My Smartphone has become my most indispensable research tool that I have [Other than my brain.] And, in particular, the Apps are what make my Smartphone so essential to both my research and my business. I really couldn't imagine working without them, and I've only had it for a year. [Just about.]

Therefore, for the forseable future [i.e., until I run out of apps], I will be running a Smartphone and App series on Thursday's called That's an App Thursday. We'll go over:

• Smartphones. What are they? Are they really that smart? Can they really help you in your research? Can they help you share your fantastic family finds with your family?
  
• What is an App? What does it do? Why is everyone so ga-ga over these Apps? And how do you get one?
• The categories of Apps that can benefit you in your research and, most importantly, how.
• After the basics, we'll delve into a specific app to see how it can benefit you as a researcher - no matter what level you are - beginner to pro.

How does that sound?
It's your chance to find out what all the hoopla is over Smartphones without having to take the plunge. And if you already have one, it's your chance to finally use your Smartphone for more than texting and checking Facebook. [Really. What? You thought you were the only one?]

If you already are a pro at using Smartphones and Apps for genealogy and family history research AND you'd like to share your knowledge with others, then contact me to guest post for this series, especially if you use something other than an iPhone. [That's what I have.]

~Caroline

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for my mailing list. In another week, I will be starting a weekly newsletter about all the goings-on here at For Your Family Story, the goings-on in the fantabulous and exciting world of genealogy, as well as extra Genie-Tech info that you won't find on this blog, and I dare say anywhere else. Or at least it won't be found anywhere else wrapped up in my humor. ;) So, if you love my blog AND you're a busy person and need all your essential info in one place ~ 1 newsletter in your inbox ~ where you can read it at your leisure, then you definitely should sign up for my Once-a-Week Fantabulous Genie-Tech Newsletter below. Like, right away. =) Don't worry. I won't be spamming you. It's just a Once-a-Week Fantabulous Genie-Tech Newsletter. 52 of them. Per year. For free.

  No. This is not a post about courthouses and their records that have burnt to the ground leaving many genealogists crying amidst their research on the wrong side of a brick wall. I thought I’d take a look at all the brouhaha being made over Amazon’s Kindle Fire and what it can mean for a genealogist and their research.

Kindle Fire’s Specs:

• Can watch 18 million movies & T.V. shows on it.
• Listen to songs and read books and magazines on it.
• Have access to Amazon’s App store through it.
• Able to browse the web super duper fast using Amazon Silk.
• All your Amazon content is stored in the cloud for free.
• Has a color touchscreen and can be flipped for extra wide viewing.
• Has a dual core processor, which means it’s faster & stronger.
• Built-in email app gets your email off popular web-based sites like Gmail and Yahoo!.
• Can read PDF documents (and remember, they’re in color)
• And if you are an Amazon Prime Member you can enjoy unlimited instant streaming of 10,000+ popular movies and T.V. shows.

Some say the Kindle Fire is in direct competition with Apple’s iPad, and others are saying, “Are you crazy?”

Here’s how they measure up on the specs:

• The Fire is 7” while the iPad is much bigger at 9.7”
• The Fire is 50% lighter than the iPad.
• The Fire does not have a camera or microphone and the iPad does.
• The Fire uses only WiFi while the iPad is WiFi and 3G.
• The Fire’s battery has an 8-hour life while the iPad’s battery life is 10 hours.
• The Fire has only 8GB of memory plus use of cloud storage for Amazon content for free while the iPad’s varies depending on the model.

And What About the Genealogy Researcher?
Clearly Apple’s iPad outdoes Amazon’s Kindle Fire, but how does this translate to a genealogical researcher? Well, there are 2 questions to ask yourself. First, what does a genealogist want to be able to do on a tablet or tablet-like device? Here's what I came up with [Feel free to leave me a comment if I forgot something.]:

• Research online
  
• Update online trees
• Keep in touch with family, friends, and the world through social media, including blogging.
• Read blogs.
  
• Handle your web-based Email.
• Be able to read genealogy and related books and PDF documents.
  
• Be able to take photos of family members, genealogy-related documents, heirlooms and books at courthouses, libraries, archives, at Great Aunt So N. So’s house, etc.
• Be able to record family members’ stories orally.
• Take notes at genealogical and historical society meetings and genealogical conferences.
  
• Participate in genealogy webinars.
• Share photos of ancestors, documents, and heirlooms with all your family members at the next reunion or Sunday dinner.
• Share your online tree with family.
• Share the oral family stories.

Kindle Fire can handle most everything on the list except for photo taking, video-making, and voice recording. And the blogging is probably pushing it. But are these features worth $300? How about if you already own a Smartphone that can already handle picture taking, voice recording, and video recording? And, wow, it’s easier to hold because it’s smaller?

Don't forget the Apps
One thing to keep in mind is the Android Apps that the Kindle Fire can download are those only available in the Amazon App Store. If there is an Android app available elsewhere but it’s not in the Amazon App store, then it can’t be used on the Kindle Fire. In my opinion, this seriously hinders you because what makes tablets and Smartphones so handy-dandy are the apps. They bring ease and functionality to tasks that would otherwise be cumbersome in a browser on a small screen. And compared to the iPad, which has over 425,000 apps available to it, the Amazon App store has only several thousand.

However, taking a closer look at the Android apps available in the Amazon Store, there are ones for photo editing and productivity that can help to make your research easier, including the Evernote app. Therefore, part of your analysis of the Kindle Fire should include what's available in their app store.

That Pesky Budget
And the second question you need to consider? What can you afford? The Kindle Fire is just $199 while the iPad starts out at $500. And these prices are where things get a little murky. With the economy the way it is and if you already have a Smartphone, is the Kindle Fire a more affordable option to Apple’s pricier iPad for a genealogical researcher?

~Caroline