February 2015 – Mac Genealogy Software

Practical Citation for Reunion 10, Family Tree Maker 3 available on Kindle

September 5, 2015February 21, 2015 by Chad

Ben Sayer at Genealogy Tools, and more importantly, Practical Citation, has released on the Kindle platform (compatible with Macs, iPads, etc., see below), two important books for Mac fans of Reunion 10 and Family Tree Maker 3, along with one for Family Tree Maker 2014 (the Windows version). The full … Read more

Have an Apple TV? Stream RootsTech 2015 to your HDTV!

September 5, 2015February 12, 2015 by Chad

If you are wanting to watch some of the sessions that are being streamed from RootsTech 2015, and you have an Apple TV and a compatible device, it’s very easy to stream to your HDTV, thanks to AirPlay.

On your compatible Mac or iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), just load up the RootsTech 2015 website in your browser, and have it stream (mirror) through AirPlay to your Apple TV/HDTV. You can find the full streaming schedule here, and remember that all times listed are Mountain Standard Time (MST). The first session starts in half an hour (at 9:30 am if you’re in CST like I am).

Regardless of which method you use, you will need a 2nd Generation Apple TV or later. I have confirmed that the RootsTech website’s streaming is compatible with iOS devices, on an iPad 2 running iOS 8.1.3

Family Tree Maker 3 (Mac) Version 22.2.4

February 18, 2015February 10, 2015 by Chad

Technically it’s version 22.2.4.781 or 22.2.4.782 (depending on whether you are installing from Ancestry.com or from Apple’s Mac App Store), but a major new version of Family Tree Maker 3 was recently released.

I haven’t had a chance to go through it yet, but the additions are very welcome, including pictures in genealogy reports, plus removing generation lines in said reports. Also there is a manage historical facts option, and improved timeline reports.

It should be noted that the new file formats/database are now compatible with Family Tree Maker 2014 (Windows) and their recent updates from November and December – Service Patch #4 SP4 (Build 340) and Service Patch #5 SP5 (build 345).

Need an Older Version of MacFamilyTree?

February 12, 2015February 4, 2015 by Chad

I’m in the process of fixing over 350 broken links and over 440 redirects on MacGenealogy.org (11 years worth of articles/links) as a part of the website overhaul/relaunch, and in the process I found that Synium Software still has links to the last major releases of older versions of MacFamilyTree … Read more

Google Earth Pro is Free!

February 2, 2015February 1, 2015 by Chad

As of a few days ago, Google Earth Pro is now free. Google Earth Pro is a mapping/virtual globe/geographical application and service which used to cost $399 per year, and is obviously the “pro” version of the popular and free Google Earth.

Google Earth is a popular (and useful) application for those conducting genealogy research. It can help you in situations where you can’t physically visit an area, say a farm or a house tied to an ancestor, and it can also help you plan genealogy-related trips.

TUAW Ceasing Publication on Tuesday

February 1, 2015 by Chad

TUAW Another bit of sad news to bring you – TUAW, The Unofficial Apple Weblog, is ceasing publication this coming Tuesday, February 3, 2015. The parent company, AOL (yes, that AOL) is folding TUAW and the video games-oriented Joystiq into their larger properties (Engadget and Tech Crunch):

We have a large, loyal following of readers and we still have the fire in us when it comes to our passion for Apple products. However, TUAW is a small cog in a big machine — AOL — and our niche offering did not fit in with the corporate direction for larger content providers such as Engadget and TechCrunch.
The corporation is doubling down on all of the large properties, and the resources — however meager — being expended on sites like TUAW and Joystiq are being reallocated to fuel that big machine.