Census Record Images on my iPhone -- The New Ancestry.com App

Ancestry.com announced a new iPhone/iPad App to replace the existing one. Very impressive. I really have to admit that this is easily the best genealogy App I have seen for my iPhone. I have yet to put a huge file onto Ancestry.com's  Family Trees but this new App will probably tip the balance and I will be putting my file onto my existing Family Tree.

First, the pedigree is delightful. It works in a unique way to show the information without getting lost in a cloud of names and lines. But the selling point for me was the connection to sources with access to the digitized images. I had U.S. Census records right there on my iPhone with the opportunity to add more records from Ancestry.com at any time.  Here is the summary of the features from the Ancestry.com Blog:

With this helpful mobile tree tool, you can see all the family trees you’ve already created on Ancestry.com. Just download the app to your iPhone or iPod^® Touch, log in to your Ancestry.com account and choose a family tree.

• You can browse names in your tree
• Search for a specific person in your tree
• Click on a relative to view, then edit or add vital information, immediate family members, life events, notes or new ancestors.
• Take photos of your relatives, historical documents, keepsakes,  buildings and more and upload them directly to your tree.

Just discovered a treasure trove of family heirlooms at your second cousin’s house? Take pictures and upload them to your tree with stories about each one. Found a forgotten family member’s headstone as you traverse an 18^th century cemetery? Add this new person and upload an image of their gravesite. Now when you’re on the go, your family tree — and all your history — goes with you.

Of course when you are a genealogist you see everything in terms of genealogy, but this may well be a milestone in the development of research. I hope to load the App onto the iPad today, so stay tuned for that development.