This Ain't Your Grandparents' Genealogy

Growing up I can remember my grandparents spending hours sitting in front of the microfilm or microfiche readers at the Family History Center in Independence.  I would watch them scroll from page to page.  Occasionally they would even write something down.  For the longest time I wondered what they were doing sitting in front of those machines and I even ended up interested enough to ask one day.  That's when I got the explanation of genealogy.  I think I was around eight years old at the time.  Eventually, I joined in on the game of genealogy cat and mouse.

Genealogists today are much more fortunate than the genealogists of yesterday.  While my grandparents had to hunt for the names they were looking for page by page in the microfilms of the census records, I have the option of running to the library and using Ancestry.com.  And it's not just computers and digitizing that have made things easier but with the advent of iGadgets and Android devices genealogists now have oodles of accessibility and tools designed to make our lives better and data easier to save, access and share.  I appreciate being able to access my genealogy over my lunch hour at work without lugging around a big, heavy binder full of paper.  But even electronic files can end up being a mess if you don't organize your electronic items.  I'm not talking just your family data, but also downloaded files, saved emails and other pertinent items.  I'm not an expert in organization (just ask D1, he'd love to give you a witty or humorous reference about my hoarding tendencies) but I wanted to share a few items I use regularly in my genealogy research:

1. Computer database: Right now I'm looking at potentially switching databases.  I'm currently using Family Tree Maker.  I loved FTM when I first started doing computerized genealogy and I still like it (for the most part) but I'm also checking out RootsMagic to see if I like that program any better.  There are TONS of genealogy computer databases out there, each person has to decide what works best for their own genealogy.  The best advice I ever heard was that whatever software you choose, make sure you learn about it and commit to it fully before deciding whether or not you're happy with it.

2. Websites: There are waaaaayyyyy too many to name but the sites I frequent are Find a Grave, Cyndi's List, Ancestry, HeritageQuest, NARA and FamilySearch.  There are so many more good sites out there that I just can't name them all in one blog post but those are just a few I use.

3. iGadets: I'm by no means a power user on any of these items but I cannot live without my iPhone and iPad.  I use both for genealogy, those I mostly refer to my iPad when I can, simply because the screen is larger and I like that option better.  In a pinch the iPhone does the same thing and I typically have internet connection on that no matter where I am, which is convenient.  Some of the iGadget apps I use for my genealogy are:

• GedView: I did a review of GedView here.  GedView is my workhorse, go-to iPhone app.  I keep it up to date by either inputting new data right away manually or periodically replacing the GEDCOM file I've imported into it.
• MobileFamilyTree: I also did a review of MobileFamilyTree here.  MFT is my fancy-pants go-to iPad app.  I keep it up to date by either inputting my new data right away manually or periodically replacing the GEDCOM file I've imported into it.
• Evernote: Oh I absolutely LOVE me some Evernote!  I can't imagine how i got by without this app.  I don't use it just for genealogy (although that's why I started using it).  I also use it for saving emails, software registration information, class notes for courses I'm taking (genealogy and non-genealogy courses), recipes and many other items.  In Evernote I can combine multiple emails on one subject if I want, then save it to the appropriate notebook, tag it and search for it later!  I'm still learning the best way to use this program/app but I can't help but love it more everyday.
• KustomNote: I haven't used this a great deal yet but it definitely looks promising.  This allows you build templates and forms or use templates and forms others have built and submitted for note taking.  I've already downloaded a research log form and a couple of other forms I'm looking forward to using.  You don't use this so much as a stand-alone app, you use it in conjunction with Evernote.
• Quickoffice: This is a paid iGadget app.  It's not cheap but it functions almost exactly like the Microsoft Office suite.  Since purchasing this CloudOn has entered the picture (I have that app as well) which allows the user to access their Microsoft files via cloud storage and edit and create just like if you were actually in the Microsoft programs.  Both are fantastic apps.
• Cloud storage: I love my cloud storage as well.  I have an account with several different storage entities.  Dropbox, Google Drive and Box are the entities I'm currently signed up with.  I use each one for different purposes.  Dropbox is pretty much my primary go-to for sharing documents with family and also my general items that I access all the time.  BrotherDear prefers Google Drive so I typically will share all my pictures there.  Box is used for my business life.  Keeping business and work separate is very important for me so having separate cloud storage was very important in my mind.
• Feedly: I love following interesting blogs.  And I love the fact that there is an app to deliver the new posts of those feeds to my phone everyday.  To keep that information centralized and easily readable I use Feedly.  I used Google Reader combined with Byline but both these items were clunky in my opinion.  Feedly has been the best discovery I've ever made.  Feedly also interacts with IFTTT and Evernote!
• Pocket: Another fantastic discovery.  I regularly add blogs to my Feedly list.  I don't always have time to read every single post but I don't want to just skip over them since they may contain interesting or useful information.  That's where Pocket comes in.  Pocket lets me save the articles I want to read until a time that I have time to sit and read them in their entirety. 

Just because all of these items are electronic in nature doesn't mean I've abandoned paper.  I have, by no means, gotten rid of my paper.  I still use binders, pedigree and family charts, printouts of record copies and sheet protectors.  I wouldn't recommend anyone ever go completely digital.  Yes, paper takes up more space but should you ever have a problem with your computer, jump drive, cloud storage, etc. the paper files will be there.  And on the other end of that coin, if your paper files ever get destroyed you will still have electronic copies (and, if you do things correctly, backups of your electronic files).  I also don't only rely on my iGadget for photography.  I still use my DSLR camera as often as possible to take pictures of items like tombstones.  Though, in a pinch, the iGadget will do almost as well.

I'm sure as I begin to get into mobile genealogy a little bit more I'll discover new and interesting tools and uses for older tools that I didn't know about but for now those are some of the things I use regularly.

I can only imagine what my grandparents would think if they saw how we were doing genealogy today.  The ease with which we can obtain information is astounding!  This definitely ain't your grandparents' genealogy, that's for sure!

Follow Friday: AK's Genealogy Research

Welcome to another edition of Follow Friday.  Today we're looking at AK's Genealogy Research.  Annette's blog was created for the same reason most of the amateur blogs were created - to document her research and progress.  And that's why I love these blogs.  Blogs like AK's Genealogy Research show the ups and downs and successes and mistakes of genealogy research.  A good number of her blog posts make reference to the use of DNA in genealogy research, which I haven't been able to take advantage of yet.  However, I will be marking those posts for later reading.

Annette's writing falls somewhere between conversational and instructional, which I feel makes her posts a very good read.  She had a very interesting post on Service Records of Volunteers, 1784-1811 and another really really good one on Learning Evernote. I've just started using Evernote so finding posts about how others use it is like a goldmine to me.  Take a minute to check out her blog, it's well worth your time!

Talking Tech: Family tree apps for the iPad - MobileFamilyTree

Welcome to the last entry in my series on family tree apps for iGadgets.  This week I'm reviewing MobileFamilyTree.  In previous entries I've reviewed GedView, Heredis and LiveHistory.

MobileFamilyTree

MobileFamilyTree by Synium is another fairly young app.  I learned about it by doing either a Google search or by searching in the App Store.  And here's my disclaimer for this week: The developers of MobileFamilyTree were kind enough to provide me with a free copy of the app to look at and review.  I make every effort to ensure my posts are fair and unbiased whether I pay for the item (in this case, the app) or it is provided to me at reduced or no cost.

MobileFamilyTree currently only has one review in the App Store for it.  Not having used the app with Family Search (I don't currently have a tree on Family Search) I can't speak to whether the review is accurate or not.

And getting right down to it...

The Good:

• The interface is very good looking.
• The GEDCOM import was very easy and I loved how the import progress bar showed not only how far it was in the import process and how far it had to go but it also showed how many people, families, etc. were being imported so I could verify right away that everything imported.
• The menu options of running reports or viewing the virtual family tree right in the individual record are really great

• Seeing the fields for nicknames and other names was very exciting!  Not every app has these fields.  And YAY!  A field for married name!  That's a great idea, so you can show whether a female changed their name, kept their maiden name or hyphenated their name!  That feature gets an A+
• Being someone who works in databases all day I was also thrilled to see appropriate fields for title and suffix as well.

• There is a good selection of person event options to add to each record.  From adoption to wills and everything in between INCLUDING faith and residences

• Another home run: the Associated Person field.  Wow, what a great idea to be able to associate a witness or godparent with an event!

• The in app help is really good.

• The Research Assistant and Family Search integration are nice features.

• The reports are fantastic!  I especially like the format of the to-do report.

• The options that are available of both the views and the reports is wonderful!

• I like being able to see both the databases you have and the GEDCOM files you've opened in the front screen.

• It's nice to be able to export to a GEDCOM file or share via the cloud, not all apps have even one of those options, let alone both.

• Individuals can be bookmarked for easy access, which is a great option.  A start person can also be identified.
• The labels section is an interesting addition.  I can see there being some potential with that.
• It has the option to merge a person and add media.
• The "Places" screen is pretty interesting.  I can see the potential for that area if you're looking for things in certain locations.

• Navigation is very easy, being set up similar to using a web browser.  This set up makes it quick and easy to move between individuals and families and makes it quick and easy to move from one individual to another.

The Bad:

• Not being able to see the full location in the "Persons" list is a pretty big inconvenience.  Only the city is currently visible so, for example, if you have two George Smiths with one born in Kansas City, MO and the other in Kansas City, KS you would have to go into each record to see which person was the person you wanted.  Including complete location information in the "Persons" view would make locating the correct person a little quicker.
• Being able to select a preferred partner or to re-order the partners to show the most recent union first is really necessary functionality in my opinion.
• Including functionality to allow re-ordering of facts (or other items) would be really helpful.  I like to see my items in chronologically order and unless you enter them that way in this app it doesn't seem to allow you to re-order them.  A genealogist rarely gets to enter events chronologically.
• There's no field where you can add your own organization code.  Other apps have had this option and it was really nice.
• Being able to add a source right from the screen of the person you're working in would be much better than having to add it before including the source in a person's record.  On the other hand, it's nice to have the option to be able to add sources.

The Ugly:

• I would love to see the to-do list have a checkbox next to the item so you could check it off and have it be hidden from the current to-dos on a done list (similar to the Apple "Reminders" app) or at least be moved to the bottom of the to-do list and show as done.  It's kind of clunky when you have to edit the item to mark it done and then it still shows on the to-do list.
• I'd love to see the option of adding new "types" in the to-do screen.  "Further research" is just too generic for my tastes.
• I'd also love to see the name/item that's been associated with a to-do show up in the list of to-dos so you don't have to look at each item to know who it's for.  For example, I needed to get several birth certificates.  I titled each item "Get birth certificate copy" and assigned it to a person.  I would have liked to have been able to look at the to-do list and see the title of the to-do and somewhere next to or underneat have the to-do assignment listed.

Recommendations not necessarily falling in the above categories:

• I know developers are trying very hard to be all-inclusive but I would prefer to have spouse or partner fields to be selectable between the two as opposed to titled specifically "Spouse" or "Partner".  I can see why it's been titled such and that's really a minor personal preference complaint.

I highly recommend this app for any iGadget user, although it has the potential to be somewhat confusing for new iGadget users.  The help documentation is very good on this app though so don't be intimidated by all the bells and whistles it has!

Overall grade: A

That's it for Talking Tech (for now).  If anyone happens to see another app they'd like to have me review please don't hesitate to contact me and let me know.  I'm always happy to spend some time reviewing items that could be helpful to genealogists.

Talking Tech: Family tree apps for the iPad - LiveHistory

Continuing my series on family tree apps for iGadgets, this week I'm reviewing LiveHistory.  If you're just tuning in, I've previously reviewed GedView and Heredis.

LiveHistory

LiveHistory is still considered a fairly young app.  I can't recall where I learned about LiveHistory at, maybe FaceBook, maybe a blog post on another blog, but they were still looking for testers for their app.  Which leads me to my disclaimer for this post: The developers of LiveHistory were kind enough to provide me a free copy of the app to look at and review.  I make every effort to ensure my posts are fair and unbiased whether I pay for the item (in this case, the app) or it is provided to me at reduced or no cost.

So, as I said, LiveHistory is still a fairly young app.  There are actually only two reviews in the App Store for it (one of which, I will say straight out, I completely disagree with and I believe it to be entirely too harsh as it almost solely focuses on the interface and can't seem to get past what the reviewer considers to be "ugly").  And it's important to remember that LiveHistory bills itself as more than just a genealogy app, it also adds biography functionality to its repertoire.

Okay, enough of that, let's get to it!

The Good:

• I can't say how much I love that LiveHistory has included an adoption field.  Not enough apps and programs have this as an option.

• Also fantastic is the occupation field, venue field and residence field!

• The forecasting is an unique option.  I haven't decided if I'm completely sold on this functionality or not but it's a nice option to have so I'm listing it under "Good".  It could potentially be helpful, but I can also see where it might be limiting for new or unaware genealogists.  I would caution genealogists who use this app to only use this option as a tool to guide you on what time period to look in and to not simply rely on the forecasting as being set in stone.

• The ability to drag out the pedigree chart and have the chart expand is a nice feature.
• The notes option on each event screen gets an A+ (note: these screens are a little difficult to find, the event screens utilize the iGadget swipe screen functionality)

 

• And LiveHistory hit it out of the park when they provided the option of selecting the type of household (joined or on own) and providing fields for beginning and end dates to that!  Just WOW you guys!!!!!

• Re-ordering items in this app is SO easy.  There are multiple name slots offered and being able to re-order those easily was an exciting discovery.
• Relative age mode...GREAT!
• Another home run is the option to search by first name, nick name or last name all in one place.  YEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!

 

• The GEDCOM import is quick and easy.  I had just over 3,600 individuals to import and the import only took between 5 and 10 minutes.  LiveHistory provided a good set of instructions with a tip to make sure the iPad didn't go to sleep.

The Bad:

• Okay, I've just got to say that the lack of reports is really, really, really, REALLY BAD.  You can't have a genealogy app without at LEAST pedigree charts and family reports.
• Once I imported my GEDCOM file, the middle names in my family file imported with the first names, which I don't like.  There are blanks for middle name so maybe it was due to the type of GEDCOM I used or the way it was exported but it would be nice if the names went where they were supposed to.
• Another item that "mashed" together were the dates and places of an event.  These are important items in genealogy and should have separate fields. 

• It's really a necessity these days, with so many blended families, that being able to list children as biological, step or half siblings be included in a genealogy app.  It's hard to think of everything to include but these are biggies.
• WHERE is the in-app help????  How about an in-app instruction manual or even just a link that directs you to the app website where the manual could be located at!  I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is a BIG deal for me.  I'd rather have a great help section than pretties or bells and whistles.
• There are NO fields for LDS users.  Not including these fields is a BAD choice because not having these fields will deter LDS members from using this app and the data stored in these fields will go nowhere when a GEDCOM is imported.  Again, really bad since many other apps offer these fields as an option.
• Um, where's the export feature?  How can I share my genealogy with others if I can't export to GEDCOM???
• A cancel option needs to be added when entering a new person or making changes, just in case the user makes a mistake.

The Ugly:

• Yeah, the interface?  Really ugly LiveHistory.  Now that's not enough to keep me from enjoying the app but it could use some work.
• It would be really nice if, when there's a swipe screen option (of which there's several), that the bubbles at the bottom of the screen indicating that screen had a swipe screen option were a more contrasting color.  I had to look at the FAQ to discover this, whereas if the bubbles had just been a better contrast I would have been able to figure that out.
• Suffix field.  In my opinion it's necessary (again I'm a stickler for fields for everything important and suffixes can be important in genealogy).
• There are no customizable settings.  The app is pretty much cookie-cutter at this point.  There is definitely potential for a future update to allow customizations though!
• Let's talk about the search/name column at the left.  How about making that collapsible?  Does it really need to be visible at all times or can you collapse it to make more room for the individual information and pedigree view.  As a matter of fact, maybe the LiveHistory developers should consider the possibility that including three different screen views on the not-so-large screen of the iPad isn't the best layout they could have opted for.  How about making it just the search screen and pedigree then being able to switch to the individual view.  Add a couple more toggle buttons at the bottom for different options and open that screen up so you can see more information.  That pedigree view can be a little hard to see past about three generations with the screen the way it is now. 

Recommendations not necessarily falling in the above categories:

• I appreciate that LiveHistory is including such labels as "Life Partner" in their field, however, I would like to be able to choose between "Spouse" and "Life Partner" for a field.  While I agree that only allowing spouse is too limited, the flip side of that coin is that life partner is too limited of a label as well.  Make that field able to be changed from one to the other.
• A small inconvenience but I'd like to be able to set a preferred spouse.
• An option I've seen in other apps is a field for an organizational reference number (a number a genealogist might assign to an individual when organizing their paper files).  I love this option and would love to see it included in a future update since many people use some type of code when organizing their paper genealogy files.
• With this app you have the ability to browse by time period.  I'm torn on whether I like this or not.  It's a unique feature and has a nice slider bar that you can adjust to filter what you see by date.  I think I just need to get used to it so I'm classifying it as not Good but not Bad or Ugly either. 
• Another feature I'd like to see (from any of these genealogy apps) is the ability to import GEDCOM files from online storage sites such as Dropbox, Google Docs or Box.

I would recommend this app for new- to mid-level iPad users.  I would rate it as being just barely behind GedView and it's not so advanced it may become confusing for users.  I anticipate LiveHistory will become much more developed in the future as the developer gets more constructive feedback from users.  There is great potential here and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with this app in future updates.  While it's not my favorite app out of the four I'm reviewing, it has the potential to become my favorite and I'll continue to use it.

LiveHistory is a great mixture of a genealogy database and biographical information database.  If you're planning to write a genealogy book or family biography this would be a good app to check out.  The price is a little on the high end in my opinion, I just think there's too many things lacking in the app to justify the regular price of $7.99.  They are currently offering a promotional price of $6.99 but I'm not sure that slight discount would sell me on trying it knowing what I know about the app.

Again, I want to stress that this is still a fledgling app with a great deal of potential.  Keep your eye on this one because I'd wager that there will be some great updates coming down the line!

Overall grade: B+

Talking Tech: Family tree apps for the iPad - Heredis

A couple of weeks ago I posted the first of four reviews of family tree apps for the iPad. The post reviewing GedView can be found here. It's since been brought to my attention that a little clarification needed to be made on one point of my review. I indicated in my review that "You can add GPS coordinates to the record, however, GedView cannot locate the coordinates on its own." The developer was kind enough to send me the following clarification: "GedView can make use of GPS to add the current location to an event, although this won't work on non-3G iPads it will work on 3G models and of course on any iPhone. If you edit and an event and tap the Add Latitude/Longitude then to the right of the row will be a blue target button which when pressed will fill in the lat/lon. You are correct if you meant that without lat/lon entered they will not be automatically filled in when a location is searched for on the map or entered in the place field by hand."

So for clarification GedView can use GPS to add the current location to an event but if the latitude and longitude are not already entered, they won't automatically be filled in when a location is searched for or entered into the place field.


Heredis


Today I'll be reviewing an app called Heredis. Heredis is a free app in the Apple App Store. The current version is 1.2.0 and the reviews in the App Store vary from poor to good.

So, starting with its good points:

• The interface is clean and simple and the different views are pretty straightforward

Pedigree View

Family View

Individual View

• You have the ability to store pictures and video within the app
• You can bookmark a person and mark someone as a root person (which is really nice for quick reference)
• There is a good list of events that can be added to each person's record

• There are fields for LDS-specific information (believe it or not, not all apps have areas for this information)
• You can select to show less information or more information on the screen
• Navigation is pretty simple. Just tap on the person you want to go to, select whether you want immediate family view or ancestor view. There are buttons for going back and going forward and a direct access button that brings up options for direct access for that person

Good points I really liked:

• There are fields for nicknames

• There are fields for an organizational reference (number, etc.); this was a really useful tool for me because I was able to reference the corresponding organizational code for my paper files (or, at least, that's what I think the "User Number" field is for)
• You can add a "Personal Link" to a record. This can link family members and provide a label for those linked family members. This is a unique functionality I haven't seen before and I liked it.

• You can add a person from the search screen. This functionality gets an A+ in my humble opinion!

• You can mark a child as being part of a union from the search screen...another A+ for functionality here!

• You have the ability to associate other people with events is a great option to have. It means you can associate godparents with a baptism, witnesses with a marriage or someone who provided information for an event with that event

• An interesting addition to this app is the "Indexes" tab where you can see all the places that have been entered into your family tree. Under each place are items that have been assigned to the place and you can tap on one of those assignments to be taken to that individual/event.

Items I thought could use some updating:

• It has a field for child status but it needs some updating. It lists options like foundling but doesn't list step-child as an option. In today's society, either the ability to add custom labels or having every label conceivable is a MUST.

• There is a field for prefix (good for doctors, etc.) and suffix (not all apps have that option), there is not a field for middle names and if you add suffixes they aren't shown in the immediate family view.
• You can't add a child from an individual's record. For example, if you're in the father's record and discover that father has a child not listed, you can't add the child from the father's record. However, being able to add from the search screen keeps that from being too much of a hassle.
• From the look of this app, I anticipated this had been the app to use Apple's swipe to delete functionality. It does not, which is a shame because that's a great functionality to utilize for any app.
• It would be nice to see more charts added. At this time the only chart I can create is a pedigree chart. Granted, it can be a very pretty pedigree chart or it can be a very simple pedigree chart but it would be nice to be able to at least get a family group record out of the app in addition to the pedigree chart.

Items that were just bad:

• There is a basic help menu but it doesn't go in depth into each field or screen.

• The website has guides for the Mac and PC version but there's no guide available for the iOS version. There is a forum but when I tried to locate any kind of FAQ section, there was none to be found. I'm still wondering what the "Signature" field is for.

• The "Nickname" field is not a searchable field. This isn't good in my opinion as there are some people in my family tree that I used to only know by their nicknames.

There aren't many bells and whistles with this app. It has a nice interface and I would recommend it for either a new or mid-level iGadget user. It's prettier than GedView but I think GedView is a far better choice simply because it comes with a much better help document, has more options and is more of a workhorse app. I feel just the help document alone is far more important than how pretty the interface is. Heredis is currently free, which is a nod in its direction. Overall this is an slightly above average app. It performs well and really comes down to how pretty you want your app to be and how many bells and whistles you want to play with.


Grade given: B

Follow Friday: Your Nerdy Best Friend

So I usually try to keep my work life separate from my home life but this week I just couldn't.  This week's Follow Friday focus is simply too. darn. good.

The last few days I've been in attendance at a conference of association staff where I attended a session entitled "It's All About the Bling: Design and Graphic Tools for Better-Looking Everything" taught by one Beth Ziesenis.  I thought the session sounded like an interesting topic: no more plain-text emails, make newsletters pretty, etc.  I was absolutely blown out of the water by Beth's knowledge on this topic.  She made the session interesting and kept her audience engaged.

So I had to stray from my genealogy-focused followings for this week.  Beth's blog, Your Nerdy Best Friend, is one I highly recommend for anyone, not just those wishing to beautify their publications.  Her posts are knowledgeable, well-written and so engaging.  She can also be found on Twitter and FaceBook and those are well worth the follow too.

Beth takes nerd to a whole new level and she's proud of her nerdiness.  LONG LIVE THE NERDS!

Talking Tech: Family tree apps for the iPad

Since getting back into working on my family history I've been searching for ways to be mobile and stay organized while being mobile.  I migrated from a desktop to a laptop several years ago and, while I love my Family TreeMaker program on my laptop, I just felt the laptop was still a little too much to take on a trip to the library or on a research trip.  Plus I didn't care so much for the integration with Ancestry.  Don't get me wrong, I get the why of the partnership and I see the benefits BUT...I'm also a clean-data-hound.  I work in databases everyday at my job so I see what dirty data can do and I've spent, literally, hours cleaning up dirty data.  So consequently, I'm pretty strict about what data I bring into my tree.  

Enter scene: the iPad.

Oh yes, I went hard-core iThing.  I didn't believe D1 when he told me they were addictive items.  Actually, this really started with the gift of an iPhone, courtesy of D1.  Yes, the same person who gave me the warning about the iAddiction started me down the iRoad.

Okay, I hear you, I'm rambling.  Back to the point: the iPad.  When I got my iPad I decided to see what I could do with it with genealogy.  I'm still learning about new apps genealogists are using (I recently discovered Evernote) but my first order of business was to find a family tree app because I really wanted to replace taking my laptop with me to the library (sorry Acer, I still love you, I just don't love lugging you around).  So I set out searching and decided to do a series of blog posts about my app discoveries in hopes of helping others who are looking for good apps for their iPads.

I knew many of the computer family tree programs had accessory apps for their programs: Ancestry, Legacy, etc. but this isn't what I wanted.  This clean-data freak wanted a stand-alone iPad app that was more than just a GEDCOM viewer.  I wanted to be able to add data, pictures and possibly even attach documents.

So what are the apps you ask?  I'll be reviewing GedView by David Knight, MobileFamilyTree 7 by Synium Software, Heredis by BSD Concept and a fairly new app called LiveHistory Genealogy by AlgoCoil.  So let's get started!  Oh, and here's my transparency disclosure: MobileFamilyTree, Heredis and LiveHistory provided copies of their apps free of charge for me to review.  I appreciate their willingness to do so but want to assure my readers that it in no way influences my opinion of these apps.

GedView

I stumbled on GedView right after getting my first iPhone and I did pay for the app.  I absolutely don't regret having paid for it either.  At $3.99 it was worth every penny.  The current version is 3.4.1 and there are several good reviews on GedView in the app store.

There are several good things about GedView.  The interface is clean, basic and fairly user friendly.  If you're looking for a pretty interface, however, this app is not for you.  The interface is functional, not beautiful.  The developer spent his time working on the functionality of this app, which matters to me more than how the app looks.

Individual Detail View

The GEDCOM download/import features are extremely easy to use and getting my GEDCOM file imported was no problem at all.  I love that for larger GEDCOM files you're able to start the download and leave the app and the download will continue.  A notification will pop up when when the file has finished importing.


When it comes to entering data, the good functionality continues.  There is a great list of events you can add to each individual record.  From birth to probate and everything in between there were things I hadn't even considered adding to my database.  There are fields for LDS information and a field for organization codes (which I love due to the filing system I use for my paperwork).

Images and media can be added and you can add notes and details to any photos you add.  Individuals can be bookmarked for quick access.  You can add GPS coordinates to the record, however, GedView cannot locate the coordinates on its own.  Once the coordinates are added, however, GedView can map the location.

Some really cool options: you can make a phone call from within the app if phone numbers have been entered, emails can be composed by simply clicking on an email address on file in the app.  There are several customizable settings and the users manual is absolutely positively FANTASTIC!!!!  It contains clickable links to take you directly to the item you want to learn about and the descriptions are very good.  The other really awesome item is that there is an area for citations.  It contains a field for text from the source which is useful for including the quote where the information came from.

With the good there always comes some bad.  The biggest downfall with this app for me was that there are no fields for middle name, suffix or nickname so, in my database, those items are included with other fields.  I was also disappointed to discover that you're unable to indicate if a child is adopted, biological or a step-child.  These two items bother me quite a bit because I feel those fields are pretty standard these days.

Other items I feel could be updated or streamlined: 

• Being able to indicate whether a significant other is a spouse or life partner would be ideal
• Adding marriages is a clunky process.  You have to add an entirely new family and you can't add the marriage in the individual's record...understandable but not ideal
• Reports are basic, you get a pedigree chart and family group record only
• The search function is very simple but is not a "one-stop shop".  There is a search area for name, forename and file number.  You can also search by going to the Index or Family screen and tapping the letter of the surname you want to go to.

GedView is a somewhat limited app.  HOWEVER, it is a work horse app that is dependable and I would definitely recommend it for someone who wanted a basic app with few bells and whistles.  People are are just starting out using the iPhone or iPad will find this app good to use.  Anyone who wants an app with few bells and whistles but lots of functionality will be very happy with this app.  And at $3.99 this app is worth every penny.  Bonus: this app works on both the iPad and the iPhone.

Grade given: Definite A