I have used mindmaps for several years to manage both professional and personal projects. Mindmapping is a great way to capture ideas and information visually. I currently keep all of my projects on track using MindManager from Mindjet, but I’ve never found a way that I truly liked to create, edit, and maintain mindmaps on the mobile platform – much less, on a BlackBerry.

That is, until now. MindBerry has developed a mobile mindmapping application specifically for BlackBerry devices.You don’t have to be Tony Buzan to use the software, either.

MindBerry makes use of the BlackBerry’s QWERTY keyboard  for quick editting and various shortcuts. Navigating between topics is easy done using the Trackball/Trackwheel (sorry, there is currently no official Storm support, but there is already a thread about this on MindBerry’s Google Group — so perhaps a proper Storm version with accelerometer and touch interface support will be in MindBerry’s not-too-distant future).

The application features:

* Intuitive navigation using the BlackBerry trackball or the numeric keys to navigate
from a node to another node (mapping topic “tree” branches).

*  Supports Folding/Unfolding nodes with Spacebar key.

*  Keyboard shortcuts to access all editing features.

* Drag and drop selected nodes.

* Cut & Paste selected nodes.

* Decorate nodes with icons, colors, fonts, and styles.

* Attach a note to a mindmap.

* Edit long, multiline nodes.

* Save and Load mindmaps to/from BlackBerry Media Card or Device Memory.

* Send mindmaps via e-mail.

* Import/Export mindmaps to and from both MindManager and FreeMind, two
popular mindmapping programs.

* Send the mindmap details to Tasks on your BlackBerry.

The ability to import and export mindmaps into either MindManager or FreeMind is what really impresses me. I can create and edit a mindmap on the go, and then import it into MindManager. This is the “killer” feature for me. I can import my mindmaps to my BlackBerry’s SD card and work on them as the thoughts come to me – instead of needing to be close to a computer.

MindBerry is a very good mindmapping application for your BlackBerry. If you are currently a MindManager or FreeMind user – and a BlackBerry user – then I highly recommend you check out this software.

MSRP: $12.95 to purchase (A 30-Day Software Trial is available)

Note: Blackberry OS 4.2 or higher required to use MindBerry (Currently does not support the Storm). Blackberry OS 4.5 or higher required for the FreeMind import/export feature.