My new smartphone: HTC Touch Pro2 (Verizon)

If you don't follow my Medical Smartphones blog, you may not know that I've been testing various smartphones and I've finally settled on a new one. It's not perfect, but it's a significant improvement over my old one (which was an old Verizon Wireless XV6800 (aka HTC Titan, Sprint Mogul, etc.) and it was old and clunky, but it worked fairly well. The keyboard ended up dying and I needed to get a new phone.

I now have the HTC Touch Pro2 and it's a solid Windows Mobile smartphone. I'll be writing about my experience with this phone over the next several days, so make sure you follow MedicalSmartphones.com to read my impressions. http://www.medicalsmartphones.com

SkyFire 0.9 Now Available for Windows Mobile

I've been using SkyFire for several months now and it's a solid Windows Mobile browser. It works quite well on my Verizon Wireless XV6800 smartphone. Version 0.9 is now available as a free download. It's still not mobile Safari on an iPhone, but it's one of the better mobile browsers for Windows Mobile. It's not as fast as Opera Mini running on a Java Virtual Machine, but it's capable of displaying Flash content.

To get it, type: http://get.skyfire.com into your mobile browser and download the CAB file. It has links built-in for Twitter and Facebook.

Smartphone Use Among Physicians on the Rise

According to a recent study by Manhattan Research, the use of smartphones among physicians is now at 64%. The study is titled, "Taking the Pulse v9.0." The use of mobile devices like the iPhone and BlackBerry increased by 20% in one year. It's not a surprise that the number of physicians who use the iPhone more than doubled in the past year. Now with the availability of the touch screen BlackBerry Storm, I anticipate that more doctors will be using the BlackBerry. Overall, physicians are spending more time online and are using both computers and smartphones to stay current and access medical information. They are also using mobile devices to access CME activities. So smartphones have a bright future ahead in the medical industry. As these devices become more powerful and ubiquitous, they will permeate the healthcare space and play an even larger role in the daily workflow of medical students, residents, physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.

I currently use a Windows Mobile device (the Verizon Wireless XV6800, also known as the Sprint Mogul and the HTC Titan). If I were on the AT&T network, I'd be an iPhone user. If I had to buy a new phone on Verizon, I'd probably get the new BlackBerry Storm that will have Wi-Fi. If I were on T-Mobile, I would get the G1 running Google Android.

Upgrade Your Treo 700wx to Windows Mobile 6.1

You may have heard that some developers have gotten their hands on Windows Mobile 6.1 for the Palm Treo 700wx. If you want to learn more, then take a look at this forum on XDA-Developers:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=397134

Flashing a phone's ROM is not for beginners. This is true especially when you're loading a custom ROM. If you make a mistake, then your phone may turn into a permanent brick that you can use as a paperweight. I always advise people to ask for assistance or to hand the phone over to an expert who can do the flashing correctly.

In my opinion, there are significant advantages to running Windows Mobile 6.1 over Windows Mobile 6.0. That change from ".0" to ".1" at the end of 6 makes a big difference. Now we have Windows Mobile 6.5 but that's not available for the Treo (at least not now). Not sure about the version differences? Take a look at this chart that provides an overview of Windows Mobile 5.0, 6.0, and 6.1:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/meet/version-compare.mspx

Iris Browser Update

The Torch Mobile Iris Browser has been updated again. It's a good mobile browser for my XV6800 Windows Mobile PDA/Smartphone, but I occasionally get an "out of memory" error if I visit busy web pages. Like many other mobile browsers, you can zoom in and out very easily and scan pages quickly. I've also been playing around with Opera Mobile, Opera Mini, Skyfire, and Pocket Internet Explorer. Proxy servers speed things up if they're configured properly.

When is Windows Mobile 6.5 Coming to Verizon?

We've all been hearing about the nice new features on Windows Mobile 6.5. Isn't it funny how Microsoft went from version 6, to 6.1, and now to 6.5? Will there be a 6.8 or 6.9 before version 7 gets released? Why such incremental changes?

For me, the biggest advantage of Windows Mobile 6.5 is the new Pocket Internet Explorer 6.5. I currently have a nice version of PIE because of the custom ROM loaded on my XV6800. However, it's not as nice as PIE 6.5 and I don't think my XV6800 could handle PIE 6.5 because the hardware just isn't robust enough for those requirements. It's a shame because these little devices have such incredible potential. They are considered mobile internet devices (MIDs) by many, but they don't really have the firepower as other dedicated MIDs.

Medical Students and BlackBerry

Medical students often need to get some type of PDA for their clinical clerkships. They may be required to enter patient information or log their procedures. Also, since they're often asked to write prescriptions (not sign them, just write them), they need to know how to look up drug dosing. Software like Epocrates can be very helpful when you're filling out 15 scripts on different medications. Gone are the days of flipping through a huge PDR to look up dosing.

So how does the BlackBerry fit into all of this? Traditionally, Palm had the greatest marketshare in the medical field. Recently, the Apple iPhone has become very popular among medical students, residents, fellows, and attendings. Yet you still find some medical students who are in their early years of training who are attracted to the BlackBerry. Why? Part of the reason could be that they may have come from a corporate background. Others may be serious "texters" and they may have gravitated to the BlackBerry because of the excellent keyboard and texting capabilities. For others, it's simply about cost. You can get a free BlackBerry from many carriers.

I've been wondering why RIM hasn't been more aggressive with their marketing towards medical professionals. They should partner with more software developers and have more available for their devices. Otherwise, they'll be left in the dust with the Apple iPhone and the Microsoft Windows Phone running off into the sunset.

Torch Mobile Iris Browser

Torch Mobile has released an updated version of its Iris mobile web browser. This browser is similar to Opera Mobile and Skyfire and allows you to view full web pages and easily zoom in and out. I've run into a few "out of memory" errors on my Windows Mobile XV6800 while using Iris, so it's not optimized for devices that have limited amounts of internal RAM. I'm sure you won't have any problems if you have a newer PDA smartphone that's faster and more equipped than my old device.

As mobile browsers become more powerful, I often wonder how medical students and residents will use their smartphones in the hospital setting. If they can literally access any website in its entirety, then this opens up tremendous educational resources. I think that's probably one of the biggest reasons why the iPhone has been so popular among medical students and residents. Speaking of the iPhone, Apple just announced the updated iPhone OS 3.0 and it seems silly that you still can't multi-task on the iPhone. It reminds me of the old Palm OS.

Prevent Opera Mini from Freezing in Windows Mobile

I've been testing Opera Mini on my Windows Mobile device and I was pleased by the speed and performance, but I noticed that it would freeze up occasionally. My entire device would crash and I'd have to reset the phone. I decided to change the Network Protocol from Socket to HTTP. Now, I have yet to experience a freeze or a crash. Opera Mini 4.2 has become my favorite mobile browser on my XV6800 (HTC Titan, Sprint Mogul) Pocket PC because it's so much faster than Skyfire, Opera Mobile, Iris, or Pocket Internet Explorer. So, if you use your mobile device to browse medical websites and participate in CME activities, I would urge you to try Opera Mini. You won't get any "out of memory" messages and if you switch your Network Protocol, you shouldn't get any frustrating freeze-ups. Caveat: you won't get Flash content on Opera Mini.

The Buzz About the Palm Pre

The Palm Pre has been receiving a ton of buzz, especially among the medical community where so many clinicians are loyal Palm OS users. What will the switch to Web OS look like for these individuals?

I admit that I've never been a fan of the Palm OS. The inability to multi-task was a real killer for me. I liked the simplicity of the OS, but it was too simple for my needs. Hence, I've been a loyal Windows Mobile user (starting with the iPaq and now with an XV6800). The Palm Pre looks like a very exciting device. I think it has a lot of potential and its popularity will help Palm survive through this recession.

10 Years Ago - The Palm V Was Great

Wow, I was just reminded that the Palm V was a really popular PDA 10 years ago. The Gadgeteer has a great review of this now-ancient PDA. I still have a Palm V in my office. It's a relic - a literal antique. Isn't it amazing how quickly technology changes? Wow, 10 years have gone by very quickly.

I should build a mini museum of all the different gadgets I've owned. It goes way back to the Sharp Wizard/ Zaurus, then the Apple Newton Messagepad series, then the Palm Pilot, and then you have grayscale Windows CE devices, then they changed the name to Pocket PC and the iPaq was the device to have, then smartphones emerged and became very popular so I got the Windows Mobile Treo 700wx, and now here I am with a Windows Mobile (Microsoft changed the name again) XV6800, an OQO model 02, and a Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC.

MobileBlogger for Windows Mobile

Do you blog when you're on the go? Many people are embracing microblogging these days. Twitter and other sites are becoming increasingly popular. Well, if you want to use your PDA/smartphone to blog when you're on the go, then try MobileBlogger. This application works on Windows Mobile devices (soon to be called the Windows Phone if you have a smartphone). I just can't type very fast on my mobile device (which is a Verizon XV 6800), so I prefer using my Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC, my OQO model 02, or my Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Tablet. What about you? Do you blog on the go?

Medical Students and PDA SmartPhones

What percentage of 3rd and 4th year medical students have either a PDA or a mobile smartphone? I would guess that number is very high, especially since many schools now require it. They require students to carry a PDA (either running Palm OS or Windows Mobile) so they can record patient encounters, procedures, etc. Several years ago, the dominant operating system was the Palm OS. I'm not sure what the case is right now. Are medical schools developing software that is compatible for the new Palm OS (which will be running on the Palm Pre), RIM/BlackBerry, and Apple iPhone? I'd have to think that it makes more sense to make everything web-based. This way, you can have any device you want. Most hospitals have Wi-Fi, so as long as you can get connected, you can enter all your information. As the iPhone becomes more common among medical students, residents, and attending physicians, there is a growing need to develop medical software. Or, will everything become web-based? It's difficult to multi-task if all your applications are dependent on a web browser.

iPhone Dominating the Mobile Web Space

According to this CNN Money/Fortunate blog, the iPhone has 67% of the mobile Internet marketplace. Windows Mobile has roughly 7%. This data was collected by a group called the Net Applications.

Could this be true? Yes. Most doctors who use smartphones aren't browsing many websites. They mainly use drug database software like Epocrates. However, many medical students and doctors have been switching from Palm or Windows Mobile to the iPhone and the Blackberry. The iPhone has such a nice mobile browser that more and more people are using this to browse the Internet. Hopefully Windows Mobile will catch up as they improve Pocket Internet Explorer.

iPhone vs. Windows Phone

Who will win? Smartphones running Windows Mobile 6.5 will be dubbed "Windows Phones." Seems a bit silly to me, but since iPhone is so catchy, why not play along? Will RIM call the BlackBerry the "Berry Phone?" What about Palm and the webOS? The "Pre Phone?"

If we were to fast forward into the future, would we see regular mobile phones that don't run a sophisticated operating system? Will we have basic phones that don't have a touch screen, a web browser, and office applications? My prediction is that all future devices will be smartphones.

Data plan now required with verizon wireless

If you're on Verizon Wireless and you want to get a new smartphone (or PDA phone if you will), you MUST get a data plan. This policy started last September. Why?

I'm so disappointed by this. My wife has been using a Treo for a while now (without a data plan) and now she needs a replacement smartphone. She doesn't need a data plan, but now she's forced to get one if she wants to keep a smartphone. Doesn't sound right, does it?

What's going on Verizon? At least offer the pay per KB plan for all smartphones and BlackBerry devices. That's the least you can do for all those users who don't need a data plan but want to combine a phone and a PDA.

People Love the BlackBerry Storm

If I weren't so devoted to Windows Mobile, I'd go out and get a BlackBerry Storm. If I weren't stuck on Verizon Wireless, I'd get an Apple iPhone. Currently, I use an XV6800.

Since the reality is that I'm on Verizon Wireless, I have a family plan, and almost all my friends use Verizon Wireless. So, I won't be playing with an iPhone anytime soon. (of course, I do have an iPod touch that has Wi-Fi, so I can still have fun).

Also, I am dependent on Windows Mobile for certain applications. However, this is slowly starting to change. I won't be surprised if I'm carrying around a BlackBerry in a few years. Especially since Epocrates now runs on the BlackBerry STORM, I may make that switch someday. I'm waiting for the BlackBerry that has a touch screen and a hardware keyboard.

Windows Mobile 6.5 on the XV6800

There are some beta versions of Windows Mobile 6.5 floating around for the HTC Titan (XV6800, Sprint Mogul). Looks like it will be more touch-friendly based on some of the pictures floating around.

Predictions about Google Android

There has been so much speculation about Google Android. Will this be the next major smartphone operating system that beats out Windows Mobile (probably), webOS (yes), BlackBerry (yes) and iPhone (maybe)?

I hope Epocrates has a working version for Android in development. It took them quite a while before they had anything robust for BlackBerry. Since these smartphones are evolving so rapidly, it's vital to keep up with them if you want to stay in the race.

Death of Palm OS

According to some news reports, there will be no more new devices running the Palm OS.

Palm will focus its energy on smartphones running webOS and the first device will be the Palm Pre.

I'm surprised its taken Palm this long to kill their OS. The inability to multi-task has really hindered this OS from being robust enough for modern devices. It was great in the late nineties when you used your Palm Pilot to keep your calendar and contacts. Now, these things are essential mini-computers that run very sophisticated software.

How will webOS compete against Windows Mobile, iPhone, and BlackBerry?