It's important to use the right tools for the research job and for how you work. 

But? You've got to try them out and use them in order to determine if they are going to work for you.

Today I have a list of photo-related and video-related links that can be very useful in doing research as well as in sharing your research with others.

• Take iPhone Video Recording To The Next Level With MoviePro by Brent Dirks on appadvice.com ~ This is a very nice video recording app with some stellar features that would be great for interviews at family reunions and such. Check out Brent's review.
  
• PholiumCurrent Version: 1.3 by William Porter on macworld.com ~ While William's review seems a little negative but honest, I still think there are many family history folks who might really like this app and its features. I can see a lot of these being done in time for holiday family gatherings that are coming up rather quickly. So give it a whirl. He also lists 2 other apps that are similar.
• Vimeo Partners With Dropbox for Automatic Uploading by Angela Moscaritolo on pcmag.org ~ This is awesome news for those who prefer to house their videos on Vimeo's nicer online video platform.
• [Video] Camera+ iPhone App Review -- AppVee.com's YouTube Channel ~ Available in iTunes. ~ Want some additional features for your iPhone's camera? Take a look at this great video review of the Camera+ app.

• Ancestry.com came out with version 4.0 of their app for iPhone and iPad a week ago (with a bug update yesterday, version 4.01), and it's slick! Randy Seaver gave a great review of it on his blog Genea-Musings. Moreover, I want to point out its camera feature. You can take a picture of anything (or use one from your iPhone or iPad photo library) and upload it directly to your online tree and attach it to the person or persons you want to. While there are no editing features available for the images, this is outstanding. Not only is this convenient when you're at Great Aunt Bernice's for Thanksgiving and she's allowing you to 'scan' family photos while you're there with your smartphone, but it's convenient for digitization of your own work. Think of all those printouts of census records you made back when we all first found out we could print them out from Ancestry. [And since in order to attach a digital image of the census record from ancestry.com is an annoying 2-step process involving saving the image to your hard drive then uploading to your tree, this is really nice if you already printed it out a while ago.] Then think about all those census forms you once filled out. And what about all those handwritten research notes? Yeah. You could 'scan' them directly into your online Ancestry.com family tree and attach them to all the relevant family members. And then if you sync your online tree to Family Tree Maker 2012 like I do, then the scanned images end up there too. Nice. What else can you scan and digitize?!?

Happy Researching!
~Caroline

You know, there's just nothing like finding that one tool that's going to help you get your job done.

Funny thing is, many times it's not just one tool. And another funny thing? New technology tools just keep popping up. Or it's the same tools but new updates keep popping up. 

And that's why I started doing this list for you. I mean, anyone can spend some time {Read: all day long and part of the night too} keeping abreast of all the new technology tools out there and figuring out if you can use it in some way to help you find your ancestors.

Or you can read a list 3 times a week of genealogy - technology tools that have already been initially vetted for you, the ancestor hunter, by me, a fellow ancestor hunter. 

And that saves you time. 

Time you can use to actually find your ancestors.

{Unless, of course, you enjoy reading Top 100 lists of apps that contain 67.5 gaming apps. And maybe you do. I dunno.} 

So. Here's today's list:

• Findmypast.com Announces Partnership with Federation of Genealogical Societies by Thomas MacEntee on FGS Voice ~ Okay genealogical societies, findmypast.com is offering a sweet deal to genealogical societies who are members of FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) - get your records online on findmypast.com's site and generate some revenue from record views. Read all the details in Thomas' post. This is an excellent opportunity for societies.
• Every census record tells a story. Use our FREE guide to help you discover yours. from the Ancestry.com Learning Center ~ Late this morning I received an email {for subscribers} about their new FREE guide for census research. And since they did such a fabulous job on it, I went hunting on their Learning Center page and found it for you. {Which wasn't as easy as it should've been, methinks. Kind of like a joke on the researcher. Ha. Ha.}
  
• Notes for Gmail Adds Searchable Sticky Notes to Emails (and We’ve Got Invites) by Melanie Pinola on lifehacker.com ~ Um. Hello?!? This is handy dandy. Let's say your distant cousin finally sent you that narrative report they've been promising. {Hey, easy now, we get busy.} And you need to take some notes that you'll need to find again. Ah, yes. You're now beginning to see how this can be used, right? Read Melanie's post for more.
• APP REWIND: Diacarta Still One Of The Best Calendar Apps For iPhone by Bryan M. Wolfe on appadvice.com ~ After reading this review I was intrigued by this app ~ a pretty and functional calendar app. What's not to love? Then I went to the app store and looked at the reviews. Those weren't so good, but? Who are these people and just how good with tech are they? You know? So I downloaded it for you. Yes, I took one for the team ~ Team FamilyStories. {We are kinda like a team, right?} And? Loved it. I'm still playing with it. And it may not be your cup of tea, but then again it just might be. With this app you can keep track of your days and what you need to do and when you need to do it in order to find those stories on your ancestors. And look good doing it too. {'Cause, you know. That's important. ;) }
• The Best Web-Based Email Services by Michael Muchmore on pcmag.com ~ You know how Microsoft got rid of Hotmail but replaced it with Outlook web? Well, I think Michael does a great job of taking a look at all your web-based email options. And? This is important when you're ancestor hunting. No, you won't be receiving any emails from your ancestors. {And if you do please let me know.} The more you research, the more you find yourself using email to communicate back and forth with all those distant cousins with all those pics and stories that make your ancestor hunter heart beat a little faster.
• Backspaces will catch you by surprise: This just-launched app helps you tell your stories by Harrison Weber on thenextweb.com ~ Wow. This app rocks. I first tweeted about it yesterday. Then the app developers tweeted back to me this morning about how they'd like me ( @FamilyStories ) to check it out and record some stories on it. Well, they had me at 'stories'. I downloaded it and played with it some, but I can see myself using this at family reunions, with my own kids, and in my business. You absolutely need to check it out. With their app, you can record stories quickly with your iPhone's camera, your photo library, and some text capabilities. I'm not done with my first story, but take a look at Harrison's story he created in his review. I can see a trip to a family cemetery and the story emerging from it, and then sharing it with family. Can't you?

Here are 2 more Note-Taking apps that I found for you that might tickle your fancy. {We *totally* don't say that phrase enough nowadays.} Our ancestor hunting tends to lead to a lot of note-taking, and everyone's different in how they take notes. So here ya' go:

• Nota Plex 1.1 : Note-writing Suite for iPad Now Includes Spreadsheets by Barb H
• Super Note : Recorder and Notes Offers Organizational Bliss for iOS by George Monroy on appcraver.com

And for those genealogy professionals out there, here's some apps that just might save you some time, and you know what they say about time being money...

• The Best Business-Friendly Ultrabooks by Menalie Pinola on pcworld.com
• QuickBooks Online Gets Some Mint.com Data Entry Smarts by Yedena Arar on pcworld.com
• FreshBooks Launches IPhone App by Yardena Arar on pcworld.com

And my favorite genealogy - technology link today?

• How Do I Love The New Version Of Dolphin Browser? Let Me Count The Ways ... by Aldrin Calimlim on appadvice.com

And that's it for today. Remember: You can follow me on whatever social network you prefer {cuz I'm probably there}, and while I do add a lot to this list everyday, there's plenty that doesn't make the list. And you're probably thinking, "Ohmigosh! What if I need it?!?" Don't worry. If you "Like" the 4YourFamilyStory.com Facebook Page, you'll get even more links to related technology that can help you find those ancestors of yours.

~Caroline

School started this week for my kids, and I've never been busier. 

And I've never needed time-saving efficient apps and tech like I do now to stay on top of everything ~ the here and now *and* yesteryear.

So today's genealogy - technology tech links are sponsored by the letter 'T' {as in tiara}. ;)

• 50 really useful iPad tips and tricks by Matthew Bolton on techradar.com ~ Today I sorta joined a social networking site that's a lot like Pinterest.com and it's called LoveIt.com. And? I loved it. {Go figure.} Then I quickly found the spot for all the tech image bookmarks. And let's just say I was there 'for a while'. So in my I'm-taking-one-for-the-team mentality, I managed to find this awesome bookmark to a blog post on these great tips and tricks for an iPad. {No thanks are needed. Really. It was my pleasure. ;) }
  
• Stealthy & Stylish Tech Disguises Roundup by Carolyn Purnell on apartmenttherapy.com ~ Yeah. So. I found this bookmark on LoveIt.com as well. See? I took another one for the team. And aren't you glad I did? This is just a *fabulous* idea. Cover the tech-y router with an old book cover. If this doesn't perfectly mix together today, tomorrow, and yesteryear, I don't know what does. Seriously.
• New App Postcard Lets Users Send Real Postcards with Custom Photos by Barb H on appcraver.com ~ There's this lady in my GenSoc who within minutes of meeting her, told me that she didn't 'do' computers because she was afraid of them. You know, all the talk about viruses, crashes, and such? And that her children practically blackmailed her and her husband to get on Facebook in order to see pictures of their grandchildren. And so her husband *does* Facebook and let's her know when there's a pic of the grandkids. *dramatic pause* If you are doing this to your parents, just stop it. I mean, seriously. After she told me this {which obviously it'd been festering in her for a while}, all I could think of was, why?!? Tech *is* supposed to help you, make you more efficient. But? {And this is a *big* but} Not at the expense of someone else's feelings. Would it kill ya' to snail mail a pic or two of the kids? Um. No, it wouldn't. And? Here's an app to help you out with that. {You're welcome.}
• How Can I Get All the Photos My Friends and I Share Online in a Single, Consolidated Collection? by Adam Dachis on lifehacker.com ~ Speaking of photos that you've stuck here, there, and everywhere online in the cloud, Adam has some great ideas on how to consolidate pics in one spot so you don't have to hunt for that awesome pic for the upteenth time of Great Aunt Bernice and that Carny she ran away with. Also? Have some distant cousins with pics? You can use this method to get everyone's pics together in one spot. 
• Use To-Do List App Fetchnotes, Receive 25GB Of Free Storage From Box.net by Brent Dirks on appadvice.com ~ And speaking of cloud storage, how about 25GB for free with Box.net *and* get Fetchnotes, a to-do list app. Get organized with the app for FREE and then claim your 25GB FREE storage. Hello?!? That's a lot of value for FREE. {Which leaves plenty of money in your bank account so you can order copies of death certificates, baptismal records, and such. Your ancestors would be very proud. ;) }

Okay. That's it for today. Make sure you're following me on your social network of choice, but if you're on Facebook, kindly take a look-see at 4YourFamilyStory.com's Facebook Page. I'm not going to tell you to 'like' it blindly. 

However, I will be posting tech links there throughout the day {some you will not see on my Twitter account or here}. Also? I've added a YouTube app to the page that features some of my free video tutorials. And I'll be adding ~in the very near future~ some free and exclusive downloads. So. Free links to tech that just might help you in your ancestor hunting that are curated just for you by me, some FREE video tutorials, and some FREE downloads. That's a good deal. So *now* I'll ask, "If you like all that and want it, then I'd be very honored if you'd 'like' my 4YourFamilyStory.com's Facebook Page below."

~Caroline

{a.k.a., as the place where I share even *more* gen-tech links 
and ask thought-provoking questions}

The sound of the rain gently hitting my office window this afternoon did not deter me from finding some awesome technology links for today's genealogist.

What's a "today's genealogist"? I like to call them or, rather us, a New Age Genealogist. We're online. We're offline. And we use whatever tech is out there ~whether it says 'genealogy' on it or not~ to get the job done. And the job? Finding our ancestors.

So let's get started with today's links! =)

• PDF Max Makes Annotating Documents a Snap on Both iPhone and iPad by Greg Dawson on appcraver.com ~ Hello!?! This title says it all, no? It's like a miracle come true, no? I haven't had a chance to play with, but I just about fainted after Greg's review of it. This is something I've been looking for to compliment my online genealogy workflow. {Remember when I talked about my online genealogy workflow?}
• Fishington Studios Launches Boxes:Organize and Share Your Life and Notes by Barb H. on appcraver.com ~ The best note-taking system? The one that works for you and that you actually use. This note-taking system seems to be a good one for those who are more visual. {And if Pinterest and Instagram are anything to go by, there seems to be quite a few folks who are visual.} So take a look at its features and see if it works for you and all those notes you seem to be taking while ancestor-hunting.
• It's Now Easier To Share With Google's Chrome Than With Apple's Safari by Aldrin Calimlim on appadvice.com ~ Looks like the Chrome browser has one-upped Safari with the ability to share to Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. Win! {For us, not Apple.} So download the Chrome browser on your iPhone and start sharing all those fabulous genealogy blog posts you've been reading on-the-go on more social networks.
• 5 Crucial Steps for Staying Focused on Any Project by Ali Luke on pickthebrain.com ~ Someone very recently gave me some of this same excellent advice. And guess what? I listened and applied it. And guess what? They were right. And guess what? I was able to find some extra time to get some personal genealogy blogging done this week ~ I read my great grandmother's baptismal register entry out loud and made a very short video of it. So there.
• Daily iPhone App: Pushr posts your prose to a plethora of social networks by Kelly Hodgkins on tuaw.com ~ Need to find some more time for your genealogy research and blogging? Try this new app ~ Pushr to push your social media messages and updates to all your networks. Like that. *snaps fingers* I haven't tried , but you can bet I will. Cuz of course I'd like to find more time. ;)

Anywho. That's it for the ones I'm featuring on my blog today. But? You want more? Okay. Make sure you're following and reading FamilyStories' RebelMouse page. {Cuz that's where I put all the rest of them.} =)

~Caroline

Today's Gen-Tech Links post is a little bit different. It's kind of a slow technology day, and  I thought I'd delve into some ways to read my blog. Below is a listing of all the different ways you can read my blog. Sounds kind of silly, I know, but there are quite a few ways you can read it. And the best one? Whichever one you like and use.

As technology grows so do the different ways available to read content {such as blogs} online grows. Below are are my suggestions on ways to keep up with my blog content. Remember: what works for one person doesn't always work for another. Do what you feel is comfortable for you. =)

• Type into your URL address box: 4YourFamilyStory.com every time you want to visit my site.
• Bookmark my URL address into your favorite bookmarking system.
• Want a new blog post delivered to your email inbox whenever I post it? Sign up for my email RSS feed: 

• Want a new blog post delivered to you in your preferred RSS reader every time I post? Then sign up for my RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ForYourFamilyStory-Home/Blog
• Want blog post updates as well as other technology link updates through Facebook? Like 4YourFamilyStory.com's Facebook Page.
• Want blog post updates, other technology link updates, as well as a little bit of this and a little bit of that through Twitter? Follow @FamilyStories on Twitter. {Beware: This is my main social network where I, um, network well outside of the genealogy world. At the time of this writing, I follow 4390 Twitter folks, I am followed by 4826 Twitter folks, and I interact actively on that network with folks from all over the world. And it's one of the best ways to get a hold of me. I have fun there. But I work there too. But it's fun work. ;) }.
• Want blog post updates and some occasional other links of mixed variety using Google Plus? Then follow me on Google Plus.
• Want blog post updates, other technology links, as well as other links I find interesting from all over the internet in a quasi-magazine layout with images and a cartoon mouse? Bookmark or follow my RebelMouse Page.
• Want blog post updates, other technology links, as well as other links I find interesting from all over the internet in a quasi-magazine layout with images in a {I think} pleasing layout and also separated into different content pages ~ sans the cartoon mouse? Bookmark or follow my Hypemarks Page.
• Want blog post updates as well as updates from *all* of my social networks on the internet except YouTube, my RebelMouse Page, or my Hypemarks Page in a magazine layout with digital images {that are somewhat distorted in my opinion}, then follow my glos.si page. {Beware, though, they are delayed updates because I have the free version, and I won't even consider paying until my images look good and their competition starts making me pay. I'm picky like that.}
• Want blog post updates in an untimely {because I forget to update} manner in a pretty image style along with whatever else catches my fancy {especially craft ideas, recipes ideas, and decorating ideas that I like to collect, but will probably never actually do}, then please follow all, some, or one of my Pinterest Boards.
• Want to watch just my video blog posts? Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.
• If you would like to just follow my silly and mundane iPhone pictures that I like to take and share with {mostly} complete strangers from all over the world and where I share no blog posts whatsoever but I do bring awareness to genealogy and family history in an atypical kinda way {and sometimes my stock images come from there so you might get a preview of what image I'll be using in my blog posts}, then feel free to follow @FamilyStories on Instagram.

While that's not all the ways you can access my blog posts and online content, that's quite enough for now, no? And I'm sure the list will change and grow as technology changes and grows.

~Caroline   

You're online. You're offline.

You're here. You're there.

And you need the right tech to help you no matter what stage of the research process you may be in currently.

So here's what I found that I thought might be useful in some way for researchers while I was out and about on the internet today. 

Maybe you can use it.

Maybe you can't.

But one thing is for sure.

You won't know until you look and try. =)

• From DVD to iMovie to Facebook by Christopher Breen on macworld.com ~ Do you have a family video on a DVD that you'd like to share with family and friends on Facebook AND do you have an iPhone? Then these step-by-step instructions should be able to help you out. {And with a little tweaking of the steps, you could just upload it to YouTube...}
• WhiteBoard Mojo for iPad by Alex Paul on iphonelife.com ~ Okay. This looks very cool. It's great for note-taking, presentations, etc. Wow. Take a look at Alex's review of this iPad app as well as his screenshots. This app has many potential uses in our genea-world, no? 
• The Flex Kit just may be the most versatile iPad case around! by Siva Om on iphonelife.com ~ Looking for a more durable and versatile iPad case? Look no further. This is it! Take a look at those photos of it in action.
• How to clear space in your iCloud storage –  by Rob Pegararo on USATODAY.com ~ Um, I think the title says it all. And? I think I'll be doing this since I'm too cheap to buy any more iCloud storage, and I'm sure I've got some stuff in my iCloud that I don't really need.
• SecureSafe.com ~ Okay. I don't remember how I found this site. All I know is it wasn't from a review. I stumbled upon it. And I'm so very glad I did. This, to me, is how cloud storage service should be. SecureSafe provides storage of files, provides password storage, allows for data inheritance, is iPhone, iPad, and Android compatible, and provides online banking-level document digital delivery service. But the most important of all? They're PCI-DSS (Data Security Standards) compliant through Acertigo.com. Additionally, they offer pricing plans from free to pro accounts. And I found a not-too-old review of the company on appstorm.net, and here's their Apple iTunes preview page with more reviews. So. Take a look at their site as well as their short informational video below:

From me:

• Also, take a look at a review I wrote today on the FineScanner iPhone app developed by ABBYY. I think it has a lot of potential for researchers.

Places you can find even more gen-tech links from me for you {and you and you}:

• My RebelMouse Page
• My HypeMarks Page
• My Glossi Page

Happy Researching!
~Caroline

Another scanner for the iPhone?

Yes.

I know. I've recommended some others lately, but since I'd already reviewed ABBYY's TextGrabber + Translator App {and then I'm quoted in their iTunes Review section in the iTunes App Store} and I'm in the process of reviewing their Lingvo Dictionary App {which ABBYY gave me as thanks for reviewing their TextGrabber+Translator APP}, I thought I'd look at their FineScanner App. {To be perfectly clear, ABBYY has never requested a review from me on any of their apps. I'm reviewing them because I think they are a solid company with good products and services. And I bought this app that I'm reviewing today.}

So. ABBYY FineScanner for genealogy?
Yes. I tried it out today and was really impressed by how easy it is to use the app for scanning purposes. It's very intuitive and the results that I found in scanning a photocopy of my great-grandmother's baptismal register entry were excellent.

While other scanning apps automatically optimize the scan (i.e., brightness, contrast, etc.), FineScanner does not, and I thought this might be a 'negative' against the app, but then when I actually used it, I found the manual adjustments to be kind of freeing and extremely to use. "Freeing" in the sense that it allowed me to choose what I thought was best without having to be a professional photographer or Photoshop geek. 

For example, it automatically scans whatever you're scanning in color mode. Then with 2 taps, I was able to view it in color mode, black and white mode, and grey mode.  Then with another tap  I was able to choose the mode I thought looked best, and in this case I thought the grey mode worked best because the black and white ended up looking like a photocopy of a photocopy. {Which it kind of was.} And then with another tap, I was able to adjust the contrast of the grey mode that  I selected giving me the final output that I thought looked best to me.

I didn't think I'd like that kind of freedom and manual aspect of the app, but it turns out I do ~ at least within ABBYY's FineScanner App, that is.

Some Nifty Features

• Can save the scanned image as a PDF or JPG.
  
• Can be emailed; shared in Facebook; saved in your Evernote, your Dropbox, and/or your GoogleDocs accounts; and/or printed.
  
• Can attach keyword tags to each scan.
  
• Can use a photo from your phone's library or scan the document within the app.
• Can choose single document mode or batch mode {for multi-paged docs} when scanning within the app.

So. I took a series of screenshots of the process of scanning a copy of my great-grandmother's baptismal register entry, and I placed the images in a slideshow {below the post} for you to peruse. The last one is the image of the final scanned JPG file that I emailed to myself, and then I also included a larger image of the JPG file below the slideshow.

Final Thoughts
The FineScanner App is another solid app developed by ABBYY. It's simple to use, and that's important to genealogists and family historians. We don't have time to be professional photographers or Photoshop geeks. I highly recommend ABBYY's FineScanner App for all your on-the-go genealogy and family history research scanning needs.

Visit ABBYY's website for a complete list of the FineScanner App features as well as more information about the company as well as their other products and services.

And? As mentioned before, I purchased this app, and it only set me back $2.99. {That's half the cost of a fancy-schmancy coffee. And you can do SO much more with it.} And you can find it in the iTunes store or in your iPhone's App Store located on your iPhone.

~Caroline

{Disclosure: I was not asked to provide a review for this or any other ABBYY product or service. However, I've previously reviewed their app TextGrabber + Translator, and a quote from that review is featured in the review section of their app in iTunes and in the App Store. As a thank you, ABBYY gifted me their app Lingvo Dictionary, which I am still reviewing. I independently purchased and reviewed the FineScanner App.}

Press 'Play" to start slideshow:

I will not be going to the FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) Conference this year in Birmingham, Alabama. However, I know a lot of you are going. Therefore, I decided to share with you some apps on my iPhone that I tend to use while I'm at a conference and briefly explain what I use them for. {And I included some alternates for you  just in case you'd like an alternate. Like, I use OneNote, but you probably use Evernote.}

That's right. Gen-Tech Links has a theme today. {And a bonus at the end.}

• LinkedIn App ~ This one just makes sense. If you're on LinkedIn and I already know most of the vendors and genealogists are, then make sure you have the app ready. You never know when this might come in handy.
• Google Search App ~ "What is..." I dunno. *shrugs* Have you googled it? If you don't already have this app then get it and find out what *it* is.
• Camera App ~ This is a native app to the iPhone. I usually take all my pics, videos, and scans through it first then run the pics/scans/videos through my various {Read: plethora of} photo editing, scanning, and video apps. Why? Because that's my workflow. No special reason.
• Instagram App ~ Now. I know I pose for a lot of pics at conferences, and I'm blind most of the time from the flash. {O-o} But? I never, ever see these pics online anywhere. Oh sure. A few pop up on Facebook, but not nearly as many as I posed for. And I think I know why. People forget to *do* anything with them. And? It's 2012, folks. Just stop that. If you want, don't take the photo in the camera app. Take it in Instagram, slap a filter on it, and share it on Instagram. {And don't forget to tag it with the official hashtag #FGS2012.} This has got to be the *easiest* social networking and promoting you will ever, ever do. I promise. Easiest in terms of use and also in terms of engagement. People like pics. And? I've found most of them aren't genealogists. They're people who enjoy a good pic and filter. So download this app, sign up, and start Instagramming. And if you need a follower on there, look me up: @familystories.

Bonus
Sugarsync is another cloud-based storage service that offers 5GB of free storage, and they have an app for just about every mobile device. Right now they're offering up to 32GB of free storage to those who share the app with others. So, I thought I'd pass this on to y'all. {Cuz duh. Free 32GB of storage.} If you sign up for a free Sugarsync account, you get 5GB of free storage and I can earn up to 32GB. Not a bad deal, eh? Here's the referral link if you're interested: https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=b4jybeibj6089&utm_source=website&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=referral&shareEvent=1546818

So. What apps, if any, do you plan to use at FGS 2012? Share the wealth of your knowledge  with everyone in comments below. 

Happy Researching!
~Caroline

Today, I have some links to technology blog posts that may {or may not} be helpful to today's genealogist and family historian as well as some more magic tricks {Oops, I mean tech tools.} that I use in some way for genealogy & family history research as well as in my general business life.

• How to Set Up a Wireless Router by Samara Lynn on pcmag.com ~ Okay. This is helpful. You should know how to do this even if the cable or tech guy comes out to your house and sets this up for you because at some point it's going to go down, and really? Do you want to have to sit there and wait for them? No. You don't. I've always setup my own wifi {much to the dismay of the Best Buy kid who I usually end up buying my laptops from}, and I think everyone should do it. Feel the freedom of telling that pimply faced Best Buy order taker, "NO! No, I don't need help with my wifi. Yes, I can handle it. I can find dead people and I can setup my own wifi. So there."
• How To Keep iOS Message Previews Private by Dom Espisito on appadvice.com ~ Okay. Dom has a point. You know how {if you have an iPhone} you get those message previews that popup on your screen? Well, what if you {gasp!} lose your iPhone? Then whoever finds it can read them. Dom has a fix for this in his blog post as well in video form so check it out.
• 1 Million Public Transit Stops Now on Google Maps for Android by Adario Strange on pcmag.com ~ This is cool if you live in a city that has a plethora of transportation modes to get around said city, and in this article, Adario explains how Google Maps' robust features and Google's updates work together to make getting around that much easier using your Android device. And? Not just for U.S. cities. So see if your city is supported and learn how to use this awesome Google Maps feature so you can get around to all those cemeteries, archives, and libraries that much easier.
• Better Browsing on Your Android Smartphone by Bonnie Cha on allthingsd.com ~ Bonnie compares the Firefox and the Chrome browsers for Android devices in her article. Check out what she has to say about their pros and cons.
• Beyond Instagram: Photo Editing Apps by Adam Harvey on iphonelife.com ~ I don't know about you but I'm one hundred percent addicted to photography apps on my iPhone. I'm too embarassed to tell you just how many, um, I've downloaded and use. And not just free ones either. And? Last week on vacation I bought several more including one that cost $10. That one was by accident tho. But? I'm absolutely lovin' it. {So it was meant to be. I just know it.} Anywho, here's a list of iPhone photo editing apps ~ some of which I have. Take a look. Download some. And start having some fun with them. I tend to take and edit the majority of my own stock images now. And then I share everything through Instagram. Cuz who isn't on Instagram? {What do you mean you're not Instagram? If you have genealogy-related biz you should be on there.} It's fun and easy.
• Sony Reader gets a new design, Evernote integration and a free Harry Potter book for $129 by Brian Heater on engadget.com ~ Looking for a new e-reader? How about one with Evernote and Facebook integration? And are you in love with everything to so with Harry Potter? Check out what the new Sony Reader, which started shipping today, has to offer.
• Jack Dorsey's Square Deal For Small Businesses: 0% Transaction Fee by Sarah Kessler on fastcompany.com ~ Do you have a genealogy related business that sells products at genealogical conferences? How are you taking payments? Have you checked into Square? You need to. And now instead instead of transaction fees they're offering something else up that's better and more affordable for smaller businesses.

Two of my favorite apps/websites that I currently use had fresh updates today:

• Photobucket Revamps To Rival Social Sharing Photo And Video Sites by Kit Eaton on Fastcompany.com
  
• Instagram 3.0 covers new ground with Photo Maps by Donna Tam on cnet.com {You can see an image of my Instagram Photo Map above, or if you follow me on Instagram: @familystories.}

And here are 3 more magic tricks {Oops. I mean tech tools} that I currently use on my iPhone to get whatever it is that I do, um, done:

1. Analyticsapp ~ to keep up with my Google Analytic reports for my 3 main blogs.
   
2. Reeder ~ to read all the genealogy posts that I've signed up to read on my Google Reader; this sucker syncs with Google Reader to keep it up to date with what I've read and haven't read.
   
3. mimedia ~ yet another cloud storage service {but also provides backup service} where you can get 7GB of free cloud storage and has free apps for the iPhone and iPad. Check out their video below and click the mimedia link to see their features. {Goodness, I love FREE.}
   

Happy Researching! =)

~Caroline

Are y'all ready for today's technology links that may {or may not} help you out with your genealogy and family history research?

Let's get to it then...

• Pinterest Launches iPad, Android Apps by Stephanie Mlot on pcmag.com ~ I'm guilty. It's all my fault. When I first blogged about Pinterest in October 2011 here on 4YourFamilyStory.com, I may have gotten a few people, um, addicted to using Pinterest. And all those tweets about Pinterest probably didn't help either. But? Aren't you glad I got you addicted? {Like I am?} Now? Their app is not only available for the iPhone, but for the iPad and Android devices. You are welcome. {No, really you are. And I'm @FamilyStories on Pinterest.}
  
• Dropbox Android preview shows off video thumbnails and Nexus 7 UI, yearns for your approval by Billy Steele on engadget.com ~ Now, I *know* quite  a few of you are using Dropbox and loving it. And you Android users will really love the updates for your devices. Catch a preview of what Dropbox for Android is gonna feature.
• The all-new Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 - first look (updated with hands-on video) by Anndrew Vacca on androidcentral.com ~ As far as I'm concerned, Microsoft's Surface is really, really gonna have to bring its A-Game when it comes out later in the year. The split screen and S-Pen are to die for in the Galaxy Note 10.1. Yowzer! The annotations you could do to docs and images. And? The notes you can take at conferences. And? Transcribing with that split screen? Hello!?! {Hope Santa is good to me this year!}
• Whether Online Or Off, Scout By Telenav Is Always There With You by Aldrin Calimlim on appadvice.com ~ Okay. Maybe I'm easily swayed by a well-made video {So sue me. Um, not really.}, but I really like this app Scout and its new updates. I downloaded the free version which ~obviously~ doesn't have all the cool features {Cuz, duh.}, but I could see myself using the paid version. "Please find Forest Lawn Cemetery." Watch the video and see what I mean. Then check out the link for Aldrin's review of it.

• The Week in iOS Accessories: Boom goes the dynamite by Joel Mathis on macworld.com ~ Do you like accessorizing? I know I do ~ especially my iPhone. Take a look at these cool iOS accessories. Dare you to only like one! 
  
• Retronaut ~ Okay. I hadn't seen this before, but one of 4YourFamilyStory.com's readers, John H., sent me this link, and mentioned it was a productivity zapper. And he's right. Wow. You'll love this productivity zapper because you'll be touring history through these awesome retro images. Enjoy! {And thanks, John H. for sharing it with the rest of us! And for, um, making us unproductive.}

Some of the tools in my toolbox:
Speaking of being unproductive, I was asked today on Twitter how I manage to get all that I get done, um, done *and* get some genealogy done too. My answer? Technology. Here is a list of a few of the apps I use to, um, keep me on task. You know, to be productive. {Of course, they *totally* didn't stop me from perusing Retronaut.}: 

• Wunderlist
  
• Wunderkit
  
• iThoughts
  
• Pocket
  
• Reeder
  

Of course, that's not all {not even by a long shot}. But? I don't wanna scare you. So, I'll just give you a few at a time. =)

Can I make twitter any easier for you? {The answer to that is, um, no.}
Also? Whether you *do* Twitter or not {I'm @FamilyStories there BTW}, you may not catch all the tweets with links that I share on Twitter throughout the day. So. I have a few pages online where you can peruse my tweets with links to stuff. Most of the time it's tech-related and genealogy-related. Sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's just stuff I think is interesting. Anywho. Check out my following pages where you can look at all of my fabulous {Well, I think they are.} tweets with links. Also? Which page/service is your favorite and why? Mine, I think, is Hypemarks because of how it looks and how it works {for me}, but I wanna know what you think. In comments. You know, below the post. Thanks! =)

• RebelMouse.com/FamilyStories
  
• Hypemarks.com/FamilyStories
  
• Twylah.com/FamilyStories
  

~Caroline