GenCirles and MyHeritage

Dear GenCircles User,

Pearl Street Software, maker of GenCircles and Family Tree Legends, has merged with MyHeritage ( http://www.myheritage.com ), recently named one of the best genealogy Websites of the year 2007 by Family Tree Magazine. In the first positive development from this merger, Family Tree Legends and GenCircles have been made 100% free!

Now, to celebrate the holidays - the perfect time for spending quality time with family - we have a new announcement to share with you. The combined teams of Pearl Street Software and MyHeritage have been hard at work, developing next generation technology to connect family trees. We now bring you Smart Matching 2.0 - free for GenCircles and MyHeritage users!

What is Smart Matching(tm)?
Smart Matching is a specialized genealogy technology developed by Pearl Street Software and further advanced by MyHeritage, to connect family trees. It works by comparing millions of names, facts and tree connections - intelligently. When two family trees are connected, both their owners are informed, and benefit from the opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other. Imagine the discoveries made possible when hundreds of thousands of family trees become connected...

What's new in Smart Matching 2.0?
In version 2.0, Smart Matching has just gotten smarter. Behind the scenes, new algorithms were added to cover spelling and phonetic variations, understand nicknames and name synonyms and deal better with ethnic variations. In the front, a brand new AJAX interface has been added for viewing any two matching trees side-by-side, to help tree owners quickly spot what they may learn from the other tree. Using Smart Matching 2.0, MyHeritage is well on its way to build a connected family tree of the world, with 200 million names, and many more added every day. To see examples of the new side-by-side display, visit our blog at http://www.myheritage.com/blogs/companyblog/ and scroll down.

What's available on MyHeritage.com?
In addition to GenCircles.com and Family Tree Legends, MyHeritage offers a system of more than one million private family sites, created and maintained by its users. Each family site features a family tree which can be edited securely online, or managed offline and published to the Web. Family sites are a great place to keep in touch with family online with photo sharing, event calendars, family news, recipes, polls and more features. Access to family sites is restricted to family members only, but sites can be made partially accessible to guests, while maintaining privacy.

How can I get my Smart Matches?
GenCircles users who have a family tree on GenCircles can now enjoy it on their own MyHeritage family site too, for free. The new family trees and family sites are password-protected and secure, for your eyes only. Access information will be emailed to you in a separate email.

In a few days we will be emailing all users for whom positive Smart Matches were found, with links to view their Smart Matches securely. Prepare for some exciting new discoveries in your family tree! If you haven't got a family tree on MyHeritage yet, start one today at http://www.myheritage.com, and get your Smart Matches!

Can we trust MyHeritage as a good steward for our data?
One of the reasons Pearl Street Software chose to merge with MyHeritage was our absolute respect for users' data. Family trees on MyHeritage are owned by the users and we immediately carry out any privacy related request. MyHeritage has built its reputation by respecting users and their data, and this trust has made MyHeritage one of the world's fastest growing genealogy Websites.

The combined teams of MyHeritage and Pearl Street Software are committed more than ever to providing the best genealogy products and services, and keeping them free.

Happy holidays,
MyHeritage team