Please note: This article was last updated in 2007 and the Geistesblitz function is now only available for Apple Watch. For more details, please visit mindmeister.com/apps
GEISTESBLITZ, (noun, m.) [‘gæstes blîts]:
literally translated as mind flash, a sudden insight or idea, often brilliant and unexpected. Consisting of the German words Geist (as in Zeitgeist) and Blitz (as in Blitzen, that lightning-fast reindeer of Santa Claus), it is probably best translated into English as brain wave or flash of genius.
The Geistesblitz Tools allow you to quickly submit your ideas (or Geistesblitzes) to your default map in MindMeister (remember, you can set your default map in the Properties dialog). The ideas will be inserted in a special branch top left of the root and remain there for you to copy to other maps, or move around in the default map.
Geistesblitz tools currently come in two flavours:
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Dashboard Widget / Sidebar GadgetSet up the widget once with your MindMeister username and password, and fire off new ideas at will! Using the widget is fast and intuitive and besides, we think it looks rather dashing… |
| System Requirements: Mac OS X (10.4+) or Windows Vista | |
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Quicksearch ExtensionsSubmit your ideas to your MindMeister default map directly from the search field in the top right-hand corner of your web browser. If you use the “Remember me” function on the MindMeister login form, you won’t even have to sign in! |
| System Requirements: Firefox 2.x or Internet Explorer 7 | |
The Windows Vista requirement is a serious problem for me and I am sure tons of other IT professionals. Until I hear from a variety of reliable sources that Vista is ready for prime time and will support my existing apps, I will not even try it. I got burned by XP (until SR 2) and am not about to go there again.
I hope you consider xp compliance as your base compliance standard or you are going to be left with a client base primarily of end users who purchased their computer at a retail outlet.
It wasn\’t our choice not to support XP with the gadget, but unfortunately the Windows Sidebar plus Gadget API was only introduced in Vista – i.e. you can\’t have gadgets in XP. There are some programs that you can install to support special gadgets, such as Yahoo Widgets but I doubt very many people use that. Are you using it? You can of course still use the Geistesblitz QuickInsert tool if you\’re using either Firefox or IE7.
cant you come up with another explanation for the word Blitz than Blitzkrieg. Blitzkrieg is a word with a very negative meaning and it should be used carefully by a german company, dont you think?
I think its a bad decision to use the word Blitzkrieg as a german company to explain your nice product to an international public.
Interesting input – we were using it in a purely grammatical sense, but you are probably right, can\’t be careful enough with such things these days (shame really). We\’ve changed it now, thanks!
Dear Michael,
just look at how many widgets are available for the Yahoo Konfabulator widget engine (thousands) and how many for Vista (dozens).
I really wonder why you focused your efforts on a Vista gadget which nobody uses, instead of a widespread platform for Mac and Windows like Yahoo Widgets…
Jan
Hi Jan,
You are right – we will add a Yahoo Widget version of Geistesblitz soon. Frankly, we expected the uptake of Vista to be a bit faster…
Cheers
Michael
I vote for the yahoo widget version of Geistesblitz as well. Any feedback on when it will be available.
Thanks
We\’re pleased to say the Yahoo widget is almost done – just doing final testing, expect news next week!
Have an iPad with MindMeister installed. unfortunately I clicked on geistesblitz, and now I cannot com out of it – to find my maps!! What shall I do?
To exit Geitesblitz, rotate the orientation of your device, or click on the X in the Geistesblitz section.
Thank you to everyone behind this free tool. Thank you for being the creative and humble individuals you all are. Thank you for not placing paper currency as your priority. Wish Mindmeister the best in all its endeavors.
Lynh, thank you so much for your lovely message, it really motivates us to keep going. All the best for you too!