Ancestry News!

This press release is from Ancestry.com. It's good to see things happening with mobile apps. It definitely helps feed my tech addiction!


New ‘Ancestry.com Mobile’ iOS App Gives Users the Ability to Access Billions of Historical Records to Build Their Family Tree

PROVO, UTAH (November 29, 2011) – Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online family history resource, today announced the availability of a new, upgraded version of its Ancestry.com Mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with features designed to enable more rewarding discoveries as users build, update and share their family trees. The Ancestry.com mobile app, which to-date has been downloaded more than 1.7 million times, is now available for free from the Apple App Store.

This upgrade adds three new features to Ancestry.com’s existing family history app:

Ø  “In-app purchasing,” which allows non-Ancestry.com subscribers to view, then buy fascinating historical records about their ancestors – such as World War I draft cards, Census records, birth/death certificates, and school yearbook photos, from among billions of historical documents in the Ancestry.com database

Ø  A “Shaky Leaf” hinting feature that employs predictive analytics to suggest possible new connections between a user’s family tree and undiscovered documents in the world’s largest family history database

Ø  A new merge feature, which automatically identifies and extracts information about family members from historical records so users can quickly and easily update their family tree

“Our goal with the new Ancestry.com mobile app is to enable more people to discover their family history through our billions of historic records, and allow them to share their findings easily with others,” said Eric Shoup, Senior Vice President of Product at Ancestry.com. “Our ‘Shaky Leaf’ hinting feature has resulted in tens of millions of successful family history discoveries online and it’s now accessible to our growing mobile user base.”

For users new to Ancestry.com, the latest iOS app provides an easy way to get started by giving access to relevant historical documents on the site without a subscription.  For existing Ancestry.com members, the new app gives them the ability to grow their tree using Ancestry.com records and share them with others while on-the-go. 

The Ancestry.com mobile app offers many of the most popular features available in the online version of Ancestry.com’s industry-leading family history website, including the ability to add and edit family information, view and share documents and photos, take and attach photos and create and navigate multi-generational family trees.

To get started, download the free Ancestry.com mobile app to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and either register for a new, or log in to an existing Ancestry.com account and choose a family tree. Ancestry.com subscribers can download family history records in the app free of charge. Non-subscribers pay a special introductory price starting at $0.99 for each record purchased through the Mobile app’s “in-app purchase” feature.

Fold3 Cyber Monday!

fold3 has joined Cyber Monday! Here's their deal! If you haven't looked at their databases, this just might be an incentive for you!

Fold3.com

End of RootsTech Early Bird Registration is Approaching!

Are you planning on attending the 2nd Annual RootsTech 2012 Conference? Would you like to save money? Don't forget about the early bird registration that ends on Nov. 30th. If you are a family history consultant with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints you will be able to register for one fee. If you are in the general public and would also like a price break, you can get one! For either option, go to RootsTech and register now!

Tech Tips...Again!

Credit: Microsoft

I love to read the Tech Tips on FamilySearch. I have to admit that I love the tech aspect of genealogy! I am not a computer guru, but I am willing to admit that I appreciate all of the new features  that computer programmers are adding to the genealogy software of today. One of my favorite contributors to Tech Tips is James Tanner. I find that his articles are very thoughtful and insightful without being demeaning to those who don't understand technology like he does. I guess I really appreciate his "normal speak" approach to explain complicated things! The latest article that I really enjoyed is talking about Google +. If you haven't even heard of that, now is the time to learn. Go visit James Tanner's article on Google +.  Also visit his website http://genealogysstar.blogspot.com. You'll be glad you did!

BYU From Wherever You Are?

BYU Family History Library is such a valuable resource to those who are local AND to those around the world. If you haven't taken the opportunity to see what they have to offer, now is the time. They offer short video presentations on many different subjects as well as helps to get you started AND keep you going! All of this is available 24/7 from the confines of wherever you have an Internet connection. Here is what the BYU FHL desktop looks like:

Notice the navigation list on the left hand side. All of those links provide valuable information about family history. The video tutorials are under the Education link. On the upper right hand corner is a box, "What do you want to do?" If you click that, this is what you see:

Look at all the links to help you out! More links are being added all the time as helpful websites are found. Take the time to really explore this site. I'm sure that you will find it useful like I have!

New CEO for FamilySearch

familysearch.org

This is a press release from FamilySearch!

FamilySearch Announces New CEO

November 15, 2011

SALT LAKE CITY—FamilySearch announced today a change in its chief executive officer. Effective January 2, 2012, Dennis C. Brimhall will succeed Jay L. Verkler as CEO of FamilySearch. Mr. Verkler will continue in a consulting capacity for a few months to ensure a smooth transition.

It is the business culture and practice of FamilySearch, as an organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to regularly rotate its senior leaders. This pattern assures the forward momentum of its core programs.
Over the past decade under Mr. Verkler’s leadership, FamilySearch has shifted its vast stores of genealogical records and resources to a digital, worldwide, internet-based focus. FamilySearch has developed partnerships with many genealogy and technology industry organizations, helping form a broad and deep industry community including companies, societies, and archives.

FamilySearch has helped make the world’s historic records easier to access online, publishing over 2.4 billion names in historic records at familysearch.org, including 870 collections from over 50 countries indexed by over 250,000 volunteers. During this period, FamilySearch has also created an unprecedented, free global service organization that engages over 70,000 volunteers who provide needed local and online support to research patrons and the genealogical community. FamilySearch has pioneered genealogical search, record linkage, imaging, crowd-sourcing, and digital preservation technologies.

“It has been a career highlight for me to work in such a significant and meaningful effort,” said Jay L. Verkler regarding his time at FamilySearch’s helm. “I have had the privilege to work with countless great individuals, organizations, and companies, all striving to provide the best of user experiences.”

Mr. Brimhall comes to FamilySearch with a deep background in management. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He recently served for 17 years as president and CEO of the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver from 1988 until 2005. Since then Mr. Brimhall has held positions of increasing responsibility in LDS Church administration.

“I am very excited to help lead the work of FamilySearch, to continue the great things that have been done and move forward in new directions as appropriate,” said Brimhall. “FamilySearch provides services to millions of people worldwide. We really need to understand our customers’ needs and satisfy them. Our focus will be to ensure that FamilySearch’s customer experiences are really first rate.”

FamilySearch looks forward to further strengthening its commitment to the global genealogical community, to publishing and digitizing the world’s records, and encouraging all people to discover, preserve, and share their family histories.
FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer–driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessor organizations have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

November Classes at Riverton FamilySearch Library

Time for the Saturday Seminar at the Riverton FamilySearch Library. It will be held next Saturday, November 19, 2011. See flyer below and pass the word!

Are Your Family Histories Snoozers?

Photo Credit: LDS Magazine

LDS Living Magazine is carrying a four part series entitled "How to Write a Family History Worth Reading!" That is definitely one of my goals! I have a few family histories that I love, but to most people they are snoozers! Why? Because they start with "Peter Peterson was born..." In this first part of the series, author Sunny Morton gives us a few pointers on how to start a family history worth reading! I found the article to be enlightening and I know that you will too! Give it a shot!

UVTAGG November Meeting (formerly UVPAF User's Group)

Our Next Meeting

12 Nov 2011from 9 AM to noon

Claire Brisson-Banks			Topic: The Perfect Social Media: Family History & Genealogy
We'll discuss WEB 2.0 Internet-based tools that assist with connecting and keeping in touch with family while locating new family information and staying up-to-date with genealogical technology and social media.

Photo Credit: UVTAGG

Did you know that the UVTAGG group can be useful to you even if you don't live in the area? The group has a fantastic group of links and class outlines that are online and that you are able to access. To access, go to UVTAGG and click on anything that appeals to you under the Menu list on the left side of the screen. Another new way to learn! I'm all for it!

BYU Family History Classes for 13 November 2011

Disasters and Your Precious Family History Records!

If your family faced a disaster, would all of your hard work and family records survive? I think about this every once in awhile, but always put it in the back of my mind and say "it will never happen to me!" Well, I should think about this and be more proactive because I live in an area where we are all sitting on a fault line. Bring on the earthquakes! Seriously, I spent the month of September in Europe. One of the last places we stayed was in the Cinque Terre, Italy. Five little towns on the Mediterranean Sea. A bit of paradise! Well, if you have seen the news lately, you probably have heard that two of the five towns were hit by tremendous flooding and mudslides. It was so hard to see the videos and recognize that I was just in that very spot a month ago. Who could have predicted the future?



So, are your records protected? I will definitely be working on mine. I do a fairly decent job of backing things up and making copies, but what happens if I die and no one wants my records. What happens if family members just start junking my precious records? I found this out the hard way when a great aunt of mine died and I had no idea. When I started researching and went back to where she lived, I was told that her husband had tossed everything so that he could sell the house! I was heartbroken!

I ran across this article in the FamHist blog. It was interesting and gave me important food for thought. It gives a sample codicil that can be written up and put with your will. Since we have just updated our wills and such, this was perfect timing. I didn't even know that such a thing could be done.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...

Facebook Pages vs. Facebook Groups?

Thomas MacEntee (one of my personal favorites!) hosted an Explorinar on Facebook Pages vs. Facebook Groups a few days ago. Ever heard of an Explorinar? Me either! Here is the official definition, not from Webster, but from Thomas MacEntee himself! "A casual exploration of a website, and application or some other program that could be useful to genealogists and family historians." Brings a little clarity to the subject, don't you think?

Explorinar: Facebook Pages vs. Facebook Groups from Thomas MacEntee on Vimeo.

Have You Heard of Diigo?

Diigo V5: Collect and Highlight, Then Remember! from diigobuzz on Vimeo.

Have you ever heard of Diigo? Did you know that it can help you stay organized in your genealogy research? Denise Barrett Olson wrote a great article about Diigo in June for the TechTips blog on FamilySearch.org. More ideas to make our lives easier!