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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: jomcd967 on Sunday 30 September 12 02:24 BST (UK)

Title: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: jomcd967 on Sunday 30 September 12 02:24 BST (UK)
I was lucky enough to receive an iPad for my birthday, hubby bought it specifically for me to do my research and free up the kids laptops that I keep pinching. I am devasted to find that I can't access ancestry records on it as is does not have adobe flash player. I downloaded the ancestry app which lets me view records that are already attached to someone, it also let's me view records from a "hint" that it has found but I can view nothing when I search a record. This is so disappointing, not just to me but to hubby who was being so thoughtful. This only seems to occur on ancestry, I have no problem with Find My Past records, or other sites. Can anyone please help me work around this????

Thanks, Jo  ???
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: polarbear on Sunday 30 September 12 03:17 BST (UK)
Hi there.

I never even considered that when I bought my iPad b/c I didn't know about the adobe bit. However, I don't seem to have any problem downloading anything from ancestry. I have an iPad3 and have NOT downloaded the ancestry app. I simply type ancestry.whatever into the search engine, log in, and away I go, just like on my laptop. So maybe the app is the problem? It seems to me that it has some limitations which was why I didn't download it, if I remember correctly.

PB
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: jomcd967 on Sunday 30 September 12 07:38 BST (UK)
Thanks PBS, I have now removed the ancestry app but still can't view the original records - even of a census attached to someone years ago???? Someone please help me work around this,

Hopeful Jo  ???
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: confused73 on Sunday 30 September 12 08:05 BST (UK)
Hi I had this problem on my tablet, I could only get into one of my family trees on ancestry,via an aps. then discovered that by fiddling around and going to more detail of the family tree that came up,I could get to where I could see a search sign and was able to get in and access.  It is a long winded process but it does mean I can eventually get in.  Try playing around and may be it will work for you.
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Ringrose on Sunday 30 September 12 09:09 BST (UK)
I don't use the Ancestry app.Why not just use Ancestry in the normal wayas you would on a computer.It all works fine .
Ringrose
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: confused73 on Sunday 30 September 12 09:14 BST (UK)
When I tried to get in the normal way I could not get in at all, unlike FindMyPast. So put on an app and got in, even if longwinded, any suggestions as to how to get in would be grateful to learn.
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: JulesT on Sunday 30 September 12 09:47 BST (UK)
I also have an Ipad, I can access Ancestry documents no problem, I just can't read them. :'(  They appear pixellated and out of focus.  If I find something interesting I save to my Shoebox and then view on my desktop at a later date. 

I would love to be able to find a solution to this. 8)

Jules
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Ringrose on Sunday 30 September 12 10:24 BST (UK)
I have no problem with reading the images.Perhaps it's the type of iPad that makes the difference.Mine is the iPad 1.... Very early one
Ringrose
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Nick29 on Sunday 30 September 12 10:28 BST (UK)
Ringrose - have you ever updated the iOS on it, or does it still have iOS 5.1.1 ?

Jo - what browser are you using on your iPad ?  Have you tried installing Chrome ?

Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: jomcd967 on Sunday 30 September 12 10:46 BST (UK)
I don't know about the iOS, it is brand new, received yesterday! I have removed the ancestry app and log in through safari (which I read is not compatible with adobe flash player) and still can't load/read any images of marriages, censuses, etc. I have found that I can send a record to my iPad by email and then open and view it but this is a tedious method for someone who spends hours browsing old records and is such a letdown for what is a very new & expensive gift that was supposed to make my life easier. Also ancestry now is making me log back in each time I want to look at a different record!!!! I want to go back to using the kids laptops but don't want to disappoint my lovely hubby by letting him know that his thoughtful gift is useless for its intended use.

Please someone help......
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: suein10b on Sunday 30 September 12 10:56 BST (UK)
Strange.  I just tried it using a few different browsers and its a no go.  Was working ok on 5.1.1.
So have downloaded free Puffin Web Browser
and images are now working.
New ipad using ios 6

Belated birthday greetingf
Sue
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: panda40 on Sunday 30 September 12 11:11 BST (UK)
I've got the new Ipad 3 with OS6. No problem at all opening and viewing images either newly saved or old ones with either the app or through Safari. Strange it might be worth unistalling and then reinstalling to see if that makes a difference.
regards panda
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: jomcd967 on Sunday 30 September 12 11:24 BST (UK)
Ok, genuinely confused now. I have tried installing chrome and accessing through there - no go, so I took Sue's advice and installed Puffin and yeah, it worked!!!!! But then read panda post and don't understand why I just can't do it all through safari, either with or without the app??? I have uninstalled the app - is that what you meant panda? I really appreciate everyone's help and suggestions and at least now I can do it, just not how I wanted it to and still with glitches that make me uneasy, something's not right.
I will now enjoy my new toy by playing some really cool games (great way to interact to the kids) and try it all again tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone, Jo
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: suein10b on Sunday 30 September 12 11:27 BST (UK)
Hi Jo

I cant view images via the ancestry app or safari either. 

At least as you say we now have a way to view the images.
Sue
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: jomcd967 on Sunday 30 September 12 11:57 BST (UK)
Hi Sue, I'm so glad it's not just me, was starting to think my new toy was a lemon! Although puffin works, some are still not clear and it is not as easy to use as safari, I am just so frustrated that something so expensive and marketed as being this amazing tool is just not suited to browsing documents on the Internet!!! This would seem like a basic function to me, I am hoping to ring ancestry and see what they have to say/offer and if that's no good I will try apple, my problem is that all this technology is a bit beyond me so I hope I can follow any answers/advice given. I will let you know if I have any luck.

Jo
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: mumjo on Sunday 30 September 12 12:46 BST (UK)
I could access images with no problem. I upgraded to ios6 the other day and after reading all the posts thought i had better check. Now i can't get anything on the images. Wish i hadn't upgraded as there are quite a gew things that don't work as well as they did.  :( :(
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: suein10b on Sunday 30 September 12 13:27 BST (UK)
Hi Again.

Have now managed to get the ancestry app working.  Although not the same as in 5.1.1
You need to access a tree on the app that you have previously uploaded to ancestry.

Cannot however do a search for a name not in the tree already.
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Ringrose on Sunday 30 September 12 14:07 BST (UK)
The grandchildren have updated things for me....I've never had any problem looking at Ancestry records....very clear. In fact I've ne'er had Robles with this early iPad.
Ringrsr
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: jomcd967 on Monday 01 October 12 07:49 BST (UK)
Ringrose I would love your grandchildren, have installed the update to ios6, still nothing so I rang ancestry who said that they were aware that there was no capability to view records using the iPad and that they were "working on it"!!! They clarified it as such, you can view records using the app that are already attached to an existing tree, but you can't search for new records and view them through the app. You can search for new records by logging on to ancestry through safari but you can't see any of the records you find???? So as someone with full world wide membership on ancestry I am basically stuffed!!

I am really flabbergasted that these are not compatible???
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: JulesT on Monday 01 October 12 08:22 BST (UK)
jomcd967 - It could be a long wait for Ancestry while they are "working on it" - I've been waiting since June 4th for them to "work on" an image which kept bringing up an "error in processing" for a Border Crossing document.  It is an important document for me to view as it may hold clues to where hubby's ancestor disappeared to as there is no further trace of him after this :(.  I've since come across a few more from the same group which won't display either.  I emailed them after 6 weeks and got the same bog standard reply as before, I'm not very happy with their service.

I stopped using the Ancestry app shortly after I downloaded it because I felt it was very limited. 

I tried looking at a few documents last night after updating the IOS, some were clearly viewable and others hopelessly fuzzy.  I couldn't work out a pattern as to which I could see and couldn't see.  I have the newest iPad, updated to IOS6 and use Safari.  Looks like it's back to the Shoebox method for me!

Jules

Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: jomcd967 on Monday 01 October 12 08:38 BST (UK)
What I don't get is how it works fine for Panda and others and then not for me and others??? I can't tell you how annoying all this is and "working on it" could mean years, I'm not even sure who I should be annoyed at - ancestry or apple????

Jo
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: JulesT on Monday 01 October 12 08:44 BST (UK)
I love my iPad but there is no point in having all this technology if it fails miserably at what should be a simple task.

Jules
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: KGarrad on Monday 01 October 12 09:06 BST (UK)
I'm afraid that's the price you pay for moving away from Windows!

Every app used in Apple hardware has to be approved by them first - and that can be a long process in itself.

Then, the people who own the software have to develop different versions: Windows (XP and Vista may need different versions), Apple Mac, iPad (different versions?), Unix, Android, etc.
Even on Widows, different versiona may be needed for Internet Exploder, Firefox, Google Chrome, and so on.

Software development isn't always easy! ;D
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Ringrose on Monday 01 October 12 09:13 BST (UK)
I have just checked my ipad1 for Ancestry......no problem.Mime is an Apple ,perhaps other makes do not work as well.Im puzzled as to why you can't get decent images.
Ringrose
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: KGarrad on Monday 01 October 12 09:15 BST (UK)
Mime is an Apple ,perhaps other makes do not work as well.



Ummmm . . . . all iPads are Apple! That's who makes them? ;D
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: kerryb on Monday 01 October 12 09:35 BST (UK)
Morning just found the same problem and I am using a brand new Ipad with version 6.  I presume that version 6 is not compatible with Adobe Flash and we just need to wait for someone to enable that.  Oh well.

Not sure I understand why images are viewable via the app and not the website?  Hmmm

Kerry
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: RJ_Paton on Monday 01 October 12 09:48 BST (UK)
Morning just found the same problem and I am using a brand new Ipad with version 6.  I presume that version 6 is not compatible with Adobe Flash and we just need to wait for someone to enable that.  Oh well.

Not sure I understand why images are viewable via the app and not the website?  Hmmm

Kerry

Adobe Flash has never been compatible with any iPad - Apple and Adobe had a serious fallout - Apple have claimed that Flash as it is used is a serious security threat to the operating system.
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Nick29 on Monday 01 October 12 10:19 BST (UK)
Mime is an Apple ,perhaps other makes do not work as well.



Ummmm . . . . all iPads are Apple! That's who makes them? ;D

All modern Apple products are made by a Chinese company called Foxconn, who also make the Amazon Kindle, XBox 360, the Playstation 3, and Intel-branded computer motherboards. It is the largest electronics manufacturer in the world.

Foxconn have had several allegations about the poor treatment of its empoyees, and some time ago Apple commissioned an investigation.  The outcome of Apple's investigation isn't clear, but last week there was a riot in the factory over pay and conditions, involving 2000 people, and 10 people died.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/thomaspascoe/100020258/the-foxconn-riot-shows-us-the-misery-of-communism-and-the-hypocrisy-of-western-liberals/

Apple are very well-known because of their falling out with Adobe, which means that no Apple product will support Adobe Flash.  Since Ancestry rely heavily  on Adobe Flash, then it seems reasonable to me to assume that a product that doesn't support Flash won't display the Ancestry pages very well. 

http://ancestryuk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5503


Before splashing out on a £600 product, it's a good idea to know its limitations  :-\



Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Koromo on Monday 01 October 12 10:29 BST (UK)


   ... which means that no Apple product will support Adobe Flash.


Not quite true, perhaps you mean no iDevice supports Flash because of high memory/battery usage, etc.  Things using Mac OSX (like desktops) have no problem using Flash. (And what has Foxconn got to do with the Flash issue?  ::))

Is the problem to do with which viewer is being used by which iPad/iOS on the Ancestry censuses?

The Standard viewer shows a straightforward .jpg image.
The Advanced viewer uses Flash to display/zoom the image.

Don't have an iPad so don't know if there is an ability to switch between the two.
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Nick29 on Monday 01 October 12 10:39 BST (UK)
Since the discussion was about the iPad, then my comments were about Apple 'i' devices.

Foxconn has nothing to do with the Flash issue. Lots of people assume that the 'i' devices are made in a US factory by happy fluffy Apple employees, when they couldn't be further from the truth.  Apple know about the Foxconn issues, and they are big enough to lean on Foxconn, according to the article I quoted.

I was also just pointing out that if you are using a website which openly admits that it relies heavily on Flash, then it's rather silly to buy something that doesn't support Flash, and then complain that it doesn't work properly.  Rather like buying a snowmobile, and then complaining that it doesn't hold the road well on the roundabouts on the A146 in June ! 

P.S. Other portable devices seem to cope with Flash pretty well, without depleting their memory/batteries. 
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: RJ_Paton on Monday 01 October 12 13:33 BST (UK)
The Apple Flash "disagreement" has never been about memory or battery usage - rather Apple's view that Flash was a security issue for the operating systems. Adobe appear to have thrown in the towel with the mobile version of Flash and have reported that development will cease.

However to get back to the original point - the suggestion that the standard viewing system be tried is a good one.
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: kerryb on Monday 01 October 12 16:06 BST (UK)
Ok so I am thick!

How do I change to the standard viewer in Ancestry.  I can't for the life of me find how and the help is no help at all!

Kerry
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: kerryb on Monday 01 October 12 16:25 BST (UK)
Gave up eventually and downloaded Puffin web browser.  It works in that and I can view images.

Kerry
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Joy45 on Monday 01 October 12 16:41 BST (UK)
Hi all,

I have the new ipad and up dated to iOS and have not had trouble using Ancestry looking at records or down loading them on to my tree. I use Safari plus have the app down loaded but as you can not search on the app I do not use it much but use the main Ancestry site.

Joy
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: cocksie on Monday 01 October 12 23:41 BST (UK)
The app only lets you view and edit your tree. Plus those shaky green leaves ... Oddly one can view the "hint" image documents very clearly.

To search one has to go to actual site. To view images of records you need to change the viewer (in "options" above the  place where the image is not showing". I twiddled about - "compressed image" lets you view the document but some images are ot that sharp while some are very clear - no logic to clarity of image set that I can find.
Cocksie
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: jomcd967 on Tuesday 02 October 12 02:52 BST (UK)
I tried several times at home on the i pad to change to the standard viewer and it just wasn't there as an option - I even rang ancestry again who were no help at all. So I logged on at work and the option to select standard viewer now shows up. I have selected this through works p.c. and will have to see when I get home if it now works on the i pad. Like Kerry I can use Puffin but still don't understand why Joy has no problems on her i pad (same version & ios as me) and yet some of us just can't???

Jo
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Nick29 on Tuesday 02 October 12 07:37 BST (UK)
Why don't you contact Apple and ask them why options which appear on a PC browser will not appear on theirs ?
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Ringrose on Tuesday 02 October 12 08:10 BST (UK)
Agree with Joy.I do have the Ancestry app but I don't use it .I find Ancestry works well,good images etc.I use Safari....some other terms such as Puffin I've never heard of.I just use the iPad in a simple way ...let the grandchildren do any general updates etc.I find it difficult to understand the problems some of you are having.Ive altered nothing....it worked from the beginning.....nearly 3 years ago now
The Ancestry App is free isn't it.Perhaps that's why it doesn't work
Ringrose
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: kerryb on Tuesday 02 October 12 12:34 BST (UK)
I tried several times at home on the i pad to change to the standard viewer and it just wasn't there as an option - I even rang ancestry again who were no help at all. So I logged on at work and the option to select standard viewer now shows up. I have selected this through works p.c. and will have to see when I get home if it now works on the i pad. Like Kerry I can use Puffin but still don't understand why Joy has no problems on her i pad (same version & ios as me) and yet some of us just can't???

Jo
No I don't understand it either Jo! I eventually found the option for Standard viewer as you say above, on my laptop but it does not appear on the Ipad options. 

I am happy now that I can use it through Puffin, not perfect but at least it works and I don't envisage me using it too much on my Ipad, just the odd occasion when I am in a record office I guess.

Kerry
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Ringrose on Tuesday 02 October 12 13:53 BST (UK)
Kerry ,what is Puffin?Ive never come across it before.Apparently not all iPads ,unless they are Apple ones use Apple software,so if you have another tablet other than Apple perhaps ths is why there is a problem.
Ringrosr
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: KGarrad on Tuesday 02 October 12 14:38 BST (UK)
Kerry ,what is Puffin?Ive never come across it before.Apparently not all iPads ,unless they are Apple ones use Apple software,so if you have another tablet other than Apple perhaps ths is why there is a problem.
Ringrosr

If it's not made/marketed by Apple then it isn't an iPad! ;D
Trademarks!! ;D
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: Nick29 on Tuesday 02 October 12 14:43 BST (UK)
Puffin is a web browser....

http://www.puffinbrowser.com/
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: panda40 on Tuesday 02 October 12 20:42 BST (UK)
Just seen on a tweet from Ancestry that they are aware of the problem and it is to do with their image viewer nothing to do with IOS6. They hope to have it fixed by Friday.
Regards panda
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: mumjo on Tuesday 02 October 12 21:20 BST (UK)
Ah, good. I thought I'd been imagining looking at the images previously or got confused with FindMyPast. Nice to know i'm not as senile as I thought!  ::) ::)
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: suein10b on Thursday 04 October 12 12:58 BST (UK)
Seems that ancestry have fixed this. I have just managed to access images using Chrome :-)
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: mumjo on Thursday 04 October 12 15:41 BST (UK)
Yes ok on safari too  ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: kerryb on Thursday 04 October 12 17:53 BST (UK)
Me too!

Whatever the problem was now seems to have been solved.

The Ipad 3 screen is brilliant, I have never seen census returns that are so clear and readable!  ;D

Kerry
Title: Re: Completed - Accessing ancestry records on an iPad
Post by: jomcd967 on Friday 05 October 12 08:04 BST (UK)
Yes, finally all fixed and able to enjoy my lovely new birthday present! Thanks all for all your helpful advice, suggestions and reassurances. As always, you guys are brilliant.

Regards, Jo.  :) :) :)