The Mobile Genealogist http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com Windows Mobile, Pocket Genealogist, Genealogy and other Ramblings Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:38:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Pocket Genealogist Version 3.40 http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/07/11/ppc340/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/07/11/ppc340/#comments Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:38:15 +0000 admin http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/07/11/ppc340/ Pocket Genealogist Version 3.40 is now available for download from the Northern Hills Software website.  This is another free update for all version 3 users, simply download and install 3.40 overtop your current version.  (As always the update is a complete version of Pocket Genealogist.  You can update any V3 release with this version) 

Downloads can be found HERE.  This version has the following changes: 

  • Device/Desktop:  Pocket Genealogist is now fully UNICODE compliant. (It can still import ANSI, ANSEL, UTF-8 or UNICODE, but internally everything is now UNICODE) Unicode provides much better support for International character sets.

  • Device/Desktop:  Support for Legacy Version 7.0.0.97. This version of Legacy has database changes so you will need to re-import your Pocket Genealogist databases.

  • Desktop:  Support for Family Historian V4.

  • Desktop:  On GEDCOM export, ANSI, UTF-8 or UNICODE can now be selected as the ‘encoding’ type.

  • Desktop:  Changes to PAF/FTM Add-on (especially for FTM 2008 and 2009) to take extra measures to ensure that all individuals are imported.

  • Desktop:  Windows 98 and ME no longer supported.

  • Device:  Support for devices with screen resolution of 400×240.

  • Device/Desktop:  Update to most language translations.
  • Desktop:  The Backup feature for 2-way Legacy syncing will now default to the location of the Legacy database if no backup path is found in the Legacy configuration file.

  • Desktop:  Support for “Between” dates for FTM 2008/2009 Add-on Imports.

  • Desktop:  Fixed Direct Ancestral Quest imports to support ‘relative’ paths for multimedia files.

  • Device:  Changed label on To Do screen from “Date” to “Due Date” for FTM imports.

  • Device:  Fix to Individual “Main” tab for Smartphones with 320×320 screens. (Display and edit of Given and Surname)

  • Desktop:  Fix to Legacy 2 way sync as it would re-sync images that didn’t need to be synced. (Wasn’t causing any harm, but was unnecessary)

  • Desktop:  Fix to desktop sync screen to properly display memory / storage card locations available for syncing on device. (Was not working with 64-bit Vista)

  • Device:  Disallow editing or deletion of To Do’s for FTM Add-on import.

]]> http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/07/11/ppc340/feed/ 0 Pocket Genealogist 3.32 http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/28/pg332/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/28/pg332/#comments Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:04:13 +0000 Kevin Phillips http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/28/pg332/ Pocket Genealogist Version 3.32 is now available for download from the Northern Hills Software website.  This is another free update for all version 3 users, simply download and install 3.32 overtop your current version.  (As always the update is a complete version of Pocket Genealogist.  You can update any V3 release with this version) 

Downloads can be found HERE. 

 

This version has the following changes: 

  • Device/Desktop:  Support for RootsMagic 4. (‘Direct’ import requires Pocket Genealogist ‘Advanced’)

  • Desktop:  New GenBridge module which greatly improves the FTM 2008 and 2009 imports with the PAF/FTM Add-on. (Note that large FTM 2009 databases can be significantly slower than older versions of FTM)

  • Desktop:  Added support for Multimedia imports for FTM 2006 and older with the PAF/FTM Add-on.  (Multimedia support requires ‘Advanced’ version of Pocket Genealogist)

  • Desktop:  Added a new ‘Check for Update’ option which can be used to check the NHS website for program updates.

  • Device:  Change to the installing on the device in support of Windows Mobile 6.1.4. (Program files are now stored in a different location on device)

  • Device:  Better support for devices with 800×480 screens.

  • Device:  Added ‘External Viewer’ menu option to the ‘Object’ tab for Multimedia. This will allow the display of the current image in the Windows Mobile Picture viewer. (If ‘BMP’ option is selected, must be Windows Mobile 5 or higher)  Multimedia requires Pocket Genealogist ‘Advanced’.

  • Desktop:  Added ‘Small’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Large’ option (on Advanced Options screen) for sizing images sent to the device. ‘Small’ is the default.  Multimedia requires Pocket Genealogist ‘Advanced’.

  • Device:  Removal of the ‘Stretch’ checkbox from the PocketPC screens (to save space) and adjustments to dialog to increase picture viewing area.  Multimedia requires Pocket Genealogist ‘Advanced’.

  • Device:  Added menu option “Ignore Rel. to Parent” with the relationship calculator. When used, this will ignore the “Relationship to Parent” status’s such as “Adopted”.  The relationship calculator requires Pocket Genealogist ‘Advanced’

  • Desktop:  Added a ‘splitter’ bar between the database area and the log window on the main desktop screen so you can choose how much space is dedicated to each area.

  • Desktop:  For most ‘listviews’, a sort indicator is now added to the column header indicating the direction of the sort when you click on a column.

  • Desktop:  Removed support for “Direct” imports of The Master Genealogist Version 4.

  • Desktop:  Reorganized the ‘Advanced Options’ dialog on the desktop.

  • Desktop:  Fix to Media and Language sync screens on desktop as they weren’t properly setting language translations for the buttons.

  • Desktop:  Better support for Windows Vista when re-sizing desktop windows in Pocket Genealogist.

  • Desktop:  Change to the Legacy 2-way processing of new names added on the device. (Previously could add a prefix or suffix in Legacy with a single space, this didn’t cause any problems other than the Legacy “Check/Repair” would complain about it)

  • Desktop:  Fix to GEDCOM import to eliminate buffer overflow (program termination) when importing a GEDCOM created on a Macintosh.

  • Desktop:  Fix to GEDCOM and PAF Add-on import to allow media filenames with diacritic characters.

  • Device/Desktop:  Update to French, Norwegian and Swedish translations.

]]> http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/28/pg332/feed/ 0 An Alternate User Interface(s) http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/06/an-alternate-user-interfaces/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/06/an-alternate-user-interfaces/#comments Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:00:32 +0000 admin http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/06/an-alternate-user-interfaces/ Interested in the new finger friendly changes for Windows Mobile 6.5 but don’t want to wait?

Here are some articles about some alternate user interfaces that you can use to “dress up” your current device.

First a free one (although in beta) called Pointui

Gizmodo
“Pointui 2 Gives Touchscreen Windows Mobile Phones a new Lease on Life”

Pocketnow
“Pointui Home 2 is Released and Free”
“PointUI Home 2 Video Review”

And one that isn’t free but comes highly rated called Spb Mobile Shell (Available soon)

Mobility Site
“Mobile Shell 3.0 Announced at MWC”

Pocketnow
“Another Great UI Replacement: SPB Mobile Shell 3.0″

And another one that I’m not familiar with:

Pocketnow
“Another New Interface for Windows Mobile: SHBT MyHome”

And an unusual one that comes with the hardware (Acer) and does “3D”

Pocketnow
“MWC: New Acer Interface does 3D”

]]> http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/06/an-alternate-user-interfaces/feed/ 0 Another GPS Image Tracker http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/04/another-gps-image-tracker/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/04/another-gps-image-tracker/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:00:54 +0000 admin http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/04/another-gps-image-tracker/ There have been a few postings on The Mobile Genealogist regarding GPS units that attach to your camera to keep track of location information as you take digital photos.     Now Sony has a product that does not require any connection to the camera, it only needs to be on your person as you take the photos.  

If that sounds interesting and you want to know how it works, click HERE to head over to Engadget to read more about teh Sony GPS-CS3KA.

]]> http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/04/another-gps-image-tracker/feed/ 0 A very different mobile phone http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/02/a-very-different-mobile-phone/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/02/a-very-different-mobile-phone/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:00:45 +0000 admin http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/02/a-very-different-mobile-phone/ And actually just a concept so it may never see the light of day, but head over to Engadget to read more about one of the most unusual mobile phones going.

Click HERE for the details.

]]> http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/03/02/a-very-different-mobile-phone/feed/ 0 Who makes your smartphone? http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/27/who-makes-your-smartphone/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/27/who-makes-your-smartphone/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:00:25 +0000 admin http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/27/who-makes-your-smartphone/ If you have a Windows Mobile Smartphone, the odds are that it was manufactured by HTC.

Never heard of them?  That’s not surprising since they only started selling under their own name in the last year (or two?).

So what are the odds?  How about 8 out of 10…. click HERE for the article on Mobile Jaw.

]]> http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/27/who-makes-your-smartphone/feed/ 0 ‘Free’ Smartphone? http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/25/free-smartphone/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/25/free-smartphone/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:00:33 +0000 admin http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/25/free-smartphone/ In the United States, and perhaps elsewhere, when you sign up for cell phone service you can get free cell phones or can purchase a higher end model such as a smartphone.   However, there is no such thing as free lunch and the price you pay is less than what you would pay if you bought it outright.  That’s because the phones are subsidized when you commit to a 1 or 2 year term with that cellular carrier.  (And smartphones usually mean a data plan as well as part of the commitment)

But even the subsidized smartphone can still run multi-hundreds although that may change soon.   Acer has announced, at least in the U.S., that they will be offering ’Free’ smartphones with the contract.

The Boy Genius Report has the information HERE.

]]> http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/25/free-smartphone/feed/ 0 A Big Win for Windows Mobile http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/24/a-big-win-for-windows-mobile/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/24/a-big-win-for-windows-mobile/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:00:38 +0000 admin http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/24/a-big-win-for-windows-mobile/ At The Mobile World Congress, Microsoft and LG Electronics announced that LG will make Windows Mobile its primary smartphone operating system.

The plan is for LG to announce 50 new smartphones running Windows Mobile through 2012.

And yes, that’s 50 new MODELS of Smartphones, not 50 phones!  :-)

Engadget 
“LG picks Windows Mobile as its primary smartphone OS, plans to release 50 new phones”

Gizmodo
“LG Signed Up to Make 50 — That’s Fifty — Windows Mobile Phones”

Mobile Jaw
“LG Makes a Serious Commitment to Windows Mobile”

MobileTechReview
“LG Commits to Windows Mobile Platform for Smartphones and Unveils GM730 Phone”

Pocket PC Thoughts
“LG Now Primarily On Windows Mobile”

]]> http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/24/a-big-win-for-windows-mobile/feed/ 0 Windows Mobile 6.5 now official http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/22/wm65/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/22/wm65/#comments Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:40:25 +0000 admin http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/22/wm65/

Last week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft officially announced Windows Mobile 6.5.    Although not as significant a change to the user interface as Windows Mobile 7 promises to be, Windows Mobile 6.5 still has a lot of new features to make interaction much more “finger friendly”. 

Additionally the announced “My Phone” (A web based backup service) and the new application store “Windows Marketplace for Mobile” which will be available on phones running Windows Mobile 6.5.

Lots of press from the various blogs, here’s some to choose from.

Boy Genius Report
“Microsoft announces Windows Mobile 6.5, My Phone, Recite and a Marketplace”

Brighthand
“Windows Mobile 6.5 Is Official, but Not Coming Soon”
“Microsoft Launching On-Device Mobile Software Store, Online Backup Service”

Engadget
“Microsoft announces Windows Mobile 6.5″

Gizmodo
“All Windows Mobile 6.5 Phones to Feature Physical ‘Start’ Button”
“Windows Mobile 6.5 Hands On: The New Interface Rocks”

Mobile Jaw
“Microsoft Takes the Wraps off Windows Mobile 6.5″

MobileTechReview
“Microsoft MyPhone formally announced, here are the screen shots”
“Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6.5, here are the details and screens”
“Q&A with Microsoft on the New My Phone Services for Windows Mobile Phones” 

Mobility Site
“Remember All Those WM 6.5 Screenshot Leaks?”
“Windows Mobile 6.5 Video from Microsoft”
“MyPhone 1st Impressions – So Far, So Good”

Pocketnow
“MWC: Windows Mobile 6.5′s New Lock Screen”
“MWC: Your Definitive Windows Mobile 6.5 Post-Release Guide”
“Will You Be Able to Upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5″


]]> http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/02/22/wm65/feed/ 0 Electronic Breadcrumbs? http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/01/29/electronic-breadcrumbs/ http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/01/29/electronic-breadcrumbs/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:00:15 +0000 admin http://blog.northernhillssoftware.com/2009/01/29/electronic-breadcrumbs/ Pocket PC Thoughts has some information on a simple GPS unit that can be used as a means to mark a location, then find your way back to that location later.  

Leave the breadcrumbs at home and bring the Bushnell BackTrack instead!

Click HERE to read more.

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