Apple iOS wrist watch (iWatch)

There are growing rumors on the Internet about a wrist watch from Apple. Will such a device run iOS or will it run a simplified operating system like the ones found on touch-screen iPod nanos? I have a 6th generation iPod nano (the square one) that I'll occasionally wear on the my wrist. It's a fun touch-screen watch and I can change the watch face easily. However, the display doesn't remain on all the time, so it's a bit annoying that I have to press the button to see the time. Also, the device doesn't have Bluetooth, so I can't use my Bluetooth headphones. I could use a Bluetooth adapter, but it drains the battery too quickly.

I predict that eventually Apple will release some type of wrist watch that will include:

• Motion sensors like what you see on the Jawbone UP or the Nike + Fuel Band
• Bluetooth so that you can stream your music to your Bluetooth headphones
• Touch screen
• Interface with your iOS device like iPhone or iPad to show incoming calls, emails, text messages, etc. 

Maybe the first version of the Apple iWatch will resemble the Motorola MOTOACTV - Fitness Tracker. But, without the GPS tracking and the heart rate monitor. After all, Apple has traditionally designed their products to appeal to the general consumer market. Most people don't need GPS tracking or heart rate monitoring when they exercise. Also, most consumers don't exercise regularly (although they probably should). 

This year, the Quantified Self movement (self-tracking movement and physical activity with digital gadgets) is seeing many new devices entering the market. Will Apple enter the QS market in 2013 or 2014? I can't imagine that they would wait much longer than that. 

Waiting for my iPod nano replacement box from Apple

A few weeks ago, I discovered that Apple had announced an iPod nano replacement program last fall. I want to thank Paulo Machado (@pjmachado) for telling me about the replacement program. He was one of the fortunate iPod nano owners who received the newest generation of the iPod nano.

I went home to discover that I also had first generation iPod nano. So, I filled out the online form and now I'm still waiting for the iPod nano replacement box. Once I get that box, then I'll be sending my iPod nano back to Apple and I'll patiently wait for a replacement.

You can learn more about the iPod nano replacement program here.



Apple has determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the iPod nano (1st generation) may overheat and pose a safety risk. Affected iPod nanos were sold between September 2005 and December 2006.


This issue has been traced to a single battery supplier that produced batteries with a manufacturing defect. While the possibility of an incident is rare, the likelihood increases as the battery ages.


Apple recommends that you stop using your iPod nano (1st gen) and follow the process noted below to order a replacement unit, free of charge.


Note: This battery issue is specific to the iPod nano (1st gen) and does not affect any other iPod.

75% of U.S. physicians own an iPhone, iPad, or iPod

75% of U.S. Physicians Own Some Form of Apple Device According to New Manhattan Research Study

New Taking the Pulse® U.S. v11.0 study of physician digital trends indicates iPhone and iPad driving steep mobile device adoption in the U.S. physician market

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2011 - 75% of U.S. physicians own some form of Apple device, such as an iPhone, iPad or iPod, according to the new Taking the Pulse® U.S. v11.0 study from pharmaceutical and healthcare market research company Manhattan Research. This year's study of physician digital adoption trends includes a focus on the iPad and other tablets, professional activities across multiple screens, electronic health records and online patient-physician communication.

The iPhone surged to dominate the physician smartphone market in 2011 as the number one smartphone platform used by physicians in the U.S. “Despite the success of the Android platform in the overall consumer market, physicians are flocking to the iPhone as their smartphone of choice,” said Meredith Ressi, president of Manhattan Research. Smartphone penetration among physicians exceeded Manhattan Research analysts' previous forecasts to reach 81% this year.

Apple releases new iPods (iPod touch, nano, shuffle.)

It's not a surprise that the new iPod touch finally includes a camera (and in this case, two cameras so that you can participate in FaceTime). It's a real shame that the iPod touch does NOT include a GPS. I think that would make this blockbuster gadget even better. Well, I have an older version of the iPod touch and I use it all the time to play with iOS 4.

The new iPod touch also features the Retina Display, HD video recording and editing, Voice Control, and the great features found in iOS 4, including multitasking.

Medical students are using the iPhone or iPod touch to study medicine

Today's medical students have access to some incredible educational resources. On the Apple iPhone and iPod touch, you can download some great apps that can help you study when you're "on the go." Instead of carrying your heavy textbook everywhere, you can use your iPod to study at the gym, on the train, etc. Instead of staring at a textbook to memorize medical information, medical students are using interactive multimedia resources to study medicine.

Some of my favorite educational medical apps include the anatomy apps made by 3D4Medical.com and you can try some of these as "free" apps. I wonder how many medical schools provide included subscriptions to these resources for their medical students.

Medical students are also using the multimedia features found on smartphones like the iPhone to view recorded video lectures and listen to audio podcasts (also lectures) while they're exercising on the treadmill or walking around a track. I wish I had these types of resources when I was a medical student.

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 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.

Medical students at UMDNJ required to have an Apple iPhone or iPod touch

Entering medical students at the UMDNJ (University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey) Robert Wood Johnson Medical School are required to have an Apple iPhone or iPod touch. They should just build the cost into the tuition and issue devices for their students.

Here's are a few quotes from their news release:

This fall all entering medical school students at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School were required to have an iPod Touch or iPhone as well as a laptop computer...

“What mobility really means is total access to course material for our students anywhere in the world at any time of the day,” remarks Alex Izaguirre, director of information technology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “The introduction of the mobility initiative empowers the school to move in directions previously not possible. For example, students will have access to a repertoire of new applications, both commercially available and internally developed, affording them with state-of-the-art medical training.”

“This initiative complements many other technological advances at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School including the implementation of the electronic medical record and e-prescribing within our physician practice,” explains Dr. Amenta. “We continually strive to remain at the forefront of modern healthcare in research, education, community health and patient care.”

So, it may be the Apple iPhone this year, but what about in 5 or 10 years? What will be the dominant smartphone in the future?

Reduced prices on the Apple iPods

Since Apple just came out with a new line of iPods, you can get some pretty good deals on the older generation (they weren't old last week, but now they're old) iPods. I've gone through several iPods myself and I don't feel the urge to upgrade any of my current iPods, so I won't be making any purchases. However, if you want to get a relatively inexpensive gift for someone, now may be the time to make that purchase while they're available.

Members of my household (yes, we have kids) currently own the following iPod models:

• iPod (Click Wheel) - also referred to as the fourth generation iPod. This was our first iPod and was purchased in 2004.
  
• iPod mini (2nd generation) - released in 2005
  
• iPod nano (1st generation) - released in 2005
  
• iPod nano (4th generation) - released in 2008
  
• iPod touch (2nd generation) - released in 2008
  

I used to have an iPod nano (3rd generation), but we gave that away. Don't know which model you own? Take a look at this link to "Identify iPod models"

Smartphone capabilities in 5 years

I'm not a fortune teller, but I can tell you fairly confidently that smartphones will have some incredible capabilities in 5 years. Here are my predictions:

• Much larger internal storage capacity that exceeds current Flash memory cards. I think we'll see many smartphones that have over 100 GB of storage space. They will rival current laptops in terms of storage.
  
• Much faster processors that are fuel-efficient. (battery fuel). Current smartphones are still running in the MHz range. We'll see smartphones that rival current notebook processor speeds in the GHz range.
• WiMax instead of Wi-Fi. Forget coffeshop hotspots. The entire city will be a hotspot.
  
• Much faster data connections. 3G speed will be like 14.4 K modem speeds compared to modern broadband speeds.
  
• Large touch screens. All of them will have touch screens. Smartphones that lack a touch screens will be considered "antiques."
• Built-in GPS. They will all have internal GPS chips. This is becoming quite standard right now, but in 5 years, we'll see this as the norm.
• Superior voice command and voice recognition. Who needs a keyboard if you can "say it?"
  

In essence, future smartphones will have the capabilities of current laptops (not the fastest laptop, but an "average" laptop). They won't have spinning hard drives, but they will be much more capable of multimedia and high-speed data connections. Just follow the history of the Apple iPod to see changes in Flash storage space, processor speed, battery life, and more. I believe Apple will continue to set the trend that others will follow. Samsung, HTC, RIM, Sony, Motorola, Palm, Nokia, and all the others will follow Apple's lead.

New iPods and old iPod accessories

I'm getting quite annoyed that older Apple iPod accessories are no longer working on newer iPod models. For instance, I have a Firewire charger that works on several of the older iPods. However, it won't work on the new iPod touch or the newest iPod nano. I also have a Belkin auto kit that works really well on my older iPods, but doesn't charge any of my new iPods. I have some power tips that work on my iGo, Kensington, and Targus universal power adapters. They also don't work on the newer iPods.

I'm so disappointed that I can't use my old charging tips and peripherals with my newer iPods. Why did you make this change Apple? The iPod dock connector looks the same, but it doesn't work the same way. That's very annoying. Will Apple issue a software update that fixes this issue? Can it be fixed via software/firmware, or is this a hardware issue?

Summer tip: prevent your electronics from overheating in the car

Here's a relatively simple summer tip for those of you who keep electronics (such as iPods and GPS navigators) in the car. Keep a small ice chest in your car and keep your electronics in the ice chest. They should stay cooler in there (compared to your console or glove compartment box).

Never leave your iPod or GPS units in direct sunlight when you park your car. The temperature inside your car can get extremely high during the summer. Plus, you're at risk of losing your electronic device to theft if it's out in the open. Want to keep your device even cooler? Keep that ice chest in the trunk of your car.

iPhone and iPod Touch OS 3.0 Software Updates

FYI, if you're trying to update your Apple iPhone or iPod touch operating system to OS 3.0, make sure you're using the correct firmware update files. iTunes will automatically download the correct file for you, but in case you start getting confused, here are the files you'll need:

• iPhone 2G (1st generation) OS Firmware 3.0: iPhone1,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw
• iPhone 3G (2nd generation) OS Firmware 3.0: iPhone1,2_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw
• iPod Touch (1st generation) OS Firmware 3.0: iPod1,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw
• iPod Touch (2nd generation) OS Firmware 3.0: iPod2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw

My iPod touch (2nd generation) is now running OS 3.0. Was it worth $9.95? Yes, because some of the apps now require OS 3.0 to run. If you're using iTunes, the update process is fairly automatic.

However, if you're trying to manually update the firmware, here's how you can do it:

• Connect your iPod touch to your PC
  
• Hold Shift and click the "Restore" button on iTunes (In Mac OS X system, press and hold Option key and click Update)
• Locate the correct iPod Touch ipsw file and proceed with the software update

The update process will start and your iPod may reboot a few times. Do not disconnect the iPod touch until iTunes has completed updating.

Apple iPod touch - a great distraction for kids

The Apple iPod touch is a great distraction for kids while you're traveling. Whether you're in the car of a restaurant, this little device (that's fairly robust due to the fact that it has no moving parts) can save your life if your little one is screaming in the car or restaurant. The built-in accelerometer is a great feature that kids love. Plus, the touch-screen interface is easy to use.

Resetting the iPod Touch

I was playing with my Apple iPod Touch today and I had to do a reset (or reboot). Not a hard reset that wipes out all the info, but just a simple reboot. Do you know how to reset an iPod touch? There's no small button to press with a paperclip. There's no battery to remove to reboot.

You have to hold the center Home button and the power button at the top (also called the Sleep/Wake button) for ten seconds.

Iris Update v1.1.7

Have you tried Iris on your Windows Mobile smartphone? It's a great mobile web browser and the update makes it even better. The best part of Iris is that it's free (at least for now). I find that mobile browsing is great, but it also drains my battery quickly. Medical students who want to browse during their clinical rotations will probably need to carry an extra battery (or two).

Those using an Apple iPhone may need one of those external battery packs. Do you think the next iPhone will have a removable battery? No. Look at all the iPods that Apple has released. None of them have a user-removable battery. This is probably one of the major drawbacks of using the iPhone as a mobile internet device (MID).

Epocrates Essentials Now Available for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Epocrates has released Epocrates Essentials for the iPhone and iPod touch. This is more than the standard free version of Epocrates. Essentials includes features such as:
• Peer-reviewed disease content with evidence-based treatment
• options and high-resolution disease images
• Infectious disease treatment guide
• 600+ alternative (herbal) medications with drug interactions
• Hundreds of diagnostic and laboratory tests

A one-year subscription costs $149 and a two-year plan is $249. I've been using Epocrates since day 1 when Epocrates started as a company in 1998. It's amazing how mobile technology has evolved over the years. The vast majority of medical students use PDAs and smartphones and Epocrates (the free version) is almost always on their device.

Apple Store to Reach One Billion Downloads

Can you believe that the Apple Store has gained that much traction? Since Apple products are popular all over the world, it's not a surprise. Well, they're about to celebrate 1,000,000,000 downloads! I have an iPod Touch and I love how it's easy to download applications directly through Wi-Fi.

Old iPod Chargers and new iPods

So I have several older iPods and a few new ones (yes, I admit that I'm a gadget freak, but most of these were not purchased). I've had the opportunity to win some iPods through drawings, Sermo, and a few others sources. I love iPods because they are great travel companions. However, I've recently noticed that my older iPod chargers don't charge my new iPod nano (4th generation) and iPod touch (2nd generation). If you have no idea what models I'm referring to, then take a look at this Apple Support page on different iPod generation models.

So I'm very disappointed that my Firewire charger, my Kensington Universal Charger (tip J3), and several other old iPod chargers do not work on my newer iPods. What's going on Apple?

Using the iPhone or iPod Touch in Healthcare

The Apple iPhone and iPod Touch are versatile devices that can be used in the healthcare setting. Can you think of more than 15 ways they can be used? If you're a medical student or a resident, maybe you can empty your white coat and replace some of your tools with this single device. Here's my list of 15 ways:

1. Epocrates (drug reference)
2. Web browsing (research)
3. Record patient data
4. 2-way communication with others (get rid of those pagers!)
5. Neuro/rehab tests and exercises (use the built-in accelerometer and improve your gait)
6. Visual acuity tests and exercises
7. Vibratory stimulation test (no need for that bulky tuning fork)
8. Auditory test (can you hear that high-pitched sound?)
9. Reflex hammer? Maybe, if you're really talented.
10. Take a photo of that rash or wound (great for surgery and dermatology)
11. Flash cards
12. Anatomy reference (try ADAM)
13. As a phone to answer your pages (if you still carry a pager)
14. As a flashlight in your call room
15. To watch Scrubs, ER, or other educational medical TV shows.
16. Medical podcasts, earn CME/CE credits.

I could go on and on, but I was thinking about these things as I played around with my iPod. Can you add to this list?