iMandalArt [iPhone]

MandalArt is an iPhone version of the Thinking Editor Mandal-Art which first run on Macintosh Hyper Card since 1995. It is a form of idea processor, outline processor, mindmap or GTD where your task/event management is arranged around ways to easily comprehend and map your ideas. Where you normally think about these in the linear form, MandalArt is about layering these in depth. These ideas are organised around ‘cells’ where each cell may contain multiple cells, organised in circular patterns. It is all about expanding ideas into cells, a form of mind mapping rather than being organised as a network is done via multiple grouping of cells that can be fed into tasks.

When you first start the app you are met with four menus. First one at the top being ‘Manda’ a section meant to provide elements and factors essential to edit a person’s life. Here you will find few ideas to do with time, accomplishments, money, etc.. You can of course ad you own but the ones provided (with double click) provide suggestions on how your should use them. For example in a week, say a day in a week is is filled with a “meeting”. The next things to come in your mind will be what, why and how to progress with it, thus expanding the cell by adding additional items. Cells unfold leading to a conclusion.

Second menu on the left includes GET which are the things you got, want to get and just about getting. It is similarly organised except it is the content that feeds directly into the third menu on the right which is LA, meaning things to complete or accomplish. This is more of a plan, where you ad things you want to get done.

Whilst some elements are pure GTD, functional and rational, other (which the app creator encourages) are more spiritual, addressing things such as “life”, “prospects”, “internal”, “mind and body” and more.

Each cell you open can includes three different media types. You can either create text, take a picture or record sound. In addition, all of the cells on the screen can be rearranged by dragging so you can organise your thoughts how you feel most comfortable with them. The app has been beautifully designed with smooth transitions and minimal interface allowing you to focus on the ideas rather than being distracted by unnecessary GUI fluff. Gentle textures on menus provide enough depth to know where to click. Use of double click to get more info and edit is just right where single click is to navigate through the cells. iMandalArt is a pure joy to use.

It’s a scrapbook of ideas and thoughts, and regardless of whether you enjoy Budism or the 50′s Situationist International movement, psychogeography, or the simplest, most efficient GTD method, iMandalArt provides that flexibility to use it in a way most conformable to you. The app is priced at $12.99 which may be pricey for some but considering it’s functionality, from what I have seen, it’s definitely a worthy purchase but a demo version would be useful for those not sure whether another ‘method’ has a place in their daily life.

See movie guide below.

Platform: iPhone
Version: 1.0
Cost: $12.99
Developer: Hiro Art Directions,Inc.

imandalart07

Posted on: 20/08/2009

Posted in: iPhone

Post tags: AppStore GTD Interface iPhone linear mindmap spirtual transition

harryharrison

Looks pretty good actually. Might be exactly what i've been looking for. I'll study this demo hard and decide from that i guess.
Dan

For implementing GTD you can use this web-based application:

http://www.Gtdagenda.com

You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version is available too.
goo_goo

iMandalArt is updated Ver.2.0.
Pretty good!
Alex Alves

Dropbox API is no longer working for BACKUPS. Please update! Great app! Congratulations! You guys should invest more on this idea and make it a popular app, calling it just a VISUAL TODO LIST. Success!!!

iMandalArt [iPhone]

Related Posts

Personas [Flash]

EyeWriter [openFrameworks]