Dental Technology Blog

Baby Bottles Cleaned by Ultraviolet Light

2009-11-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

UV light can be a great adjunct to removal of bacteria. Sonicare has been using the idea for a while now with the Flexcare toothbrush that comes with a UV sterilizer built into the charging base. Earlier this year the VioLight company came to market with a counter top sterilizer unit that fits all toothbrushes.

Now I've come across this great idea for using UV light to sterilize baby bottles. Called the Pureray, the idea is simple. After the bottle is washed, it fits onto a stand that floods the chamber with UV light thus killing the bacteria.

No word on the availability, but this is a pretty interesting idea. Parents or parents to be, take note! Check the website for more info.

YouMail Update

2009-11-09T06:10:00.001-06:00

I received the following e-mail from the YouMail folks a few minutes ago to clarify some things from their previous announcement:

We recently sent out an e-mail that YouMail is free to Sprint users because Sprint dropped call forwarding charges.
We need to clarify.

First, Sprint is dropping “conditional call forwarding” charges – charges for calls are forwarded when they are busy or unanswered. This is the conditional call forwarding that YouMail users need, so it’s good news. However:

As Sprint has announced officially, this will be happening in mid-November. However, the exact date has not been finalized or announced by Sprint.
Sprint is making no changes to immediate/unconditional call forwarding (which uses *72 on the handset to set up) - this usage will continue to cost 20c/minute.
Second, the special dialing codes for turning on conditional call forwarding, like *28, may work now from your handset, but they are not officially guaranteed to work until mid-November. If it doesn’t work on your handset, please do not call or contact Sprint customer care, but wait for the follow up from YouMail when the final announcement by Sprint is made.

We’re excited Sprint is making this change – perhaps too excited, since we have jumped the gun with our announcement. We’re sorry for any inconvenience that this has caused.

Regards,

Alex

CEO, YouMail

YouMail Now Free for Sprint Users

2009-11-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

I've got great news for fellow Sprint customers! For over a year now, I've been using (and blogging about) a service called YouMail. The principle behind the service is one of those "better mousetraps" that I love finding. YouMail is a web based voice mail service. When you call my wireless and get voice mail, you aren't actually leaving the message with Sprint, you're leaving it with YouMail.

The service uses an address book that you setup and Caller I.D. to recognize incoming callers. They can be greeted with custom greetings in your own voice or humorous ones that are available. The messages are stored online and accessible via any phone or with a web browser. On the web the messages can be saved and sorted into folders and are NEVER deleted until you do so yourself.

The messages can be forwarded to others just like a PBX business system also, only it's done as an attachment via e-mail.

The best part for me is the notifications. Have you ever missed a call only to receive a voice mail several days later that you never knew about? It's happened to me on more than one occasion and it's embarrassing to call someone and say, "I just got your voice mail." YouMail beats this by sending you both a text message and an e-mail with notification of a call within seconds after the caller hangs up. The text message comes complete with a link to call the service and the e-mail provides a link for you to listen to the message on your computer.

The service is very reasonably priced and has worked without a glitch for me. The only thing I didn't like about it was that Sprint was charging me 20¢ for every minute of voice mail forwarding I used. Now I'm delighted to hear from YouMail that Sprint has eliminated the charge making the cost of using YouMail more affordable!

Here is the press release. You can check out the YouMail website to see if the service is right for you.

Great news! Sprint has removed the 20c/minute charge for call forwarding. This means that as a Sprint customer using YouMail, you will no longer need to pay additional call forwarding fees.

Sprint customers just dial a simple code to forward their unanswered calls to YouMail.

If you ever need to re-activate your phone with YouMail, dial *289095106169 and press ‘Talk/Send’ right from your mobile phone. If you're unsuccessful activating call forwarding, contact Sprint Technical Support at 888-211-4727 for assistance.

YouMail is available online and through your phone. Users with a BlackBerry or the new HTC Hero with Android can download and start using YouMail Visual Voicemail mobile applications. Download Visual Voicemail for FREE from the Android Market or BlackBerry App World.

And make sure to sign up for a completely free 7-day trial of YouMail’s voice-to-text transcriptions – no credit card required.

For questions about YouMail send us an email at sprint@youmail.com or check out our online help

Thanks for being a loyal Youmail user!

The YouMail Team

Fiatlux Announces Their Visualize Software is Now Available for Free Download!

2009-11-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

3D imaging is changing the practice of dentistry. I'm routinely doing cone beam scans on many of my patients using my Gendex CB-500 and am grateful for the amount of info I get from the scans.

If you own a machine, viewing the scans is easy since the device will come with software, but if you don't own a machine and still want to view scans, you need software. In my case, any scan that I burn to a CD and send to a referring doctor will automatically have a copy of iCat Vision software burned onto the CD along with the scan, it's just the way my system works.

However, if you aren't lucky enough to have that type of situation, you'll still need software. There are lots of good packages on the market, but most are expensive. Don't get me wrong I don't begrudge software companies charging for their products, they deserve to be compensated. However, if you don't view a lot of scans, spending lots of money may not be the smartest business decision.

To that end, Fiatlux is now giving away their software!!! The program is available for download here. The software is a Windows only program and is cleared by the FDA for clinical use in the United States.

Here is the press release:

(Redmond, WA, November 3, 2009) FiatLux Imaging, Inc. a medical software company in Redmond, WA, announces the availability of FiatLux Visualize™ Free, advanced visualization software for CT and MRI medical imaging data. The free software is available via download from www.FiatLuxImaging.com for any healthcare professional. There is no charge for download or use of the software.

“There is tremendous unrealized potential in medical imaging data,” stated Quentin Dewolf, CEO of FiatLux Imaging.

“CT and MRI scanners are generating huge amounts of data every day, yet the vast majority of that data is never seen outside of the radiology suite. If it were, we believe referring physicians could make better decisions, patients could gain insight into their conditions, and the expense and inconvenience of duplicate scans could be avoided.

We deliver advanced visualization to any healthcare professional, not just the small number of radiologists who use expensive software on high-end workstations.”

FiatLux Visualize Free is the only free advanced visualization software for CT and MRI medical imaging data that runs on virtually any modern Windows PC/laptop/notebook/tablet – including Windows 7 - and is cleared by the FDA for clinical use in the United States. FiatLux Visualize Free is a fully-featured 2D/3D visualization application – not a demo - for any healthcare professional needing an easy-to-use means of reformatting and viewing DICOM-compatible imaging data.

The software is useful for any healthcare professional, including specialists such as surgeons and cardiologists, primary care physicians, radiologists and radiologic technologists, physician’s assistants, and clinical nurse specialists. Medical students and residents will find FiatLux Visualize Free invaluable for studying anatomy, identifying pathology, and reviewing cases.

Typical uses of FiatLux Visualize Free include an easy-to-use, 2D/3D viewer of images on CD or DVD, radiologist report verification, patient education, and procedure planning.

According to Dewolf, “We are releasing a free version of our software because we believe that democratizing medical imaging data is important in the context of healthcare reform and because it is the fastest way to build a user community. We plan to add valuable features based on the input of those users. A number of features will remain free and some will be available for a fee, referred to as the “freemium” approach.”

FiatLux Imaging, founded in 2007, is dedicated to transforming medical imaging data into insight…for anyone.

What a Hedge Trimmer can Teach about Technology

2009-11-07T08:05:00.000-06:00

This is going to be one of those posts where I make an oddball point. A couple of years ago, I needed to trim several bushes in the yard. I went to the local home depot and purchased a cordless electric hedge trimmer for $80.

I had a wide choice of models, but I didn't really do much comparison shopping. I wanted a hedge trimmer, it was a name brand, and it didn't require a cord. Case closed.

However, over the time I had it, I noticed many times it would struggle to cut thicker branches and severely bog down when cutting through very thick bushes with thin branches. Occasionally it would become completely locked up on something and force me to wedge the branch back out of the blades. It would also sometimes slow down and die as I exhausted the battery, forcing me to postpone finishing the yard work. Finally a little over 2 years into ownership, the thing just died. I figured that even though I wasn't really abusing it, it just wasn't made to trim the plants I was using it on.

So today I headed back to the Home Depot. This time I decided to take a closer look at the models available and to compare them a bit. I especially compared the blades as that seemed to be the problem that I'd had with the original trimmer.

What I left with was a gas powered Echo hedge trimmer that was a significant amount more than the $80 I paid originally. I came home, fired it up, and proceeded to attack the bushes and plants that needed fall trimming and cleanup.

The result? The Echo sliced through the foliage like a Hideki Matsui home run ball slices through the New York night. In less than 30 minutes I was done with the cutting. Previously it would take between 1-2 hours. The plants seemed to endure less trauma and I wasn't struggling to complete the task.

So, what can this teach us about technology in general and dental technology in particular? It's the simple fact that cutting corners or trying to save money isn't always the most fiscally smart thing to do. By buying a $80 device that didn't hold up, I actually wasted $80 that I didn't need to. The Echo was more money, but by not purchasing it in the first place, I added $80 to its purchase price.

Also by trying to save money, I bought something that wouldn't really do what I wanted it to do. I, of course, told myself that I was "just fine" with it, but I knew I was kidding myself.

In the end I wasted my time and my money by not making the smart purchasing decision in the first place. When one considers the steep overhead of running a dental practice it's easy to see how wasting your time as well as your patient's time can be a bad business decision on multiple levels.

The moral? Buy the best and only cry once.

Motorola Droid is now in the Wild!

2009-11-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

The much anticipated Droid is now available. AAMOF, I saw reports on the web where it was available last night. The Droid has received a lot of promotion as the head to head competitor with the iPhone and it will be interesting to see how it fares.

It runs Google's Android 2.0 OS and has a slide out keyboard (pictured above). It is reported to be smokin' fast. Supposedly Google was very involved with Motorola as the design was built and the folks at G insisted on speed.

You can get it from Verizon stores, Best Buy, Walmart, and even some Target stores. If you happen to grab one, let me know. I'd love to hear what you think.

In Case You handn't Noticed, It's a Mobile World Now

2009-11-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

In case you have been in a pasta induced comma for the last 2 years, Apple's iPhone has pretty much taken over the mobile phone world. The iPhone is easily the most popular handheld communication device on the planet, bring untold revenues and riches to AT&T and Apple.

However, there are others that are getting their fair share of revenue from the iPhone as well. One of the big players in now Pizza Hut. According to MobileMarketer, the Pizza Hut iPhone app has generated $1,000,000 in sales in the 3 months since its release.

That's right... Pizza Hut created an app that allows customers to create and order pizza directly from their iPhone, and they've sold over a million dollars worth of product with it! The free app is downloaded and installed over the network and then the customer has all the tools at their mobile fingertips to order and then have it delivered or picked up.

This is a great example of technology meeting an untapped demand. Kudos to Pizza Hut. Now about that Palm Pre app...

DentalEZ® Group’s NuTorque™ Programmable Electric Handpiece System Receives Highest Ratings from THE DENTAL ADVISOR

2009-11-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Malvern, PA (November 3, 2009) — DentalEZ® Group, a supplier of innovative products and services for dental health professionals worldwide, is pleased to announce that its NuTorque™ programmable electric handpiece received the highest ratings possible from THE DENTAL ADVISOR, a leading evaluation organization and research publication.

Specifically, the NuTorque received a 5+ rating and the prestigious Editors’ Choice award from THE DENTAL ADVISOR. Moreover, the NuTorque received a 98% clinical approval rating from THE DENTAL ADVISOR’s team of professional evaluators.

“We are extremely pleased with the positive feedback we have received from dental professionals for this innovative product,” remarked Randy Arner, VP of Marketing for the DentalEZ Group. “This outstanding DENTAL ADVISOR evaluation report confirms that the NuTorque is a user-friendly and versatile handpiece, providing maximum flexibility for a variety of procedures.”

The full DENTAL ADVISOR review is available by visiting www.dentaladvisor.com.

The NuTorque system is a highly intuitive electric handpiece. Dental professionals will experience maximum control with minimum effort through NuTorque’s unique, easy-to-use touch screen display. The system’s touch screen capabilities make every procedure more efficient and productive.

Benefits of the NuTorque system include:

• Auto-reverse, auto-reverse forward, and auto-forward stop
• Torque control ranges from 0.1-3.0 Ncm with capabilities of 384 Ncm
• 29 possible reduction ratios
• Fully customizable presets
• Flat screen easily wipes clean for better asepsis and a sharp display

The NuTorque system provides maximum flexibility for a wide variety of individual solutions. The customizable touch screen display includes numerous useful options, such as three general procedure memory presets for common practices such as cavity preparation, caries removal, and polishing; a speed/RPM display; an FO light; an on/off water spray; and an attachment gear ratio indicator.

Moreover, the main display also provides a detailed and customizable Set-up Mode and ENDO Mode, which includes five endo memory presets that can be individually designed and tailored to fit various endodontic procedures.

The NuTorque is also equipped with a brushless motor that is extremely compact and lighter than existing electric motors currently on the market. Measuring in at a mere 4 inches and weighing less than 99 grams, the balanced, lightweight micromotor of the NuTorque enables the dental professional to maneuver comfortably and effectively throughout the oral region.

With the NuTorque system, dental professionals are provided the freedom to perform various individual procedures while delivering consistent speed and powerful torque on both high and low speed settings. The 50 dBa whisper-quiet, vibration-free motor system is also easily adaptable to existing standard delivery units. Moreover, NuTorque’s micromotor is fully autoclavable.

In addition, NuTorque attachments feature lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant titanium housings that provide a firm, tactile grip. The light weight grants the handpiece exceptional balance and helps reduce hand and wrist fatigue, while the slender angulation of NuTorque attachments permits excellent intraoral access and superior sight lines.

StarDental’s NuTorque system has a three-year warranty on the control box unit, a one-year warranty on the motor, tubing, and attachments, and a one-year warranty on the transformer. For more information on the NuTorque electric handpiece system and a full listing of attachments, please call 866-DTE-INFO, or log onto www.dentalez.com.

Barnes & Noble in Lawsuit over Nook

2009-11-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

It seems there may be more to the story of the Barnes & Noble Nook e-book reader than just the device itself. Yesterday, a company called Spring Design filed a lawsuit claiming that they showed their design to Barnes & Noble before B&N designed the Nook.

While the devices function quite differently, they do look a lot alike. And when you combine the looks with the fact that Spring Design had Barnes & Noble signing Non-Disclosure Agreements so regarding their Alex device... well it certainly looks suspicious. They even both run the Android operating system.

Of course, that's what the courts are for. This is definitely something I'll be following.

For all the details, check out this article from Reuters.

Keep Track of Your Kids for $100

2009-11-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

Over the past few years, I've seen a few GPS devices come on the market that can keep track of children. The idea is a good one. Put a GPS device in a pocket or in a backpack and if a youngster wanders off, they can be located. It's a nice thing to give parents some piece of mind.

The main drawback to these devices has been cost. Now Best Buy is selling a device called the "Little Buddy" that retails for a more affordable $100. The device uses a combination of GPS and cell phone towers to help locate itself. The device can be located using a special webpage, which should (although I'm not sure) require a user name and password.

The device will even send text messages when the device leaves a certain area or doesn't arrive at a certain area by a specified time.

This is an interesting idea. I'd love to get a device to try out.

Don't say I didin't tell you first! :-)

2009-11-01T06:30:00.000-06:00

Whether it's here on the blog or in the pages of Dental Products Report, I'm frequently asked (or forced) to make predictions. That's just the nature of being involved in technology writing and teaching. Sometimes I can make predictions based on evolving trends, such as 3D imaging and my passion for my Gendex CB-500, but other times I need to take a good old fashioned guess.

Of course as regular readers know, some of my guesses have been way off. I've probably predicted the Beatles catalog on iTunes about 5 times now. Anyway, because predictions are just glorified guesses, I like to celebrate when I report on something and see it go mainstream. So with that in mind, here's today's post.

In December of 2008 I came across a product that I thought you deserved to know about. It's a little device called a Poken which lets you trade your contact info with others. At the time, the company was looking at the younger hipper demographic as a way to easily get the contact of new people you might meet in a college bar, party, etc. However at the time I thought it also could have a business application.

Well today I found an article on Foxnews.com that lists 8 tech trends to watch in 2010 and the Poken is among them. The article states:

6. You'll burn your business cards

Salespeople hand them out at trade shows and they might help you win a free lunch. That's right: business cards just won't die. Several iPhone apps – such as Beezcard and SnapDat – allow you to share contact details, but not everyone has an iPhone. A Swiss company has made the PokenZoo, a cute, inexpensive device you touch to another Poken to swap contacts.

Why the trend is important: Saves paper, but also finally alleviates business workers from having to carry these annoying cards around whether they go.

So let the celebration begin! The full text of the trends article on Foxnews can be read here. As somebody who has to predict, I'm anxious to see how many they get right! :-)

Hand Held Portable X-Ray from Video Dental Concepts

2009-10-31T08:05:00.001-05:00

Here's a new product that may be of interest to those of you looking for a portable x-ray unit. The Nomad has been available for a few years now and has been well received by the industry. Now comes a new portable unit from Video Dental Concepts.

The shape is more like a conventional camera than a 'ray gun' style, which the company feels is less intimidating in appearance. I don't have any hands-on experience with it, but the idea of it should be appealing to those looking for a portable system... especially with a price of $3995 currently. When the sale is over the price goes back up to $5395.

Here are the other points of interest from the company website. If you are interested in ordering or other information, click here.

FDA Registered. Welcome to the new way of taking X-rays in Dental Offices: x-ray2go is the way to go! x-ray2go is a portable hand held camera that uses a high frequency inverter to generate a stable X-ray output with DC high voltage. This effective DC unit enables patient and operator to be exposed to the least amount of radiation. The integrated compact "Camera like" generator increases the user's confidence and decrease the negative perception patients have about X-rays. It is small: 5.6" (W) x 3.3" (D) x 1.2" (H). Best of all it only weighs 4.18 Lbs (1.9 Kgs), the lightest on the market.

• Portability – room to room ease
• No installation necessary versus complex, expensive and time consuming on-wall installation.
• No need for pass troughs
• Large LCD display – easy to read
• Simple touch controls
• Adjustable exposure time
• Hundreds of images from one (1) battery charge
• High resolution diagnostic images
• No blur from hand movement high-frequency generator produces clear images while reducing patient dose
• Shield protects the operator from scattered radiation - small dose of radiation emitted
• Leading technology provides the highest level of safety, quality and patient care
• Perfect for special needs patients, home health care patients, nursing home patients, children and veterinary practices
• Perfect for small operatories
• Perfect for mobile dentistry where room is a big factor

Sirona Dental Systems to Underwrite Upcoming CAD/CAM Seminars at The Scottsdale Center for Dentistry™

2009-10-30T07:21:00.002-05:00

I'm in Dallas today speaking on cone beam 3D imaging at Benco. If you are in the Dallas area, stop by. Here's today's post about some amazing CE that is FREE!

Gordon & Rella Christensen Among Top Industry Experts Slated to Speak – Dentists Receive Complimentary Tuition, Hotel Stay, and Six CE Credits

Scottsdale, AZ (October 21, 2009) – Sirona Dental Systems today announced plans to hold two complimentary seminars on CAD/CAM for dentists at the prestigious Scottsdale Center for Dentistry™ on November 12th and 13th or November 13th and 14th, 2009.

The CAD/CAM Discovery Seminars, underwritten by Sirona and Patterson Dental Corporation, include not only complimentary tuition and six CE credits (a $1,395.00 value), but also a complimentary one-night stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale Hotel.

“We’re very excited about bringing this seminar to the Scottsdale Center and are happy to underwrite it in order to help defray the costs to dentists,” remarked Sirona Dental Systems President, Michael Augins. “The CAD/CAM Discovery Seminar promises to be an educational experience that will provide dentists with the information they need to make an informed decision about incorporating
in-office CAD/CAM, digital impressions, and digital dentistry into their own practices.”

Sirona has enlisted an impressive lineup of distinguished dental industry speakers for the seminars, including:

• Gordon Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD
• Imtiaz Manji, CEO, Scottsdale Center for Dentistry™
• Rella Christensen, RDH, PhD
• Lee Ann Brady, DMD
• Sameer Puri, DDS
• Russell Giordano, DMD, DMSc, FADM

Topics of discussion during the CAD/CAM Discovery Seminar will include:

• Success of In-Office CAD/CAM
• CAD/CAM for the General Dentist
• Clinical Efficacy of CAD/CAM Materials
• Taking Your Practice to New Heights
• Hands-On Experience with CEREC® AC

The complete CEREC AC product line was introduced to the US market in January of 2009. At the heart of CEREC AC is the Bluecam handheld acquisition camera, which uses a highly visible blue light LED (light emitting diode) to harness the full potential of digital impression-taking. CEREC AC provides dentists with a variety of configurations, budget price points, and practice integration options, thus making CAD/CAM available for everyone.

To register for the seminars, or for additional information, please call 877-526-3590 or visit www.cerecseminar.com.

Google has Music Search Function Online Now

2009-10-29T06:32:00.002-05:00

It's amazing how sometimes posts seem to come in pairs. Yesterday was a post about Google and today I'll follow that with another. Google is now venturing into music search.

The idea is a good one for music lovers. Going to the search page brings up a music specific home page and allows the user to query lyrics, artists, etc. Through agreements with many labels and online retailers, links are provided to hear samples and actually buy the music. There is even partnering with Pandora that suggests other artists that are similar to the one you have searched for.

Called "Discover Music" the service will premier in the U.S. today. No word on when other parts of the planet will have access. I've tinkered with it for a few minutes and it looks pretty slick.

Rumor: Google working on a free turn by turn navigation app

2009-10-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

One of the more interesting rumors I've run across recently involves Google and their mapping software. There are whispers that the web giant is working on free (ad supported) app for mobile phones that will provide voice guided turn by turn directions.

Free? Yup, that's the rumor. There are similar services available currently, but they charge between $5-10 per month. If Google enters the market with a no cost option, that will seriously shake things up.

There are some phones that will already do this. Google helped build an iPhone app and my Palm Pre uses built-in Sprint navigation. However, I've got to think that Google would do a better job. Innovation is what they do. This could be an especially big deal as their Android phone and operating system begin to gain market share.

The potential advertising aspect of this has an interesting slant. By knowing your location, ads could be pushed to your phone that feature businesses in the area you are in. Pretty slick, but a bit Minority Report as well.

Of course, rumors are just rumors. Yet... this one seems to be picking up steam. I'm giving this one a 70-30 chance of being for real. Do you have thoughts or a comment?

Amazon Moves All Kindles to AT&T Wireless

2009-10-27T06:33:00.001-05:00

Amazon has announced that all new Kindles sold will now go through AT&T for their wireless connections instead of Sprint. When the Kindle first hit the market over a year ago, the wireless data connection that allowed you to download your books and subscriptions on the go was provided by Sprint's EvDO RevA wireless connection.

However, recently Amazon announced and began selling an International version of the device which used the AT&T network. I'm not sure where or how the whole thing came down, but now Amazon has announced that all future Kindles (at least for now) will use AT&T. I find that a tad ironic as the newly announced Nook from Barnes & Noble will also use AT&T.

If you are an owner of an older Kindle (like me) that uses a Sprint connection, don't panic. Amazon has also announced that no Sprint powered Kindle's will lose their wireless connection.

That's good news because if they cut me off after spending $300 on the device 18 months ago, I'd be seriously peeved.

Also, it seems to keep up with the B&N Nook announcement, the Kindle is now reduced in price from $279 to $259. For while the company was selling an International version for the extra $20 and a domestic version for less. Now only the international version is being sold which will also work in the U.S.

Smartphone Risks Increasing

2009-10-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

For a diehard geek like me, a smartphone is just one more piece of gear I've got to have. In fact as the poster child for most earlier adopters, I've had one for several years. I consider it an essential part of who I am and it helps me in so many ways.

Now, smartphones are really going mainstream. In fact most people that I know are using their phones for much more than just calls and text messages. It's a beautiful thing, but that also means that as the market of smartphones increases, the chances of viruses, etc also increases.

(CNN) -- Worms, spam, viruses and hackers -- they're not just for your desktop or laptop anymore. According to internet security experts they could be well on their way into your pocket or purse.

The popularity of smartphones -- like the Blackberry, iPhone, Palm and the emerging Droid -- is on the rise and shows no signs of letting up.

And that's making the phones a sweeter target for online ne'er do-wells looking to, at the very least, cause mischief and, at worst, rip off unsuspecting phone owners.

"It's guaranteed that almost everything we see on a computer will show up on a smartphone -- and some new things," said Jake Widman, a San Francisco-based technology writer and analyst.

Last year, more than 139 million smartphones were sold worldwide, a 13.9 percent increase from 2007, according to the British technology analysis firm Gartner.

With Apple planning to release the iPhone in China, and a more affordable Android handset expected to hit the market by the end of the year, the pool of potential targets is only expected to get deeper.

For the full text of the article on CNN.com click here.

Geekier and Greener all at the Same Time - The Chevy Tahoe Hybird

2009-10-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

I am now the owner of a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. I desperately needed a new vehicle (I confess that even though I'm a tech lover, I'm a car payment hater and haven't had a new vehicle in 9 years). So I've gone from a 2000 model SUV to something that I hope is more environmentally friendly and also a lot more high tech.

My overall first impressions have been great. Of course first impressions on new vehicles can be deceiving, so I'll be posting about the Tahoe off on and on as I learn more about it.

So far, setting up Bluetooth has been a breeze. It's already paired with my Palm Pre and voice dialing is awesome! I'm also impressed with the fact that the Tahoe will e-mail me once a month with all of the vital statistics I need via its OnStar connection.

I'll post more as I learn more. Not having had any exposure to new vehicles in so long has, I'm sure, tainted my experience, but things have change a bunch since my last new ride!

Use the Force During Presentations

2009-10-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Check this out! These light sabers are real red laser pointers! This is the kind of thing that brings out the inner geek in all of us.

They are available at thinkgeek for only $14.99. My only regret is I wish they were green lasers instead. Green is just so much brighter.

Windows 7 Hits the Stores

2009-10-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Well October 22nd was the big day and Windows 7 is now available for you to purchase on a new computer or to upgrade your existing machines.

Times have sure changed for the geeks among us. In 1995, I was in line when Windwows 95 came out. I beta tested Windows 98 and Windows Me. By the time Windows XP came out, I was just relieved that I finally had access to the NT kernel on my regular non-server machines. Then came the disaster of Windows Vista which I've never ever used.

Now we have Windows 7 which is being greeted with good comments from the experts and it looks like Microsoft has gotten back on track with the release of the latest operating system. However, at this point I'm not advising anyone to install it on what I call "mission critical" computers. Those are ones that you are absolutely dependent on whether it be for clinical, business, or personal use.

Anytime a new operating system hits the market, there will always be hiccups, most notably a lack of drivers. Losing a printer or a x-ray sensor due to an upgrade could be a disaster. So, my recommendation is to stay the course and wait for the dental vendors to make sure all is well with the systems you use. Better to be safe than sorry. In a few weeks we'll all know for sure and we can proceed.

Even Apple has had problems with its recent Snow Leopard update (thankfully I haven't experienced them). So if you aren't desperate, wait just a little bit and let things shake out a bit.

Lexi Demonstrates Palm Pre Software

2009-10-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

One of the things that has frustrated me as a Palm Pre user is that the emphasis from most software companies has been on the iPhone and the iPod touch. Now don't get me wrong I completely understand that the iPhone has a much larger user base and deserves the focus that it is receiving. It's just that I'm a Pre user and I need access to info too.

So... you can imagine how thrilled I was when I found out yesterday that LexiComp is putting together a software package that will bring the Lexi software to the Palm Pre!

Congrats to the folks at Lexi for their hard work and forward thinking to bring valuable and portable info to those of us in the "Land of the Pre".

Check out the demo on the video above. Although it's just alpha software, you can definitely see the power of having Lexi with you wherever you go!

Medtechnophobia Epidemic Proliferating!

2009-10-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Do you have trouble remembering things... specifically information on prescribing? Do you often have to consult (gasp) books to find the information you are looking for? Do doors routinely slam as you remove the heavy books holding them open to refresh your memory? If so, you may have Medtechnophobia. This is a terribly debilitating disease affecting many health care practitioners.

Fortunately, there is help! View the video above to find out more about this very treatable condition!

Barnes & Noble Announces "Nook"

2009-10-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

As I reported hear earlier, Barnes and Noble has announced their e-book reader called "Nook".

The device is pretty much as I mentioned, e-ink in the top reading area, color touchscreen below.

The wireless part of the service is being provided by AT&T and their 3G network (Amazon uses Sprint). It also uses WiFi which is something the Amazon Kindle does not provide.

To me, the biggest part of the network is to make sure you have good coverage in your area if you plan to use the wireless features.

Memory? Here is the exact text from the B&N website:With 2GB of memory, nook stores up to 1,500 books, newspapers and magazines. Need even more space? Just add a memory card for storage of up to 17,500. An entire library light enough to take with you everywhere, so you'll never be without your favorites.

This looks like a pretty slick product and a worthy challenge to Amazon's Kindle. Price? $259

The "Why's" Behind Successful Bonding

2009-10-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

This Friday October 23rd, I'll be doing a live webinar for Ultradent. I've always been a "why guy" and I think it's important for us all to know not only the proper way to provide care, but the "why's" behind that care.

Join me for a webinar and Q&A on how to get the most out of bonded and adhesive dentistry.

Here is a description of what I'll cover:
In this Webinar, Dr. John Flucke will explain the importance of incremental curing, quality curing lights, and wet bonding. He will also explain his preference for 5th generation adhesive systems. Other topics to be covered include quality tissue control, laser use, adequate caries removal, the new Spectra device, information on magnification, and auxiliary lighting.

If you are interested in registering, you can do so here.

Epocrates Mobile Resource Centers for iPhone

2009-10-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Epocrates is continuing to expand its information that is available for the iPhone. There are now several different Resource Centers covering many different topics. Best of all, they are free to members.

The currently available topics are:

Alzheimer Disease
Atrial Fibrilation
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Infection Management
Pain Management
Venous Thromboembolism

To view Mobile Resource Centers, please ensure that you are using the most current version of Epocrates software:

Launch the App Store on your iPhone or iPod touch device.
Tap the “Updates” tab at the bottom right of your screen.
Select Epocrates and tap “Free” and then “Install” to install the latest version.

More info is available here.