Medscape is giving you $25 for trying the Medscape app on iPhone and iPod touch

It's happening today only (12/31/09). It's the last day of the year and Medscape is going to give you $25 if you try the Medscape app on the Apple iPhone/ iPod touch.

Today only! Receive a $25 Amazon® e-gift card (courtesy of Medscape) when you download Medscape's FREE iPhone® App — the #1 Free Medical App in iTunes®!

Two simple steps to qualify: Download Medscape's free iPhone App directly from the App StoreSM on your iPhone or iPod touch® or through iTunes® on your computer (takes less than one minute). Enter your Medscape username and password into the App home screen (one-time sign in only). There is no cost to download the Medscape App — no subscription fees or hidden costs. We'll send you a $25 Amazon e-gift card code within 7 days to the email address you have on file with Medscape. You must successfully enter your Medscape username and password into the App home screen on 12/31/09 (by 11:59pm EST) to qualify for this offer*.

Physicians are making the switch! Check out Medscape's FREE iPhone App featuring:

• Faster Drug Reference tools, including free OTCs
• Robust Drug Interaction Checker
• In-depth Medical News and Mobile CME activities (up to 2 credits) in 30 specialty areas
• Physician, Pharmacy and Hospital Directories, and more...

My wife needs a new smartphone

My wife is a family physician in private practice and she needs a new smartphone. Let me give you a bit of background on her:

• One of her first PDAs was a Sony Clie running Palm OS (remember those?)
• Then, she switched to Pocket PC/Windows Mobile. She used an HP iPaq for a while.
• Then she upgraded to a smartphone. Her first one was a Palm Treo 700wx running Windows Mobile.
• Her most recent smartphone has been a Samsung i760 (pictured above). 
• Now, she planning on an upgrade with her "new every two" program on Verizon Wireless. 

She could leave Verizon and switch to AT&T to get the Apple iPhone, but she's "stuck" on Verizon since the overwhelming majority of our friends and family are on Verizon.
She could get another Windows Mobile smartphone on Verizon, but she wants something different.
She also uses a Mac, so she's more inclined to get a non-Windows Phone this time.

So, which smartphone will she end up getting? Stay tuned to find out! (Although at one point we were both using a Palm Treo 700wx running Windows Mobile, I don't think she would get the same phone that I would get.) Will she go with Android? BlackBerry? Or back to Windows Mobile?

Most popular free medical apps for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch

Although I don't have an Apple iPhone, I have an iPod touch and I use this frequently to access and test various medical apps on this device. This week, I reviewed the list of "popular" free medical apps for the iPhone/iPod touch and here's the current list:

1. Medscape by WebMD
2. Color Blind Test by Tomato Co, Ltd
3. Epocrates by Epocrates
   
4. Stool Scanner Lite by Shaved Ham
5. Medical Encyclopedia by University of Maryland Medical System
6. Stress Check by AIIR Consulting LLC
7. Relax Ocean Waves by FreeApps
8. Muscle System by 3D4Medical.com, LLC
9. Health Tips 1000 by Michael Quach
10. Skeletal System by 3D4Medical.com, LLC

Remember that when you're on the Apple App Store, "Medical" is its own category. It doesn't fall inside of "References" and it doesn't fall under "Healthcare & Fitness." Some of the apps listed above should probably go under "Healthcare & Fitness," but they got listed under "Medical" instead.


The list above clearly indicates that these "popular" apps are not popular exclusively among health care professionals. The popularity rating is heavily influenced by consumers who are downloading free medical apps to play around with them and to learn more about medicine. That's part of the reason why you won't see some great free medical apps on that "top 10" list. I'll go into that in my next blog post.

My HTC Touch Pro2 feels HUGE compared the the HTC Droid Eris

Wow, my current HTC Touch Pro2 feels HUGE compared to the slim HTC Droid Eris. The HTC Droid Eris has a slightly smaller screen and lacks a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but it's still a great size for a smartphone. In fact, I think that if I were buying a new smartphone today, I'd get the HTC Droid Eris.

On that point, I just ordered an HTC Droid Eris for a family member. It's sad to see that Verizon really hasn't been promoting the Eris very aggressively. The Motorola Droid is a nice phone, but I personally think the HTC Droid Eris is a better phone for my needs. In the past, I used to prefer having a device that included a hardware keyboard. However, as I get more accustomed to touch-screen typing, I'm realizing that I don't need buttons to type.

Although I like my current HTC Touch Pro2, I don't think I'll buy another smartphone that has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard in the future unless the device is really small and thin. A device like the HTC Droid Eris is probably the "optimal" size for an average business smartphone user. My prediction is that over the next year or two, we'll see such a wide variety of smartphone sizes. Some will be quite large with 5" screens and others will have a nice 3.2" screen.

Favorite features on the HTC Droid Eris

The HTC Droid Eris has some really nice features that aren't found on many other smartphones. Allow me to highlight a few of them:

• The price! $99 is a great price for a smartphone. Plus, Verizon is offering a special "buy one and get one free" on the Droid smartphones.
  
• Rollerball/trackball is great when you're using a web browser. Even though the Droid Eris has a capacitive touch screen, the trackball is a great feature that simplifies the process of clicking on hyperlinks.
  
• HTC keyboard is much better than the standard Android keyboard.
• Slim profile, smaller screen, thin and light device.

I'm confident that this device will get the latest version of Google Android that includes turn-by-turn GPS navigation through Google Maps.

World’s Thinnest QWERTY Slider

Which smartphone is the World’s Thinnest QWERTY Slider? The DROID by Motorola. I'm sure we'll see other QWERTY sliders that are thin and light in 2010. Will the Motorola Droid maintain the title in 2010?

The Droid has the following dimensions: 4.56" (H) x 2.36" (W) x 0.54" (D)
Wow, 0.54" thick for a slider is actually quite impressive. My HTC Touch Pro2 is 0.68" thick.

At 5.96 ounces, the Motorola Droid is also fairly light compared to my HTC Touch Pro2 which weighs 6.35 ounces. Of course, the HTC Droid Eris is really light at 4.23 ounces, but that's not a slider.

NeoReader, Tag Reader, and QR codes

If your smartphone has a built-in camera, have you tried NeoReader or Microsoft Tag Reader? It's a great little app that allows you to scan a square matrix code (also known as a QR-code, Quick Resonse code, a 2-D bar code, and more). After you scan this code, your phone will open a web browser so that you can have access to additional information.

These types of QR readers will become ubiquitous in the near future. You won't be limited to Android smartphones. NeoReader is currently available for smartphones running BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and also for many non-smartphones. Microsoft Tag Reader is also currently available for many different types of smartphones and standard phones that have built-in cameras.

Have you tried using these mobile QR code readers? What's been your experience?

Top free medical apps for Android in 2009

This year, we saw Android emerge as a leading smartphone OS. In 2010, we'll see Android begin to dominate the smartphone marketplace (especially among health care professionals such as physicians, medical students, pharmacists, and nurses).

Let me list some of the top free Android medical apps for 2009 and then list my prediction for 2010. Here's the current list for 2009:

• Skyscape Reader: includes RxDrugs, Outlines in Clinical Medicine (OCM), and the Archimedes set of medical calculators.
• QxMD (pregnancy wheel and several different medical calculators)
• QuantiaMD (medical content, CME, medical challenges, and more)
• Mobile MerckMedicus (powered by Unbound Medicine)
• AgileMedCalc (several different medical calculators)

In 2010, you can expect this list to include some additional free resources such as:

• Epocrates
• MobilePDR
• WebMD/Medscape
• Medical encyclopedias
• Medical calculators
• Drug guides
  
• and many more!

So, are you excited about Android? I hope to see many electronic health record (EHR) vendors creating mobile apps for Android. The Apple iPhone continues to gain popularity among medical professionals, but Android will be right up there next to the iPhone in 2010 once we see a larger supply of medical apps for Android. As more medical students and physicians create medical apps for Android, we'll see growing excitement about this OS within the medical community.

My favorite smartphone on Verizon Wireless for 2009 is...

My favorite smartphone on Verizon Wireless is currently the HTC Droid Eris running Google Android. I realize that we don't have many medical apps for Android right now, but this will change in 2010. We'll see many medical apps released in 2010 and some of those on the top of list are:

• Epocrates
• MobilePDR
• Tarascon
  

Skyscape and Unbound Medicine already have Android apps. This means that free apps like Mobile MerckMedicus are already available for Android. QuantiaMD is another great free medical app for Android. I'll be writing some reviews about QuantiaMD over the next few weeks as I test this app on an HTC Droid Eris.

Android is going to gain tremendous momentum in 2010 as new phones emerge on virtually every wireless carrier in the United States. This means that you won't need to switch carriers to have an Android smartphone. Unless Apple moves quickly to place its iPhone on other carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile, it will quickly lose health care professionals to Android. I also predict that many Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and Palm OS users will switch to Android as they recognize all the benefits associated with this great OS. 

Top 10 Medical and Health Apps on Android

I'm in the Android App store (Market) and I've navigated to the "Health" category. The top apps ranked by popularity as of December 2009 are:

1. Calorie Counter by FatSecret
2. Favorite Recipies
3. CardioTrainer
4. Skyscape Medical Resources
5. Lightning Bug
6. Beauty Tips
7. Simple Weight Recorder
8. JogTracker 1.0.3
9. Easy Weight Loss Tips
10. OM BMI Body Mass Index Calculator

You'll notice that all these apps are FREE. If you continue to scroll down the list, you'll see other apps like:

• MealCalc
• Fitness Tips
• Diet Tips
• Best Diet Foods
• Health Facts
• CookIt
• Simple Meals ready in 10 mins

Now, these apps may not be very useful for health care professionals who are looking for medical apps, but this is a start for Android. I'm sure by the early part of 2010, we'll see a much more robust list of professional medical apps that will help physicians and medical students.

A fairly recent medical app that's going to quickly climb the ranks is the QuantiaMD app. You can expect some detailed reviews from me soon.

Initial thoughts about the HTC Droid Eris (Android)

I've had the HTC Droid Eris for a few days and I've been very impressed by this thin, small device. It's a great smartphone for those who wish to have a light, touch-screen device. Android is a great operating system and I like how you can easily find and install apps through the "Market." This "App Store" feature is also found on the Apple iPhone and the BlackBerry Storm/Storm2. You can easily find and install apps directly from your smartphone. There's no need to sync your phone to your PC first.

Windows Mobile has evolved from an era when we used to download installer files to our desktops/laptops in order to install apps. I predict that Windows Mobile 7 will change all that through the development of some type of universal "app store." If this doesn't happen, then Microsoft will continue to lose its grip on the smartphone market.

If you're familiar with the iPhone interface, then you'll quickly learn how to navigate an Android device. If you've grown up on Windows Mobile or PalmOS, then you'll still learn quickly, but you'll find some refreshing changes that simplify the smartphone experience. As I play with this HTC Droid Eris, I'm more convinced that Android will quickly dominate the smartphone market and that even more consumers will switch from standard mobile phones to smartphones.

Merry Christmas!

Today is a very special holiday for me. I realize that Christmas is not celebrated by everyone, but to those who know the "reason for the season," Merry Christmas!

This holiday really isn't really about the gifts under the tree. Today, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who entered the world many years ago. Wishing everyone warm holiday wishes this Christmas season.

iPhone 4G rumors

There are growing rumors regarding the next generation iPhone. I will not be surprised if it's called the Apple iPhone 4G. By then, we may be using a different system and the distinction between CDMA vs. GSM may not be relevant. Let's wait to see how networks transition from 3G to 4G and UMTS.

So, here are some of the rumors floating around:

• 64 GB or storage space (not surprising, considering the iPod touch already comes with 64 GB)
• 5 MP camera. Wow! Let's hope we see an LED flash.
• Smaller screen? Really? Instead of a 3.5" screen, we may see a 2.8" screen. I think that makes sense. 
• Available on Verizon Wireless. Well, we had been hearing about that for a while, but let's hope it's available on multiple networks. Why limit yourself to a single carrier? That simply doesn't make sense and I think Android will move ahead because of the way it's currently positioned.

I guess Apple must not have any plans to release a thicker version of an "iPhone Pro" and include a hardware slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Personally, I think that would attract many business users who rely on buttons for typing. Apple should offer both an iPhone 4G and an iPhone "Pro" 4G. Then again, maybe by the time the 4G comes out, we'll be so accustomed to on-screen typing that we won't want to go back to a hardware keyboard.

Testing medical apps on the HTC Droid Eris

I'd like to thank the folks at QuantiaMD for sending me an HTC Droid Eris so that I can test some medical apps on the Android platform. I just received the test phone and since I'm on vacation starting tomorrow, I'll have plenty of time to test medical apps, including the free QuantiaMD medical app that's currently available for the Apple iPhone, the iPod touch, BlackBerry, and Android. What can you do with QuantiaMD? Click here to find out. 

By the way, I love the capacitive touch screen on the HTC Droid Eris already. I currently own an HTC Touch Pro2 and it does not have a capacitive touch screen, so I can't use any multi-touch gestures like pinching to zoom. I use multi-touch gestures on my iPod touch all the time.

2010: Android vs. iPhone

In 2010, I think the Apple iPhone will face some serious competition against Google's Android smartphones. HTC and Motorola have come out with some really nice Android smartphones. Google has the Nexus One. HTC has some nice new models launching in 2010.

As a result, you have many hardware options if you choose Android. If you want a thin touch-screen phone, you've got that in the HTC Droid Eris, the T-Mobile myTouch, or the HTC Hero. If you want a hardware QWERTY keyboard, you can get that with the Motorola Droid or some of the newer HTC smartphones. 

Apple will always have a loyal base of users, but many non-Mac users will easily make the switch from iPhone to Android if they don't need to switch wireless carriers and if they have Windows-based PCs at home and at work. I know that many physicians love their Macs, but they're stuck with Windows-based PCs at work to run their Electronic Health Records (EHRs) or Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Right now, several EHR vendors have developed iPhone apps for their system, but it's only a matter of time before we see some Android solutions as well.

Android will be used on mobile devices beyond the smartphone, so it will quickly become a ubiquitous mobile operating system. Apple may come out with a tablet running the iPhone OS, but that won't compete against all the laptops and mini computers that may be running Android as a complimentary OS. 2010 should be a very interesting year for Android and iPhone.

The future of smartphones: voice command

My prediction is that within 5 years, most of us will be using our voices to navigate our smartphones. We won't be relying on touch-screens or multi-touch gestures. We won't be typing on buttons from slide-out QWERTY keyboards. Everything will depend on voice command. Of course, the only exception may be when you require some privacy. Then, you may need to pull out that archaic method of entering data.

Current smartphones have some sophisticated voice command capabilities, but we're still in very early stages with voice recognition and voice command as this relates to smartphones. The majority of us still type our e-mails or use the buttons or touch-screen to open apps, navigate, and browse the web. Imagine what your life would be like if you could simply speak and all these things would happen.

For instance, what if you could just say: "look up drug... drug name Avastin... go to adult dosing... " and then within a few seconds you're looking at the dosing schedule for Avastin.

Pros and Cons of jailbreaking your iPhone

You've probably heard the term: jailbreak

People are hacking their iPhones to install custom apps, modify the user interface, or to enable certain features such as tethering. Why not just call it hacking? After all, it's a hacked phone. Well, the term jailbreak has stuck and PC World (or Mac World if you prefer) has released a short, but simple article titled, "Jailbreaking your iPhone: The pros and cons."

In my opinion, the main benefit of jailbreaking your iPhone is to access more third-party apps. After all, does it make sense for Apple to filter and approve only certain apps? Shouldn't anyone be able to create an app for the iPhone?

The biggest con is this: stability and security. Those two things really go together. I understand that for some people, "bricking" the device so that it's completely cold and dead may be the biggest con. However, people who are doing the jailbreaking are often experienced enough that they have confidence in their jailbreaking abilities. Now, if you have a jailbroken iPhone, then you could be at serious risk.

So, should you entertain the possibility of jailbreaking your iPhone? Make sure to read this article before you decide.

Diagnosaurus DDx for Android

I remember when Diagnosaurus DDx was first released. If you're an Android user, you may be happy to know that you can get Diagnosaurus DDx for your smartphone. You may not find too many medical apps for Android right now, but that should change in the early part of 201.


Package name : com.unbound.android.cqdz

Diagnosaurus DDx:

• 1000+ differential diagnoses
• Search by disease, symptom, or organ system
• Derived from CURRENT Consult Medicine 2007

Here is the QR Code: 

Palm Pre Plus coming to Verizon Wireless

I love to propagate rumors as long as they don't cause harm. I don't know if this rumor is true or false, but it sure is interesting: The Palm Pre Plus is coming to Verizon Wireless.

We've been hearing that Verizon should be getting a Palm Pre. However, the version that launches on Verizon will probably be superior in some ways to the Sprint Version.

It sounds like the new phone will be called the Palm Pre Plus. What will make this version a "plus" compared to the standard Palm Pre? Let's speculate for a few minutes based on circulating rumors:

• Larger screen
• More memory
• microSD slot

Sounds like a nice upgrade, even if a few of those rumors are true. So, are you compelled to get a Palm Pre Plus running webOS? Are you willing to have a smartphone that currently has a limited number of native medical apps? Of course, you can run old Palm OS medical apps. but who wants to do that when you've got webOS?

Will everyone use a smartphone someday?

Right now, consumers have the option to buy a "feature phone" or a smartphone (some still call this a PDA/phone or they may refer to the device by the brand - such as BlackBerry, iPhone, etc.)

At what point will feature phones become extinct? When will smartphones dominate the mobile phone industry and become the only option for people who wish to purchase a mobile phone? What if "entry-level" phones are simplified smartphones that run a basic operating system (like Google Android) and rely on a simple touch-screen interface? That's not unrealistic, is it?

In fact, I'm predicting that within a few years, the vast majority of the public will be using some type of smartphone. OK, maybe not the vast majority of the public, but this will be true among health care professionals. Most physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and health care students will be using smartphones. As smartphones become more affordable and easier to use, they will gain tremendous momentum and dominate the marketplace. People will not feel threatened or intimated by smartphones because they will be comfortable with basic functions often found on MP3 players like the Apple iPod and common digital cameras. As a result, a simple smartphone interface will be very easy for most consumers to navigate. Before we know it, everyone will be using a smartphone and the feature phone will be a thing of the past. 

Epocrates is coming for Android and webOS in early 2010

Epocrates should have apps for Android and webOS in early 2010.
I'm eager to see how these compare with the iPhone version of Epocrates. 

Android is really becoming popular and it seems to be gaining tremendous traction as HTC and others make really nice smartphones running Android. On the other hand, the Palm Pre has also been a real hit among loyal Palm OS users, but I'm anticipating that many of them won't switch over to Sprint just to get a phone running webOS. These users are more likely to jump to the Apple iPhone (as many of them already have) or to Android. 

Kindle for Apple iPhone and iPod touch

Have you tried the Kindle reader for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch? You can read more 390,000 books on your smartphone!

• No Kindle required
• Get the best reading experience available on your iPhone or iPod touch
• Access your Kindle books even if you don't have your Kindle with you
• Automatically synchronizes your last page read between devices with Amazon Whispersync
• Adjust the text size, add bookmarks, and view the annotations you created on your Kindle

Why buy an Amazon Kindle if you can simply use the Kindle reader app on your iPhone or iPod touch?

HTC Releases Widgets for Android

According to AndroLib.com, HTC has released some free widgets for its Android smartphones (HTC Droid Eris and HTC Hero). These widgets include:

• Dice
• Today in History
• Tip Calculator
• Battery

It seems a bit strange to think that Android needs a separate widget for battery. I'm still waiting to see more robust medical apps for Android. Until that happens, the medical smartphone space will be dominated by other systems like the Apple iPhone and the RIM BlackBerry. I'm sure it won't take long before Google catches up with Android and Microsoft will be left in the dust if they don't significantly revamp Windows Mobile 7.

RIM Reports BlackBerry Email Delays

If you're a BlackBerry user in North America, you should expect delays in receiving email over your device. You shouldn't have any problems with browsing or BlackBerry Messenger, but your e-mail system could be down right now.

Epocrates Essentials Deluxe for the iPhone and iPod touch

Epocrates has launched their "Essentials Deluxe" (or simply Epocrates Deluxe) for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch. So, if you're still looking for that perfect holiday gift for someone (like a medical student or resident) who has an iPhone or iPod touch, then consider a subscription to Epocrates Essentials Deluxe. An even better gift would be a box that contains an iPhone or iPod touch along with a subscription to Epocrates Essentials Deluxe. That will really impress someone!

Epocrates Essentials Deluxe includes everything found in
Epocrates Essentials plus it adds ICD-9 and CPT® codes and a medical dictionary. There's also a section where you can add frequently used ICD-9 and CPT codes in a "favorite" section as well. Great for billing!

To learn more about Epocrates Essentials Deluxe, visit Epocrates. You can also compare the different Epocrates products for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch by clicking here.

How much storage do you need on your smartphone?

Right now, some smartphones like the Apple iPhone 3GS are capable of 32GB of storage. It won't be long before we see iPhones that have 64GB of space. How much do we really need?

At one time, I remember experiencing tremendous frustration because my medical apps (which are typically quite large) would not fit on my smartphone. I'd run out of internal memory (RAM) and I didn't always have the option to install an app on a memory card. Now, today's smartphones are coming with much more internal memory, but some obviously have much more than others. Even if you choose to store an entire medical encyclopedia (like UpToDate) on your smartphone, you won't be using much more beyond 1 or 2 GB.

Now that we have smartphones that have 32GB of storage space, you can easily store MP3 files, videos, and many other forms of multimedia on your device. It's great, isn't it? When's the last time you got an "out of memory" alert on your smartphone?

It's a shame that Windows Mobile smartphones still don't have much internal memory. My current HTC Touch Pro2 has 512MB of Flash Memory and 288MB of RAM. I find that it really confuses many people when you describe memory using those terms. The HTC Imagio has similar specs. The Samsung Omnia II has 512 Flash/208 RAM (+ 8GB of internal user memory), so that's a little bit better.

What if we look at Android? The Motorola Droid has 512MB of ROM and 256MB of RAM. The HTC Droid Eris has ROM: 512MB, RAM: 288MB DDR. It comes with an 8GB microSD card and it supports up to 16GB.

What about BlackBerry? Well, the BlackBerry Storm2 9550 has 256MB Flash Memory, 256MB RAM, 2GB On–board memory. That's an improvement over the original Storm 9530, but it's still nowhere near Apple's iPhone.

So when will other smartphone manufacturers catch up with Apple when it comes to internal storage space?

Are you waiting for Windows Mobile 6.5?

If you're using a Windows Phone that's running Windows Mobile 6.1, are you waiting to upgrade/update to 6.5? I've used 6.5 and I wasn't really that impressed. I think HTC and Samsung have both provided custom interfaces that improve touch-based input and navigation, so the update to 6.5 probably won't add much. The improved Pocket Internet Explorer (or Internet Explorer Mobile) won't compare against Opera Mobile 10 or Skyfire 1.5. So at the end of the day, maybe you're like me. I know that my HTC Touch Pro2 will eventually get an update to Windows Mobile 6.5, but I'm not anxiously waiting for it.

Google Phone (Nexus One)

Since Google has Android, doesn't it make sense for Google to also make a "Google Phone?" Why rely on HTC (Eris, G1, Dream, Magic, etc.) and Motorola (Droid) to develop hardware to run Android?

It sounds like Google may be getting into the hardware business. If that's the case, then I wonder how its Nexus One smartphone will compare against those made by HTC and Motorola. I suppose we'll get to see it in early 2010. If you want to see some more photos of this device, take a look at this ZDNet blog post.

Skyfire 1.5 is great!

The latest version of Skyfire (1.5) is a great mobile browser for Windows Mobile. You get full-screen functionality plus FLASH support. I've been using Skyfire for a while and I have to say that version 1.5 is the best version yet. In the past, the images used to appear distorted as they passed through a proxy server. Now, the images are much better (thanks for changing that Skyfire!). You can get it by directing your mobile browser to m.skyfire.com

So, now I'm mainly using Skyfire 1.5 and Opera Mobile 10 beta on my HTC Touch Pro2.

Save 50% on all ZAGG products

ZAGG makes great screen and smartphone protectors. Their flagship product is the invisibleSHIELD. Who needs to use a case if you have a protective covering around your entire device?

ZAGG has been having different sales, and this Monday (12/14) you can save 50% on all their products. It's a one day sale.

Here's a little snippet about the invisibleSHIELD product:

ZAGG's invisibleSHIELD™ is created from an ultra-tough, patented film that is exclusive to ZAGG for covering consumer electronics. Transparent and amazingly thin, the invisibleSHIELD is designed to precisely match the contours of every device, providing unbeatable scratch protection. ZAGG's invisibleSHIELD is the world's first and best solution of its kind, and the patent-pending application process will keep gadgets looking great.

Visit http://www.zagg.com

GSM version of the Motorola Droid is the Milestone

If you're in Europe, then you'll see the Motorola Milestone running Google's Android operating system. It's like the Motorola Droid, but it's a GSM model instead of a CDMA smartphone.

Remember when we used to have TDMA? Things were quite confusing when we had so many different types of phones on the market.

The nice thing is that if you're on a GSM network like T-Mobile, you can get some nice Android smartphones made by HTC. It's a shame that AT&T isn't offering any Android smartphones right now. Apple can't dominate forever with the iPhone, can it?

Reviewing medical apps

I've had the opportunity to review many different types of medical apps (applications) for the Apple iPhone, iPod touch; RIM BlackBerry; Palm OS; Google Android; and Microsoft Windows Mobile. I enjoy testing devices, apps, etc. It's fun to play around with different devices and apps because I find myself thinking like a software developer. In other words, I'm constantly asking myself: "What would I do differently?" "Where would I place these buttons?" "How should the navigation function?" "Is the interface confusing?"

Do you ask those questions? What may seem intuitive to one person may not be intuitive to someone else.

If you like to test and review medical apps, then perhaps you'll want to join me as I recruit people to test medical apps. You may wish to have an opportunity to test and evaluate a current app so that it could be better. Or, perhaps you'll want to provide feedback to the development team before an app is released. If you're interested, then I encourage you to join my "non-clinical healthcare professionals" network to learn more about possible future opportunities to test and evaluate smartphone medical apps.

Memorial Hermann Healthcare System iPhone example

The Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Houston, TX is being featured on the Apple website as "advancing health care with iPhone." Here's a brief intro:

With thousands of doctors, nurses, and administrators in 11 hospitals — including the busiest trauma center in the country — Memorial Hermann Healthcare System depends on the latest mobile technologies to streamline its services and deliver better patient care. iPhone and state-of-the-art medical apps like AirStrip OB let Memorial Hermann’s physicians keep a finger on patients’ pulses even when they can’t be at their bedsides.

It's great to see how hospital systems are leveraging mobile technology to improve health care. To read about this example and to see a video about physicians in the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System using the Apple iPhone, visit: http://www.apple.com/iphone/business/profiles/memorial-hermann/

Save 20% on Tarascon

Looking for some holiday gifts? If you know someone who got a new smartphone, perhaps he/she needs some medical apps. Well, Tarascon has always been one of my favorite resources during medical school and residency. You can save 20% on their products.

* Save 20% on our entire selection of products including the NEW 2010 Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia, Pocketbooks, Reference Cards, and Mobile Products. Simply use coupon code GIFT at checkout.

* Don’t Wait! The Holiday Sale ends December 31, 2009.

Visit: http://www.tarascon.com

Motorola Droid updated to Android OS 2.0.1

You can update the Motorola Droid to Android OS 2.0.1. Don't expect major improvements, but you should see better battery life and camera functionality. If you haven't received the OS update, you can manually load it by downloading it from here.

Save 20% on Unbound Medicine

Unbound Medicine has some great titles for smartphones, including Apple iPhone, RIM BlackBerry, Microsoft Windows Mobile, and Google Android. You could also run their apps if you have a Palm Pre (webOS) as long as you're running a Classic Palm OS emulator. Otherwise, you can access some of their titles via a mobile web browser. Use the code "GIFT09" when you're checking out to save 20%.
Visit: http://www.unboundmedicine.com

Vodafone partners with the mHealth Alliance

I'm currently working on an international health project that involves mobile phone in other countries. This press release caught my interest, so I'm sharing it with you:

New mHealth Alliance Award to Spur Innovation in Wireless Solutions to Global Health Challenges

Award provides dedicated mHealth funding as part of Vodafone Americas Foundation’s Wireless Innovation Project

Walnut Creek, CA & Washington, DC (December 9, 2009) -- To spur innovation in the development of wireless solutions to global health challenges, the Vodafone Americas Foundation and the mHealth Alliance announced today a partnership that will expand the Vodafone Americas Foundation’s Wireless Innovation Project to include the new mHealth Alliance Award. The award will be granted to the developer of an innovative wireless technology with the most potential to address critical health challenges, especially in developing regions.

“In places where roads remain unpaved, and where basic infrastructure such as clean water and electricity are scant, mobile phones already have become an empowering force for millions,” said David Aylward, Executive Director of the mHealth Alliance. “The mHealth Alliance Award challenges innovators and social entrepreneurs to use mobile technology to advance health delivery in even the most remote environments, such as through improved diagnosis, treatment or access to information.”

The winner of the mHealth Alliance Award will receive a cash prize and benefits totaling $50,000, including participation in Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology, and Society’s Global Social Benefit Incubator Program (GSBI™), a highly competitive program that connects innovators with a Silicon Valley support network and provides instruction on how to achieve maximum sustainability and impact in social enterprises. In addition, the winner will receive strategic and networking assistance from the mHealth Alliance, an umbrella group founded by the Rockefeller Foundation, United Nations Foundation and Vodafone Foundation that supports cross-sector collaboration in delivering healthcare to the furthest reaches of wireless communications.

“We are thrilled to partner with the mHealth Alliance to further encourage new technology in the field,” said June Sugiyama, Executive Director of the Vodafone Americas Foundation. “This is an ideal partnership because we share a common goal of improving livelihoods through wireless and mobile technology.”

The Vodafone Americas Foundation Wireless Innovation Project is now underway, with applications being accepted through February 1, 2010. Although projects may be global in scope, the applicants must be from nonprofits based in the United States. A panel of judges from the fields of wireless engineering, international development, social entrepreneurship and business will evaluate the applications for their potential to solve a critical global issue in the fields of education, health, access to communication, the environment or economic development. Vodafone Americas Foundation will award first ($300,000), second ($200,000) and third ($100,000) prizes, and the new mHealth Alliance Award. The winner of the mHealth Alliance Award is eligible for the first three prizes as well. mHealth Alliance Award and Wireless Innovation Project winners will be announced at the Global Philanthropy Forum in April 19, 2010.

2009 Wireless Innovation Project Winners
Last year’s Wireless Innovation Project winners included two second prizes awarded to mHealth related technologies-- CellScope, a mobile microscope capable of identifying infectious diseases such as TB and malaria; and CelloPhone, a mobile blood and fluid analyzer that can identify and transmit results from fluid samples in the field, The first prize was awarded to EnHANTs, a disaster recovery system that can locate people trapped by fires or structural collapse. Complete detailed information about eligibility and an application can be found at http://www.project.vodafone-us.com/

About the Vodafone Americas Foundation
Vodafone Americas Foundation is part of Vodafone’s global family of foundations. We are affiliated with Vodafone Group Plc, the world's leading mobile telecommunications company, with ownership interests in 31 countries and Partner Markets in more than 40 countries. As of June 30, 2009, Vodafone had approximately 315 million proportionate customers worldwide. In the U.S., our foundation directs its philanthropic activities towards the San Francisco Bay and the Metro Denver Areas where most of our employees live and work, and where we strive to make a positive and enduring impact on our communities. The Foundation is driven by a passion for the world around us. We make grants that help people in our communities and around the world lead fuller lives. For more information about the Vodafone Americas Foundation, visit http://www.vodafone-us.com/

About the mHealth Alliance
The mHealth Alliance is dedicated to enabling the delivery of quality healthcare to the farthest reaches of wireless networks in the developing world. Created by the United Nations Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Vodafone Foundation, the Alliance’s mission is to be a catalyst and accelerant, supporting leaders, celebrating successes, creating hard research, filling gaps, making connections, and forging public-private partnerships. More information is available at www.mhealthalliance.org or info@mhealthalliance.org.

About Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology, and Society
Santa Clara University is committed to educating leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion who will help fashion a more just, humane, and sustainable world. As a University center of distinction, the Center for Science, Technology, and Society undertakes three integrative activities: educating students, engaging the public, and exemplifying the realization of social impact through our flagship Global Social Benefit Incubator Program (GSBI™). In so doing, we forge strong connections across local and global businesses, civic and academic institutions, and the technology innovators of Silicon Valley in the context of Jesuit values of service. For more information visit www.scu.edu/sts or contact Sherrill Dale at sdale@scu.edu.

Press Contact:
Adele Waugaman, United Nations Foundation
(o) 202-887-9040, (e) awaugaman@unfoundation.org
Denise Lamott
(o) 415-381-8793, (m) 415-235-6458, (e) Denise@DeniseLamottPR.com

There's still time to save 40% on Epocrates software

If you're thinking about purchasing some medical apps for your smartphone, you should know that you still have a day to save 40% on Epocrates software. Enter code HOLIDAY2009 when you're checking out. This offer is only valid through 12/10/09

Learning how to read ECGs (or EKGs) using the iPhone or iPod touch

When I was a medical student, it was difficult to find a great pocket resource that could help medical students with some of the basics of reading an ECG. Now, the Apple iPhone or iPod touch has become a great resource for students and residents who wish to learn how to read an ECG. There are several great utilities such as Instant ECG by iAnesthesia and the ECG Guide by QxMD. You can find these in the App store on iTunes (they're currently some of the top paid medical apps). Plus, you can pull up ECG images from the Internet.

I'd love to go through medical school again and compare my personal experience with today's modern experience. Students have access to some great multimedia resources literally at their fingertips.

Drug reference guides for Android

If you're using an Android powered smartphone (such as the Motorola Droid, the HTC Hero, HTC MyTouch, or the HTC Droid Eris), then you may be wondering when Epocrates will release drug reference software for your operating system. You can access drug information via your mobile web browser (m.epocrates.com) or you can purchase drug reference medical apps from Unbound Medicine (such as Drug Facts or Davis's Drug Guide). MobilePDR will also be available for Android in 2010 and I'm sure Epocrates will have some Android software in 2010.

If you have a subscription to UpToDate, remember that you can access that via a mobile web browser and look up drug info (powered by Lexi-Comp). Finally, you may be glad to know that Skyscape now offers an Android Reader for their titles.

Using your phone camera in the clinical setting

If your mobile phone has a built-in camera, do you use it in the clinical setting? When I was a medical student, there were so many times I wished I had a camera so that I could take a picture of a rash or another strange lesion.

There are so many opportunities to take pictures (or even videos) when you're seeing patients, but is this appropriate? It certainly isn't appropriate if you don't have the patient's permission. But what if the patient is unable to give you permission? What if the patient is intubated and sedated in the ICU? What if the patient is not medically competent to make decisions?

A digital photo can also be entered into the medical record and dermatologists rely on digital cameras all the time to track the progress of moles and other lesions that may turn malignant. If you're a student or you're in training, you may want to leverage those opportunities where you can take a photo and then make a presentation in a group setting.

New HTC phones coming in 2010

HTC is a smartphone manufacturer that has not gained the visibility it deserves because many of its phones get rebranded as "Verizon" or "AT&T." It's a shame since they make very high quality devices. Well, the 2010 Product Roadmap for HTC is now available on the Internet and it appears like we'll be seeing some truly exciting phones next year.

Here's a very brief summary of each phone based on categories:

1. Design and Lifestyle
• Legend (Android)
• Salsa (Android)
2. Social
• Tide (Android)
• Buzz (Android)
3. Performance
• Bravo (Android)
4. Productivity
• Photon (Windows Mobile 6.5)
• Trophy (Windows Mobile 6.5)
• Tera (Windows Mobile 6.5)

I don't have time to go into all the specs for each device, but you can see that 5 will run Android and only 3 will run Windows Mobile. You can learn about each device by reading this post on Engadget or searching on the Internet. Remember that HTC phones are often renamed/rebranded.

Trackpad vs. Trackball (BlackBerry)

This is a popular debate among seasoned BlackBerry users: Trackpad vs. Trackball.

If you're new to BlackBerry, then you may not be familiar with the issues that are often discussed. Many users evolved from the thumb-operated scroll wheel that used to be on the side. Then, we saw the trackball appear so that you could effectively scroll in 2 different dimensions (up/down and left/right) plus diagonal if you're using an on-screen mouse. Now, the trackpad allows you the same type of functionality without any moving parts (so you don't need to worry about dust, the ball getting stuck, etc.).

At the end of the day, I think this is going to become a dead topic because we'll all be using touch-screen devices and we won't have any trackballs or trackpads. Everything will rely on capacitive touch screens that allow multi-touch gestures so that you can effectively navigate and operate your smartphone using a few fingers on one hand. The BlackBerry Storm and Storm 2 currently offer some limited multi-touch capabilities, but I'm confident that all future models will feature more multi-touch gestures and functionality.

Samsung Omnia II getting some mixed reviews?

The Samsung Omnia II launched earlier this week and I've been seeing some mixed reviews about this smartphone. Some feel that the Swype technology works well while others don't seem to care for it. Most like the AMOLED display (but you can expect poor visibility when you're outside). The software running the user interface seems to be associated with a love/hate relationship. The widgets drain your memory and may slow things down. I think I prefer the HTC interface called TouchFLO. The lack of a built-in stylus? Well, my HTC Touch Pro2 has a stylus, but I rarely use it since I'm almost always using my finger to navigate on this device. However, if you're planning on running Epocrates, plan to use a stylus (note that Epocrates does not currently run on Windows Mobile 6.5, so you'll have to wait before you can get it to run on the Samsung Omnia II).

Let's see what happens as more reviews get published over the next week.

Motorola Droid very popular this fall (Google Android)

The Motorola Droid is a very popular smartphone this fall. Some may argue that it's the most popular smartphone on the Verizon Wireless network. What do you think? Is the Android buzz going to carry through the holiday season? I think it will. I think that the HTC Droid Eris, the HTC Hero, the Motorola Droid, and other smartphones running Android will be very popular Christmas gifts.

Now, let's hope that medical application providers work quickly to develop many apps for Android. By the way, Droid is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. I'm a big Star Wars fan and I always think of R2-D2 when I hear the word "droid."

Smartphones of the future

10 years ago, if you would have told someone that you could squeeze 16 GB of flash memory on something the size of a microSD card, people would have laughed. Think about the type of storage technology we had 10 years ago. In 1999, we were living in the era of Windows 98 (Windows XP was released in 2001). Did you have a PC running Windows 98? Do you even remember the specs on that PC? I had an analog Motorola StarTac cell phone in 1999. I remember paying quite a premium to have that phone.

If we could move forward 10 years, what will smartphones be like? I don't think anyone will debate that mobile phones will be capable of very high data transfer speeds. They will have very fast processors. They will come with a large amount of internal flash RAM. Hopefully they will have much better battery life.

I wonder if the majority of future smartphones will be designed with touch-screen navigation or buttons. Will we still have phones with a hardware QWERTY keyboard? Or, will everything be driven by voice recognition and touch navigation? It's a bit difficult to imagine, isn't it? 10 years can go by so quickly, yet so many technology advances can occur over 10 years.

Will we have flexible LCD displays? Will phones be thinner than they are today? Will they be capable of 3D holographic projections? Will everything be video phone calls?

As we prepare for 2010, I'm reminded of the type of technology I used in 1999. As we prepared for the Y2K bug 10 years ago, life seemed slower and simpler back then. Today, we have access to information everywhere and I'm always connected to the Web (thanks to my smartphone).

I'm saving some of my relics so that I can show them to my kids. I plan to build a little gadget museum in my house so they can appreciate how technology has changed over time.

Samsung Omnia II is now available

The Samsung Omnia II is now on Verizon Wireless. This smartphone features a unique touch-screen typing experience called Swype technology. No need to lift your finger off the screen as you type. The AMOLED display should improve battery life as well. Now if you're looking for a smartphone that has a nice digital camera, how does 5 MP sound? You'll get a flash as well! (I really miss having an LED flash on my phone because it becomes a great flashlight when you're in the dark).

This phone is not a slider, so you won't see any type of hardware QWERTY keyboard. However, maybe the hardware QWERTY keyboard will become obsolete as smartphones rely on touch-screen input.

Smartphone with a DLP pico projector (LG eXpo)

Now imagine this: you want to show your patient a digital image (radiograph, anatomic illustration, etc.) and you're in your exam room but they really can't see the details on your small smartphone screen. You turn off the lights and you project the image on the wall using your smartphone and an external DLP pico projector attachment (too bad it's not internal like the slim little Nikon S1000pj that has a built-in projector). Who wants to carry around a device that has a bulky attachment on it?

Well, now you can have this fantastic feature if you purchase the LG eXpo smartphone which will be appearing on AT&T this month. I'm sure it won't be long before we start seeing some smartphones that have built-in projectors.

HTC Touch Pro2 rated #2 by Consumer Reports

The Verizon Wireless HTC Touch Pro2 is the second most highly rated smartphone this year. You're probably thinking that the Apple iPhone 3GS is #1. You are correct. Well, 2nd place isn't bad for HTC.

The Windows Mobile operating system also got very high ratings for "business" use and beat iPhone, Android, and even BlackBerry. Now something seems a bit strange here, doesn't it? Perhaps we're really seeing some sampling bias here. After all, are we collecting data from business users or consumers? I thought that BlackBerry was ranked #1 among business users. Am I missing something here? Also, are physicians considered business users?

Well, in any case, it's great to see some positive press for the HTC Touch Pro2. I love my device and I think it's great. It's certainly not perfect, but it's a huge improvement over the older Windows Mobile devices. Android is still in early stages, so I'm sure we'll be seeing some significant strides in that OS over the next 12 months.

Free Samsung Omnia on Verizon Wireless

In anticipation of the new Samsung Omnia 2, the original Omnia is now available for FREE if you purchase it online from Verizon Wireless. Otherwise, it's $49.99. This smartphone is running Windows Mobile 6.1, but you may find a custom ROM out there that has 6.5.

This is a decent smartphone that has a relatively small screen (compared to the newer Windows Phones like the HTC Touch Pro2, the HTC Imagio, or even the Android phones like the Motorola Droid and the HTC Droid Eris). If you want a great deal on a smartphone that has some nice features, the Omnia is a good choice at a bargain price. If you can afford to wait and you're willing to spend a bit, then the Omnia 2 will be a much better choice.