Curious about Google's Chrome OS?

For a while now there has been speculation and a fair amount of discussion of Google Chrome the Operating System. Google released its Chrome browser earlier in the year, but the Chrome OS has continued be worked on under cover with some select folks being given access to use/evaluate it. Now we're finally beginning to see what Google is thinking about., although they say Chrome won't be available for a year. When it does arrive, at this point, it looks like it will be loaded on netbooks at first. However, Google is asking the hardware providers to make netbooks bigger with full sized keyboards.

The idea of Chrome is an interesting one. A lot of our computing is now done "in the cloud" which means over the Internet itself. Lots of people have gmail, hotmail, yahoo mail, or others where the e-mail is never downloaded to your computer but simply used off of the providing server. Applications like Google Docs give access to word processing, spreadsheets, etc while storing all of the files online.

Take a look at these 2 videos and let me know your opinions. I've been pretty web centric for a while now. I've done it by using some applications like Evernote, Sugarsync, Lexi-comp, and others that keep my data in the cloud where I can access it from anywhere. So, to me this Google idea makes a lot of sense, but I'm really interested in what you, the reader, thinks.

YouMail Now OFFICIALLY Free for Sprint Users

OK, it's been a week or so, but now YouMail is free for Sprint users (like me). Woo-hoo!!!

The conditional call forwarding has been done away with. Here are all the details from YouMail:


It’s official! Sprint conditional call forwarding is now free of charge. Sprint customers can now utilize YouMail without incurring the previous $.20/minute for conditional call forwarding – normal airtime applies. Or in other words – for free.
If you’re new to YouMail, simply sign up for YouMail at www.youmail.com. Once you have a YouMail account, you can activate YouMail by dialing *289095106169 and pressing ‘Send” from your Sprint phone. This causes your busy and unanswered calls to be forwarded to YouMail instead of your old Sprint voicemail (this is the “conditional call forwarding” part)..

Existing YouMail customers with Sprint conditional call forwarding are not required to take any action at this time as the Sprint changes are automatic.

Sprint customers with a BlackBerry or the new HTC Hero can experience YouMail with our great, FREE phone apps . You can download the YouMail Visual Voicemail app from the Android Market or BlackBerry App World.

Note that unconditional (immediate) call forwarding (set up using *72) still incurs a $.20/min fee – but this doesn’t affect users using conditional call forwarding to replace Sprint voicemail with YouMail.

Thanks,

The YouMail Team

Kerr Expands Tissue Management Line with Hemostasyl

When you're doing cosmetic dentistry, your enemy is contamination. Keeping the field dry and free or any contaminants, biological or otherwise, should be a primary concern. To that end Kerr has released Hemostasyl. A product designed to provide hemostasis with no discoloration that will affect shading in the aesthetic zone. Read on for all the details:


ORANGE, CA – October 15, 2009 – Kerr introduces the latest innovation in tissue management, HemostasylTM—a highly efficient hemostatic agent that stops bleeding with precision and ease. When moderate bleeding occurs and gingival retraction is not required, Hemostasyl is an ideal choice. This product is exceptionally easy to place, and less material is required compared to other similar hemostatic agents on the market.
Product Manager James Lobsenz said, “With Hemostasyl, doctors now have a material that is incredibly easy to dispense using a convenient syringe delivery and a viscosity that stays in place and controls blood and other fluids well.”
Hemostasyl is brightly colored, so it is easy to see and clean up, and its composition helps adhere to soft and hard tissue with ease, making placement a breeze. With a concentration of 15% aluminum chloride, this material is an effective way to stop bleeding in many clinical applications such as Class V composite placement, cementation, and scaling in perio cases. Compromising esthetics of the procedure is not a worry—Hemostasyl contains no ferric sulfate, unlike similar products on the market, which can stain proteins a black color, including soft tissue and dentin.
For gingival retraction needs, the Kerr Tissue Management line also offers ExpasylTM, an atraumatic gingival retraction paste, now in a pleasant new strawberry taste.
To learn more about Hemostasyl or our broad portfolio of products, visit kerrdental.com/hemostasyl or call 800.KERR.123. To find out more about continuing education online and free CE credit, visit Kerr University at kerrdental.com/education for upcoming live webcasts, on-demand video, and the latest CE articles.

A Pair of Holiday Ideas from Epocrates

The good folks at Epocrates have put together 2 offers for those on your healthcare "nice" list.

The first is a brand spanking new handheld with a whole bunch of types to choose from. Epocrates and pdaMD have partnered to offer a way that you can get a new state of the art device and have it come fully loaded with Epocrates software. Here are all the details.

The second offer is for those in group practices that would like to offer Epocrates to anyone who wants it. Discoutns are available on Epocrates premium products for hospitals, schools, residency programs, medical groups, and government agencies. Your group can even save up to an additional 10% when you mention the Epocrates Holiday promotion through December 15! Here are all the details.

As far as those who are on your "naughty" list, might I suggest a nice, thick, heavy, out of date... book.

Cardiac Science Voluntary AED Medical Device Correction

Courtesy of IMEP (Institute of Medical Emergency Prepardeness)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Bothell, WA – November 13, 2009 – Cardiac Science Corporation [NASDAQ: CSCX] is initiating a voluntary field correction after it was determined certain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) may experience a rare product issue in which the AED may not be able to deliver therapy during a resuscitation attempt. Device failure may affect resuscitation of the patient, which could lead to serious adverse events or death. These AEDs have electronic components which may fail and the failure may not be detected by the device's periodic self-tests. The affected models include the Powerheart 9300A, 9300C, 9300D, 9300E, 9300P, 9390A, 9390E, and CardioVive 92531, 92532, and 92533 devices.

Cardiac Science has received a total of 64 complaints concerning four resistors within certain AEDs. Two of these complaints were associated with a failure to deliver therapy. This issue is predicted to occur in approximately one in 75,000 AEDs manufactured between August 2003 and August 2009. The company has also received 114 complaints regarding "Service Required" messages resulting from a specific relay switch failure. There have been no reported instances where this issue has resulted in an inability to deliver therapy.

Until a correction is available in May, 2010, the company strongly advises customers to check the status indicator on the front of the AED and follow the procedures documented in the materials accompanying the AED. The company advises that customers leave their AEDs in service.

"When customers choose a product from Cardiac Science, they expect outstanding reliability," said Dave Marver, president and chief executive officer. "We understand the role our products play in public health and are taking appropriate measures to further improve the performance of our products."

The company has implemented more stringent testing of the components and all AEDs produced since August, 2009 are unaffected. Customers in possession of an AED that may exhibit either of these issues will be notified immediately. A software update to address the resistor issue will be available by May, 2010. This software update will enhance the AED's self-test capabilities and improve detection of the issue. In the interim, the company advises customers to keep their AEDs in service and follow the normal testing and maintenance procedures found in the Operator and Service Manual. A copy of these procedures is available at www.cardiacscience.com/AED175. At this site, customers may confirm if their AED is affected and register for automatic e-mail reminders to conduct scheduled maintenance.

If the AED is not rescue ready (the indicator is red) customers should contact the company immediately at 425.402.2000 (option 1) within the United States. Outside the US contact +44.161.926.0011 or the local Cardiac Science representative. Customers can also email the company at AED175@cardiacscience.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The word "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. Forward looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, predictions of AED component failure rates, the availability of software updates to improve detection of the component issue, and the effectiveness of the planned software update. These are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and performance may vary significantly from those expressed or implied in such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such varying results and other risks are more fully described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Cardiac Science Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2008, as updated by subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Cardiac Science Corporation undertakes no duty or obligation to update the information provided herein.

18 Buttons on the Open Office Mouse - We Can Learn From This

The picture above has not been photoshopped. This is an 18 button mouse. That's right eighteen buttons!!! Now besides the fact that it's funny, let's take a look at this from another angle. Hopefully I can help developers learn something from this.

It's a frequent occurrence in technology that it would be "really cool if our product did..."

However, you have have to stop and think of "why is it a good idea" and "who would use this new idea". I frequently see or advise on products that have what the developers/engineers think are good ideas, but unfortunately they are the only ones who think that way.

It's important to design with the end in mind. In dentistry, we're trained to envision the end process and then work toward that goal. I've seen devices and software (like the mouse here) that are made incredibly complicated to use because developers thought that having every option available would be good thing.

Keep in mind that most users only use 20% of features in a given program! It's much more important to provide a quality experience than to provide an avalanche of features. Sometimes less really is more.

In a very short amount of time, the mouse above will be in bargain bins and then a few years from now it will be in some article with the "remember when" slant. I don't care that the buttons are fully programmable; this is a bad product no matter how much lipstick you put on it.

DoubleTwist for Managing Your Media Files

For the next few weeks, I'll be tinkering with a new (to me) media manager called DoubleTwist. The program is an open source endeavor that runs on both Mac and Windows.

The idea is a nice one. Basically iTunes has wonderful functionality for managing your media files, but it only works with Apple devices. This leaves those of us with other media capable devices (Palm Pre, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, etc) out in the cold as far as getting our media libraries onto our non-Apple devices.

I personally fell in love with iTunes in the early days of the iPod, but I've become tired of the cat and mouse game between Palm and Apple as Palm builds iTunes functionality into my Pre and then Apple breaks it... then Palm updates its OS to connect with iTunes, Apple breaks it... you get the idea.

Well now I've got a solution that works and nobody wants to break. DoubleTwist functions with the idea of getting your gadgets to all work together without unnecessary hassles thrown into the mix by the gadget companies.

Recently, the latest iTunes update eliminated my Palm Pre from connecting to iTunes. However, I downloaded DoubleTwist, installed it, and my Pre connected immediately. Moving music, movies, and photos to the Pre or from the Pre to the Mac is a simple matter of dragging and dropping. I didn't even need to import my libraries. During the install, DoubleTwist found all the files and added them automatically.

The company's philosophy is a simple one "We started doubleTwist because we were disappointed by the quality of software applications offered by the major device manufacturers.
Our vision is simple: to create a unifying media platform that connects consumers with all their media and all their devices, regardless of whether they are online or offline.
We feel that just like you don't use a different browser for every web site you visit (Firefox to read the NY Times, IE to stream Hulu, Chrome to browse YouTube, etc) you shouldn't have to use iTunes for Apple products, Nokia software for Nokia phones, Sony software for Sony products, etc. The typical household today has many such devices and there is a need for a simple and powerful software that connects them."

So far I've been impressed with my initial interactions. I'll report back in a few weeks with my overall user experience.