The marketplace of smartphone apps - whitepaper by research2guidance

Research2guidance has released a complimentary whitepaper titled, "Whitepaper: Smartphone App Market 2013"

Some findings include:

While Apple’s market share of app downloads constantly fell from 81% in 2008 to 39% at the end of 2012, Android’s app downloads increased year over year reaching 42% at the end of 2012.

Microsoft, BlackBerry, Firefox, Ubuntu or Jolla have come up with fresh and new app platforms which will challenge the two market leaders.

About research2guidance:

research2guidance is a Berlin-based mobile app economy specialist. The company’s service offerings include app strategy consulting, market studies and research.

Samsung announces the Galaxy S 4

Today, Samsung announced the Galaxy S4 . This is a very fast, thin, Android smartphone that has a large 5" display. The line distinguishing phone vs. tablet is getting blurry. Is this a phone, a tablet, or a phablet? The Galaxy S 3 had a 4.8" display.

The Galaxy S 4 also uses motion and the built-in accelerometer to control the phone. Seems like self-tracking fitness gadgets like Fitbits will face some competition from Samsung.

I look forward to getting my hands on an S 4 so that I can see how it feels and performs.

UpToDate Offline Content for Android now available

If you use UpToDate on a regular basis, you probably know that you can access the mobile web-optimized version on your smartphone or tablet. UpToDate MobileComplete is the offline version of UpToDate and it's the fastest version (plus you'll save on your data plan usage). It's been available for iOS for a while now, and it's finally available for Android. Upgrading to UpToDate MobileComplete is an additional $49 per year.

James Bond's smartphone: Sony Xperia TL (Bond Phone 007)

The Sony Xperia T is being marketed as the "Bond Phone." It looks like a very respectable Android smartphone that's selling on the AT&T network for $99. Some have reported that the phone is a bit heavy, but it's fast and it's on AT&T's 4G LTE network. Will you really want one after you watch the new movie Skyfall? Let's ask all those 007 fans out there. I have to admit that it's been quite a while since I've purchased a Sony product. I used to have all sorts of electronics and gadgets made by Sony including one of their first Walkman (cassette player) and portable CD player called the Diskman.

Discussing iOS vs. Android here at the #ACPE Fall Institute

I'm here at the ACPE Fall Institute and I've been chatting with many physicians about social media apps for their smartphones. Of course, the question often comes up: iOS vs. Android? I've used both extensively and still have phones and tablets running both.

You'll usually find me carrying an iPhone 5 and an iPad. I used to carry an Android tablet, but I stopped using that when I began using writing apps + stylus pen on my iPad.

According to the 2011 Manhattan Research Taking the Pulse study, 75% of physicians use some type of Apple device like an iPod, iPhone, or iPad. Their 2012 report indicated that tablet adoption doubled with the iPad being the dominant platform.

I continue to use both iOS and Android and I plan to start exploring Windows Phone and Windows RT to see how these newer platforms will be relevant for healthcare professionals.

Google announces Android 4.2 (still Jelly Bean)

While some of us are worrying about losing power because of Hurricane Sandy, others are checking blogs to see what's next for mobile handsets. I'm doing a bit of both while I still have power.

Google just announced an update to their Android OS. It's now Android 4.2 and it's still being called Jelly Bean. In my desk, I still have an old Android smartphone that's running Android 2.3 and I'm still waiting for Ice Cream Sandwich (but I'm not holding my breath).

At this point, it doesn't look like Android 4.2 will offer any tremendous enhancements for those who are still on 4.1. Photo Sphere, a smarter keyboard, wait - profiles for different users? Now, you've caught my attention - not for my phone, but for my tablet. We're all looking for easier ways to change settings when we hand our tablet to our kids.

Epocrates CME app now on Android

The Epocrates CME app (powered by RealCME) has been available for iOS for quite some time now. A few weeks ago, the app launched for the Android platform as well. So, if you're an Android user, type "CME" into Google Play Store and get Epocrates CME on your mobile device.

HTC explains why it killed the ICS update for the HTC Desire HD

HTC had originally promised to provide Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) updates for a number of their Android smartphones. Then, they changed their mind and killed the ICS update for the HTC Desire HD. Here's their explanation:

For more background, due to how storage on the HTC Desire HD is partitioned – and the larger size of Android 4.0 – it would require re-partitioning device storage and overwriting user data in order to install this update. While technically advanced users might find this solution acceptable, the majority of customers would not. We also considered ways to reduce the overall size of the software package, but this would impact features and functionality that customers are currently using. Even after installing the update, there were other technical limitations which we felt negatively impacted the user experience.

Those in the United States are waiting to see if HTC is going to make the same decision about the HTC ThunderBolt. Will HTC release an Android 4.0 update for the ThunderBolt?

The HTC ThunderBolt may not get Ice Cream Sandwich

Although HTC originally promised Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) updates for a number of their smartphones, recent reports seem to suggest that HTC may be changing their mind about a few of the older Android smartphones. I happen to have one of those older smartphones: the HTC ThunderBolt which made history as the first 4G smartphone on Verizon. I've been hanging on to this phone hoping to test how Android 4.0 runs on it. Now, I'm not sure that I'll ever get to load Android 4.0 (I suppose I could unlock the bootloader and load a custom ROM, but I don't want to go through that headache).

My review of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Sprint

For the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to test the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on the Sprint network. As I've been using this device, a question that kept coming up was this: Will Apple's patent lawsuit against Samsung block U.S. sales of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus? I'm not sure that we have a definitive answer here. Currently, the Galaxy Nexus is being sold on most major wireless networks and these networks are also selling the newest member of the Galaxy family: the Samsung Galaxy S III. 


The Samsung Galaxy Nexus has a beautiful screen and the phone is remarkably thin. Previously, I mainly used an HTC Thunderbolt and I recently switched to the iPhone 4S. The Galaxy Nexus was a refreshing change from the iPhone because of the large screen (4.65" vs. 3.5" on the iPhone). Plus, Android 4 (also known as ICS or Ice Cream Sandwich) is much more refined than previous Android versions. There's an updated version of Android called Jelly Bean (it's 4.1).


When it came to using a variety of medical apps on the Galaxy Nexus, they ran beautifully and I found that I was much more productive typing on a larger screen. Multimedia content was delivered richly on the AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) display and the dual-core processor demonstrated snappy performance as I switched between intensive apps that load a lot of data. When you're browsing the web and searching for medical information, you'll feel like you have a small tablet in your hand because of the large screen that facilitates on-screen navigation. 


Also, the built-in camera has no shutter lag, so you can snap photos very quickly and sharing is easy. Do you share medical photos with colleagues using a secure, encrypted service? You'll appreciate the photo and video quality on this phone. 


I missed the fact that the Galaxy Nexus does not have a microSD card slot. Many other Android smartphones include a microSD slot. Then again, the HTC One X also doesn't have a microSD card slot.


Also, battery life on the Galaxy Nexus was adequate, but it wasn't great. This is probably why Samsung beefed up the battery from an 1850 mAh battery on the Galaxy Nexus to a 2100 mAh battery on the Galaxy S III. The Galaxy Nexus is very light (5.1 oz) and rivals the smaller iPhone 4S here (4.9 oz). The Galaxy S III beats both by only weighing 4.7 oz and still having a larger screen and battery. 

Some of the key features of the Galaxy Nexus include:

• Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich
• 4.65" HD Super AMOLED Contoured Display
• Dual-Core 1.2GHz Processor & 1GB Ram
• HTML Web Browser
• Camera 5.0 Megapixel
• 1.3MP front-facing Camera

The Galaxy Nexus won the CNET "Editor's Choice" back in Dec 2011. The most recent CNET winner is the Galaxy S III, so you're still in the same family here. 

Finally, don't get confused with the names "Galaxy" and "Nexus." Both of these terms have been applied to a wide range of smartphones (like the Samsung Galaxy family and the Google Nexus) and tablets (like the Google Nexus 7). In other words, it's easy to mistake the Samsung Galaxy Nexus for another device.

I would highly recommend this phone for anyone interested in a great smartphone with a large display running the latest version of Android but who is also budget-conscious. You can find this phone for $99 to $150 whereas most of the newest smartphones generally start at $200. If you're the type who needs the latest and greatest and you're willing to pay the price, then go with the Galaxy S III because you'll get a phone that mainly has a bigger display (4.8" vs. 4.65"), a better camera (8 MP vs. 5 MP), and longer battery life (2100 mAh vs. 1850 mAh). Beyond these differences, the Galaxy Nexus is very similar to the Galaxy S III.

5 Android features I really miss, now that I'm primarily an iOS user

I continue to use both Android and iOS devices, but recently I switched my primary device: my smartphone. I went from an Android smartphone to an iPhone 4S on the Verizon network. I still use my iPad and my Android tablet, so I'm staying up-to-date with the latest versions of apps.

The iPhone is really nice, but I find myself continuing to miss these key Android features because I've grown so accustomed to the Android way of doing things on a smartphone:

1. The "back" button on Android. This button is the intuitive way to "go back" when you're navigating on such a small screen. On the iPhone, to "go back," you have to tap on different buttons depending on the application you're using. Hence, it's not as intuitive to go back to your previous screen when you're using the iPhone.

2. The "menu" button on Android. Once again, the iPhone has most of its application settings under one place: Settings. Some apps have a separate "settings" button within the app. Once again - not consistent across the different types of apps. On Android, all the app settings are controlled within the app.

Is Amazon coming up with a smartphone?

There are several rumors circulating that Amazon is developing their own smartphone. The plan is to run the Google Android OS. I'm guessing that the Amazon smartphone will run a limited version of Android (similar to the Amazon Kindle Fire).

Does Amazon have the right type of ecosystem? I think they could put some serious pressure on Apple. I mainly use the Amazon Kindle app and I like how I can synchronize all my books across my Android and iOS mobile devices.

So, how will the Amazon smartphone be different from other Google Android smartphones? For one thing, the Amazon Appstore provides nice features for devoted Amazon customers. Did you notice how they give away a free paid app each day?

I'm testing the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Sprint

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus has been available on the Sprint network for a few months and I now have my hands on one (to test). I'll be providing more opinions over the next week, so stay tuned. In the meanwhile, if you're thinking about upgrading to an Android smartphone running Android 4.0 (also known as Ice Cream Sandwich), then you'll be happy with the changes that you'll find on the new OS. Compared to Android 2.x, Android 4.0 includes a number of welcome improvements. I actually still have an HTC ThunderBolt running Android 2.3.4 that was the first 4G smartphone on the Verizon network. This phone is supposed to get the Ice Cream Sandwich update sometime this month, so I'm waiting to see how it performs after I've updated the OS.

Back to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus - it's a really nice, thin smartphone with a large 4.65-inch, 1280-by-720 Super AMOLED screen. Ever since I started using an iPhone 4S, I've missed the larger screens found on Android smartphones. The dual-core 1.2GHz processor is snappy and the battery life has been impressive so far.

The newest Android smartphone from Samsung is the Galaxy S III and it's going to be available on most of the major wireless networks. Being the newest, it's also the most expensive. The Galaxy Nexus (also from Samsung) is a bit more affordable ($149.99).

5 initial thoughts after switching from Android to the iPhone

I've been an Android smartphone user for several years. I've owned a few different Android smartphones running almost every version of Android. In parallel, I've been an iOS user with an iPod touch and an iPad. So, you can say that I've been living in both worlds.

I recently decided that it was time to make the transition from an Android smartphone to an iPhone. I had been debating this for a while since the iPhone 4S is not on the 4G network. However, I wanted to hang on to my "unlimited data" on Verizon wireless for as long as possible, so I decided to use up my device upgrade and get the iPhone 4S.

Here are a few of my initial impressions:

1. I don't really miss the fact that I no longer have 4G. I'm not a heavy user of uploading/downloading content, plus I can simply switch to Wi-Fi to sync my photos and videos.

2. Compared to most Android smartphones that have larger screens, the font on the iPhone 4S is tiny. The screen on the iPhone is smaller (3.5 inches vs. 4+ inches on Android devices). That 1/2 inch can really make a difference. I find myself pinch-to-zooming more just to read my emails on my iPhone. I never had to zoom to read emails on my Android.

3. Battery life on the iPhone 4S is not sufficient. Then again, most Android smartphones aren't either, but at least you have the option of getting an extended battery. I've concluded that I need to carry my iPhone 4S in a battery case (which adds to bulk and weight).

4. I really miss certain features on my Android. I miss the free GPS turn-by-turn navigation provided by Google Maps. I'm using the MapQuest app on my iPhone, but it's not nearly as nice. GPS navigation is coming in iOS 6, so let's see how that works. I also really miss the fact that my Android had a built-in microSD slot so that I could switch cards and move files around very easily. I also really miss the navigation buttons my Android: Menu, Back, Search. These buttons really improve my productivity and workflow. The Apple iOS is designed to be simple, which is great for most people. Sophisticated users may get frustrated by the simplicity of the Apple iOS. In that regard, I'm probably more like Steve Wozniak and less like Steve Jobs.

5. Finally, it's nice to have access to a wider range of apps on the iPhone. Of course, Android is catching up rather quickly, but Android developers are definitely behind when it comes to professional medical apps. Most popular consumer apps are available on both iOS and Android.

I'm still hanging on to my Android smartphone because I may switch back. I'm going to use the iPhone for a few weeks before I make that final determination. If I decide to go back to Android, the only substantial thing I'll really miss is the inability to carry around an ECG in my pocket (because I carry my iPhone 4S in an AliveCor iPhone ECG case).

UpToDate® for Android™

UpToDate has launched their mobile App for Android™ phones and tablets! This free app provides:

• Anywhere access to full UpToDate clinical content
• Optimized user interface designed especially for Android phones and tablets
• Persistent log-in and suggested search terms to help you get answers faster
• Ability to earn CME

iOS users can upgrade the UpToDate App for iPhone or iPad with UpToDate MobileComplete™. With MobileComplete, you can download UpToDate content directly onto your iPhone or iPad so you can access the information you need from anywhere – even in dead zones. MobileComplete is only $49 with an annual individual subscription.

To wait or not to wait (for the next iPhone)... that is the question

I'm currently an Android user, but I think my next smartphone will be the iPhone. I've been on the Verizon network for over 10 years and I would have been an iPhone adopter, but I got stuck with Android. Current Android smartphones offer several advantages to the existing iPhone 4S on Verizon. Namely, the Android smartphones have 4G, they let you talk + surf simultaneously, they have bigger screens, and they offer better wireless hotspot capabilities (if you need such features).

So, I'm somewhat torn and I'm debating whether I should get an iPhone 4S (which I got for my wife about a year ago). Or, should I stick my existing Android smartphone and wait for the next iPhone? I'm sure that one will have 4G, will let you talk + surf simultaneously, and will be a nicer device than the existing iPhone 4S.

The iPhone 4S has one of the best digital camera/camcorder features on a smartphone, and that's another big reason why I feel so compelled to give up my Android. I find myself envying the quality of the photos and videos on my wife's iPhone.

I'm eligible for an upgrade on Verizon. To wait or not to wait... that is the question.

If you're a fan of technology then the new iPhone will be a step above the rest. Sadly without a release date it's hard to decide whether to get a different model or just to wait. If you're wanting a new phone for the meantime there are some great cheap mobile phone deals from Dialaphone.

Remote PC access via mobile devices

Do you access your work PC on your mobile device? As more health care professionals depend on computer systems for electronic health records (EHRs) and computerized physician order entry (CPOE), there is a growing need for remote computer support and troubleshooting. Some of those issues can get handled with devices running mobile operating systems like iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile. I've personally tested a variety of remote desktop apps on my iPad, my Android tablet, and even on various smartphones. It's definitely easier to navigate around the remote PC when you're using a larger touch screen.

Since I have several mobile devices running Google Android, I've been experimenting with Android remote support solutions. I use the same Google account on all my Android devices, so once I purchase an app for one device, I can use that same app on all my other Android devices. Recently, Google renamed their app store from the Android Market to the Google Play Store. That's where you'll find remote desktop apps for your Android device. Some of you may even be looking for Windows Mobile remote support because you haven't given up your Treo or you are using some of the latest HTC Windows Phones.

Remote PC access is great when you need to troubleshoot a problem, but it's also convenient when you need to access your EHR to review a patient's record or to e-prescribe.

Sony Ericsson SmartWatch Android™ watch

We're going from Smartphone to Smartwatch.

The Sony Ericsson SmartWatch Android™ watch is an extension of your Android smartphone to your wrist. So, instead of pulling out your phone to see who is calling you or sending you messages, you can view those things right on your wrist.

Could the "smartwatch" be the next hot technology to follow the smartphone?

• The SmartWatch communicates wirelessly with your Android smartphone via Bluetooth.
• SmartWatch features an easy-to-use, ultra-responsive touch display.
• Customize your SmartWatch with any 20mm wristband.
• Can read SMS and email and calendar reminders on display
• Clip the device anywhere

This device actually looks a lot like an iPod nano. It has a clip, it can be worn like a watch, and it has a color screen. Perhaps the next iPod nano will have Bluetooth and will connect with iPhones. Maybe it will be called the iWatch.

Google announces "Bouncer" to protect Android smartphones from malware

Yesterday, Google announced a service codenamed Bouncer, which "provides automated scanning of Android Market for potentially malicious software without disrupting the user experience of Android Market or requiring developers to go through an application approval process."

Here’s how it works: once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analyzing it for known malware, spyware and trojans. It also looks for behaviors that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analyzed apps to detect possible red flags.

Given all the concerns around security and privacy in the world of health care, this could be a technology that could improve patient safety.

You can read more about "Bouncer" on the Google Mobile Blog.

Samsung Galaxy Note with a HUGE 5.3" screen - great for presbyopia

Remember the OQO model 02? This was a pocket-sized Windows PC that had a 5" screen. The company went out of business a few years ago.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is an Android smartphone (or is this a tablet?) that has a huge 5.3" screen. This device might be great for adults who have presbyopia and need reading glasses. This could be the perfect smartphone for people ages 40+

However, be warned that this is a BIG device!

Also, if you miss pulling out a stylus for your PDA/smartphone, you'll love how the Galaxy Note uses an S Pen (Advanced smart pen) so that you can write/draw directly on the screen. Is the stylus pen making a comeback?

The GALAXY Note provides you with the ability to freely capture and create ideas anywhere and everywhere. The S Pen is combined with the full touch screen to create a best-in-class mobile input experience. It is the most advanced pen input technology featuring an array of functions including pressure sensitivity, preciseness, speed and more. With the S Pen, you can easily sketch drawings or write notes with increased accuracy and ease. Also, the S Pen functionality is deeply integrated into the GALAXY Note’s native applications to provide a richer interactive experience.