and ideas using an intuitive graphical interface. You can start your own mind map with a central idea to work outwards from, or you can choose from several premade templates that focus on a specific task.... Read more