Sound Practices That May Be Overlooked

The first of the year is typically a point of new beginnings. In his article, "Sound Practices That May Be Overlooked," Larry Naukam offers some tips for reaffirming sound genealogical practices. One important tip is to be aware of what the author calls a "sense checker" in your genealogy software -- a feature that will scan your data and report various types of errors, including key discrepancies such as birth or death dates that do not correspond. This kind of check is good at finding accidental as well as careless errors in the data, our own and that acquired from others. Whatever name it goes by, this is a good feature to be aware of and to use. This and other tips will help get your research off to a good start this year.

MacFamilyTree 5.5 Public Beta now available

As reported this week on prMAC, Synium Software has launched a public beta of MacFamilyTree 5.5, adding a History Database and a rewritten database engine to the genealogy software. Ever wanted to know who governed a country at the time of your great great grandmother? MacFamilyTree's brand new History Database allows you to view every person or family event in a greater historical context: Browse hundreds of predefined entries; or add your own data of global and regional relevance.

Version 5.5 also delivers a redesigned search feature, an enhanced user interface, a customizable auto-save function and an improved GEDCOM importer. The History Database allows users to cross-reference historical figures, events and dates with a personal family tree, as well as add personally significant historical data. The rewritten engine speeds performance for Leopard and especially Tiger users; the improvements in GEDCOM import also offer increased speed, alongside sharing genealogical data across platforms.

Multimedia support for Pocket Genealogist v. 3.30

In a press release out today, Northern Hills Software announced the release of Pocket Genealogist 3.30 with support for multimedia transfers to the device. As with all Version 3 releases, this is a free update for all those who have already purchased Version 3. The biggest change in this release is the ability to transfer photos and images to the handheld device for viewing along with other family history data. This feature does require the ‘Advanced’ version of Pocket Genealogist, and media objects are ‘view only.’ Pocket Genealogist, the award winning product of Northern Hills Software LLC, is the leader in genealogy software for Windows Mobile Smartphones and Pocket PCs. For the complete list of the other 15 changes visit the version change log on Northern Hills Software web site.

On the go with MobileFamilyTree 1.2

Synium Software has announced MobileFamilyTree 1.2, the Mobile version of its popular genealogy application. MobileFamilyTree is an iPhone and iPod Touch companion for MacFamilyTree. In just about a month, MobileFamilyTree has gained high rankings at the App Store — the first and only genealogy tool for the iPhone and iPod touch.

MacFamilyTree Update Includes Improved Chart Editing

As reported in PC World, "MacFamilyTree Update Includes Improved Chart Editing," Genealogy application MacFamilyTree has been updated to version 5.2.5, improving on several of the features in the application. Among the changes in the new version are some fixes for MobileFamilyTree export. MobileFamilyTree is the company's mobile genealogy for your iPhone or iPod touch. The update also includes fixes for the Virtual Tree, improved PDF export, the ability to generate kekule numbers directly from the ancestor or descendant chart, and improved chart editing.
The update is available from the company's Web site. For new users MacFamilyTree costs $49.

MacFamily Tree 5.2 offers 3d Virtual Tree

According to a recent press release, Synium has rolled out its MacFamily Tree 5.2 public beta with the new 3D Virtual Tree.

Never get lost. Navigate even the most complex kinships - in 3D. With our new Virtual Tree, MacFamilyTree 5.2 intuitively displays all kinds of family relations. Hobbyists as well as genealogy experts will fancy the Virtual Tree, making it easy to inspect and navigate one's entire family tree database.

From all perspectives, close-up and from a broader angle, MacFamilyTree renders a three-dimensional mesh of persons and their relations. Highlight common characteristics using different colors and shapes. Navigating the Virtual Tree is simple: just point, click and drag with your mouse, or use a dedicated Navigator to literally fly through your own ancestry.

MacFamilyTree 5.2 also significantly enhances GUI and workflow for editing families. Additionally, GEDCOM import is now even faster than before, and HTML export has been improved to better handle Media contents. This most recent update to version 5 is currently available as Public Beta and fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and its predecessor.

Legacy Charting "test drive" offered free for limited time

Millennia Corp., the producer of Legacy Family Tree, has announced the release of new family tree charting software, according to an article in the Jackson Clarion Ledger. Millennia is inviting all genealogists to take a free test drive of this wall chart software, known as Legacy Charting.

Among the key features of Legacy Charting is the ability to create 18 types of family charts and is compatible with Family Tree Maker, Personal Ancestral File (PAF), Legacy Family Tree, RootsMagic and GEDCOM files. The finished charts can be easily e-mailed to family members. Legacy Charting is one of the first programs to offer large-scale DNA charts to help DNA researchers present their work, the article reports. Developed by the makers of the popular software Legacy Family Tree, Legacy Charting will be one of the new features with the soon-to-be-released Legacy Family Tree version 7, but until June 15, this special pre-release edition is freely available to everyone.

MacFamilyTree 5 public beta now available

Synium Software has announced a public beta of MacFamilyTree 5, the latest release of the popular genealogy software for the Mac, according to an article on MacNN. The company previously announced that with this release, it will complete the acquisition of all rights to the software and be responsible for development, distribution and support. Version 5 has been completely redesigned and rewritten application, and Synium claims it will provide biggest leap in performance and product design so far. The entire GUI as well as the underlying database have been dramatically changed while maintaining true backwards compatibility.

Family Tree Maker 2008 released

Ancestry.com this week announced the release of Family Tree Maker 2008, a completely redesigned version of its No. 1 selling family history software. Family Tree Maker 2008 boasts an intuitive new interface and dozens of new features built on an entirely revamped, modern platform - the result of a two-year, back-to-the-drawing- board development process.

First released in 1989, Family Tree Maker ranks in longevity among Microsoft Windows (first released in 1985) and Adobe Photoshop. Family Tree Maker 2008 is now available for sale online at http://www.familytreemaker.com for $39.95. The program is also set to be released in select retail stores in October 2007.

Family Tree Maker beta release available to the public

As noted in The Clarion-Ledger, "Family Tree Maker offering a free trial run," Family Tree Maker has announced the upcoming release of Family Tree Maker 2008, the next generation of the one of the world's best-selling genealogy programs. This new software is touted as a complete rewrite of the old program which has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the best for beginning genealogists available. The release date for the new software is August 2008, but in a very unusual move the company is offering free copies of the beta program now for anyone who wishes to give it try before making the purchase. Most beta program studies are conducted behind closed doors which makes this free public test very unusual. The beta program can be downloaded and installed by simply clicking the link at http://beta.familytreemaker.com.

That said, the article goes on to note certain caveats that go along with the beta release - some things you'll definitely want to be aware of as you add new content to the program, not the least of which, the beta program ceases to function when the new software is released. Whatever you do, back it up!

Genealogy software for Mac Users

An article in the Atlanta Sentinel, "Mac users can trace their roots," poses the question, Family Tree Maker's Web site says it has abandoned efforts to create a Mac version of that genealogy software. What can Mac owners who want to computerize their genealogy do? In reply, the item states, although Family Tree Maker, now on version 16 for Windows, has long been a stalwart in the genealogy software category, it's just one of many options for Macintosh users. In fact, there is a whole site dedicated just to Mac roots-and-relatives software at macgenealogy.org, and the site also offers news, reviews and user forums.

Some of the Mac-based genealogy programs available include iFamily for Tiger (ifamilyfortiger.com), which integrates itself with the Mac OS X iPhoto program for organizing family pictures. Other options include MacFamilyTree (onlymac.de/indexe.html) and Reunion (leisterpro .com). All three programs offer trial versions to download from their sites. The Mac Genealogy site has Web links to several other Mac-friendly applications and utilities to help build up your database of personal history.

GenSmarts Version 2 released

The release of GenSmarts Version 2 was announced in a press release today. Using artificial intelligence to make genealogy suggestions, GenSmarts works alongside existing genealogy software to explain records that should be researched and why. Version 2 features a new user interface, more powerful and as well as easier to use suggestion filters, new source auditing and analysis capabilities, new reports and output options, as well as several other enhancements.

New iFamily genealogy software for Mac

As reported on Clarionledger.com, Mac iFamily software remarkable, a new genealogy program for Mac users was announced. "Mac users have long envied the excellent genealogy programs for PCs and have more or less been resigned to using the far more basic offerings such as Reunion or Mac Family Tree. Now, iFamily for Tiger is a genealogy program for Mac users that is not only easy to operate but offers an innovative approach to mapping the family tree."