Product literatureHere's where we answer the question "What is 3D Topicscape?" This is a short description of 3D Topicscape Pro, followed by a comparison of features table between Pro, Lite and the Student Edition. To see how Topicscape has continually grown in functionality and benefits, you can look in the What's new (and what was new) section. We know your time is limited, so we have also included a demonstration here that steps through the building of a Topicscape as you watch: On-line Flash Demo Downloadable trial softwareTopicscape is Shareware. You can download it here for a 30-day trial, the same as we offer to all. As an established reviewer, we will send you a complimentary registration key, so that you can continue to use 3D Topicscape after the 30 day trial - it's a courtesy that we extend to the press. About the trial versionsThese are fully-functional copies that are restricted only in time of operation: they are limited to a 30-day trial period. It is fully uninstallable. There is absolutely no ADWARE or SPYWARE in any edition of 3D Topicscape. Obtaining a license keyAs a courtesy to bona fide reviewers and the media, we are happy to offer a license file so that you can use it past the 30-day limit. Please send a request for a license to mailto:info at topicscape dot com?subject=Topicscape_Press_Inquiry and explain that you're in the process of reviewing 3D Topicscape - mention the publication please. Q&A - Answers to common press questionsQ: What does 3D Topicscape do?A: 3D Topicscape is an information organizer that works in 3D to give more space and make things easier and faster to find. You can watch a full demonstration with a running on-screen explanation here: ../download/demo/MBA_Control_Panel.html Q: How much does 3D Topicscape cost? A: There are three versions: - The most popular is the top-o'-the-line 3D Topicscape Pro currently on sale at a discounted US$89.99.
- For users with control of the ToDo lists being the main need, with some information organizing on the side, 3D Topicscape Lite is a common choice at US$49.99.
- Finally, there's the 3D Topicscape Student Edition. That's limited to saving web and simple text files, and with its attractive colorful skin is great for homework. We know from all the feedback how that helps kids with their studies and we are happy to help students on tight budgets by making this available free.
Q: How long have you been selling 3D Topicscape? A: 3D Topicscape was first made available for public beta in early 2006 and went live in May 2006. In early 2007, a simplified version for ToDo lists (Lite) and the much enhanced version (Pro) were introduced. Since then, it has gone through two revisions, and supports Windows 2000 and XP. Q: What is the limit on how much a single Topicscape can store? A: Effectively none. We have Topicscapes in regular use with thousands of topics and many more thousands of files and notes organized inside them. When you save a new item in a Topicscape, however big, the saving is almost instantaneous - it's not like an enormous document where the whole thing has to be saved. The required portion of Topicscape's relational database is updated each time new information is introduced to it, so there is no need to select File > Save, or to press Ctrl+S. Q: Is a manual included? A: There are downloadable and printable PDF files of the User Guide, also an online User Guide and a built-in Help inside Topicscape itself. All three are based on the same text and images, so our users just pick the format they prefer. Many users have said that they want and use the detailed manual, but we recognize that not everyone does, so we also provide a step-by-step Quickstart document and an included demonstration that builds a Topicscape as the user watches. Q: Can 3D Topicscape run on Apple Mac and Linux computers? A: Topicscape cannot be run on Mac or Linux yet because, like most small companies, commercial pressures mean we have to develop for the largest market first. We chose to develop mainly in Java with multi-platform in mind, but some of the things Topicscape does, like automatically making an RTF container for a portion of another file dragged to its window or handling paste-special, mean that we have to get to places in the OS where Java cannot go. This necessitates some platform-specific code. We are working on a browser-based front-end version that will run on Linux and Mac, and a network version that will use a Linux server, but these are not on the market yet. Our hope is eventually to be fully cross platform with all products. Boot Camp might provide an option for some Mac users. Q: Can 3D Topicscape run on Vista? A: Often it can, and all our internal acceptance testing is carried out on Vista PCs. But we have not officially announced a Vista version yet. The reason is that some Vista graphics drivers have not fully and correctly implemented OpenGL (the 3D software open standard that 3D Topicscape uses). We find that nVidia graphics is fine on Vista, but Intel gives problems. We are in touch with Intel and they have agreed with the problems we describe but are unable to give a date for resolution. Q: Is 3D Topicscape available in stores?A: No. We sell entirely on-line from our Buy Now page. Q: Does 3D Topicscape connect to or include any Adware or Spyware? A: No. 3D Topicscape Pro and Lite are shareware. You can try before you buy for a 30-day evaluation. These are not advertisement supported, and do not send personal or any other data back to us. 3D Topicscape Student Edition is freeware and similarly, has no ads and does not 'phone home'. All versions have the ability to check for updates the first time you run Topicscape on any given day, but users make their own decision about whether to use this function. Anyway, it does not tell us who is checking for updates. Q: What are mind mapping and concept mapping?A: Please visit our Q&A area at the web site devoted to questions about information mapping and have a look at some mind mapping articles that we have put on line for our users. Screen Shots, GraphicsThere are many screenshots throughout this site, but here are a few representative ones: Here is the Topicscape logo ®  Topicscape icons 
|
