GlaxoSmithKline and MedTrust Online launch an oncology clinical trials iPhone app

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and MedTrust Online (an online physician portal) have launched a geolocating iPhone app that lets docs look up cancer clinical trials for their patients. Here are a few snippets from a June 4 press release:

With CancerTrials App, cancer doctors can easily find and share information about experimental therapies in clinical trials with their patients.  CancerTrials App provides a quick search menu based on 12 common cancers and more advanced features that refine searches based on criteria such as gender, age, trial status and more.  Once relevant trials are found, results can be mapped relative to the location of the iPhone or iPad running the application.

"GSK Oncology has always been interested in providing doctors and their patients with the access to the right information about the best therapies that improve patient outcomes," stated Jeffrey Bloss, M.D., Vice President, Medicine Development Leader for GSK Oncology.  "We are pleased to work with MedTrust Online to bring simple yet highly effective information-based solutions to the cancer community."

CancerTrials App is the first release of a mobile application for several platforms that connects to MedTrust Online's proprietary databases of oncology information at www.oncocentric.com.  Solutions for RIM's BlackBerry and Google's Android operating systems will be released over the next several months.  Oncologists using mobile communication devices will be able to share more with their patients as they search for the best therapies available in their communities.

About MedTrust Online, LLC
MedTrust Online LLC, www.medtrust-online.com, provides oncologists with clinically useful technology applications and solutions. MedTrust Online brings together experts in oncology, information technology, computational biology, pharmaceutical drug development, and personalized medicine to capture, organize, analyze, integrate and present the most up-to-date medical facts from a vast array of sources. This data is provided to doctors in a comprehensive yet concise way at www.oncocentric.com.

Motorola Droid X vs. HTC Droid Incredible

My entire family is on Verizon Wireless. So, even if I really wanted the new Apple iPhone 4, I won't be switching to AT&T.

My wife recently ordered the HTC Droid Incredible. She hasn't gotten it yet, but I'm sure she's going to like it. I'll be due for an upgrade in 3 months, so I'm trying to wait patiently. If my current device had a faster processor, then I really would not mind using it a bit longer. Given that newer smartphones are so much faster, it really is getting painful to use my current smartphone. However, I will be patient.

So, should you get the Motorola Droid X or the HTC Droid Incredible? If you have small hands, try holding the Droid X before you make any decisions. The Droid X is a very LARGE smartphone (even though it's very thin). The Droid Incredible is a very nice size and still has a very fast processor.  So, which one is right for you? As long as you don't mind the large size of the Droid X, that's the one to get. However, if you don't want the "biggest" device out there, then choose the Droid Incredible.

Apple iPhone coming to Verizon in January?

The rumors are starting to float out there yet again. According to sources at Bloomberg, the Apple iPhone will be coming to Verizon in January. If you believe that rumor, then maybe you'll hold off on your smartphone upgrade. Maybe you won't go out and purchase an Android smartphone like the Motorola Droid X or the HTC Droid Incredible.

So, do you believe these rumors? Will the Apple iPhone appear on the Verizon network in 2011? 

3 Reasons Not to Use Your Smartphone as a Wi-Fi Hot Spot

You've probably heard that can use certain 3G (and now 4G) smartphones as a Wi-Fi hot spot. Is this a good feature or a bad one?

Here are 3 reasons why this is not a good idea:

1. You have to pay an extra fee to use your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hot spot. You can tether (using a USB cable or Bluetooth) for less.
2. You'll be draining the battery on your smartphone and your laptop at a faster rate if you're using Wi-Fi compared to a USB cable. If you tether using a USB cable, then you can keep your smartphone charged.
3. Your friends will want to share your data connection, so that will only slow you down. We all like to share, don't we?

So, what do you think? Is it worth it to use your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hot spot? I think I'll stick to USB cable tethering.

Focusing on the Clinician With a Camera

You can listen to my ReachMD Mobile Medical Minute segment here.

You have a powerful clinical tool built right into your phone: the camera function. Dr. Joseph Kim, author of the blog MedicalSmartphones.com, tells you how you can begin to build a useful, instructive, shareable clinical image library— and start getting the most out of your smartphone's camera.

Get the Kindle on your Android smartphone

Who needs to buy an actual Kindle if you can load the Kindle reader app on your smartphone? The popular Kindle app is now available for smartphones running Google Android. Scan the QR Code on the right to get the Kindle app on your Android smartphone. It's free and it's a great reader app.

Kindle is also available for the Apple iPhone, the iPod touch, and yes - even the iPad.  

So, if you want to do some reading at the beach this summer, just bring your smartphone. You'll have it with you anyways, and now you can read on your device. If you're a medical student, maybe you'll be reading your medical textbook on your smartphone while you're at the beach with your friends and/or family. Physicians who are preparing for board certification exams may also find their noses buried in books and e-readers that contain clinical pearls and board review questions.

Droid X review by PC Magazine

The Motorola Droid X has gotten the PC Magazine "Editors' Choice" award. The Droid X is a very large (but very slim) smartphone running Android. If you want a smartphone that has a large screen, then this is the one to get.  The Droid X does NOT have a slide-out QWERTY keyboard like the original Motorola Droid. As a result, the Droid X is very thin (except where the camera and flash protrude from the body).

I think I'd prefer the HTC Incredible just because I don't need a device that has a 4.3" screen. Then again, the large screen is nice if you're watching movies or playing games, but who has time for that?

If you're on the Verizon Wireless network, you probably won't go wrong if you choose the Motorola Droid X or the HTC Incredible.

To read the PC Magazine review, click here.

What Should Doctors Look for in Smartphones?

This is a guest post by Kathy Wilson.

If you’re a gadget freak, then you’re probably in both a state of bliss and a state of despair – you feel like a kid in a candy shop because there are so many options to choose from, so many shiny new toys to own, and so many gadgets that vie to give you much more than the competition; but at the same time, your bank balance suffers if you indulge yourself too much and try to keep up with the latest stuff in the market. The world of technology is such that it tempts and teases with rapid advances and shinier gadgets, but if you’re not a millionaire, it’s best to choose your smartphone wisely and according to your need rather than according to the status symbol of the day.

So what do doctors need in a smartphone? Without going into the different brands and various operating systems, any medical professional must own a phone that is:

• User-friendly: If you don’t know how to use all or most of the features in your smartphone, you may as well be carrying around a brick. Before you buy your phone, check if you’re going to find it easy to use. Some people like phones with a touchscreen while others swear off them; some like sliders while others go in for flip phones; and some prefer tried and tested devices like the age-old Blackberry while others want to go in for newer models of the iPhone. Whatever you buy, it’s imperative that you be comfortable with the phone and know how to use all or most of the features.

Is the iPhone 4 antenna issue a real problem?

As you may have heard, the new iPhone 4 wraps the antenna around the side of this super-thin smartphone. In fact, the iPhone 4 is currently branded as the thinnest smartphone in the world.

According to an official Apple statement: "Gripping any phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone."

"If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases,"

Have you been experiencing the antenna issue? I wonder what would happen if you put the iPhone 4 in a case so that you're no longer touching the metal band. Will that solve the problem? Do you think Apple intentionally designed the iPhone 4 this way so that users will be forced to purchase the $29 rubber "Bumper Case" for the iPhone 4?

Who needs to hold a phone anyways? Just use a hands free Bluetooth headset.

Showdown: Android Tablet Challenges Apple iPad

This is a guest post by Greg Bartlett.

Despite recent positioning statements by executives from both companies, Google and Apple seem to be increasingly poised to challenge each other in nearly every mobile market. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has taken fire for the iPhone and iPad’s incompatibility with Adobe’s Flash software, and Google has stepped in to ensure that its Android platform fills every feature left vacant by Apple’s technical standards.

Apple has always restricted their approval to only the most basic and reliable of software, while Google seems intent on including everyone. Whether broad compatibility or strict approval processes will win out in the end is anyone’s guess.

Further complicating matters are efforts by third party hardware and cellular companies to produce tablets designed to cut directly into the iPad’s already substantial niche. At the recent Computex electronics show held in Taipei, manufacturers Foxconn and Hardkernel recently debuted their respected entries to the Tablet Market—each running an expanded version of Android. While their touch screens are arguably not as pretty or responsive as the iPad’s, these models certainly tick off the big features: GPS tracking, WiFi, Bluetooth, and an array of USB and storage options.

Apple iOS 4 is killing my battery life on my iPod touch

One of the pitfalls of being an early adopter is that you get to be the guinea pig. I upgraded to iOS 4 and my battery is getting wiped out on my iPod touch. I have a 2nd generation iPod touch and I've never seen anything like this before. I really hope Apple releases a patch soon since I rely on my iPod when I drive to work and when I'm at the gym.

It sounds like others are experiencing similar problems on the iPod touch and iPhone.  Make sure to carry a spare power source if you recently upgraded your iPhone or iPod touch to iOS 4.

Adobe Flash 10.1 for Android 2.2

Here's a short video showing you Adobe Flash 10.1 on an Android smartphone:

iOS 4 Software Update

If you regularly connect and sync your Apple iPhone or iPod touch, then you'll notice that Apple just released the iOS 4 Software Update.  I've been playing around with iOS 4 and it's been fun to see some of the new features. My favorite new feature: Playlists. Create and edit custom playlists right on your iPod touch, and sync and display nested playlist folders from iTunes. iBooks is also great if you like to read on your mobile device.

There are a few caveats:

1. Not all features are compatible with all devices. For example, multitasking, custom wallpaper, and Bluetooth keyboard support are available only with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and the third-generation iPod touch (32GB and 64GB models from late 2009).
2. Multitasking is available with apps that have been developed to work with iOS 4.
3. Books are available on the iBookstore. Title availability is subject to change.
4. Faces works only with iPhoto on the Mac.

Which iPod touch models will get the update?

• iPod touch 2nd generation (late 2008) - but you won't get multitasking or some of the other features
• iPod touch 3rd generation 32GB and 64GB (late 2009)

Save 50% on webOS apps

For a limited time, save 50% on almost every webOS app that's currently available. You have until July 9th. If you have a Palm Pre, a Palm Pre Plus, a Palm Pixi, or a Palm Pixi Plus, then you're in luck to download some great apps to your smartphone.

Motorola Droid X appears on the Verizon website

Are you excited about the Droid X?  It's a large phone, but you also get a larger screen. Do you really need 4.3" of screen space?

The Motorola Droid X will have HDMI output and it will capture 720p video. This will truly be a multimedia smartphone. So, if you're looking for a large Android smartphone that also can be used as a robust digital camera/camcorder, then maybe the Droid X will be the one for you. You can now learn more about the Droid X on the Verizon Wireless website.

http://phones.verizonwireless.com/droid/x/

Pri-Med Launches Pri-Med Mobile (powered by QuantiaMD)

Free mobile medical app for the Apple iPhone®, iPod touch®, and Android™

BOSTON, Mass. (June 16, 2010) – Pri-Med, a brand owned and operated by M|C Communications LLC, the leading provider of professional education solutions to a community of more than 220,000 clinicians, announces the launch of its newest mobile app—Pri-Med Mobile—for the Apple iPhone®, iPod touch® and Android™ at Pri-Med New York, June 17, 2010. The app will become available for the Blackberry in July.

Pri-Med Mobile offers clinicians important medical education and information through Featured Experts, Pri-Med Live Meeting Content and Patient Cases—many of which are available for free CME credit. Each piece, lasting no longer than 10 minutes, is designed for easy and clear viewing on a smartphone or other mobile devices. Pri-Med Mobile also creates a platform for health care practitioners to exchange ideas with peers and discuss hot topics in primary care through discussion board and comment fields. The app provides two unique non-CME clinical gaming offerings, the Pri-Med Monthly Medical Challenge and Mental Health Challenge, in which clinicians compete against their peers to be the first to solve the clinical content game. Participants accumulate gaming points that are redeemable for Amazon gift cards.

Another AT&T Android smartphone: HTC Aria

AT&T customers have the luxury to choose smartphones from any operating system. If you're an Apple iPhone fan, then you can get the old iPhone or the new iPhone 4. Prefer Google Android? No problem! Now you have several Android smartphone options. The HTC Aria is a nice light smartphone that's arriving on the AT&T network on June 20. Of course, a significant percentage of AT&T customers will probably get drawn to the iPhone 4 given all the hype and the nice features, but if you're a serious Google fan or if you'd rather run Android, then the Aria could be a nice option.

Dell fans will have the option of the Dell Aero. Meanwhile, the MOTOROLA BACKFLIP™ will remain the first Android smartphone on the AT&T network.

If you're on AT&T, which smartphone will you get? If you're a medical student and you're on a limited budget, then go with a device that isn't too expensive. You'll probably end up getting a new smartphone before residency, so don't make a huge investment right now when you don't have the funds.

Expanding the iPod touch plus Epocrates giveaway

Last month, we launched the "2010 Graduation Celebration! Win a Free iPod touch® Loaded with Epocrates® Software."

Well, we've decided to expand this giveaway and allow non-graduating students (and others) to enter. We're going to have a summer giveaway and this will be extended into July.  More details to come soon, so stay tuned. 

NEJM This Week on the iPhone or iPod touch

Now you can access the New England Journal of Medicine on your Apple iPhone or iPod touch. There's a medical app called "NEJM This Week." I installed it the other day and I was able to access many articles, images, and videos. Given that I have an active NEJM subscription, I'll probably continue to have access to the NEJM content on my mobile device. 

This app is a great example of a smartphone version of a medical journal. I'm sure we'll soon see every major medical journal offer smartphone apps so that busy health care professionals can access this content easily.

Click here to access NEJM This Week

New Motorola Droid is coming (Droid 2 or Droid X) on June 23

Since the Motorola Droid had a lousy keyboard, Motorola decided to update the Droid and improve the keyboard. Now, many customers are eagerly waiting for the next version of the Droid. Will it be the Droid 2 or the Droid X? You can find leaked photos on the Internet by searching for Droid 2 or Droid X.

I think it's rather confusing that Verizon Wireless decided to use the "Droid" name with all the Android smartphones. Now, when you're describing a smartphone, it's getting a bit complicated to differentiate the HTC Droid Eris from the HTC Droid Incredible from the Motorola Droid and now the Motorola Droid 2 or X.

The updated Droid will have a larger screen and a better physical QWERTY keyboard. Will it have a better digital camera and flash? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Which OS? Apple iPhone or Google Android?

I get this question all the time: Which OS is better? Apple iPhone or Google Android?

Many medical students and physicians have asked me if they should get the Apple iPhone 4 or one of the newer Android smartphones (like the Motorola Droid, the HTC Droid Incredible, the Google Nexus One, or the Sprint Evo 4G). This question is actually several separate questions. The first question revolves around the operating system. The second question revolves around the physical form factor. The third question relates to your wireless network since iPhone is only on AT&T but Android is available on all networks.
 
Let's talk about form factor:  Some people really want a hardware QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard on the Droid isn't the best (in fact, it's probably one of its main weaknesses), but Motorola will be releasing an updated Droid that has a better keyboard.  I doubt that Apple will be releasing an iPhone Pro anytime soon that includes a hardware keyboard. 

So how about the OS? Should you go with the Apple iPhone OS? Or, should you go with Google's Android OS? This is one of those FAQs that has an evolving answer and I'm sure the answer will change. Apple's newest iPhone 4 now offers multitasking support, so you can be more productive than ever before. More medical apps are appearing on the Android Marketplace, but we still have a long way to go before we'll catch up with the iPhone's App Store. Google's Android 2.0 (now updated to 2.1 with 2.2 coming soon) includes familiar features like Google Maps with audible turn-by-turn GPS navigation, portable Wi-Fi hotspot, and more.

I'm not switching to AT&T, so I think you know which OS I'll be using.

HTC Droid Incredible vs. Apple iPhone 4 vs. HTC Evo 4G

The other day, someone asked me to compare the HTC Droid Incredible to the new Apple iPhone 4. Then, another person said, "what about the Sprint Evo 4G?" So, let's take a brief look at these top 3 smartphones:

First, they all have super-fast internal processors. Whether you've got the A4 or the Snapdragon, you're going to have a very fast smartphone.

• Droid Incredible: Very fast, still using the 3G Verizon Wireless network, allows tethering (including Wi-Fi hotspot), great camera, and runs Android. Expandable memory (up to 32GB microSD) and you can remove the battery.
• Apple iPhone 4: Still using a 3G network, great design, only on AT&T, video conferencing appears to be limited to Wi-Fi for now so that front-facing camera may not be that useful, and AT&T to offer tethering sometime in the future (when?). Can't expand the memory or change the battery yourself. How will AT&T's network improve? Will we continue to see all those dropped calls?
• HTC Evo 4G: First (and currently the only) smartphone on a 4G network. Limited to the Sprint network (which is currently the only 4G network). Very large screen and running the Android OS.  Expandable memory (up to 32GB microSD) and you can remove the battery.
  

So, is there a verdict? If you can't switch networks, then I think it's easy to say that you should have an easy time choosing your next smartphone. If you're open to switching, then it gets much more complicated.

If you want the fastest smartphone with 4G data speeds, then the Evo 4G is your clear answer. However, if you want to stay current on the Apple iPhone OS which currently offers the widest selection of medical apps, then go with the new iPhone 4. The Droid Incredible is a great phone for Verizon customers and the Verizon Wireless network has been rated as one of the best wireless networks in America. My family has been with Verizon for over 10 years and we've been happy with their coverage. If coverage is important, then go with Verizon.

My "Mobile Medical Minute" piece on ReachMD

Here's a link to my Mobile Medical Minute piece on ReachMD:
http://www.reachmd.com/xmsegment.aspx?sid=5633

A few years ago, industry experts predicted that doctors would trade in paper records and desktop computers for slate tablet computers. It didn't catch on. But the Apple iPad has re-ignited those predictions— and this time, the revolution, says Dr. Joseph Kim, author of the blog MedicalSmartphones.com, is likely.

Ordered an HTC Droid Incredible for my wife

I ordered an HTC Droid Incredible for my wife.  It was time for her to upgrade and she saved $50 thanks to Verizon and their "new every two" plan. I think she's going to like this smartphone. The Droid Incredible is probably the leading smartphone on the Verizon Wireless network, but that could change as Motorola updates the Droid and releases a new model soon that has a much better keyboard.

What makes the Droid Incredible so great? It's very fast, it's very thin, it runs Android, and it has a great camera for a smartphone. It also includes all those other smartphone features like a built-in GPS with audible turn-by-turn directions (thanks to Google Maps), a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot, etc.

Given Android's increasing popularity, it should be interesting to follow the smartphone wars over the next few years. Since the Apple iPhone 4 is still only available on AT&T's network, we're not going to see too many Verizon customers make the switch if they're stuck on long-term contracts or family plans where everyone else has a Verizon phone. That's us: our entire family is using Verizon and most of our friends are also on Verizon.


So, I'm sure my wife will enjoy her new smartphone when it arrives. It looks like we'll have to wait a few weeks because the Droid Incredible is so popular (and sold out at the moment).

Less than 5 days left to win a free iPod touch loaded with Epocrates!

Click here for more details.

I'm speaking at the mHealth Initiative Conference

I'll be in San Diego speaking at the 2nd International mHealth Networking Conference this September. If you're attending the mHealth Networking Conference, then I look forward to seeing you there. I'll be speaking about physicians using smartphones and other mobile devices as they interact with patients. Are these mobile gadgets actually improving patient care?

Speaking of mHealth, make sure you don't confuse the mHealth Initiative Conference with the 2010 mHealth Conference and Expo in Dubai. The Dubai meeting is Sept 14-15.

There's another mHealth conference called the mHealth Summit in Washington D.C. November 8-10.

So, there are at least three different mHealth meetings this fall. Two are in the United States and one is in Dubai. Here's a snippet about the mHealth Initiative:

mHealth Initiative Inc (mHI), a not-for-profit organization incorporated in Massachusetts, USA, envisions the emerging mHealth Revolution. Cell phones and other mobile Devices (mDevices) are becoming prized tools of clinicians after initially being viewed as forbidden gadgets.

2nd International mHealth Networking Conference
Sponsored by mHealth Initiative
September 8-9, 2010
Town & Country Resort Hotel
San Diego CA
http://www.mobih.org/ 

Apple drops the price on the iPhone 3GS

It's no surprise. Apple has dropped prices on the iPhone 3GS as everyone eagerly anticipates the new Apple iPhone 4. (too bad it's not 4G)

So, if you're looking for a good deal on an Apple iPhone, it may be a good time to buy if you don't need all the latest and greatest features found on the iPhone 4. If it were me, I'd wait for the iPhone 4. Then again, I'm not a medical student or resident anymore, so I have a bit more in my bank account compared to those days.

If the iPhone 4 came on the Verizon Wireless network, my wife (a family physician) would definitely get it. I'd probably get it too. For now, we'll just have to settle for the Android, BlackBerry, webOS, and Windows Phones on the Verizon network.

Informed Emergency & Critical Care Pocket Guide

Informed Emergency & Critical Care Pocket Guide is a nice medical app that you can get for your iPhone or iPod touch. For only $9.99 you get:

The Informed Emergency & Critical Care Pocket Guide™ for iPhone & iPod Touch makes it easy for physicians, paramedics and nurses check ACLS drug doses, interpret EKGs, look up patient medications, and much more.

Critical information covers use of airway devices such as the Combitube, LMA, and King LT™ Airway, a complete list of emergency & ACLS drugs, including Natrecor and Ketamine, an extensive prescription drug list, Rapid 12-Lead EKG interpretation page, dermatomes, hemodynamics, lab values, and a complete list of abbreviations.

* Current ACLS Algorithms
* Emergency & ACLS Drugs
* 12-Lead EKG Section & Acute MI
* Basic EKG Rhythms
* Laryngeal Mask Airway / RSI
* “Rave” Drugs
* Basic Chest X-Ray Interpretation
* Fibrinolytic Screen for AMI & Stroke
* Ischemic Stroke Management / Neuro
* Pediatric Resuscitation, Drug Doses, Vitals
* End-Tidal CO2 / Capnography / Ventilator Guidelines
* Trauma & Glasgow Coma Scales
* Common Medical Emergencies
* Burn Charts, the “Rule of 9s”
* Pulse Oximetry, IV Drip Rates
* Quick EMS Spanish Translations
* Lab Values, Metrics, and Notes Pages

Click here to learn more.

What's the best feature on the iPhone 4?

So, we've all probably heard of the iPhone 4 by now. What's the best feature on this new smartphone? The front-facing camera and the ability to video conference? The high-resolution retina display? The super-slim design? The ability to multi-task? The built-in gyroscope that will allow games to leverage six axes? The LED camera flash? The A4 processor?

For me, I'd have to say that it's probably the built-in gyroscope. I don't play too many games on my smartphone or iPod touch, but the ability to leverage a gyroscope will allow game developers to create mobile games that will be similar to the Nintendo Wii. Imagine carrying the Wii in your pocket. Now, stop imagining and get an iPhone 4. I think we'll see some truly innovative games soon.

If you use your iPhone as a GPS navigator, then you'll be glad to know that the GPS can navigate in the background while you perform other tasks. Just make sure you're not multi-tasking while you're driving.

Mobile LinkedIn

Given that I provide a significant amount of career advice to physicians and medical students on NonClinicalJobs.com, I thought I'd take a slight tangent today and describe a useful mobile app for medical students and physicians who have some interest in the business world of health care.

LinkedIn is a professional social networking site and more physicians seem to be embracing social media these days. As a result, I'm finding more physicians, residents, and even medical students using LinkedIn for professional purposes.

Want to access LinkedIn from your smartphone? One way to do this is to go to:
http://m.linkedin.com

The other way is to download the LinkedIn App on your smartphone. Apps are available for several platforms including the Apple iPhone, RIM BlackBerry, and HP/Palm webOS right now. I'm sure we'll see an app for Android and Windows Phone fairly soon. To learn more, visit these sites:

http://www.linkedin.com/mobile
http://learn.linkedin.com/mobile/

Motorola MILESTONE™ XT720

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced MILESTONE™ XT720, one of the world’s slimmest 8 Megapixel Android™ smartphones and the first to have a Xenon Flash. MILESTONE XT720 breaks new ground for Android smartphones by offering an 8 megapixel camera with Xenon flash, 10x digital zoom, and a 720p HD camcorder. It allows users to not only capture, view and share high quality photos and videos, but also helps make them look better than ever.

Designed For Mobile Internet
MILESTONE™ XT720 is designed to deliver high speed web-browsing and it has the capacity to support up to eight open browser windows. The huge 3.7 inch, WVGA (480X854) display shows full page websites, videos, games, or photos in glorious detail.

Essential Evidence Plus (EE+) for smartphones and other mobile devices

Essential Evidence Plus (EE+) is an online evidence-based clinical decision support solution for health care professionals. EE+ is now available for mobile devices. The only database system of filtered, synopsized, evidence-based information, this integrated search engine allows you to simultaneously search, via keyword, multiple databases:

* Essential Evidence
* EBM Guidelines
* Daily POEMs
* Cochrane Abstracts
* Selected Practice Guidelines
* Decision Support Calculators
* H&P Calculators
* Diagnostic Test Calculators
* Derm Expert
* E/M Coding
* ICD-9 Lookup Tool

Thinnest smartphone on the planet

According to Steve Jobs, the new Apple iPhone 4 is the "thinnest smartphone on the planet." Wow! Too bad it's not going to be on a 4G wireless network. I am very impressed by the way Apple revised the current iPhone 3 GS and made it even thinner. Perhaps this means that we'll soon see an iPhone Pro that includes a hardware QWERTY keyboard for business users who simply aren't accustomed to typing on the on-screen keyboard.

The new iPhone is truly impressive. Bravo to Apple for creating a
beautiful piece of technology. I'm sure that doctors and medical students will be some of the first in line to buy the new iPhone 4.

New Apple iPhone?

Today's the big day. Will Apple announce a new iPhone today? Will the new iPhone OS 4 work on older models and the iPod touch? I'm particularly excited about the multitasking ability. We're living in an era where these mobile devices are evolving so quickly that it's impossible to keep up with the latest technology unless you're upgrading every 6 months. I'm excited to see what Apple will announce today. Will stay tuned...

What's going to be the best smartphone in 2010?

This year, we're going to see many new smartphones. I'm particularly excited about the new Apple iPhone that will probably get announced in a few weeks. This device will allow you to multi-task on the iPhone.

Those on Sprint are probably lining up and getting ready for the HTC Evo 4G. This HTC smartphone will run Android and it will be the first 4G smartphone in the United States.

Verizon users may be happy with the Droid, but we'll probably see a newer version of the Droid later this year. Some dedicated Palm users love the Palm Pre Plus, but what's going to happen with webOS with HP?

T-Mobile customers are probably glad that they have more Android options that go beyond the old G1.

We've heard rumors of a BlackBerry slider. Will this device offer the best of both worlds? A touch-screen plus a hardware QWERTY keyboard?

So, which smartphone will be hailed as the "best" smartphone in 2010?

A chance to win a free Apple iPod touch

If you're graduating this year, make sure to enter!

2010 Graduation Celebration! Win a Free iPod touch® Loaded with Epocrates® Software

 

Dell Streak: a 5-inch Android tablet

The Dell Streak is a hybrid device that lives in the space between a smartphone and other larger tablets or netbooks that you might be using right now.  The Streak was called the "Mini 5" in earlier blog posts, but now we all know that Dell has branded this device the Streak. This Android device will also support Adobe Flash 10.1 on Android 2.2.

You can get more details about this little Internet tablet by reading this PC Magazine article. I wonder if I'll need to replace my OQO model 02 with the Dell Streak.

Top iPhone Games for the Not-So-Professional Medical Professional

This is a guest post by Greg Bartlett.

Top iPhone Games for the Not-So-Professional Medical Professional

Yes, everyone has at least one—don’t pretend otherwise. There are plenty of distractions for doctors on their smartphones, but few games really provide the kind of flexibility a medical professional on the go needs. Here are a few popular options anyone can pick up, play—and when they really need to—put down.

Tetris – Yes, this does seem to be the obvious choice, but the former Soviet Union’s patented productivity killer is an essential time-waster to add to your collection. Controls are solid, graphics fresh. Best of all, a pause and save feature allows the player to keep his or her hard-earned status when the patient finally asks what exactly they’re doing the phone.

Fruit Ninja – Not guaranteed to improve surgical skills, this addictive little 99 cent app is about slicing fruit. Lots of fruit, in many different ways. Wouldn’t recommend it as an outlet for work-related frustration, as the screen does tend to get a little messy—both from fingerprints and the color splashes of disgorged fruit juice.

An economic way to upgrade your smartphone: AmazonWireless

AmazonWireless is a new service that now allows you to upgrade to a new smartphone without paying full retail prices. So, if you're itching for a smartphone, you may want to consider buying your next smartphone on AmazonWireless.

For instance, the Motorola Droid on Verizon goes for $199.99 if you're buying on the Verizon website. The Motorola Droid on AmazonWireless sells for $19.99 (or $129.99 if you're upgrading). You'll find some great deals on AmazonWireless, so if you're on a budget and you need a new phone, you should take a look. You won't find every phone on AmazonWireless, but you'll find most of them. The Motorola BACKFLIP Android smartphone is only 1 cent!

When's Medscape Mobile coming to Android, webOS, and Windows Phone?

Medscape Mobile is currently available for Apple iPhone, iPod touch, and BlackBerry.

When's it coming to Google Android, Palm/HP webOS, and Microsoft Windows Phone?

It's easy to get the Medscape Mobile app through iTunes and the Apple App Store. If you're a BlackBerry user, you can get Medscape Mobile (a free medical app) on your BlackBerry by visiting: medscape.com/blackberry