Why isn't the iPad 3 listed on the iOS 7 page?

I have an iPad 3. I call it the iPad 3 because it's technically the 3rd generation iPad and has the Retina display but it also has the older 20 pin connector instead of the new Lightning connector. So, it's technically NOT the "iPad with Retina display" even though it has a Retina display.

On the iOS 7 page, it indicates that iOS 7 is compatible with:

• iPad 2
• iPad with Retina display
• iPad mini

So, where does the 3rd gen iPad fall on this list? It's technically not "iPad with Retina display" since "iPad with Retina display" specifically refers to the 4th gen iPad that also has the Lightning connector and the faster dual-core A6X with quad-core graphics. The 3rd gen iPad has the dual-core A5X chip and the 20 pin connector.

I'm sure iOS 7 will work on the 3rd gen iPad (right Apple?).  However, I'm disappointed that iOS 7 won't work on the older iPod touch models. Looks like iOS 7 will only run on the 5th gen iPod touch.

Speaking of older iPads and iPods, you can get some nice deals on refurbished products from the Apple Outlet.

Expectations of iPad Use in an Internal Medicine Residency Program

Docs love their iPads, but are these tablets meeting the needs of busy doctors in training? Take a look at the journal article titled, "Expectations of iPad Use in an Internal Medicine Residency Program: Is It Worth the “Hype”?

The authors at the University of Chicago found that "While the use of tablets such as the iPad by residents is generally well received, high initial expectations highlight the danger of implementing new technologies. Education on the realistic expectations of iPad benefits may be warranted."

115 internal medicine residents received Apple iPads in October 2010. Residents completed matched surveys on anticipated usage and perceptions after distribution 1 month prior and 4 months after deployment.

Prior to deployment, most residents believed that the iPad would improve patient care and efficiency on the wards.

Luo N, Chapman CG, Patel BK, Woodruff JN, Arora VM
Expectations of iPad Use in an Internal Medicine Residency Program: Is It Worth the “Hype”?
J Med Internet Res 2013;15(5):e88
URL: http://www.jmir.org/2013/5/e88/
doi: 10.2196/jmir.2524
PMID: 23656727

Get Doximity on your iPad

If you're a physician in the United States, get the Doximity app for your iPad. Doximity is the largest and fastest growing physician network in the US. There are over 160,000 physicians on Doximity. 

Here's the press release from a few days ago:

Largest Physician Network Brings HIPAA Collaboration to the Big Screen 

 

SAN MATEO, Calif., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Doximity, the largest online physician network, today launched its new iPad app, bringing its HIPAA-secure communication platform for doctors to the big screen. Already available online and for iPhone and Android smartphone devices, the new Doximity iPad app enables seamless digital communication and collaboration among physicians leveraging the iPad's larger screen and performance.

DIY: make an easy iPad or tablet stand with a cardboard box lid

I remember what it was like to be a medical student on a limited budget: you simply don't have the funds to buy anything extra. So, you improvise where you can.

The other day, I decided to improvise with some household items to create a stand for my tablet PC or iPad. I took the lid of a small cardboard box and here is what I did:



Until we see tablet manufacturers adding built-in kickstands for their tablets, we will continue to see creative ways that people will make tablet stands.

Use your iPad as a second monitor: Air Display by @avatron

No April Fools here. You really can use your iPad as a second PC monitor.

Using two monitors really enhances productivity. You can read something on one screen while you type on the other. Or, you can copy something on one screen and paste them to an application running on the second screen. At work, I use two monitors but when I'm traveling, I'm often confined to a single monitor which is my laptop screen. There are apps that can transform my iPad (or iPad mini) to act as a second monitor.

Air Display by Avatron is an example of one of these apps that lets you use a spare mobile device as a second monitor for your Mac or PC. You have the option to use a spare Mac, PC, iPad, or Android tablet to serve as a second monitor. In other words, you can configure your second monitor like this:

Mac -> Mac
Mac -> Windows
Mac -> iPad
Mac -> Android


Windows -> Mac
Windows -> Windows
Windows -> iPad
Windows -> Android

You need to purchase separate apps for each second monitor configuration. I chose to use my iOS devices as a second monitor, so I grabbed my iPad 3 and my iPad mini. 

There is a little lag when you move windows around on the second monitor, but overall the app works quite well. I spent most of my time using my iPad 3 as my second monitor. My iPad mini worked as well, but it definitely felt slower than the iPad 3. My primary PC was a Windows 7 laptop.

All you need is the Air Display app (running on your second monitor device), drivers for your primary device, and your devices need to be connected on the same Wi-Fi network.

MouthStick Stylus

People who have physical disabilities may find the MouthStick Stylus a useful tool for interacting with tablets like the Apple iPad.

The Griffin Mouthstick is a capacitive touchscreen stylus that is designed to be held in the mouth. Using this stylus, persons with limited or no use of their hands can enjoy the advantages of touchscreen interfaces on smartphones and tablet devices.

Unlike other mouthsticks, the Griffin Mouthstick Stylus is designed and engineered for both touchscreen and Home Button manipulation. It returns total control of the iPad user experience to those with motor disabilities. The conductive rubber tip works with all capacitive touchscreens commonly found on tablets and mobile devices.

Speech-Enabled Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) App for iPhone and iPad

Wouldn't it be great if you could speak your order into your mobile device? Well, the folks at Intermountain Healthcare will have that luxury soon . Here's a snippet from a press release that came out last week:

Franklin, TN – February 22, 2013 – M*Modal, a leading provider of clinical documentation and Speech Understanding™ solutions, today announced an agreement with Intermountain Healthcare to jointly develop innovative mobile technology for speech-enabled Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE), enabling physicians and hospital staff to conversationally order patient medication and other medical functions using iOS® devices, including iPhone® and iPad® mobile digital devices. This mobile application (app) will benefit healthcare providers by allowing physicians to quickly, easily and securely place orders at the point of care.

M*Modal (booth #6647) and Intermountain (booth #1810) will be demonstrating the order entry app for medications at the 2013 HIMSS Conference, being held March 3-7 in New Orleans. Intermountain is an internationally recognized healthcare provider network of 22 hospitals, 185 clinics and an affiliated health insurance company, SelectHealth.

You can learn more about this here.

Reviewing the HP ElitePad 900 Tablet PC running Windows 8

I now have my hands on the HP ElitePad 900 and the HP ElitePad Expansion Jacket that includes a removable built-in battery. The ElitePad runs Windows 8, an enterprise-level operating system that will allow you to run all your native EHRs and CPOE applications that you normally run on your standard PC. Windows 8 will also let you run some mobile apps.

Since you can't play around with an ElitePad at Staples or Best Buy, I thought I'd start by posting some photos that show the size of the device compared to the Apple iPad 3.

Here's a photo comparing the sizes of these 2 tablets and you'll see that they have very similar overall dimensions:

The ElitePad is one of the thinnest Windows 8 tablets I've seen. At 9.2 mm, it's actually barely thinner than the iPad (9.4 mm). Here's a photo showing the ElitePad right on top of an iPad 3. I made a sandwich using both devices. The black bar below represents the ElitePad and the iPad is on top:

The iPad has a 9.7" display while the ElitePad has a 10.1" display. Here is a picture showing the  iPad 3 (on the Left) with the widescreen ElitePad (on the Right):

To make sure you're paying attention, I flipped them around this time. So, the next photo shows them in portrait mode (HP on the Left, iPad on the Right):

Initial impressions so far: the ElitePad is fast, but not super-fast. Remember that it uses an Intel Atom-based dual-core processor, and that allows it to have great battery life. It's much faster compared to first generation Windows 7 tablets like the HP Slate 500 or other similar tablet PCs that were powered with earlier Atom processor.

Windows 8 runs very smoothly and it's nice to run standard applications like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and others. If you're an iPad owner using Remote Desktop or Virtual Desktop apps to access your Windows PC, you'll appreciate the fact that you can have a fully functional Windows machine in the form factor of a thin and light tablet.

I'll be posting additional thoughts as I show how the HP ElitePad Expansion Jacket works, so stay tuned for more.

iPads Replace Clipboards in Waiting Rooms

Seamless Medical Systems recently launched SNAP EXPRESS (SNAP®), an in-office iPad patient registration system for medical practices that transforms the way patients check in at the front desk and waiting room.

SNAP®, a HIPAA compliant cloud software platform, replaces lengthy paper registration forms with an iPad to eliminate printing, scanning, shredding and the retyping of data.

Learn more about SNAP here.

Omnio by Skyscape

Skyscape recently released an iPad app called Omnio.

Omnio™ is the electronic black bag that holds all your favorite medical must-haves in one place, just one tap away.

Here's what you get with Omnio:

• Drug Guide

- Comprehensive database of 2,600+ US brands and generics
- Interaction analyzer, key pill images, and dosing calculators
- Up-to-the-minute formulary information from 5,000 health plans

• Medical Calculator Suite

- More than 200 essential medical calculators
- Intuitive indices and interface

• Essential free resources from trusted sources

- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- American College of Cardiology
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network
- Our very own Outlines in Clinical Medicine

• Curated news and ideas for your specialty and profession

- The latest medical, technological, and policy developments
- See what your peers are reading

• In our store: the most trusted names

- 600+ premium resources in 35+ medical specialties
- Purchases instantly integrate into a seamless, cross-indexed library

Learn more here.

Medical students should "write" on their iPads

Medical students are constantly standing around in the hospitals, so it's difficult for them to sit down to type. It's hard to touch-type on the iPad with high efficiency, so "writing" with a stylus pen is a better option if you: 1) don't want to appear rude to your patient by tap-tap-tapping on the screen and losing eye contact with your patient; 2) want to jot down every key point quickly and efficiently; 3) want to draw shapes, diagrams and figures to help you learn; and 4) want to color-code your notes and drawings on the same "sheet" of digital paper.

Let's face it - writing is very efficient. Tap-tap-tapping on the screen to type isn't nearly as fast. Now, if your handwriting is illegible, then you'll get motivated quickly to improve it so that you can actually use your notes.

Also, you can learn more effectively if you use hand-written notes. You can circle and underline things. Make certain words bigger. Draw diagrams. You can really personalize your notes to maximize your learning.

Many note-taking apps (like Penultimate or GoodNotes) for the iPad have some type of "palm rejection" built into the app so that you can rest your palm on the screen and write fairly effectively with a capacitive stylus pen. No need to look for a sheet of paper to cover half the screen while you rest your palm.

Griffin Technology Survivor for iPad Mini

The Griffin Technology Survivor for iPad Mini is a rugged case that will protect your iPad mini if you accidentally drop it. Has that ever happened when you've been walking through the hospital?

The case has been shown to withstand drop tests from 6' onto a solid surface. The case weighs 7.75 ounces and also has a detachable multi-position stand. The case will protect your iPad mini from dust and sand by covering all the ports. The case is not waterproof, but it includes a screen protector that will enclose your iPad in a water-resistant case that can withstand some rain.

Reviewing the LifeProof nüüd case for the iPad - waterproof and rugged

In the hospital setting, tablet computers get dropped or thrown around. When clinicians bring their own devices (BYOD), they tend to be much more cautious with their devices. However, there are plenty of iPads that are issued by the hospitals. Given that the Apple iPad is so popular among physicians, nurses, and students, the use of rugged cases in the health care environment makes sense if you want to protect it from drop damage.

I recently had the opportunity to test the LifeProof nüüd case for the iPad. They were demonstrating their cases at the recent mHealth Summit.

The LifeProof nüüd case makes your iPad waterproof and rugged while allowing you to use the actual, naked screen on your device. No screen protector (although Zagg offers an Invisible Shield screen protector that is shaped specifically for this case).

The case is amazingly light (0.7 oz) and made to meet Military Standard 810F-516 for functional drop from 4 feet. The ports remain covered with plugs so that the case is submergible to 6.6 feet for 30 minutes.

Even with the rugged, waterproof protection, the case allows you to hear the audio from your iPad amazingly well because it channels the sound through the case cavity, thus amplifying the sound. I was impressed by the sound performance.

The case attaches to a separate stand so that you can prop it up at different angles for typing and viewing. There are hand straps and shoulder straps that can attach directly to the case. You can even get an orange floatable "jacket" called the LifeJacket that will ensure that your iPad floats if you drop it in a lake. This spongy piece of foam gives your iPad additional shock protection. It's what I'd recommend if you plan to let your kids play with your iPad.

To learn more about the LifeProof nüüd case, visit: http://www.lifeproof.com

iPad mini has replaced my iPad 3

I used to take my iPad 3 everywhere. Now, the iPad mini is my sidekick. Although it doesn't have a Retina display (and you will notice the difference if you've been spoiled on an iPad 3 or 4), the mini is extremely portable and has exceptional battery life. It's thinner and lighter than you'd expect.

I'm still waiting to see if some of the newer Windows 8 tablets will replace my iPad. If someone makes an ultra-thin 7.9" model that offers all-day battery life, then I'll replace my iPad mini with that device.

For now, I carry my iPad mini along with my Windows 7 Ultrabook. The iPad mini isn't sufficient when I need to do some serious work.

So, what am I doing with my iPad 3? My kids get to have all the fun! (Actually, you may see it on eBay soon). I admit that the iPad 3 feels very heavy and bulky after you get used to handling the iPad mini.

Can't wait to try the iPad mini

I'm a fan of slightly smaller tablets because I like the portability factor and I like to hold them in one hand. Smaller tablets like the HTC EVO View 4G and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 are great little devices, but they're rather slow and I prefer iOS apps over Android apps. Even though you may find the same apps developed for iOS and Android, the user experience can be fairly different between those two operating systems.

So, the iPad mini is one of those devices that I've been predicting for several years and I'm looking forward to trying one out.

Like the original iPad, the iPad mini will improve with each successive generation model, so that's why I tend to keep my devices in fairly pristine condition so that I can sell them and use those funds towards newer models.

I agree with many bloggers that the iPad mini is priced too high, but pricing is based on what the market will bear and I'm sure that Apple won't have any problems selling many iPad minis this fall. Of course, it's also interesting to see that the release of the iPad mini (along with the pricing announcement) has propelled sales of the Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

iPad mini - perfect for medical students and residents

Let's face it - medical students and residents don't have a lot of money. Medical students are frequently living off of loans while residents are making less than minimum wage (if you calculate their wages based on an hourly rate). So, the announcement today about the iPad mini should make students and residents very happy now! You can get an iPad mini for $329 and the device will even fit right in your white coat pocket! So, no need for any fancy holsters or straps to carry this gadget around the hospital. Plus, with 10 hrs of battery life, you won't be looking for an outlet during lunch to charge your device.

It's interesting to read how some analysts feel that Apple is now playing defense in the tablet market. They've released a product to compete against Android tablets like the Google Nexus 7, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and other 7" tablets that are in the $300 price range.

If the iPad mini had a retina display option, then I'd get in line to pre-order one on Oct 26. I may still pre-order one anyway, but for now I'll continue to use my iPad since I don't need to squeeze it into any white coat pockets.

Palm rejection (wrist protection) on iPad writing apps

If you like to write with paper and pen, then you might want to know that several iPad writing apps now feature "palm rejection" (also called wrist protection and other things). This means that you can rest your hand directly on the screen of the iPad while you write using a capacitive stylus.

The palm rejection feature isn't perfect, but it works quite well. I've been testing this on apps like Penultimate, Bamboo Paper, Studio Basic Plus, Notability, and others. This is great for medical students and residents who need to jot notes while they're standing around during hospital rounds or when they're interviewing patients. It's less intrusive to "write" on a screen compared to tapping away on a virtual keyboard.

Stay tuned as I also review a few different capacitive stylus pens for the iPad. I also plan to play around with some handwriting recognition apps as well.

October is an exciting month in mobile computing!

This month, we're going to see some exciting announcements and releases in the world of mobile computing! Mark these 2 dates on your calendar:

On October 23, the world is awaiting the announcement about the new Apple iPad mini. This device will have a smaller screen (7.85" display). So, if you like your iPad but you don't like the fact that it doesn't fit into your white coat pocket when you're walking around the hospital, you may want to consider the smaller iPad.

On October 25, Microsoft will launch Windows 8 and we'll be seeing an explosion of new tablet PCs and convertible tablets from companies like HP, Lenovo, Dell, ASUS, Samsung, and many others. These tablets will be fast, they will offer very long battery life, and we'll be able to run standard Windows applications on these devices. At the same time, Microsoft will be releasing Windows RT, a new mobile operating system for mobile devices.

Will we see an iPad mini announced this month (or Oct)?

Some are saying that Apple will announce an iPhone 5 this month and an iPad mini next month. Is it possible that Apple will combine the announcements so that we learn about both new devices this month?

I personally think that a smaller tablet form factor is really the ideal size for medical professionals who want to carry these tablets in their white coat pockets. I'm mainly referring to medical students and residents who are constantly researching information and keeping track of multiple patients. Plus, there's the issue of "sign out" - when a team transfers the care of patients to another team (generally a team that will take call overnight). That transition of care is a critical step in the hospital setting.

I hope we see an iPad mini this fall. I like my current iPad, but I'm sure that I would use an iPad mini much more frequently because of its portability.

Predictions about the iPad "mini"

Here we go again. Will Apple release an iPad that has a smaller screen? (say 7")

There are several 7" Android tablets that have gained tremendous traction recently. Both the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Google Nexus 7 have been popular because they remain under $200.

If Amazon releases an iPad "mini," I doubt it will be less than $200.

I think the smaller tablets are ideal for medical students and physicians who are trying to squeeze things into their white coat pockets. The 10" iPad is not easy to carry around, but a 7" device would be perfect.

So Apple, will you be announcing an iPad mini this fall (along with a new iPhone)? Maybe the iPod touch will get renamed the iPad "nano."