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Where MyHeritage.com is better
(23 posts)-
Hi all, this is my first post.
Let me say this is a great site. Great service indeed! I just discovered it yesterday and started my genealogy tree. Then today I found out that similar websites are available that provide more or less the same services as Geni.
MyHeritage.com seems to be the one competitor to Geni.com. Now, a few minutes ago I tried it out, just to see in what it differs from this site.
Here I list the features I like of MH that seem to be missing here at Geni, in the hope the devs take them into consideration or other users help me spot them:
1- Something I really appreciate of MyHeritage.com is that there are lots of event types to choose from. For instance, here on Geni I have input somebody's Holy Communion or Confirmation with the English title of the event, while MyHeritage.com provide precise types for these events and with perfect Italian (I'm Italian) translations. (Not that I bother entering English text, BTW, but localization is always a nice addition.) The same is valid for schools etc. This is such a nice feature that's almost having me switch from Geni to it.
2- I find the web UI at MH slightly better-looking that that of Geni, but this isn't really important.
3- I can't seem to find a "center-to-me" button or facility within the tree view here at Geni, while MH has one.I may be adding other features in case I find them.
Posted 1 year ago # -
After seeing MH website, my mouth just dropped.
I have to find VERY good reason/s to stay with Geni.
things i was asking here in this forum has already been in MH site, and that is not only multi language interface 25+ languages, MH comes with a better search/suggestion (I've described this GENI issue here http://forum.geni.com/topic.php?id=19801 )I think that GENI staff should do the following:
1. as much improvements as possible - there is plenty to do
2. read all the posts - there is plenty to read
3. answer all posts - not enough answers or no answers at all
4. etc
5. etcBecause of this, I think that GENI will never do a FULL GEDCOM export, because there is(?) always someone better... It would be very easy to lose a GENI member.
anyway, I'll stay with GENI for while, everyone needs a chance, chance to improve, and I think that GENI can prove that they can be better than anyone else.
thx
B.Posted 1 year ago # -
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Yeah, they have a lot going for them:
* Family Tree Builder, free desktop application (that some people on Geni apparently would pay for).
* 25 languages. We've waited forever for that here.
* Smart Matches, which tries to find duplicate profiles in other trees
* Family recipes (if you care about that, I don't)
* National holidays for 30+ countries
* Hebrew calendar (if you care about that, I don't)
* Has "unknown" gender designation (if you need that, I don't. Yet)Very impressive.
Posted 1 year ago # -
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@AntonioTavanti
1- I agree more event types and schooling and such would be a wonderful addition to Geni
2- Your opinion, I like Geni's better because I enjoy the tree look of it as opposed to the picture frames dropping back
3- It does exist, on your tree view the button in between the four arrows will center the tree back on you.Posted 1 year ago # -
When I said that the MH tree UI looks better I only meant re. to the font and the layout of "boxes". Geni is a lot more practical on the other hand.
Thanks for pointing out the Home button.
I've chosen to stick with Geni.com. Hopefully the staff will provide soon:
- localization. I don't really care about inserting data in English, but the way it is now the tree is completely useless to the majority of my family.
- more event types, especially religious ones. Here in Italy First Communions, Cremations and the like were performed till very recent times and are still performed.
And hopefully we the users won't be charged anything to keep on using the basic functionality of the site.
Otherwise, I'll export the gedcom of my tree and migrate to another similar service (like MyHeritage.com).Posted 1 year ago # -
<p>
Otherwise, I'll export the gedcom of my tree and migrate to another similar service (like MyHeritage.com).
</p>i think that i've mentioned this above, that members may or will go somewhere else.
can't wait for response from GENI staff...
Posted 1 year ago # -
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<p><p>
Otherwise, I'll export the gedcom of my tree and migrate to another similar service (like MyHeritage.com).
</p>
</p><p>i think that i've mentioned this above, that members may or will go somewhere else.</p>
<p>can't wait for response from GENI staff...
</p>That's easier said than done. Even if you wanted to move to another site, you would then have to convince other participating family members to follow you and start all over again.
It may be worth looking at other sites to see what they are doing better (in your opinion), but I think it's better to then discuss it here on the forum and help the G-Team to fine tune their own model. I also feel that the good things on Geni out-weigh the bad, and don't forget it's only just out of beta!
_TF
Posted 1 year ago # -
@Tree Fella
I wrote above... "I'll stay with GENI for while, everyone needs a chance, chance to improve, and I think that GENI can prove that they can be better than anyone else..."and also I wrote here http://forum.geni.com/topic.php?id=796 that I would like to help with GENI.
;)
Posted 1 year ago # -
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@Brano, yes I appreciate that, and my comments were not intended to have an angry tone of voice. I was just trying to say, yes, I get frustrated too sometimes but it may be worth us hanging in there.
_TF
Posted 1 year ago # -
3- I can't seem to find a "center-to-me" button or facility within the tree view here at Geni, while MH has one.
If you click on the space or picture between the four arrows in navigation, that'll snap back to the person whose tree you're looking at (which is yourself by default).
If you've gone from person to person opening trees and thus it's no longer centered on you, click on your name in the path displayed in the upper left corner.
Of course, if the path is way to long to even see yourself, click tree and redraw it. ;)
Posted 1 year ago # -
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Great feedback. We are very much on the same page with much of what has been said here. Just a few comments:
- Events: You can create a completely custom event right now on Geni for any purpose. What would you want from a predefined event?
- Translation: I know the wait for this one has been long, but we promised merging and GEDCOM first, and have followed through on those promises. Translation is coming.
- Localization: Before, during, and after translation we will also include various localization and local flavor features such as time zone support, alternate calendars and units of measurement.
Hopefully the existing feature set provides a compelling experience to much of your family as we continue to build the remaining 'missing pieces' that meet the full needs of your particular tree. Stay tuned!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks Noah
Posted 1 year ago # -
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Great feedback. We are very much on the same page with much of what has been said here. Just a few comments:
1. Events: You can create a completely custom event right now on Geni for any purpose. What would you want from a predefined event?
2. Translation: I know the wait for this one has been long, but we promised merging and GEDCOM first, and have followed through on those promises. Translation is coming.
3. Localization: Before, during, and after translation we will also include various localization and local flavor features such as time zone support, alternate calendars and units of measurement.1. Predefined events make GEDCOM output more consistent, and I think will benefit offline syncing as well. It would also make it easier to group and filter event types, i.e. find all "Vacation" events instead of hunting for random strings like "Family Holiday", "Road Trip 2008", "Visit to New Zealand", etc.
2. Now that GEDCOM and merging are released, hopefully this is next up?
3. Hopefully will follow right after 2?Posted 1 year ago # -
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@Noah I just wanted to say for the record that Noah has been doing a great job at reading the boards and answering peoples questions and complaints. So thank you Noah!
Posted 1 year ago # -
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@vlitroe
Your point #1 is right on. Structured data is always better than free-form data when constructing searches.
The possible fallacy is assuming that Geni intend to provide decent Search filtering (and Sorting). I and others have repeatedly complained about the pathetic Search and Sort capability. Not once (that I've found) have Geni staff acknowledged that they recognize it as a problem, nor given any indication that they plan to ever improve Searching and Sorting.
Posted 1 year ago # -
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@victarmas thank you! it is my pleasure.
@PhiDeck For the record, I acknowledge that our current search and sort features are lacking, an we plan on improving it in the future. It is not our number one priority, but we certainly understand the importance.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@Noah It is not our number one priority, but we certainly understand the importance.
just curious, is there a list or something, where we could see current priorities or things that GENI is working on? ;)
thx
BPosted 1 year ago # -
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just curious, is there a list or something, where we could see current priorities or things that GENI is working on? ;)
You mean like a road map? :-)
Posted 1 year ago # -
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@Noah,
Regarding translation/localization, I would be very interested in seeing some features that would allow families across countries and language barriers to communicate and share information. To be more specific: If I enter information in, let's say, German, it would be nice if that piece of text was tagged with the German language code, and then I could enter the text in, say, English with that language code, so that when users have selected their locale, they see only text in languages they understand (if that version exists), or alternatively a Google Translated version can be shown. A Google Translated version can also be used as template for further correction for a quicker translation.
Same with measurements, it would be nice if e.g. height of a person is displayed in the unit of the viewer, not the person who entered it.
Does any of this make sense?Posted 1 year ago #
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