Please note: this article was last updated in 2009. For the latest information on MindMeister Apps please visit mindmeister.com/apps
Post-It notes are great for jotting down ideas, one-liners, and reminders to grab some milk on the way home, but they do have limitations. How many times have you dashed down a thought or idea on a post-it, cocktail napkin, or scrap sheet of paper, only to go searching for it hours or days later? I’m fairly certain we can all relate to this situation. Enter, Geistesblitz.
Much more than just a note-taking tool, our new free iPhone application, Geistesblitz brings a whole new level to your ‘flashes of genius’ with on the spot submissions, and online organization and storage. Users can create a free MindMeister account from within the application, and begin organizing thoughts-on-the-go instantly.
GEISTESBLITZ, (noun, m.) [‘gæstes blîts]:
literally translated as mind flash, is 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.
Once signed in, all entries to the Geistesblitz app are instantly updated within the users’ default mindmap. As with all MindMeister maps, these ideas, reminders, thoughts can then be manipulated in a variety of ways. Connections can be made, links applied to ideas, and notes can even be added to your notes.
Perhaps you’ve struck upon an idea that’s taking on a life of its own with sub-categories and notes. Why not break it out into its own mind map? Within your online account, a simple right click presents you with the option to take this one point and create a new map from it.
In addition to upping your GTD score, having Geistesblitz at your side ensures that no idea should ever be scribbled down on a scrap piece of paper, and consequently lost, ever again.
Grab the new free Geistesblitz application from the iTunes store today! And remember, if you like Geistesblitz, why not consider having the full power of MindMeister on your iPhone at all times?
I think the \’Geistesblitz\’ web app (www.mindmeister.com/gb) is still more comfortable to use as it gives you more flexibility through the possibility to add your \’Geistesblitz\’ to different mind maps and not just the default one.
I was hoping so desperately, that this feature would make it into an iPhone app. But it\’s neither in the \’MindMeister\’ app nor in the \’Geistesblitz\’ app.
Well …
That\’s a valid point Norrin – we discussed for a while if we should extend all Geistesblitz tools with the ability to select the map but for the time being opted for simplicity instead. What do others think, is it worth adding an extra option for selecting the target map?
I agree with Norrin.
So why not keeping the Geistesblitz app as it is, being an appetizer for all people interested in using a mobile solution to input ideas to a fine crafted web based mind mapping tool like MindMeister.
But please add the option to select a map for the Geistesblitz to the paid MindMeister iPhone app plus the option to set the Geisteblitz input screen as the default screen on start up. I guess that would make it even more useable.
Thanks for listening.
Hi Norrin, we\’re going to try and add the \”Choose target map\” option in an upcoming release. Having Geistesblitz as the default screen at startup in the MindMeister app should work though as the app remembers the last active tab when you quit it, and reactivates it when you start it again. Does this not work for you?
Oh yes it does, Michael. But it requires you to switch to the Geistesblitz input screen before you leave the app. This requires some self discipline in using the app … ;o)
I think it would be more convenient to let the user decide on setting the Geistesblitz input screen as the default start screen. The user wouldn\’t need to bother how to leave the app after extensive mind mapping and could – on the other hand – input Geistesblitze right away whenever he needs to, without the need to possibly switch the screens.
Thanks a lot for such a great tool.
We were thinking that users who use the app mainly for inserting Geistesblitzes would have it always as the last tab anyway. But I guess you\’re right, an option would be quite handy. It seems that we\’ll have enough user options soon to justify an own Settings section in the iPhone settings 😉
I can\’t get any of my Geistesblitzes to show up on any mind map at all. How do you sign in and get this thing working?
You just create an account for free and when you\’re signed in all Geistesblitzes should show up in your default map. Please send us an email to support at mindmeister.com if this doesn\’t work.
Great app but a bit slow to launch and without the possibility to chose which map I want to put it into I will be staying with the Webb app
How do you get out of Geistesblitz to get back to the main MindMeister app? I launched Geistesblitz from within MindMeister iphone app 3.7.2 by tapping on bottom bar\’s lightning icon and I could not find any Done / Return icons. I had to close app, double-click Home button to kill it and then restart. Otherwise, great app!
@Nic if you\’re in landscape mode, rotate the phone to horizontal mode. From here, you\’ll see the familiar set of options at the very bottom of the app.