05 March 2018
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As ever, RootsTech, which took place from 28 February to 3 March 2018, was a key event in the family history calendar, allowing organisations, groups and individuals to get together to celebrate the joy of genealogy. We present news of four great projects announced at the conference.
As ever, RootsTech, which this year took place from 28 February to 3 March 2018, was a key event in the family history calendar, allowing organisations, groups and individuals to get together to celebrate the joy of genealogy. We present news of four great projects announced at the conference.
1. New FamilySearch tree sync allows users to syncronise their family tree with MyHeritage
New for this year and announced at RootsTech is a unique feature — FamilySearch Tree Sync — that allows members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to easily and accurately import a portion of their tree from FamilySearch into MyHeritage, and then keep their MyHeritage and FamilySearch trees synchronized. This feature is now released in a limited beta, and volunteers who are LDS members are invited to try it out.
LDS members are entitled to receive free MyHeritage Data and PremiumPlus subscriptions which will give them access to more tools and historical records to further enhance their family history research. FamilySearch Tree Sync is only available and applicable to MyHeritage users who are also LDS Church members.
2. New Family Networks platform from LivingDNA
LivingDNA gave a preview of their new Family Networks programme which they presented as an 'innovative family tree and matching system [which] will take the guesswork out of DNA relationships.' Family Networks requires no prior user-generated family research, allowing users to build a detailed family tree based solely on their DNA, gender, and age. Living DNA will analyse a user's unique motherline and fatherline DNA data (mtDNA and YDNA), on top of the family ancestry line (autosomal) to deliver matches – something Living DNA says no other company can do.
3. FindMyPast acquire Twile
FindMyPast announced that genealogy start-up Twile had been welcomed into the FindMyPast family. Twile allows users to create interactive timelines of their family memories and set them against the context of world history.
Twile's storytelling features will soon be available on Findmypast, enabling users to automatically display their family history research in a media-rich timeline, combined with an 'unrivalled collection of British and Irish records.
4. New FindMyPast Family Tree (beta)
Also new from FindMyPast is a new global family tree, which is currently in test phase. FindMyPast announced: 'Findmypast's new tree is a product that's being created to help users, both new and experienced, collaborate with others to discover more about their family.
'For novices, the new tree allows you to tap into research done by others on your ancestors instead of going it alone. For experienced users, Findmypast's new tree allows families (including distant cousins) to contribute their information and research, discuss, debate and resolve questions about their family.'
5. Date announced for RootsTech 2019
Save the date for the 2019 RootsTech conference, which will run from 27 February to 2 March 2019.
For more on RootsTech, visit their website.