January 22, 2015

As I took on the challenge of writing the second edition of The Genealogist's Google Toolbox, I was gobsmacked by the sheer volume of change that has occurred since I first wrote it back in 2011! Have you been feeling the change? Sing it David Bowie...

Click video for Changes by David Bowie

I've combed through the book page by page and brought every thing up to date. Here are just a few of the changes you need to know about:

Search Operators Changes:

OLD: Plus sign (+)

NEW: Quotation Marks (" ")

Put the word or phrase in quotation marks to ensure every result will include it.

Examples: "Ellis Island", "blacksmith"

OLD: Tilde (~) This used to be a synonym search.

NEW: You must now include the various synonyms in your search query. Use the OR operator to assist you in searching for alternative terms.

Example: Train OR Railroad OR Locomotive

The Microphone Search Button

Whether you are running an image search or a regular web search, you can now enter your search query by simply speaking to Google. The Voice Command feature is activated through the microphone button when you are using the Chrome web browser.

Download Chrome for free from https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/ or check for updates if you already have it by clicking the Chrome menu button (three horizontal lines) and selecting "Update Google Chrome." You need to have a microphone set up on your device.

Click the microphone button in the Google search box. The first time you do this, you will likely be asked to "allow" your Google to use your microphone. From this point forward you no longer have to click the microphone button. Go to www.Google.com and say "OK Google," and ask for what you want. Google will deliver a results list. Currently the feature only accepts words, and doesn't respond to you incorporating search operators into your command. But I expect that will Ch Ch Ch Channnge soon!

As I was looking

through my old high school photo albums the other day, thinking back on when I was spinning my David Bowie albums on the turntable, I was reminded that sometimes, change isn't so bad! Here I am knee-deep in my Stevie Nicks phase as a high school senior.

Pre-order The Genealogist's Google Toolbox Second Edition at a special discount until 1/31/15. And I will be signing every pre-order book - I've got a pen!

Genealogy News You Can Use!

RootsTech / FGS 2015: Free Sessions at Our Booth and Prizes!

News

Most Recent Podcast Episodes

The Genealogy Gems Podcast

Episode 175
(FREE)

Genealogy Gems Contributing Editor Sunny Morton will be here to announce our new Book Club read for this first quarter of 2015. Then, professional genealogist Mary Tedesco is joining Genealogy Roadshow and she will join me to talk about her experience on the show and also about her specialty which is Italian research.

Genealogy Gems Premium Episode 119

Hear from the author of Orphan Train, our Genealogy Gems Book Club selection for 1st quarter 2015. Then I'll give you 5 reasons why you should be blogging about your family history as well as some tips for making it easier. And my genealogy buddy Maureen Taylor and I will get together to toss around some ideas about the future of genealogy and technology.

SAVE 20%

Pre-Order Your Signed Copy of

The Genealogist's Google Toolbox

2nd Edition

by Lisa Louise Cooke

Google is moving quickly, and this brand new edition will keep you up to date! Find out what's changed, and the hottest new techniques for using Google for your genealogy.

Every single page has been updated

and there's tons of new content!

Click here to pre-order your print copy now

Reg. $24.95

Pre-Order Price: $19.95 + shipping

(shipping begins approximately Jan. 31, 2015.)

How to Find Everything Evernote!

Listener Bob recently wrote: "I am interested in anything you have to help me with Evernote...is there an index to your blog?"

Answer: Here is a link that will list all the Evernote blog posts so far (19 total.) You can retrieve this same list any time:

Go to my website home page www.GenealogyGems.com
Scroll down toward the bottom
Under the welcome video (on the left) is "Search Content by Topic" menu
Click the down arrow to open the menu
Scroll down and click to select "Evernote" (or any other topic of interest!)
You will be taken to the full list of blog posts.
At the end of the first page, click the "Next page" link (bottom right corner) for more posts.

RootsTech / FGS 2015:

Free Sessions at Our Booth and PRIZES!

Back by popular demand! After fabulous response last year, Genealogy Gems will once again be sponsoring "Outside the Box Sessions," a series of FREE mini-presentations at Booths 1240 & 1242 at RootsTech 2015.

Our popular sessions help you think outside the box (and have fun and get free swag while you're at it). Lisa's sessions will include:

Tech Tips for Newspaper Research (Thursday at 12:00);
How to Use Google Earth for Genealogy (Thursday at 4:00);
Google for Genealogy: What's NEW! (Friday at 11:30 and Saturday at 2:00);
Google Strategies for Common Surnames (Friday at 12:00);
Win Prizes! Google Earth Genealogy Game Show (Friday from 5:30-6:30)
iPad Tips and Tricks (Saturday at 10:00);
Evernote Tips and Tricks (Saturday at 12:30).

NEW FREE EBOOK: Attend any session and receive our free ebook of handouts for all sessions!

Click here for the full schedule and the Grand Prize entry form (which also gets you the FREE Outside the Box e-book with all session handouts). Drop this entry by Booth #1242 and say hello! Lisa will also be signing copies of her brand new book The Genealogist's Google Toolbox Second Edition!

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline spent five weeks at the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestselling list and is now on top of The Bestsellers List in Canada. Click here to read the storyline.

Order your copy of Orphan Train.

Genealogy Gems Premium members can hear a highlights from Sunny's interview with the author in Premium Episode 119.