Google Nexus One coming to Verizon on March 23

The Google Nexus One running Android will be coming to Verizon Wireless on March 23. Hmm, Motorola Droid or Google Nexus One (made by HTC)?

When will Apple's iPhone appear on Verizon? What are you waiting for Apple?

Google Nexus One coming to Verizon soon

Right now, the Google Nexus One is available for T-Mobile. Soon (this spring), it will be coming to Verizon and to Vodafone. By then, I'm sure that the beta version of Epocrates will be thoroughly tested and you'll have access to the full version of Epocrates for Android.

I really like the tri-color clickable trackball on the Nexus One. You'll find this feature on other HTC phones like the Droid Eris. When you're browsing the web, this little trackball makes navigation so user-friendly. BlackBerry users who used to have devices like the Pearl that included a trackball will also like this feature.

Speaking of Verizon, what's going on with the Apple iPhone? Will that smartphone ever make it to Verizon?

Try Epocrates on webOS (for Palm Pre and Palm Pixi)

Epocrates has launched a beta version of a native app that runs on webOS. So, for all you Palm Pre and Palm Pixi owners, go out and try Epocrates on your smartphone!

Please note, the clinical content will not be updated for the beta version of Epocrates.

To learn more, visit: http://www.epocrates.com/products/webos/

Instructions for Palm Pre/Pixi

To download Epocrates Rx free software to your Palm Pre/Pixi, follow these simple steps:

1. On your Palm Pre/Pixi device, tap the “Launcher” icon, then the “App Catalog” icon and search for “Epocrates”
2. Select “Epocrates” and tap on “Download for free”
3. When the download is complete, tap on “Tap to Launch”
4. Once Epocrates launches, you will see a welcome page.
   Existing user: Tap on “Sign In”, enter Epocrates username/password and tap “Sign In”
   New user: Tap on “Register Now”

Is Palm dying (or almost dead)?

Some experts are reporting (and blogging) that Palm is dying. Is this true? How many people still use a device running the original Palm OS? I think the number is quite substantial in the health care industry. Perhaps the critical question is: what device will these individuals get when it's time to upgrade smartphones?

Many doctors still use a Palm Treo (or even the Palm Centro). OK, maybe it's not really that many, but there are some. If you're still using a Palm Treo (or even a Palm PDA), then you're not alone. Doctors generally tend to be late adopters of technology because they're so busy saving lives and keeping up with the high volume of patient care (although this trend is changing. see: Docs cut work hours)

In any case, is Palm dying? What about all the excitement around the Palm Pre and webOS? Has Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry swept webOS into the ocean? Will Windows Phone 7 Series add some additional pressure on a dying Palm? webOS was built as an entirely new OS and it doesn't represent the original Palm OS (which is both good and bad). For many doctors, if they're going to learn a brand new smartphone OS anyways, why not get the iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android? Why choose webOS?

Authors at PC World and the Wall Street Journal seem to think that Palm is dying. What do you think?

3G Wireless Performance Tests by PC World

PC World has released their "3G Wireless Performance Tests" and they've given AT&T the highest ranking. I find that rather ironic given all the recent complaints about the reliability of the AT&T network. Maybe PC World ran their tests before the Apple iPhone spread across the 13 different cities tested by PC World. Or, maybe the editors (and testers) at PC World have a bias. Maybe these test results are very representative of the 13 cities tested. Who knows. I haven't performed 3G head-to-head studies, so I have no data.

In any case, it's an interesting study and you can read about it here. Since PC World isn't a peer-reviewed journal, I doubt that we'll see many editorials or comments regarding the study design, methodology, data collection, possibilities of bias, etc. 

Epocrates (beta) now available for Android!

A beta version of the Epocrates native medical app is now available for the Google Android OS.
Here's a video:

* The clinical content will not be updated for the beta version of this application.
* This application is for Android devices with v1.6 or higher. If you have a version lower than 1.6, please contact your carrier for update information.

Thinklabs Stethoscope App

I wish I had this when I was a medical student.

Thinklabs Stethoscope App
Visual Heart & Lung Sounds - Watch what you hear

Thinklabs helps you visualize and record heart sounds with your iPhone or iPod touch.

The App sets a new standard for medical device user interfaces, using iPhone's outstanding multi-touch interface.

Features:

- Record and Display waveforms and spectrogram in real time.
- Scroll and Zoom In/Out using multi-Touch user interface.
- Edit Sounds on-screen.
- Save Recorded sounds.
- Email Sounds and Images, along with notes.
Hardware - stethoscope and input device

To listen to heart sounds, an electronic stethoscope is required. The Thinklabs Digital Stethoscope ds32a has been tested with the iPhone and iPod Touch. An external Made for iPod / Works with iPhone audio input device with audio input jack is required in order to connect the stethoscope to the iPod. We recommend the Belkin TuneTalk.

Click here to learn more about this medical app.

Touch Diagnostics Launches OKN+™ iPhone App for Visual Deficits as an Indicator of Neurodegenerative Disease

San Diego, CA, Feb 23, 2010 - Touch Diagnostics (TouchDx) launched today a new class of medical diagnostic iPhone applications for use by healthcare practitioners to assess and monitor neurodegenerative disease. The first of which is OKN+™, a medical diagnostic suite of assessments to detect visual deficits and includes three Optokinetic Nystagmus tests and the Red Desaturation test.

OKN+™ offers three different iPhone based Optokinetic Nystagmus tests that provide the clinician with increased diagnostic sensitivity and functionality previously impossible with yesterday’s handheld striped ribbon and handspun drums. OKN+™ is a much needed technological advance and sterile alternative to the old drum and ribbon. Optokinetic Nystagmus, commonly known as OKN, is the eye movement elicited by the tracking of a moving field.

Read more »

Doctors are looking for droid medical apps

I think we could make a very interesting Star Wars movie about Droid medical apps. As more physicians switch to Google Android, they're looking for medical apps that they used to have on their older devices running Palm OS, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, or iPhone. I know a few doctors who are eagerly searching the Internet each day to look for new medical apps for Android. Skyscape and Unbound Medicine have medical apps for Android. Epocrates is still reporting that its software will get released in the early part of 2010.

How many of you are using the Motorola Droid? Do you like it? We're about to see some great new Android smartphones coming out from Motorola:

• CLIQ 
• CLIQ XT
• DEVOUR
• BACKFLIP

I'm also excited about some of the new HTC smartphones:

• Desire
• Legend

Speaking of Android, AT&T is still waiting to release the Motorola BACKFLIP as the first Android smartphone on the AT&T network.

So, what's your favorite Android medical app?

Google Search now supports voice input

It's about time, isn't it? Google Search now supports voice input. Speak your queries in English, Mandarin, or Japanese.  I wonder why they picked those 3 languages. What about Spanish?

Which smartphones support Google Search by Voice? Here's the list:

• Android (of course!)    
• BlackBerry      
• iPhone      
• Nokia S60 (Symbian)    
• Windows Mobile

If you're still using the antiquated Windows Mobile, you may want to try Bing which also includes voice search. The voice recognition engine isn't very robust, but who's complaining since this is a free app? I wonder how Google's voice recognition compares with Bing's.

You can get Google Mobile apps by typing:  m.google.com/search into your mobile web browser.  You can also learn more about Google Mobile apps by visiting: http://www.google.com/mobile/google-mobile-app/

Motorola BACKFLIP with MOTOBLUR

The Motorola BACKFLIP with MOTOBLUR appears to be a really innovative new smartphone running Google Android. What's so innovative?

First, this device will feature a BACKTRACK navigation panel behind the screen. That's right - behind the screen. Even though the BACKFLIP will include a touch screen, the BACKTRACK navigation panel adds an entirely new dimension of usability. I guess you really have to try it to see for yourself.

MOTOBLUR will also give you easy access to your favorite social media outlets: Facebook™, MySpace and Twitter Direct Messaging

Speaking of the Motorola BACKFLIP, I actually saw one the other day when I was out and about. At first, it looked like a QWERTY slider, but then I noticed that it was a clamshell. It's not your traditional "front flip" clamshell design. That's why it's called the BACKFLIP. The QWERTY keyboard actually sits on the external back side of the phone instead of on the inside of the phone.

Medical apps will need to be rebuilt for Windows Phone 7 Series

Since Windows Phone 7 Series is a brand new operating system, old apps won't work on it (unless it comes with some type of legacy-mode or unless a third party builds an app for "classic" Windows Mobile). In any case, I'm predicting that apps will simply need to be rebuilt. It's really a shame that Microsoft didn't make this move a few years ago. Now, they're faced up against the Apple iPhone, RIM BlackBerry, and Google Android operating systems. I forgot to mention that Palm still has webOS and Nokia is tied to Symbian, but no one I speak to seems to be very optimistic about the future of these smartphone operating systems.

So, what will Microsoft do to make Windows Phone 7 Series a real winner? I'm really not sure that they can do anything. Maybe their smartphones will be free. Maybe the data plans for these devices will cost significantly less. Unless there's a major motivator for consumers, I think that most will simply choose either the iPhone or Android. Business users will still be drawn to BlackBerry, but that trend may evolve as iPhone and Android gain more users on the corporate side. In the world of health care, the major issue revolves around medical apps. I doubt that Windows Phone 7 Series will offer any type of unique medical app that can't be found on any other smartphone.

At the end of the day, I think Microsoft will have a really difficult time catching up to iPhone and Android in the health care sector. Let's see what they may have up their sleeves as new smartphones start appearing with Windows Phone 7 Series.

"virtually indestructible" phone

I'm sure someone could find a way to destroy it. That's why it's called a "virtually indestructible" phone. This Sonim phone is quite impressive (and also quite expensive). I'm sure it uses Gorilla Glass. I suppose if you're a military soldier on the field, then you may want something like this. I wonder if phones for the medical professional will ever endure an autoclave.

What will happen to the AT&T network when the iPad starts selling?

We all know that the AT&T network is having difficulty keeping up with the data load caused by a multitude of iPhone users. What will happen when the iPad becomes available? Will the networks get more congested? Will AT&T have the necessary infrastructure to provide adequate 3G services for all these new iPads that will be floating around?

It's really a shame that Apple isn't actively expanding their iPhone or iPad to other networks like Verizon.   We've all heard rumors that the iPhone will be coming to Verizon, but are these rumors real? When will it happen? In 2010? In 2 or 5 years?

My wife is eagerly waiting for the Verizon iPhone. I gave up on that when Apple didn't announce a Verizon iPhone in January. Let's see how AT&T will keep up with all the customer demands created by the iPhone and iPad.

Growing need for rugged smartphones in the health care industry

Many of us who use smartphones have probably dropped our device. Have you ever experienced a cracked screen? How about a dead device? A brick? Whether you use a case or a screen protector, your smartphone can suffer tremendous damage if it gets dropped. Even if your device has Corning Gorilla Glass, the "insides" could still get damaged.

When will we see more rugged smartphones being used in the health care industry?  Maybe it will be the day when Apple releases a rugged version of its iPhone. I believe there's a true need for health care professionals and students to switch to rugged devices because you can't afford to lose access to your critical data that's stored on a smartphone. For many of us, the smartphone is our peripheral brain. Life without a smartphone could mean utter chaos.

I'm sure we'll see more rugged smartphones designed specifically for the health care sector. Maybe they will have some of the features commonly found on Mobile Clinical Assistants (MCAs) and include a radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner along with a bar-code scanner.

Kindle for BlackBerry

Who needs an Amazon Kindle if you have a BlackBerry? You can now get Kindle for BlackBerry (beta) by visiting: www.amazon.com/kindlebb

Wow, now you can have a color Kindle!

Do you think we'll ever see "iPad for BlackBerry?" How about "iPad for Windows Phone 7 Series?" Of course, the iPad is much more than an e-book reader, so I shouldn't be comparing it to the Kindle, right?

Have you tried the ReachMD iPhone app?

Have you had a chance to try the free ReachMD Apple iPhone app? (also works on the iPod touch). This app will allow you to listen to ReachMD CME activities. 

ReachMD, an innovative communications company, provides thought-provoking medical news and information to healthcare practitioners. Established to help increasingly time-constrained medical providers stay abreast of new research, treatment protocols and continuing education requirements, ReachMD delivers innovative and informative radio programming via XM Satellite Radio Channel 160 and online streaming developed by doctors for doctors.

ReachMD Continuing Medical Education iPhone App Features:

• Listen and take Continuing Medical Education exams directly on your iPhone or iTouch
• Easily go back to exams you were previously working on after taking a phone call
• Search for Continuing Medical Education programs by keywords
• Automatically updates with new Continuing Medical Education programs
• Alerts for new programs and information

Click here to learn more about the ReachMD iPhone app.

Engadget offers an editorial about Windows Phone 7 Series

Windows Phone 7 Series. Does it roll off your tongue? I'm still having difficulty saying it. It's not nearly as simple as "Android" or "iPhone." Notice that it's no longer Windows Mobile. Does this mean that we won't see standalone PDAs like the HP iPaqs running Windows Mobile 7? Or, will there be some version of Windows Phone 7 Series that's not for a phone? Maybe it will be the non-phone version of Windows Phone 7 Series. Will we see Professional and Basic editions? Smartphone editions? Why call it a Series? Why not just Windows Phone 7? Why not Windows Mobile 7? I suppose Microsoft has its reasons.

Will Windows Phone 7 Series reignite the Microsoft flame in the mobile space?  Is it really crazy enough to work? Why would it attract existing Android, iPhone, or BlackBerry users? I could see why loyal Microsoft fans would upgrade from Windows Mobile 6.5.3 to Windows Phone 7 Series, but who else will choose this OS over the others?  What types of medical apps will we see for Windows Phone 7 Series?

Engadget has a very interesting little editorial on Windows Phone 7 Series. Opinions are all over the place, so you may feel like a ping pong ball. You can read the entire Engadget editorial here.

ER Doc creates some iPhone apps

Dr. Harvey Castro is an emergency medicine physician who has created some iPhone/iPod touch apps. Call it a hobby, call it a supplemental non-clinical job. Here are the details:

Lantana, Texas - Deep Pocket Series LLC has released Pink Reminder 1.0, their unique pretexting utility for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Designed to take advantage of the iPhone's unique capabilities and interface, Pink Reminder serves to help busy individuals keep track of their birth control by texting them reminders on the date and hour they choose. Never forget to take your birth control again or to change your vaginal ring on time.

The app will allow the user to set up reminders at any point in the medical regiment. The app will display what day pill the user is on and will display the time the next pill should be taken.

At any time, users can cancel any future tasks from within the app. The app can be set up for someone else For example using your iPhone you can set up to have these reminders for your spouse. Other carriers include, but not limited to, Verizon, T-mobile, Sprint, and many others. The users can text other users in Canada and most major cell phone providers in the United States.

Feature Highlights:
* Comfortable and simple User Interface
* Reminders can be set to be delivered at any time (up to a year in advance)
* Pretext reminders for doctors appointment, medication refill.
* Snooze feature, will text up to 3 times after the time alloted. 
* Supports alternative carriers outside the AT&T network

We have had patients in the emergency room complaining that they needed a reminder to take their medications., I decided that using text messages as a reminder would be the ideal way to address this issue." said Dr. Harvey Castro, founder and CEO of Texas based Deep Pocket Series LLC. "The idea came to me when working on his a Love reminder app. "

System Requirements:
* iPhone or iPod touch 2.2.1 or later. * Must have a cellphone available to activate the application.

Pricing and Availability: Pink Reminder 1.0 is only $0.99 (USD) and available for United states and Canada users exclusively through the App Store in the Medical App category. Pink reminder will request a code that is delivered by text to a cellphone. Review copies are available upon request.
www.dps.biz

RIM soon launching a new web browser (WebKit) for BlackBerry

Will this new BlackBerry web browser compete against the browser found on the Apple iPhone?  How about Opera Mobile or Skyfire?

Research In Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry phone, unveiled an overhauled Internet browser for its devices today to attract more non-business customers.

You can read about the details at BusinessWeek.

I wish I could be at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. 

MPR for the iPhone and iPod touch

Looking for another drug reference app for the iPhone or iPod touch?

The MPR (Monthly Prescribing Reference) is now available as a free App for the iPhone and iPod touch. The MPR drug database is also available for free for BlackBerry, Palm, and Microsoft Mobile devices, as well as desktop and laptop computers running Microsoft XP and Microsoft Vista (www.empr.com/download).

For 25 years, you and your peers have relied on the print editions of MPR to deliver up-to-date, concise drug information at the point-of-care. Now the exact same drug information is available for the iPhone and iPod touch.

The MPR iPhone and iPod touch Application delivers:

• Over 4,000 up-to-date drug monographs accessible by therapeutic category, brand name, generic name, disease, or manufacturer
• Monographs for both prescription and OTC drugs
• Continuously updated Drug News, Alerts, and Pipeline
• Prescribing Notes for each disease state
• Over 30+ clinical calculators
• … And many more clinical tools!

Facts & Comparisons Mobile

Optimized for iPhone® and iPod touch®, Facts & Comparisons Mobile is also accessible with Blackberry, other mobile devices

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Feb. 11, 2010 - Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that it has released an iPhone®/iPod touch® optimized mobile website for its industry leading drug information reference, Facts & Comparisons® eAnswers. The site, Facts & Comparisons Mobile, was developed in response to customer demand for convenient access to drug information via smart phones.

"Wolters Kluwer Health is focused on providing our customers with anytime, anywhere access to trusted and authoritative clinical content. Introducing a mobile component for Facts & Comparisons was not only a natural extension of that focus, but also the latest example of our commitment to responding to the needs and wants of our customers," said Arvind Subramanian, President and CEO, Wolters Kluwer Health Clinical Solutions. "Facts & Comparisons Mobile allows users to harness the power of their smart phones to improve quality of care by enabling access to critical drug information when and where it is needed."

The mobile web platform is available at http://mobile.factsandcomparisons.com. It currently provides access to Facts & Comparisons' A to Z Drug Facts, which can be searched using an interactive Word wheel that displays the first four words from the drug lexicon that match what the user is typing. Users can also browse the drug list alphabetically. Though optimized for iPhone and iPod touch use via the Safari® web browser, Facts & Comparisons Mobile is also accessible with BlackBerry® and other mobile devices.

Read more »

Pedi Safe for iPhone and iPod touch

Pedi Safe

An advanced airway management and cardiac resuscitation app for the pediatric patient. In an emergency, healthcare providers can quickly identify a patient’s weight or Broselow color, and then Pedi Safe displays all appropriate weight based dosing, equipment sizes, and normal vital signs. 

Pedi Safe is an excellent reference during an emergency or code situation. Doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare providers who care for pediatric patients will appreciate how Pedi Safe simplifies the medication delivery system.

Features

• Pediatric & Adult Weight-Based Doses
• Broselow Colors Help Identify Weight
• Airway Equipment Selection & Size
• Normal Vitals Signs for Pediatrics
• ACLS & PALS Emergency Medications

http://www.ianesthesia.org/apps/pedi-safe/

Windows Phone 7 Series is a brand new OS

Microsoft has built a brand new operating system (OS) with Windows Phone 7 Series.  When Palm switched from the original Palm OS to webOS on the Palm Pre, it completely rebuilt its operating system and created something new. Microsoft is doing the same thing by building an entirely brand new OS with Windows Phone 7 Series. As I suspected, this new OS will remind you of the Zune HD. You can expect large icons, finger-friendly touch, capacitive touch screens on new smartphones, and much more. I'm actually starting to get excited here! I've been a loyal Windows Phone user for many years and I thought that I was definitely going to switch to Android when it comes time to replace my smartphone. Now, I'm not so sure... Let's see how Windows Phone 7 Series compares with all the other operating systems out there and let's also see how quickly medical apps get developed for this new OS.

Cell phone use on an airplane

Over the past few days, I spent time on several different airplanes trying to reach my final destination (Dallas, TX) for a wedding. Unfortunately, I never made it there, so we ended up flying all over the country to various small and large cities. Each time I flew, I had to set my smartphone to "airplane mode." Now that we have Wi-Fi on many airplanes, I wonder if (or when) we'll have the freedom and ability to use our smartphones while we're in flight. I suppose I could pay for the in-flight Wi-Fi services, but I'd rather tether with my smartphone.

Discounts at Tarascon and Skyscape

Planning on purchasing some medical apps for your smartphone or PDA? Maybe you need a robust drug reference guide or a medical text book. Perhaps you simply want a quick reference pocket guide that you can store on your smartphone. Well, both Tarascon and Skyscape offer great resources and you can take advantage of their sales right now.

• Tarascon is currently offering a 25% off Coupon: SITEWIDE2 (ends 2/19/2010)
• Skyscape: save 20% on any purchase of $75 or more through February 14, 2010.

http://www.tarascon.com
http://www.skyscape.com

Droid Android 2.1 update coming soon

There are many circulating rumors that the Motorola Droid may be getting an operating system update to Android 2.1 very soon. It may even happen this week! I'm sure that Droid users are eager to see multi-touch support for the web browser. Pinch to zoom significantly improves the browsing experience and I really wish my smartphone had that feature.

So, when will other Android smartphones see the update to Android 2.1? I know several people who have the HTC Droid Eris and they already have multi-touch support, but they don't have Google Maps with turn-by-turn GPS navigation support.

World's thinnest smartphone is not ideal for medical professionals

The Nokia E71x is currently the world's thinnest smartphone and it's available on the AT&T network. However, it's not an ideal smartphone for medical professionals because this device runs Symbian S60 3.2 and you'll have a very difficult time finding medical apps for Symbian. Nokia has a loyalty to Symbian, but I have to predict that Nokia will have to branch out into Android if they plan to survive in the smartphone space.

So, although the E71x looks great, it's really not an ideal for health care professionals and students who want to leverage the smartphone in the clinical setting.

10 Free BlackBerry Apps You Must Have (PC World)

PC World recently published this slideshow that lists "10 Free BlackBerry Apps You Must Have"

Here's the list:

1. Foursquare 
2. UPS Mobile
3. Navita Translator 
4. Tvider 
5. Urbanspoon 
6. Movies 
7. NBA Game Time Lite
8. Poynt 
9. Buzzd 
10. Speedtest

So, what do you think? Click here to view the slideshow on PC World. Are these apps really that great?

DROID vs. iPhone discussion at the Student Doctor Network

One of the more active forum discussions at the Student Doctor Network (SDN) deals with the topic of "Droid vs. iPhone." Medical students want to know: which is better?

If your medical school mandates that you should have either an iPhone or an iPod touch, then I think the answer is obvious. However, if your medical school allows you to have some flexibility in your smartphone selection, then which would you choose?

Given recent complains about the AT&T network, I'm not sure that I'd want to switch to AT&T. Given the relatively low volume of medical apps for Android, I'm not sure I'd want to use an Android smartphone as a medical student.

So which is better for a medical student? My vote would be for the Apple iPhone right now simply because there are so many more educational medical apps that are either free or relatively affordable. Plus, given that many medical schools have selected the iPhone for their medical students, you may have an opportunity to leverage some of the educational resources designed for these students.

What's the best Windows Mobile phone?

The best Windows Mobile phone is still a Windows Mobile phone (meaning that it's not an iPhone or an Android smartphone, so how good could it really be?)

Do you agree with that?

I've been a loyal Windows Mobile user for many years. I've had numerous opportunities to switch to a different platform and I even made the jump and tried the BlackBerry Storm for a few weeks. I ended up going back to Windows Mobile.

Now, if I had to get a brand new Windows Mobile smartphone today, which would I choose? What's really the "best" Windows Phone out there?

I have two in mind:

1. If you want a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, then go with the HTC Touch Pro2 (also called the Tilt2 on AT&T). This is a great smartphone, but it lacks a capacitive touch screen, so you won't get any multi-touch gestures on this device.
2. If you don't need a physical keyboard, do you want a device that has a large capacitive touch screen? Then get the HTC HD2.  A 4.3" screen is very large compared to the 3.5" screen found on an Apple iPhone.

If you're not interested in the 2 above, then wait.  Consider a smartphone that doesn't run Windows Mobile.  OK, maybe I'm being too harsh on Microsoft (and I hope my friends and relatives who work for Microsoft don't take offense). Wait for a smartphone running Windows Mobile 7. We may see some this year. Get a smartphone that has a capacitive touch screen that is capable of multi-touch gestures like "pinch to zoom." Remember that you're probably going to replace a smartphone every 2-3 years, so don't spend too much money on a smartphone or its accessories.

How secure is your smartphone password?

I sincerely hope that your smartphone is locked. By that, I mean that if you use a password to gain entry to your device. If you ever lost your device, would the data be safe and secure? If your smartphone displays your "Owner Information," make sure that your smartphone password is not derived from any of your personal information.

The sad reality is that many people still carry unlocked smartphones. Their personal data remain exposed and they think they're fine because they've never experienced a lost smartphone. I've never lost a smartphone, but I know plenty of people who have. Make sure to use a secure password and protect your data. It's not worth jeopardizing.

Most popular apps on the Windows Phone Marketplace

Microsoft recently added a feature called the "Marketplace." It's really an app store on Windows Mobile and it's made it much easier to install apps, but it's still very rudimentary and you won't find many apps on the current Marketplace (also called Marketplace for Windows Mobile).

The #1 app right now is the Mobile Manager for Netflix. I'm surprised that Bing is #5. Social media apps like Facebook is ranked #8, and MySpace is #4.

You can also try Office Mobile 2010 beta for free.

Frankly, I'm still quite disappointed that they don't have a "Medical" or "Health" category in the Marketplace. There are many great medical apps for Windows Mobile, but you have to go out and hunt for them. If you're a medical professional and a brand new Windows Phone user, you could get disappointed very quickly. I'm hoping that Microsoft will make some significant improvements before they release Windows Mobile 7, but I'm not holding my breath. Instead, I plan to migrate over to Android by the time I need to replace my current smartphone.

Always carry a spare smartphone battery

I've seen so many people experience a "dead battery situation." Maybe they forgot to charge their smartphone last night. Perhaps their phone was frozen and it sucked all the juice out of the battery. Maybe you had to take call in the hospital at the last minute and you didn't have your phone charger. Many of us would admit that we'd feel utterly lost without our smartphones. Given that our entire lives are on these devices, we really can't afford to experience a dead battery situation.

For those of us who have a user-removable battery, it's easy to keep a spare in our bags. Dead battery? No problem! Pop out the old one and insert the new one. Perhaps you even have the luxury of using an extended battery.

For others who have smartphones like the Apple iPhone, you'll need to keep an external battery pack (who else makes smartphones like this?). I've heard rumors that the Apple iPhone 4G will have a user-removable battery. Let's hope that this particular rumor is true. Would you be willing to buy an iPhone that's slightly thicker if you could remove the battery? Given that the lifespan of a typical lithium ion battery is roughly 2-3 years (before you see significant decreases in performance), I think that iPhone users will want the option of changing the battery themselves.

Motorola DEVOUR in a Super Bowl ad

In case you missed it, here it is:
Will this ad cause more people to start using smartphones running Android? Let's wait and see.

Medscape iPhone app upgraded to v2.0

Medscape has updated its iPhone app to version 2.0. Here's the scoop:

Introducing Clinical Reference with Images & Videos
Simply update your Medscape iPhone App to Version 2.0 – absolutely FREE!

Have all the answers in the palm of your hand with Medscape's FREE clinical & drug reference App for iPhone® & iPod touch®.

NEW – Clinical Reference featuring:

-	Continually-updated clinical reference covering 3,200+ diseases, conditions, and procedures
-	Articles enhanced with multimedia including 2,500+ images, 150+ videos, and more
-	Peer-reviewed, evidence-based content authored by leading experts
-	Detailed step-by-step instructions on clinical procedures
-	Access anywhere – no Internet connection required

EXPANDED Drug Reference with:

-	6,000+ brand and generic drugs
-	1,000+ over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
-	1,000+ herbals & supplements
-	Access detailed drug information in seconds; plus, check interactions for up to 30 entries at once

Have you tried the Medscape iPhone app? What do you think of it? (not to be confused with the WebMD app, since Medscape is a part of WebMD)

I think it's great to see that you can now access so much content when you're offline. Traveling on the plane? No Wi-Fi? You can access 3,200+ clinical reference articles offline. Of course, to view the 2,500+ images or 150+ videos, you'll need an Internet connection.

January top posts: MedicalSmartphones.com

Here's are the top 5 posts from the month of January:

1. Medical apps for Droid (Google Android)

2. Top free medical apps for Android in 2009

3. Top 10 Paid Medical iPhone Apps

4. 2010: Android vs. iPhone

5. What's the Best Smartphone for Physicians?

Swipe (to unlock) your iPhone with your nose

I live in the northeast and we're getting hit with a ton of snow today. We're all wearing gloves. If your smartphone has a capacitive touch screen, then you can't swipe to unlock your phone if you're wearing typical gloves (they make special gloves that work with the iPhone, but most people don't wear these types of gloves). So, what do you do when your iPhone (or other smartphone) is ringing and you're wearing gloves? Swipe to unlock your phone using your nose.

That's right. Swipe your iPhone with your nose. Don't be shy. Try it and you'll like it.

If you never wear gloves, you're missing out on a great way to unlock your iPhone.  Thanks to my friend Lei who provided me with this tip.

People are still comparing Android vs iPhone

The debate will never end, will it? Which smartphone do you currently use? Which smartphone would you get if you had to get a new one today?

The Apple iPhone is still very popular among health care professionals and medical students. Physicians and nurses love using the iPhone in the hospital and also in the outpatient setting. The interface is so easy to use and there are many apps available for the iPhone. But what if you're not on AT&T? What if you're stuck on a different carrier? Does it make sense to switch to AT&T just to get the iPhone? What about all these stories about iPhones congesting the AT&T network and causing connection problems throughout the country? Will AT&T get this fixed and will they improve their infrastructure to manage the amount of data going through their 3G network?

Google's Android continues to gain momentum as different smartphones appear on almost all the major wireless networks. The Google Nexus One made by HTC is going to appear on AT&T as the first Android smartphone on AT&T. Android users can currently choose between a thin, light smartphone (HTC Droid Eris, Google Nexus One, HTC Hero, etc.) or they can get a slightly thicker model that includes a slide-out QWERTY keyboard (Motorola Droid).

I don't have an iPhone. I have an iPod touch. Therefore, I'm not in any rush to get the iPhone. My wife is dying to get the iPhone when it comes to Verizon. I can enjoy almost all the benefits of having an iPhone without having an iPhone. I'm eager to see what other Android smartphones will get released this year. It's great to see that every Android smartphone has a user-changeable battery. I hope Apple will make that change with the iPhone 4G.

AT&T's iProblem is an iMess (BusinessWeek)

Wow, the cover of BusinessWeek almost shocked me! It has a photo of an iPhone with zero signal bars. It says: "AT&T's iProblem... the iPhone has been a profit bonanza. But an overloaded network has AT&T at war with its customers."

Call it an "iMess," an "iProblem," or anything else you'd like. How is AT&T handling this issue? How are they reacting to things like:

• iPhone Nation
• Operation Chokehold

I'm glad I'm not on AT&T. If you're thinking about switching to AT&T just to get an iPhone, you may want to think again. I don't suspect we'll see any official tethering on the Apple iPhone anytime soon (unless it comes to some other wireless providers like Verizon). To read the BusinessWeek cover story, click here.

5 ways medical students can save money on smartphones

If you're a medical student or a resident, you probably don't have the luxury of a really expensive smartphone plan. I remember those days when we were trying to save every penny because our finances were so tight. Of course, many people also have the luxury of student loans, so they may not be so budget-focused. For those looking for a few tips on ways to save money on smartphone plans, here are a few suggestions:

1. Eliminate the data plan (if you have the option) and choose a very simple cell phone plan. Do you really need a data plan on your smartphone? Or, can you get by with Wi-Fi only? If you can avoid the $30-45/month that you're paying for a data plan, then consider buying an older used smartphone so that you don't need to pay for a data plan. Check with your wireless provider first to see if you'll still be required to pay for a data plan for specific smartphone models. On Verizon Wireless, there are several older smartphones that do not require data plans. You won't find them on the Verizon website, but you'll see them on eBay.
2. Leverage coupons and resellers. Buy a smartphone through a reseller that offers discounts and coupons.  Do some searching online and look for savings like Best Buy coupons.
3. Share minutes on a family plan. We all have family. Are they willing to put you on their family plan? Several wireless providers have recently expanded their family plans and now offer many options for families that even wish to have unlimited calling. Look for the cheapest cell phone plan that fits your needs and try to reduce your minutes each month.
4. Get rid of your landline and use your smartphone as your primary phone. Do you really need a landline phone? If you don't, then you can save $20-30/month by getting rid of that landline phone.
5. Use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)or Google Voice instead of your smartphone minutes. I'm paying $2.95 per month to have unlimited domestic calling through Skype. I'll get into Google Voice on a different blog post.

So, are these tips practical? Well, it really depends on how much flexibility you have. If you're frequently in front of a computer and you constantly have Wi-Fi access, then you might be able to get by without signing up for a data plan.

Lexi-Comp ON-HAND for BlackBerry 5.0

Got this in my e-mail today, so I thought I would pass it along:

Newest Update Now Available on BlackBerry 5.0 devices...Order today!

February 2, 2010 - The newest update to the Lexi-Comp ON-HAND software for BlackBerry 5.0 devices is now available! 

Taking advantage of many of the features in version 5.0 of the BlackBerry OS, the Lexi-Comp ON-HAND software just got even more powerful! Devices running OS 5.0 or higher will be able to:

• Store the entire ON-HAND program on an SD Card
• Access the program without cell or wifi connection
• View charts, graphs, and special topics from all Lexi-Comp printed Appendices
• Update your software over the air whenever it's convenient

Requirements: BlackBerry device running OS version 5.0 or higher and 650MB free storage on SD card. Not using a device that's OS 5.0 compatible? No problem! You can still access the Lexi-Comp ON-HAND software on your BlackBerry, just select, "BlackBerry 4.x" from the dropdown list when you purchase at our webstore.

Take a free 30-day trial of the new BlackBerry 5.0 software! 

Motorola DEVOUR brings MOTOBLUR to Verizon

Motorola is coming out with another Android smartphone. This one is called the DEVOUR and it comes with MOTOBLUR, "Motorola’s unique Android™-powered content delivery service created to make wireless phones more personal and customizable." The DEVOUR will be the first smartphone to feature MOTOBLUR. 

Now, is MOTOBLUR just a gimmick, or will it really offer some unique customization that will attract more users to the Android operating system?

MOTOBLUR is the first solution to sync contacts from work and personal e-mail services, including Gmail™, with posts, messages, photos and more from popular sites such as Facebook®, MySpace and Twitter.

It's great to see Motorola getting back into some innovative, cutting-edge mobile phones. Many years ago, I had a Motorola StarTAC. Then, I replaced that with a Motorola Razr.

Will the DEVOUR be called the Droid DEVOUR or simply DEVOUR? Maybe it will be too confusing if it's called the Droid DEVOUR since Motorola currently has the Droid.