Do you want to use your phone as a multimedia tool?
Medical professionals are often on the move, going to conferences or giving talks in different cities. If you have music you want to access, then the Android and iPhone devices are your best bet. The iPhone is great because it allows syncing with your personal iTunes library – just like an iPod, but you can access your music relatively easily on Android devices as well. When it comes to navigating a new city, I would go with the iPhone or Android. There are a plethora of third party applications on these platforms that can make a new city experience fun and both offer a great Maps / GPS function built in.
So what smartphone is best for medical professionals?
Again, the decision is complicated because it depends on your circumstance and what you’re looking for. First, determine if you would actually use a smartphone or not.
The case for a Blackberry: If you want a phone that has a great e-mail client and great security, and don’t mind a bare medical apps selection, then go with this phone. Plus, the tactile keyboard is essential to some – touch keyboards can drive people crazy.
The case for Android: The Android operating system is fragmented with different versions of their operating system, this leads to many medical apps being incompatible on older devices. However, if you’re stuck with a carrier that is not AT&T, an Android phone is your best bet if you want to have your choice of medical applications. Plus, in Androids newest iteration of their operating system, Flash capability is being built in, while Apple has made it clear their mobile devices will not have Flash support.
The case for the iPhone: The iPhone offers a huge choice of quality medical applications. Once you buy a medical app, you don’t have to worry about it being compatible down the line, unlike the other smart phones I’ve mentioned. Just by looking at the list of our top 10 free medical apps for the iPhone, you can tell there are plenty of quality medical apps available in the App Store. The knock on the iPhone is it’s exclusive nature with AT&T and the lack of a strong dedicated 3G internet connection, possibly problematic for medical professionals who work in or visit rural clinics.
At the end of the day, go the store, and play around with different smart phones. It’s important to understand the roadblocks to quality medical apps that I mentioned above, along with reception and security issues. Each of the phones I’ve mentioned has its pitfalls. Take all this into account and make a decision that reflects what you hope to gain from having a smart phone in medical practice.
1 2 3
Thank you very much I found it really helpful
I have a question if you don’t mind :what do you recommend, buying an Android phone or an iPhone for someone who already got an iPad ?
and thanks again
Dastan-
If you already have an iPad, getting a iPhone is by no means a must. If you’re big into medical apps, then it might be a good idea to get an iPhone though, because most iPhone apps are being ported over to the iPad. This means that for a lot of apps you buy, they are available for the iPhone as well as the iPad, with one purchase. This might make getting an iPhone appealing. Plus, it uses basically the same operating system so learning how to use the iPhone would be a snap.
1. Pretty much all of the iPhone apps work on the iPad, so you can have many of the same Apps on both devices (without paying twice).
2. If you like (and know) the iPad interface, it will be very easy to use an iPhone. The Android user interface is not nearly as slick.
PS: New version of the iPhone expected to be announced next week.
Fragmentation, You are correct that there are some issues with fragmentation but if the developer of the app does there work correctly this should not happen. iPhone is about to experience the same problem with their 4.0 OS release, that is older version of apps may not work. The same thing happens with all computers, Apple or MS. Manufactures must deprecate system if they are to move forward.
As for the difference in iPhone and others such as Android and Blackberry. It depends on the person and their needs. The one button iPhone solution is great for some an hated by others. Android currently is a more powerful tool but it is not quite as simple to use. The driver of a VW may not enjoy a Porsche GT3
Jeff Brandt
http://www.hieconnect.net
Jeff-
I don’t think there are “some issues” with fragmentation, I think there are a lot. It’s one of the reasons we are still lacking a lot of quality medical applications in the Android marketplace. Android has been out for years now, yet look at the paltry of quality medical applications available. As I mentioned above, even Epocrates doesn’t have premium versions of their application on the platform!
Personally, I’m a huge fan of Android. But I’m frustrated when every time we post an Android review of a medical app I have e-mails from people saying they cannot access the app and I have to explain to them the phone they bought 6 months ago does not have the updated Android operating system so they can’t use certain medical applications.
At the end of the day, whats the point in having a powerful platform when you can’t even fully enjoy it? Also, you’re right, it really does depend on a persons needs which platform they would prefer, as I broke down in detail above. Its up to the end user. Each platform has its advantages and disadvantages.
As for me, I’m hoping Google figures out their fragmentation issues, because right now the medical apps in the Android marketplace as a group have nothing on the medical apps available to iPhone OS users – and that lack of competition is not good for the end users.
Welcome to benefits and problems of OpenSource. Unfortunately, this will happen as it does even in the iPhone/iPod world. Almost all of our problem with our app motionPHR on the Apple idevices are on the iPod/iPad. Apple say the OS is the same, but as a Software Engineer I can tell you if you change any software to run on different hardware, IT IS NOT THE SAME. LOL Blackberry is the worst, each platform is different and has to be handled differently.
mHealth is a fairly new field with many developing health apps that have no experience in Software Engineering or Medical Informatics. The cost structure of free is actually contributing to the poor quality. But this too will change. The model will change or the initiative will die. I’m hoping for a change because the future should be in mobile.
Jeff Brandt
http://www.motionPHR.com
Open source and fragmentation issues aside. The end result in the current paradigm is that Apple posses a vastly superior array of medical applications to both Android and Blackberry.
I can only speak for medical professionals when I say this – I don’t know if Android and Blackberry are on par with other categories of apps. But when it comes to medical professionals finding quality medical apps on their Android or Blackberry, good luck. Yes, there are a good number, but when compared to the Apple App Store, the difference is almost laughable.
My peers have a constant struggle with this, and its one of the reasons they make the switch to an iPod Touch or iPhone.
You’re right, the future is definitely mobile, and right now, in the mobile medical field of medical apps, Android and Blackberry have a lot of catching up to do.
There are NO problems with Apps working with the new iPhone software (version 4.0). Fragmentation is a non-issue.
This is a fantastic post and an invaluable resource. As a new medical school graduate and a longtime Palm PDA user, I am looking to upgrade to a smartphone and have been weighing the Android vs. iPhone question for the last few months. The above post has affirmed my own analysis of the topic. While I think Android is a fantastic platform overall and in fact bests iPhone in many areas, iPhone is currently still the reigning king in regards to medical apps, and therefore has the most utility for those looking for native medical app resources on their device. Thank you for your insightful analysis. I am looking forward to seeing what Apple will be announcing next week in addition to what we already know about the next-gen iPhone.
Wayne L
Wayne, If you are attending OHSU medical grad school as I am, beware of one thing. There online system to do almost everything has a big warning “if you are thinking about an iPad for school it is not compatible with our SAKAI system” This is my problem with Apple, you have to give me the tools I need. I hate Flash but I need it. FYI, I am typing on my Macbook pro, the best tool for the job.
Jeff
Jeff, I agree with the flash assessment. The option really should be left to the end user if they want to use it or not. True, Flash will slow down your phone, drain your battery life, crash applications that you’re running, but at the end of the day, the decision to have those events happen should be decided by the end user.
But the business side of me completely understands why Apple would want to keep a closed system so their users would not suffer the above issues. Even in Androids latest iteration and announcement, while Flash support is present, tech sites such as Engadget who got a sneak peak at flash on the OS reported subpar experiences.
I think Steve Job’s explanation of why iPhone/iPad is not supporting Flash is logical and clear and should be read before believing all the FUD being spread around by various blog ‘pundits’.
Apple has good reason not to support Flash (and personally, I don’t miss the Flash ads and various slow downs.
In my experience, Apple is usually ahead of the curve on various standards (remember the floppy?)
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/t…
Yea, at the end of the day, it’s about controlling the user experience. Apple has a right to control the user experience how they see fit on their device, but those who don’t agree with Apple’s idea of a “user experience” have legitimate arguments. But their idea of a “user experience” has obviously been successful….
SAKAI is based on JAVA not FLASH and probably will not work on the iPhone because JAVA typically requires that a JAVA applet be downloaded.
Webkit, the basis for the iPad/iPhone Safari browser, along with the browser on Android, PalmPre, Google Chrome, Nokia S60, Symbian, etc. Expect most if not all major websites to eventually support Webkit.
Yep, and the new blackberry OS will finally be supporting Webkit…
Thanks for the kind words Wayne! The goal was to offer an insiders guide to medical professionals who are choosing between smart phones and I’m glad you found it useful.
I’m also looking forward to see what the upcoming Apple announcement will reveal. All the tech aside, my biggest hope is they open up the platform to Verizon – but that is probably just a pipe dream.
Isn’t it really Verizon’s decision as to whether to let the iPhone on their network?
Verizon uses CDMA, an end-of-the-road standard that will soon be replaced with LTE (which is closer to ATT’s GSM network). The iPhone will not work on Verizon’s network.
Reportedly, Apple went to Verizon before going to ATT when the iPhone came out. Verizon wouldn’t deal so Apple went with ATT.
Yea, I heard about Verizon being approach by Apple initially. I would think the CDMA hurdle wouldn’t be the linchpin though – the Droid works great on Verizon, etc. Verizon has more subscribers than Apple, and for them to not partner up in the future to make more money seems almost “anti-capitalistic” to me.
I think who’s responsible for the lack of a partnership is still left up to debate…
This is such a great post. I have been debating on which smart phone to get now that I am done with medical school, and this post could not have said it any better. I completely agree with Wayne. Thanks so much!
Your welcome Becky – glad we could be of help
I’m not sure if most physicians who read your comments are in my category or not. I am over 20 years out of med school, began w/ the Sharp Wizard in the 80′s and progressed thru all the Palm products and want to stay w/ Palm. I don’t need all the bells and whistles (apps). I need a reliable smart phone w/ easy net access, e-mail, etc. that allows me a great network here in NJ which AT&T doesn’t. That rules out the iPhone. The great new Android seems to freeze a lot on the people I’ve spoken to and seems to have a lot of kinks they need to work out. The Blackberry has a lot of what I want but so does the Palm Pre Plus. I played w/ them all in both a store and whenever I see someone w/ them. I like the feel of the Palm. I have 20 years of stored info that I would like to seemlessly transfer to a new Palm. I recently played w/ the Android Incredible, i phone and the Palm Pre Plus and just love the feel and look of the Palm.
So now to my question. What do you think of the Palm Pre Plus. Wouldn’t you expect HP to take this good product and build upon it? I don’t need a lot of apps and doesn’t the web connectivity make a lot of the apps I use immediately available anyway?
Thanks, EGross
I think the palm pre plus is a great device. You really have to strike that
balance between reception, and ability to use native applications on your
device. The only thing with Palm is, since they have been bought out by HP,
how their app store is going to fair is still questionable – but i’m 90%
sure they will come out on the better side because of the acquisition.
At the end of the day, I’d also tell you to consider the iPhone 4, the
newest iPhone. They are using a new antenna technology, that is supposed to
increase reception in this phone – but I wouldn’t hold my breath. The nice
thing with ATT is they will at least let you return the device if you don’t
like it within the first week or so (You’ll have to check up on the exact
return policy).
The iPhone has by far the most vibrant app community – and many of the new
technologies for medical professionals first start with the iPhone because
developers want to reach the largest crowd first. But at the same time, if
you’re not going to use apps that much, than the Palm platform is great.
The hardware on their phone is secondary to the new Android and iPhone
devices though, but if you’re not a power user, it shouldn’t be a concern.
Thanks. One question I still have is what are the main sites accessible thru the net that the Palm Pre Plus would then be as good as any? Google maps is essentially navigation plus Fandango and many others for non-medical uses are great. Epocrates works w/ Palm well uploaded but what about some net sites that function as medical apps?
Webapps will work just fine with the Palm OS web browser. We have an
article below that discusses this some more.
/20…
Thanks, great article. Do you have a list of good medical web apps?
Egross, we don’t have a list yet of good medical web apps, but thats something we are definitely planning on working on in the future. Also, since you are planning on getting a Palm check out the website http://www.palmdoc.net – its a great resource for those with a palm phone – and its done by a doc