Well, 2009 has been a busy year for us. It’s gone by very quickly and we thought it would be fun to review all that has happened in the last 12 months. If you’re not one to dwell on the past, check back tomorrow as we present our 2010 New Years’ Resolutions with a peek at our plans for the coming year. But until then, “Sherman, set the Wayback Machine to 2009!”
RootsMagic 4
The biggest event by far this year was the release of RootsMagic 4. Over three years in the making, RootsMagic 4 was a complete rewrite from it’s predecessor, introduced many new and exciting features, and paved the way for incredible new features in the future. After working insanely long hours for months on end, it was apparent that we weren’t going to make our original goal of releasing version 4 in late 2008. After a community preview in January with 2,000 of our own users testing it, we did something we had never done before and invited the public to preview RootsMagic 4 before it was released. With the terrific feedback and suggestions we received, we were able to officially release RootsMagic 4 on March 25, 2009. Our users were thrilled with the new features, we were thrilled to get some sleep again, and our families were thrilled to have us back.
Growth
We feel very fortunate that in these days of economic uncertainty, not only have we been able to stay in business, but we’ve been able to grow as a company. To keep up with this growth, we’ve hired additional sales and support staff. We recognize that this growth is only possible because of your support and eagerness to tell your friends and family members about us. Thank you!
We Get Around
In 2009, we traveled more miles, taught more classes, and attended more conferences than we ever have before. In fact, there was one weekend where we were present at four different events in four different states at the same time! Thank you to all the societies, user groups, family history centers, and companies that organized these events. And thank you to all of you who came to see us! By far, the most rewarding aspect of these events is the chance to meet our users face-to-face, answer your questions, and receive your suggestions.
Website Facelift
After almost 7 years with the same basic design and layout, our website was starting to show its age. We’ve been meaning to update it for several years now, but something has always gotten in the way (cough.. Version 4…cough). We finally bit the bullet and did it and on November 18, our new website was launched. It’s not perfect but it’s much better organized and, from what you’ve told us, easier to find what you’re looking for.
RootsMagic Essentials
2009 brought another first for us. Many of you have told us about friends or family members that would like to dip their toes in the world of genealogy but weren’t ready for software as comprehensive as RootsMagic. In answer to these requests, on November 18, we released our first completely free genealogy software, “RootsMagic Essentials“. RootsMagic Essentials contains many core features found in its namesake but at a much friendlier price- free. Since then, thousands of people have downloaded RootsMagic Essentials and have started tracing their family tree.
Awards
We’ve been honored with several awards this year including:
2009 FamilySearch Software Awards
Best Dashboard and Easiest to Sync
ThinkGenealogy Innovator Award
July 2009
GeneAwards 2009
Best Genealogy Product of 2009
Most Improved Product of 2009
Thank You!
We know this sounds clichéd, but none of this would have been possible without you and your support. 2009 has been a big year for us and, rest assured, we’re working hard to make 2010 even better!
One of the really nice things about Roots Magic is your involvment with us, the users. You are not some remote vast organisation that keeps us at arms length, and that, I believe, is what makes you unique. Keep up the good work and have a Happy & Prosperous New Year.
Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishments and successes in 2009. You have such an outstanding product that it’s easy to recommend it to others. And now with RM Essentials–there’s no stopping your growth! Thank you for your great product. Can’t wait to see what 2010 brings!
I just found this free download and cannot wait to see how it works.Thanks for sharing!
I initially entered all my data in Family Origins and I loved it and was heartbroken when it was discontinued. However, the new Roots Magic 4 is even better and easier to use. I love it. I do, however, wish that I could get an index printed at the end of each generation for making a book. I wish you continued success in 2010!
RM4 has to be the best family history software that’s available and I’ve tried most of the others to confirm this. The more I use it, the more I like it. I look forward to seeing how it’s further developed in 2010.
A Happy New Year to everyone at RM. Thanks for all you’ve done. Keep up the good work.
Its the personal involvement that makes RM4 different. The development took a long time, but was well worth the wait! The effort to give us all what we want in terms of ease of use, flexibility an portability has been appreciated and has made my (already strong) loyalty to RM4 even stronger.
I was stunned when some of my early comments / suggestions where assessed so quickly by the man himself – thank you Bruce. I hope 2010 is as successful for you and yours (but maybe a little less frantic).
I purchased Root Magic after previewing it at the OGS Conference last April. Very happy with it and learning how to use it.
Bruce, I have been with you since the first Family Origins, and love RootsMagic. I recommend it to all the genealogy classes I teach! Best wishes for a great 2010!
2009 was certainly a challenging year on many fronts and to be honest that RM4 s not out of the woods yet, however it is now on the verge of being a reliable and solid genealogy program. The efforts of the RM team have always been on my mind and the number of hours that must have gone into resolving many of the problems and I thank them for recognising the dedication of their loyal users in working with them during 2009.
2010 brings the real birth of RM4 for me and I look forward to those resolutions from the team, the remaining problems being eradicated and finally getting to build on some of those new features and making them complete and fully rounded.
My thanks to the team for their efforts in 2009 and bringing about a potential world beating program which I will have no hesitation recommending to others. I can’t wait to hear some of those resolutions and the next update.
Congratulations.
We love RM in the Southeastern Part of US and would welcome you to come here ( Atlanta ???) for a visit. We want you to visit our area and offer these wonderful opportunities to us as well. Can’t promise warmer temperatures, but can promise a warm welcome and great turnout.
We will be coming to Atlanta in November.
http://www.fhexpos.com/events/upcoming.php?event_id=59
I have used Roots Magic since it was out as My Family and then Family Origins and was not happy when Origins was dropped for Roots Magic. As I get use to it I have really enjoyed working with it. I acquired a Trojan horse and lost all my files, thank god for backups. The problem I had was, I Could not get the program back and I could not find my program disk to reload. While surfing some other Genealogy stuff I came across your RM4 essentials and it gave me the opportunity to reload and pull my backup to check on them. Every thing is working well, I just need to reenter a little of the most recent info. Now I can get the full version and know it works. Thank you for your foresite.