A New Toy for GeniAus

I ummed and aahed when the Black Friday sales offers appeared in my social media feeds. 

Did I need a new phone? No. Would it be nice to have a new phone? Yes.

My Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has given excellent service for four and a half years without missing a beat but the option of a phone with more storage and superior cameras was tempting. How much longer would the Note 7 last?

Mr GeniAus didn't seem too perturbed about my investment in a new gadget so just prior to the offer for a Samsung S21 Ultra 5G 256GB closing on 29 November I placed an order.  Realising that the one to two week delay quoted by the seller would probably be around Christmas I thought it would be a nice gift for myself.

Lo and behold a parcel containing my new toy was delivered on Wednesday this week, just two days after placing my order. 

Using the Samsung app Smartswitch made the transfer of all my apps, documents and photos from my old phone a breeze. 

I had an issue with a few older apps for which I couldn't remember my login details or which defunct email address I had used to register with them. I had a panic when my photos didn't appear to be in the Gallery on the new phone but, on investigation, found they were in an archived folder - phew!

The main difference I have noticed with the new phone is the quality of the images I snap - they are so clear, a bonus when recording family events. 

An early morning zoom with Ancestry

From time to time the bods at Ancestry.com invite groups of genealogists along to online briefing sessions. As someone who doesn't like getting up at dawn I miss most of these events. 

Today's event was repeated - one session was at 2am my time and the other 7:30am. I signed up for the 7:30am session in case I was conscious by then. Fortunately I was awake before 7am so I grabbed my laptop and earbuds from my study and crawled back under the covers.

Rearranged genealogy apps and widget

On logging in I saw several familiar faces from Australia, New Zealand and the US. The session was hosted by Crista Cowan accompanied by a team of Ancestry tech guys. I was pleased that I attended because the session focused on the Ancestry mobile apps which I had installed as soon as they were released.

Pre-Covid I often used the Ancestry App and the AncestryDNA app on my Android phone but, while
homebound over the past 18 months, I have only used the desktop application to communicate, collaborate and research with Ancestry. I was impressed by the demos of all the new features in these apps. The functionality has improved heaps and many new features have been added, these apps now appear have most of the features of the desktop product. The tech guys online took note of the user comments in the chat and will consider points raised for further development.

I must have been sleeping under a rock because I was unaware of the Ancestry widgets (one available in Australia, one to come). I thought I'd log into my apps and follow along and install the widget while watching the presentation but I had been logged out of the apps and couldn't remember my password. 

My first job after the session ended was to grab my phone, locate my password and log in to my apps. As I wanted to install the Ancestry widget I had to move all the icons around on the screen that has my genealogy apps. With a two-three hour car ride ahead of me tomorrow I have another option to keep me amused.

Ancestry has recognised that many of us live on our mobile devices and has created a fabulous mobile option that will give us access to all our Ancestry data when we are on the move. I'm so pleased I joined in to learn about it this morning. 

Relatives at Rootstech?

One of the fun activities at the Media Dinner last night (and when in the Salt Palace for Rootstech) that ties in with the theme of the Rootstech) conference is "Relatives at Rootstech."  Like a good little Ambassador I made sure I had downloaded a few generations of ancestors to my Familysearch Family Tree and that I had the latest version of the Familysearch mobile app on my new phone.

The idea of this is that when you are within the walls of the Salt Palace you open the app, give it permission to connect with your Relatives at Rootstech and it does a little bit of searching to find cousins for you. All around the room at the dinner people were getting excited. Some of my mates were related to Steve Rockwell and David Rencher from Familysearch, most people had some cousins, some people had many but poor old GeniAus had none.

In spite of not finding any connections via the app when I am at Rootstech I connect with may kindred spirits at Rootstech) and feel that I belong in the Rootstech) family.

Rootstech Innovator Showdown Semi-Finalists

The semi-finalists are...

Champollion 2.0
CSI Crowd Sourced Indexing

Cuzins

Double Match Triangulator
Emberall
JoyFLIPS
Kindex

OldNews USA

QromaTag

RootsFinder

See the official announcement and program details here: https://www.rootstech.org/innovator-showdown

Congratulations to the semi-finalists and thanks to all who entered apps in the competition.

I  spent an enjoyable couple of days last week evaluating the 42 entries for the Rootstech Innovator Showdown. I was honoured to receive an invitation be a judge on the selection panel for the semi-finals of this award.

Having met the other judges online I figure that I represented the older generation,  amateur genealogists, the southern hemisphere and women and Rockstar Genealogists (with Christine Woodcock from Canada).

The judges individually selected their top ten apps (and two reserves) from the list before we met to discuss our choices with David Pugmire from Familysearch in a teleconference earlier this week. There was a deal of consensus among the group but we also had lively debate on the merits of some programs. Once we settled on our list David and the Showdown organisers went away to give the good news to the semi-finalists. We came up with a worthy list of semi-finalists whose products will serve the diverse needs of family historians.

I look forward to attending the Innovator Showdown during the  Innovator Summit at Rootstech and hearing the developers pitch their products to the judges and audience. If you are going to be at Rootstech 2017 make sure you register for this event on Wednesday 8th February and be in attendance to support your fave software and developer. The five finalists chosen on this day will present their apps again during Rootstech on Friday 10th February where there are some handsome cash prizes on offer.

You can see what my genimate Christine had to say about our gig here: http://scottishgenealogytipsntricks.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/innovator-summit-semi-finalists.html

Rootstech Innovator Showdown - The Submissions

What sort of app would you like to see developed to solve a genealogy issue you have?

Among the 41 submissions for The 2017 Rootstech Innovator Showdown I can see a few apps or programs that would make my life easier while I wonder about the usefulness of some of the other entries. I enjoyed looking at the programs and wonder which ones will win the generous prizes on offer.

There are programs/apps for several operating systems.  Some are for Windows, some for mobile devices, some are web-based and there's even a Chrome extension. It's interesting to note that seven of the entries were also submitted to the 2016 showdown. Some submissions have been made by individuals while some come from teams with expertise that covers technology and genealogy.

Submissions come from a range of countries including Australia, Canada, England, France, India, Ireland, Morocco, Tunisia and the United States. Some apps integrate with Familysearch and one is an addon to the ShotBox. Quite a number are based around preserving stories while some are unique. There is something for just about every genie.

Of course price is always an issue with cash-strapped genies. Unfortunately it is hard to ascertain the costs associated with many of these programs/apps.

I'd love to know which programs/apps on the list are your favourites. Please take a look and let me know.

Poor cousins downunder

Having read what my genimates from across the seas have to say about Ancestry's We're  Related App I thought I'd  join the fun, download it and play.

I was thwarted  -  the app is not available for download  in Australia.

Learning from A-Z

Thanks to my friend Carmel I've been having fun with Photofunia an app she suggested in her post yesterday on the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Carmel has suggested some excellent apps in her series of post, I suggest you pay a visit.

My reward for finishing a couple of geneachallenges was some time to play with the app. Following are a few the images I created.

What Fun!

I've done it again

When using the mobile Blogger app to publish a quick blog post I sometimes make a silly mistake and publish to the wrong blog. Yesterday I did it again and published to my personal blog.

Will I ever learn that I must take more care when posting from my bed late at night?

It was just a lighthearted observation that I will repost below.

Sponsors

Just came across this tissue pack that was among the delegate goodies in a conference bag earlier this year.

What does it say about the demographic of genies when a funeral director is a conference sponsor?

Getting Conference Ready - Directionless

I don't know what your sense of direction is like but mine is punk especially when in the Northern Hemisphere.

I am off to Salt Lake City soon for Rootstech, it's a place where the sun can shine brightly but sometimes it is dull and one can't see the sun.People often give directions using the points of the compass, North, South East and West. This can cause issues for disoriented people from the Southern Hemisphere like me.

At our Society Technology Group meeting lat week one of the members shared the Compass App on her iPhone. I was rather impressed so set off to find a similar app for my Android. I haven't decided which I will use but know that I will find my chosen one quite useful when trying to find my way around when on my travels.

Plenety of Apps to choose from in the Google Play Store

Just 13 friends

The Rootstech App

Every morning and evening I check the Rootstech app on my smartphone to scan the list of attendees for Rootstech 2015 and send out friend requests to people I know from the geneasphere. It doesn't take long because it's a very short list . So far I have just 13 friends  and have sent out requests for another five or more. Thanks to those who have accepted my friend requests and those who have extended the hand of friendship to me.

I know the Rootstech app has problems but it is a good (has the potential to be excellent) tool to have in your pocket or purse. The usefulness of any database/tool is dependent on the quality of the data it contains.

The Rootstech organisers are doing their bit by providing schedules, maps, exhibitor and speaker information and social media links. But those who are attending are not pulling their weight. If this was a gardening or golf conference I might understand the attendees' hesitation to use a smartphone app.

Rootstech is supposed to have a focus on technology so I would imagine that the majority of attendees would either be proficient in the use of technology or have a positive attitude towards technology and be willing to try out new apps and tools.

I would like to know in advance which of my genimates will be amongst the crowd that will be gathered at The Salt Palace. One of the highlights of such a gathering as Rootstech is the opportunity it creates for one to meet our online geneafriends in the flesh but we need to be able to locate them.

If we submit our details to the Rootstech app and make our profiles public then we will give others an opportunity to plan their meetups in advance. Once the madness that is Rootstech commences there will be little time to arrange meetings.

How about joining the Appy Crowd?

Just what I need

Recently I decided to give Evernote a go. I have the app on 3 devices and am happily clipping away but that is as far as I have gone.

Apart from wishing that I could easily export my Delicious links into Evernote I haven't done much exploration.
I just read this article and have resolved to explore further.

5 Cool Features That Prove Evernote Is Still A Kick-Ass Service


Post Script
On rereading this post I realised that I have four devices - need to pop Evernote on my Android  'phone as well.

[New App] ShoeBox Turns Your Android Device Into A Sophisticated Photo Scanning, Organization, And Sharing Machine

Heard about this on Googleplus. Thanks, Kathy Nemaric for the tip

[New App] ShoeBox Turns Your Android Device Into A Sophisticated Photo Scanning, Organization, And Sharing Machine:

'via Blog this'

I notice on her post today that my Genimate, Amy Coffin, has this to say:

"[Last November I had lunch with the kind folks at 1000memories. They asked for my input on their new ShoeBox app for the iPhone. I pulled my Android phone out of my pocket and set it on the table. They got the message.

I am pleased to share this press release with you today. I have downloaded the app and started playing with it. It is very easy to use. I'll let you know how it goes. In the mean time, read up on the latest developments with the 1000memories Shoebox app. ---A]

Thanks Tamura Jones

For alerting us to this new app that is available for download.
GedTree - Hallab