Carry Your Genealogy Database on the iPhone or iPod Touch

MobileFamilyTree from Synium Software is a great product for any genealogist with an Apple iPhone cell phone or an iPod Touch music player. You can easily carry your database with you when visiting a library, an archive, a family reunion, or even a genealogy conference. Do you already have information about that individual? Whip out the iPhone or iPod Touch, and look it up. You no longer have to carry several pounds worth of computer printouts or 3-ring binders; all the information is in the cell phone.

MobileFamilyTree allows you to access most of your data simply by using the handheld device's touch sensitive screen. You can browse persons and families or even edit information directly on the handheld device.

You can enter your data directly on the iPhone’s touch-sensitive screen. However, you will probably find that to be a tedious process when adding a lot of information. Luckily, MobileFamilyTree will also directly import data stored in your Macintosh desktop or laptop computer. You also may sync newly-added information back to the Macintosh genealogy program.

MobileFamilyTree only communicates with MacFamilyTree version 5.2.3. It does not work with any other Macintosh software, nor will it communicate with any Windows genealogy programs. MacFamilyTree sells for $49 US and is available at http://www.synium.de/products/macfamilytree.

Once you have MacFamilyTree installed, you can use your iPhone of iPod Touch to visit the Apple App Store and download MobileFamilyTree there. Installation will be automatic. MobileFamilyTree sells for $4.99.

Comments

[Infinite Ancestors]

Unless you use MacFamilyTree version 5.2.3, I'd think the sync-ing (or lack thereof) issue would be a showstopper. Trying to sync via GEDCOM would be problematic too since most genealogy databases store structures and data beyond what could be conveyed in a GEDCOM file. I'll stick to keeping my master database on my desktop, and accessing my tree for free via Safari to Rootsweb.com.

[Miriam Souza]

Is this a review or a press release? You did not mark it as press release. How do the features compare to GedStar or GedWise?

[Keith Hunter]

Maybe one day there will be a version of software that runs on the Symbian OS (Nokia phones) to sync with The Master Genealogist...

[Barbara]

My pda is a Palm TX and I take it with me EVERYWHERE. Is there a family tree program for it?

[charmaine]

I downloaded this, along with the master program, the day I bought my new iphone. I love being able to walk around with my entire family on my phone and not have to haul out my computer every time I need to look up a date or name. I still use Reunion 9 on my Mac but update this regularly for the ultimate in mobility.

[susie]

I would be interested in knowing which mac friendly genealogy program has the best set up for the iPod. Reunion seems to have Pod Cards. But, what I do not know is how functional the Pod cards are compared to this Mac family tree program. Does any one have any idea which genealogy software for the iPod/iPhone is the best and the most functional and interactive?

[Craig A. TenBroeck]

Barbara,
I use My Roots to upload my family trees from my Reunion program to my Zire 31 PDA. I have about 5500 names on it and it is very user-friendly.

[Dick Eastman]

---> My pda is a Palm TX and I take it with me EVERYWHERE. Is there a family tree program for it?

Yes. Look at my past articles about GEDstar at http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=gedstar&btnG=Search+This+Site&domains=blog.eogn.com&sitesearch=blog.eogn.com

[Dick Eastman]

---> Is this a review or a press release?

It is not a press release. Anything in this newsletter written by someone other than myself is always clearly labeled as such.

I wrote that article after using the software for a couple of hours.

- Dick Eastman

[Marjorie/California]

Reunion's "pod cards" work perfectly, even on my outdated Nano. I don't want the big guns -- just the bare bones info so I can pack it all with me in a tiny package. Hooray Reunion! :)

[Miriam Souza]

> I wrote that article after using the software for a couple of hours.
This "article" is a review?! LOL.

[Debi]

I got soooo excited when I "genealogy on your iphone."

But no interface to PC? Worthless to even mention.

[Dick Eastman]

---> This "article" is a review?!

No, I didn't say that. I wrote, "I wrote that article after using the software for a couple of hours."

True reviews are usually much longer and take longer to write. However, I often write short articles with my impressions of something I have tried. You will see many such articles in this newsletter.

- Dick Eastman

[Steve]

Downloaded this as soon as I saw it was available. My biggest complaint is that I have 5000+ people, but I don't see a way to scroll right to a name without scrolling down forever to get to it. If you've got a lot of people, you may get frustrated right away with finding someone in your list. Am I missing something obvious?

[theKiwi]

->But no interface to PC? Worthless to even mention.

That's how I feel sometimes when I see articles on websites that are interesting, but then I discover that whatever it's about doesn't work on my Macintoshes. Or websites created by lazy developers who insist that you need Windows Internet Explorer for their site to work correctly.

It's not a Windoze only world, and a variety of articles about a variety of operating systems makes this site much more useful and interesting than it would be if it was limited only to only that which comes from Redmond.

plink plink

Roger

[Joe Hammer]

Dick, Mirian was right to question you. Your text reads like a press release.

Roger, I feel your pain, but Debi is kind of right too. Never mind the operating system. Without GEDCOM support, the program is too closed.

GedStar and GedWise do support GEDCOM import.

[Keith Wilson]

Hi Dick

Looks like you stirred up a hornets nest with this "article". If you want to see a prototype different way of doing it then get out your iPhone and enter URL http://ifamilyfortiger.com/iphone - as usual we always do it different downunder. But please don't "review" it until the real thing is ready to be "released" - it ain't ready yet,

Keith

[theKiwi]

-> Without GEDCOM support, the program is too closed.

I think the reason for the current method of doing this is to more easily control the synching of changes between the iPhone and the host computer.

Leister Productions has announced that they are working on Reunion for iPhone, and it will require Reunion to be installed on the "host" computer to control the synching of data to and from the computer.

http://www.leisterpro.com/doc/version9/questions/answers/iphone.php

http://www.reuniontalk.com/showthread.php?t=4200

I can see the advantages of this in that it avoids having the potential for any loss of data which might ensue by the passing of the database through GEDCOM twice - on the way to the iPhone and then on the way back if anything has changed.

An application that lets you just view your data on the iPhone might be helpful, but as soon as you get into moving things around by GEDCOM file you're limited to what the software at each end of the transfer thinks of the "GEDCOM Standard".

Roger

[RickK]

I've tried to use this product. It has great potential but is too slow to be useful. As another comment mentioned, it needs a way to search for a person or family - it's unrealistic to expect a user to scroll through all the names in the database to find someone.

I would love to have my database on my iPod Touch and hope someone will come up with a functional application soon.

[Jami Davis]

I use Pocket Genealogist with my HP iPAQ. No matter the software or hardware, it's a definite benefit to have your data in a easy-to-carry form.

[Janet Barker]

> I've tried to use this product. It has great potential but is too slow to be useful.

RickK. Thanks you for letting us know. That's the kind of infomration we need.

[Ruthy]

I read with great interest in regard to the iTouch carry along your
> genealogy information.
> Although I have the iTouch with the max gigs, I do NOT have Mac computers or
> a Mac laptop nor do I have any intentions of going to a Mac. Therefore, do
> you know if the software will be able to transfer to my pc computers from
> the iTouch....? or would there be another software package that would work.
> This would be a great extension to my iTouch -- even though I use it more
> for surfing and e-mail when I'm out....not to mention my library of music!
>
> Thanks....and keep up the great daily dose of Eastman knowledge!
>
>

[Dick Eastman]

Quoting from the article: "MobileFamilyTree only communicates with MacFamilyTree version 5.2.3. It does not work with any other Macintosh software, nor will it communicate with any Windows genealogy programs."

I am not aware of any Windows program that will store genealogy information on an Apple iPhone or iTouch...

- Dick Eastman