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Pocket Genealogist 3.32

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

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.

Posted in Northern Hills Software, Pocket Genealogist, Software, Windows Mobile | No Comments »

A Mouse pointer for your handheld?

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

Non-touchscreen based smartphones are designed to be used one handed.     They are however more limited with regards to interacting with software as there is no stylus or touchscreen.   Touchscreen based devices are much more powerful with regards to software operation, but are more difficult to use one handed.

Pocket PC Thoughts has an article that may be the solution to this problem.    Innovisoft has released VirtuaMouse One-Hand software for Windows Mobile 2003 and newer devices that have a D-Pad.  (The 5-way controller that is found on most touchscreen based devices)

If this sounds interesting, click HERE for the Pocket PC Thoughts article.

Posted in Software, Windows Mobile | No Comments »

More Memory

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Now that you have more power to drive your mobile device, how about more memory?

If gigabyte sized memory cards aren’t enough for you, how about a terabyte or two?

Here’s the math:

1000 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte
1000 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte
1000 Megabytes =  1 Gigabyte
1000 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte

So 1 Terabyte = 1,000,000,000,000 Bytes, no matter what you want to store, that’s a LOT of data.

Boy Genius Report has information on where SD storage space is going over the next year or two.   Click HERE for more information.

Posted in Hardware | No Comments »

More Power

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

It’s been awhile since I posted and I have a few items to report on over the next few days.    This posting will deal with power while on the go, either via means to recharge your batteries, or information on future battery technology that may improve on your mobile experience.

Gizmodo has an article about silver-zinc batteries which are supposed to get 40% better run-time than lithium-ion batteries.   The article can be found HERE.

Gear Diary has an article about a “smarter” battery charger which can be found HERE.

MobileTechReview has an article about a solar powered battery charger HERE.

And Engadget has an article about a solar/wind powered battery charger HERE.

More power to you!

Posted in Hardware, Travel | No Comments »

Geotag your photos Redux

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

On September 29th I had an article about tagging your digital photos with GPS information, now Nikon has officially come out with a Nikon unit that works more seamlessly with Nikon digital SLR cameras.    The cost (about $240) keeps it out of reach from casual photographers, but if you do have one of the more expensive Nikon DSLR’s and want to tag your images with GPS information, more info can be found HERE courtesy of Digital Media Thoughts.

Posted in GPS, Hardware | No Comments »

Contests, Giveaways, and Discounts

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Although not directly related to “mobile genealogy”, but who doesn’t like a chance to win free computer hardware?  Or a chance to save up to 35% on purchases?

Contests and Giveaways

Smartphone Thoughts has information on how to enter to win $6000 worth of HP computer equipment.  (That’s ALL to one person, one desktop, 3 laptops, a photo printer and other hardware and software)   Information can be found HERE.

Digital Media Thoughts has information on how to enter to win a Seagate portable hard drive which can be found HERE. 

Discounts

Digital Media Thoughts has information on using Microsoft Live Search to purchase “Buy it now” items on eBay and saving up to 35%.   Information can be found HERE.   This isn’t strictly limited to eBay as other vendors also participate.  (although not at such a steep discount)

Good Luck!

Posted in Hardware | No Comments »

Zoom Zoom USB

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

You can’t have it now nor will it provide any relieve for current desktop computers or devices, but in the future USB version 3 will offer transfer speeds up to 4.8Gbps.   (Much faster than current USB Version 2 speeds)   To give you an idea how much data that will transfer, a 25GB hard drive worth of data could be transferred in about 70 seconds.

Gizmodo has more information HERE.

As with USB 1 and USB 2, devices built with USB 3 will work (although at a slower speed) on older connections, or older devices will work with new desktop computers with a USB 3 port.  (Also at the slower speed)

Posted in Hardware | No Comments »

Synchronize via Bluetooth

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

If you have a smartphone or other Windows Mobile device with Bluetooth, you should be able to setup ActiveSync so that you can do synchronizations wirelessly.    However, most desktop computers don’t come with bluetooth, but here’s one solution to the problem.  (There are many other providers of USB bluetooth “dongles” as well)

Click HERE for Gear Diary article on a new Bluetooth Dongle.

If you already have a bluetooth connection but haven’t installed XP Service Pack 2, here’s some information that you may find useful.   It also discusses how to setup ActiveSync to work with Bluetooth after you install SP2.   (Service Pack 2 adds new bluetooth drivers to XP)

Click HERE for the Bluetooth ActiveSync Guide from Geekzone.

Posted in Bluetooth, Hardware, Windows Mobile | No Comments »

First ActiveSync, then Windows Mobile Device Center, now Device Stage?

Monday, November 10th, 2008

ActiveSync is the software that comes with your Windows Mobile device that is used to communicate between your desktop/laptop computer and the device.   However, with the introduction of Windows Vista, ActiveSync was replaced by Windows Mobile Device Center.

Lately there has been quite a bit of news about the future (End of 2009?) Windows 7 release which will replace Vista.  (It’s been getting a lot of good press with regards to interface changes and performance improvements)  

With Windows 7, it sounds like Windows Mobile Device Center will be replaced by something called Device Stage.  (Which is MUCH more than just for syncing your Windows Mobile Device)

Click HERE to find out more information from WMExperts.

Posted in Windows, Windows Mobile | No Comments »

Pocket Genealogist 3.30

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Northern Hills Software is happy to announce that Pocket Genealogist 3.30 is now available for download. As with all Version 3 releases this is a free update for all those who have already purchased Version 3.

The biggest change in this release is support for Multimedia transfers to the device (Images and Photos). Additionally, if you have a Windows Mobile 5 or newer device and have lots of sources/citations, the new release can significantly decrease the size of your database. For a complete list of changes, click HERE.

This version has changes to the database structure, so all current Pocket Genealogist databases will not work with the new release. Make sure any changes you have made on the device are first synchronized back to the desktop and “processed” before you install this release.

The multimedia support does require the “Advanced” version of Pocket Genealogist. If you have Version 3 Basic or a Version 2 release, you can upgrade HERE.

The downloads can be found HERE and the update to the user guide can be found HERE.

Thanks for supporting Pocket Genealogist!

Posted in Northern Hills Software, Pocket Genealogist | 2 Comments »

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