Note: I am posting this several days early. Our Weekly Picks will be taking a holiday, and will return Sunday, January 6th.
- Evidentia, a new genealogical software program was released this week. This one isn't like the others, as its focus is on evidence, not people. For the past several weeks there has been a group of beta-testers, and some of them are providing reviews. Similarly, since the application is now released to the public, some non-beta-testers are providing reviews, as well.
Reviews I've seen:
I did participate in the beta-testing period, but unfortunately, haven't had a great amount of time to test it out, and I don't have the time to write up a full review. However, I liked what I have seen. I feel it would be a great secondary software program for me to focus on gathering and visualizing the evidence for selected brick walls. It would also be useful for creating a database for my family records, and transcriptions. Currently it doesn't allow for attaching files or transcriptions, but I have been told by the creator that that is planned for a future update.
It will not work as a primary genealogy database for me, and I don't believe it is the intent of the creator that it should. Some (perhaps many) will find its inability to import or export into the standard GEDCOM format a deal-breaker. However, GEDCOM doesn't include a standardized method for handling citations. Evidentia is built around evidence and citations. Oil and Water don't mix. Since those with large databases will not want to manually copy information to a new database, those who use Evidentia will likely use it for select individuals.
There are both PC and Mac verstions, however, if you are a Mac user you need to have the 10.7 OS (Lion) or above. There are screenshots, tutorials, and sample reports on the software site.
- RootsMagic released an iOS app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Randy Seaver at GeneaMusings has taken a first look at the app, as well as a second. Tamura Jones at Modern Software Experience also has given it a review. I'm unable to test it out, as while I have both an iPhone, and an iPod, it's a secondary app that is meant to accompany their full software package. It can't stand alone, and their full software is PC only.
- Instagram released new Terms of Service this week that seemed to permit the company to sell user photos to advertisers without paying the user anything. [Source: Good Morning Silicon Valley] Instagram has responded, and said the terms were misunderstood. They have assured their users they will clarify their terms.
However, as GMSV pointed out, in an era of 'free software' you get what you pay for. It is always better to be the purchaser of a commodity, than the commodity that is being purchased. Judy G. Russell at The Legal Genealogist provides a good summary of the events.
- Good Morning Silicon Valley also predicts the next Social Networking outrage: Auto-Playing video advertisments on Facebook. Rumored to be coming by April 2013 on both desktop and mobile versions of Facebook.
- Michael Hait, at Planting the Seeds, defines for the genealogist, The most important thing you can ever prove. I agree with him on the importance, and difficulty at times, proving this.
- Philip Moeller at US News and World Report discusses how Digital Stories Preserve and Share Memories. His article includes a review of the StoryPress website and apps.
- In Before You Were Born: We Were Digitizing Texts, Leslie Johnston at The Signal provides an historical look at digitized text. (However, the earliest date provided was two years after I was born.)
- Stuart Rockoff at MyJewishLearning shares some historical resources for small communities in the Southern US.
- In Why We Don't Write, and How We Can, Harold Henderson at Archives challenges us to become better buffalo hunters.
Three Week Calendar
- Dec 20 - International Human Solidarity Day
- Dec 21 - Pancha Ganapti - Dec 21-25 (Hindu)
- Dec 21 - Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, MA)
- Dec 21 - Yule - Northern Hemisphere / Litha - Southern Hemisphere (Pagan)
- Dec 24 - Christmas Eve (Christian)
- Dec 25 - Christmas (Christian)
- Dec 26 - Kwanzaa - Dec 26-Jan 1
- Dec 26 - Boxing Day
- Dec 26 - Zarathosht Diso (Zoroastrian)
- Dec 28 - Holy Innocents (Christian)
- Dec 30 - Freedom Day (Church of Scientology)
- Dec 30 - Feast of the Holy Family (Christian)
- Dec 31 - New Year's Eve
- Jan 1 - New Year's Day
- Jan 1 - Gantan-sai (Shinto)
- Jan 1 - Global Family Day
- Jan 1 - Public Domain Day
- Jan 5 - Twelfth Night (Christian)
- Jan 5 - Guru Gobindh Singh birthday (Sikh)
- Jan 6 - Epiphany (Christian)
- Jan 6 - Feast of the Theophany (Orthodox Christian)
- Jan 7 - Nativity of Christ (Orthodox Christian)
- Jan 7 - The Festival of Seven Herbs (Japan)
- Jan 13 - Maghi (Sikh)
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