Happy National Family History Month! August is National Family History Month here in Australia, which means I have another excuse to make more genealogy related posts! Last year I blocked out almost the entire month of August to share posts and videos, and I had SO much fun creating all the content I released. This year, I'm back at it again! Today, I want to share this quick post going over a few of the apps I use for my family history, and ones that you definitely need to be checking out if you haven't already. Strap yourselves in for a month of content for literally the first time in 2020! With the world literally in the palm of our hands, its not surprising that there are genealogy apps out there. Granted, there aren't a tonne, but there are some great ones that you definitely need to be downloading and playing around with. While they might not be for you, there's no harm in trying things out, because you never know when you'll come across a handy gem! Ancestry App (or equivalent) Ancestry is my online genealogy site of choice, so I naturally have and use their app. It's SO great to have all my trees in my pocket, ready to access whenever I need. Now, you're probably wondering, "how often do you need to look at your family tree on the go?", and you'd be surprised and how often you do reach for the app. It's super handy being able to check a detail, like a birth/death/marriage date, who a certain person is connected to, or even how someone is related to you (if you are set as the home person of your tree), when you're out and about, rather than trying to remember to check at a later time. And if you're in a family setting and the conversation turns to some aspect of your family tree, you can easily access the information needed to correct/impress your family. Plus, you can easily access the photos you've uploaded, and update/research from your phone, without navigating, in this case, the Ancestry mobile website. Most of the genealogy sites have their own apps, so you are more than likely able to find your relevant app. If you're only going for one app, THIS is the one you need to get! My Heritage App Obviously this app also applies to what I've said above, but I haven't really utilised MyHeritage like I have Ancestry, so I don't actually use this app how I do the Ancestry app. This one is actually super handy in terms of photos, because you can easily use the MyHeritage InColor and Photo Enhancer options right from the app, from uploading your photos, to accessing them after they go through either process. Granted, If you've not played around with either capability, you definitely need to. I've actually talked about using InColor a couple of times (1 & 2), if you need a little more insight into the results it gives. Family Search Memories FamilySearch have a couple of apps, but this is my go-to of their releases. This app allows you to upload/scan documents, write stories, record audio, and upload/scan photos. These uploads can then be accessed/downloaded later through your FamilySearch account. I think you're also able to connect them to the tree/people on your account, but as I've alluded to already, FamilySearch isn't my go-to, so I can't be sure of that function. I've predominantly used this app for recording audios to listen back to later and transcribe. The one downside to the audio recording is that you can only record up to 15 minutes at a time, meaning if you are conducting longer sessions, you'll have to create multiple audio files. I actually have a blog post going up later in the month talking about recording oral family history, so stay tuned for that! Voice Memos App Due to how I've recorded some of my oral family history, I found the 15 minute limit with the FamilySearch Memories app a little restricting, so I resorted to using the built-in audio recorder Voice Memos. Most phones and tablets have a built-in app, but there are also heaps of free apps available to download and play around with. What I liked most about this compared to the FamilySearch Memories app, apart from the essentially infinite recording time, was the ability to just set my phone face-down and let it do it's thing, constantly recording in the background until I pressed stop. If you're looking to record oral history, it's worth playing around with several apps and programs to see which works best for you. Google Drive App Okay, so the last two apps aren't genealogy specific, but they are super handy to have and use (and not just for family history stuff!). First is Google Drive, which I actually use on the daily for all my blogging and social media stuff - I take photos on my camera, edit on my computer, and then use Google Drive to be able to access everything on my phone. And it can be really helpful for family history, particularly if you aren't using an app like Ancestry, or don't have all your family photos uploaded to those sites. Not only that, but you can also upload and store all sorts of documents, audios and vdeos, and upload things straight from your phone or tablet, making everything accessible across all your devices. AND, it makes is really easy to share lots of file with other family members simply by sharing the folder link with them. While you will need a Google account, it's a super handy app to have, so it's well worth having to set up another account just for this. Notes App Ever been out and about and are struck with a family history thought you need to follow up, only to then forget about it once you're sitting at your computer? This is where your Notes app comes in handy! Clearly, I've got an iPhone, but pretty much all smartphones comes with a built-in note-taking app, or you can easily download one from the app store. This is a pretty obvious app to include in your collection, but it can also be an easy one to overlook if you're specifically looking for "family history" apps. Don't discount the basics! There aren't too many family history apps out there (at least from what I've been able to find on the Australian Apple app store), and many of the apps that come up when you search "family tree" or "family history" are basic family tree creating apps that seem to be targeted to people who aren't really researching their family tree. At the end of the day, the main app you really need to be utilising is the app connected to whichever genealogy service you are using, like Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, Find My Past, etc. These allow you to sync up to your trees and access things on-the-go, which is really handy. I'd love to know which apps you are using so I can go check them out! Even though I've played around with a few more than I've mentioned here, there's always new apps popping up that are hidden gems! Happy Researching! Victoria :) POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
Genealogy Document Bundle
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Get a handle on your family history research and recording with our Genealogy Digital Download Bundle! Packed with essential tools and resources, this bundle is designed to help you piece together your ancestry, create a detailed record of you family’s history, and keep track of your research. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogists or just getting started on this wonderful journey, this bundle has something for everyone. BUNDLE CONTENTS
All files are formatted as fillable PDFs (except the Circular Generation Chart) for convenience, but also work well when printed and filled in by hand. Instant download after purchase. Also available: Australian Genealogy Document Bundle with two extra documents for Australia-specific records and research. Australian Genealogy Bundle
A$12.00
Get a handle on your family history research and recording with our Genealogy Digital Download Bundle! Packed with essential tools and resources, this bundle is designed to help you piece together your ancestry, create a detailed record of you family’s history, and keep track of your research. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogists or just getting started on this wonderful journey, this bundle has something for everyone. BUNDLE CONTENTS
All files are formatted as fillable PDFs (except the Circular Generation Chart) for convenience, but also work well when printed and filled in by hand. Instant download after purchase. Also available: Genealogy Document Bundle without the two Australia-specific documents. Genealogy Record Templates
A$5.00 - A$7.00
Give the historic records in your collection a refresh with record templates that make it easier to read and extract information from important documents. While it’s great to have the original record, you cannot deny that they can be difficult to decipher - these templates allow you to transcribe these documents to make the information easier to ascertain and share with others. PRE-MADE TEMPLATES:
CUSTOM TEMPLATES If you’re seeking a template for a particular historical document, record, or event not covered by the pre-made options mentioned above, there is the option to request custom templates in the drop-down menu. Once purchased, we will be in touch to request a digital copy of the document you would like a template for. Template creation time varies depending on the complexity of the template, the current work-load, and the general ups & downs of life. We will endeavor to complete the template within a week. Please note that the records need to be in English. All templates will be fillable PDF files, where possible, and will be emailed to the address provided at the time of purchase - please allow at least a full business day for pre-made templates to be sent out. **This is NOT a transcription service - the templates are provided for YOU to transcribe your own records.** Family Group Record & Ancestor Timeline Bundle
A$2.50
Uncover your family’s intricate history and organise your genealogical research with precision using our Family Group Record and Ancestor Timeline templates! These templates offer a structured approach to documenting family relationships and tracing the chronological timeline of your ancestor’s lives. CONTENT Family Group Record: Capture essential family unit details, including births, marriages, and deaths; spouses and children; significant life events, and a space to include a photo of your ancestors. Ancestor Timeline: Visualise and map the significant milestones and events in your ancestor’s lives, creating a chronological sequence of important life events and cross-referencing that information with sources and records. All files are formatted as fillable PDFs for convenience, but also work well when printed and filled in by hand. Instant download after purchase. Also available: Genealogy Document Bundle and Australian Genealogy Document Bundle with even more useful templates to help with your research and recording. |
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