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Web Wanderings
A few cool things I've come across recently:
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http://labs.ideeinc.com/multicolr/ -- finds you flickr photos matching your colour palette. Very pretty.
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For gmail users, there are some useful features available from a new "google labs" tab in gmail preferences. The two I am most happy with do simple things: move the Labels list to a column on the right-hand side; and add a Google Calendar Upcoming Events list to the left-hand side. There are other labs items, such as "canned responses" and "rotating footers".
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Finally: mind maps. I've used them as an organizational tool for quite some time.
They're great for brainstorming- the more I write, the more I think of, and arranging the thoughts spatially can add important structure that makes moving forward easier as well.
Just the other day, I came across a talk and screencast by the author of "Getting Things Done." He uses mind maps often in planning "the bigger picture" - his 20,000-foot view, life-goals and 5-year plans.
Watching his talk encouraged me to go back to a task I'd abandoned a while ago, to find a software mind-mapping tool I liked. (The last time, in '06, I gave up without finding something I'd use).
Jackpot, maybe. This is web-based, and amazingly, it seems to work well in some initial testing. There's a freebie version, which would probably suit me fine, though I might spring for the academic version ($15/yr). Go, check it out, let me know what you think. :)
---
http://labs.ideeinc.com/multicolr/ -- finds you flickr photos matching your colour palette. Very pretty.
---
For gmail users, there are some useful features available from a new "google labs" tab in gmail preferences. The two I am most happy with do simple things: move the Labels list to a column on the right-hand side; and add a Google Calendar Upcoming Events list to the left-hand side. There are other labs items, such as "canned responses" and "rotating footers".
--
Finally: mind maps. I've used them as an organizational tool for quite some time.
They're great for brainstorming- the more I write, the more I think of, and arranging the thoughts spatially can add important structure that makes moving forward easier as well.
Just the other day, I came across a talk and screencast by the author of "Getting Things Done." He uses mind maps often in planning "the bigger picture" - his 20,000-foot view, life-goals and 5-year plans.
Watching his talk encouraged me to go back to a task I'd abandoned a while ago, to find a software mind-mapping tool I liked. (The last time, in '06, I gave up without finding something I'd use).
Jackpot, maybe. This is web-based, and amazingly, it seems to work well in some initial testing. There's a freebie version, which would probably suit me fine, though I might spring for the academic version ($15/yr). Go, check it out, let me know what you think. :)
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I have used mind maps for several years - both in planning and also taking notes in meetings. I have played with mind mapping software, but for me (and likely only for me!) the physical act of writing is very important in building my picture and my understanding: if I am using a keyboard, I might as well just write a list in Word!
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I can never seem to find the Google Labs button / options. I'm not sure if they hate me. The only thing I suspect that might be keeping me from these options is my English (UK) setting instead of English (US).
Otherwise I would be using some of these features a while ago!
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On mine, from the main page, it's "Settings" (top-right corner) -> "Labs" (right-most orange tab)
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From its docs, the latest version of freemind looked interesting but unstable- I'd like to take a look at scripting and such once they've gotten more of the bugs out.