Ancestory 2.0 app brings broader generational view to iPad

Ancestry.com has released version 2.0 of its mobile app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users. Ancestry 2.0 features a major redesign of its user interface, which has been optimised for iPad users to make browsing your online Ancestry.com tree much easier than previously. The app also adds new options for accessing records and source citations linked to individuals in your tree. It also extends access to shared trees.

The Ancestry app is designed to give family historians access to any family trees they've stored online at Ancestry.com. Not only can users browse their own trees, they can also edit selected information, upload photos and even add new family members from scratch while away from a computer and web browser, making the app much more than a simple browsing tool.

The major new change is in Ancestry's user interface: gone is the simple alphabetical list of names in your tree, and in its place is a visual representation of the tree in the form of a pedigree view. The change has been made largely for the iPad, where users can view up to four generations at once, while iPhone users must make do with just two, although moving between generations is quick and easy.

Moving between generations is simple, and individual entries can be viewed in more detail across a series of tabs, which now include options for viewing individual records and source citations. Entries can also be edited, making the app useful as a field research tool.

Version 2.0 also extends access to family trees that have been shared by other Ancestry members.

Ancestry 2.0 is available now through the iTunes App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. You'll need an Ancestry account to create your own tree, which is free, while access to its online records requires a subscription or pay-as-you-go credits.