The Nokia N8 is a great phone to have around. I use it a lot at the Hospital where I work mostly to take pictures of rare clinical cases, but I want to see more out of it. Recently I have been looking for medical apps around the Ovi Store and did some interesing findings. Talking about med apps there should be noted that there are two kind of apps: those that are directed to patients or non professional and those which are for the health professionals, such as nurses, medics (like myself ) and so on. While there is a lack of the later, there are some good apps for patients interested on keeping up with their health. This medic roamed the OVI Store with a Nokia N8 and these are my findings:

1. Heart Rate Monitor by Pico Brothers

One of the most simple and yet elegant heart rate monitors on the ovi store. Upon launching the app you are immediately asked if the app can connect to the internet for ads. I know, ads! But this makes the app free for all of us and stimulates developers to keep creating great apps. So on with the app. This app is meant to measure the heart rate and can be used both by patients and health workers, you just have to find your pulse or on your neck. and then tap the screen for every beat you feel. After a few beats you will get a fair measure of your heart beat. Simple and very helpful. Myself have used it to check my patient’s heart rate accurately. Great user interface too!

2. Health n Family by xcube

This app works like a medical file for family members. You can add each family member to the list and add important medic details such as blood type, alergies, medical history like previous surgerys and emergency contact numbers just in case. While it is very helpful to have that info at hand, it is kind of difficult to use it as a reference. There is no way to export the info to a computer file or to print it, so it is very  unlikely that a medic will have the guts to access your deeper phone apps in an emergency case.  On the other hand, this could be used to create a patient file for those that visit the medic office, but again, there is no  way to export / import the info, so it’s unlikely that I would use it in a practical way. Anyways, great way to keep some info at hand.

3. First Aid by Divum

This app is a great one I must say. Is a quite simple first aid reference. The core function is the Act Now option which is a list of emergency cases of all types. In example, what to do in Allergy? Well you can search the word Allergy in the large list and will display the symptoms and definition, this will teach normal people about how to recognize it and what to do in such cases. Excellent for non health profesionals! There is also a list of first aid and medical kit that will let you know what should be a must have in your house.  Another option is the life saving emergency techniques which include CPR, Choking, and dressing, great for non profesional with lots of picture and easy instructions. And lastly you can make a medical profile, just in case like in the Health n Family app, but again, I dont think is very practical. Anyways, great educational app for the non profesional. You should all check it out.

4. Blood Pressure Tracker by Migital Technovations

Another tracker for Blood pressure. This will do great for patients who suffer from hypertension. While the user interface isn’t very bright, this app works as it should. After checking the blood pressure, the user should use the Log Entry option and add in the results of the check both systolic and diastolic along with the pulse rate and a note if needed. Then you can see the results in a graph making obvious if your pressure is going down or up or if the current treatment is working. Simple, but nice. As a plus the app also has some useful tips and symptom list of high blood pressure. A way to export graphs and logs would have been nice, but still seems practical to have it on your phone.

5. Bacterium by OffScreen

Found this game while checking medical apps at the OVI Store. While not an app it is a great game that any health professional will find nice. We all like having fun . The gameplay is simple, there is a bacteria growing in a petri dish, they are  replicating all the time and after some time these bacteria blobs will produce a critter, this one will crawl out of the dish and make you lose health, until you lose all your life points. The user must use the gun around the petri dish and  try to control the bacteria population. This game runs until the user loses all the health, it gets harder all the time but you can go on forever and I can tell you, it’s very addictive. There are power ups dropped by the bacteria blobs such as faster guns, faster bullets, double gun, and super bomb great for when critters are too much to exterminate with the gun. The graphics are awesome and better yet, it is free at the ovi store.

After this short review of the best apps on the store what else do we need? I think there is a lack of apps for the health professionals. There is no drug dictionary, found just one medical calculator at the whole store, it just had 25 calcs and wasnt free. We all need more apps for doctors and nurses, apps what will serve as tools for our work. There is a great market oportunity there and  many developers are ignoring it. I will keep an eye there and bring any finding that I consider important. Meanwhile keep healthy .

David Castro

Check the new gadgetized app at the Ovi Store. With this app you can follow our blog more closely, and in an easier and faster ways, instead of the classic browser of your phone. This app is compatible with every Nokia device, touchscreen and non-touchscreen. Also, in the same app you can follow @dcastrog from twitter for more info about news and reviews. Got any more suggestions? They are very welcome!

download link

Today I received an envelope directly from womworld Nokia. I’m now wondering what can be inside? It’s pretty light and small, so surely it is not a new device, a shame I know, but let’s open it

So inside there is an invitation card and says:

Dear David,

You are cordially invited to the Ovi Daily App “Must Have App of the Year” virtual awards 2009. The announcement will be made at blog.ovi.com/dailyapp in january 2010

Please find enclosed some sample applications for your consideration. The ballots open on december 14th 2009 and you will have just seven days to cast your votes in the corresponding categories.

Please watch the video embedded here for further information: blogs.nokia.com/dailyapp/appawards

May the best app win!

(QR code include)

Also, included inside the envelope there is this ultra cool USB stick which includes 6 apps that I will check out very soon. The apps are the following:

1. Fring

2. Nimbuzz

3. Nokia Barcode Reader

4. Touch Note

5. Tweets

6. World Mate

So now, in the following week I’m going to check these apps and then I will cast my vote. Exciting, I know. Keep an eye for more details on the next days! Meanwhile you may check some apps at the Ovi store and visit the Daily App Awards site to cast your own vote!

David CAstro

ps. wondering what does the QR code says?

“Why are you messing around with QR codes? You should be voting!”

Of course!

Today Im going to show you how to get a date with a little help from our best friend, the Ovi Store. Probably you have noticed that spending the whole day playing around with your phone isnt getting you any dates, no? Well I tell you, women are usually seeking more attention from you. So let’s kick the geek out for some time and bring out the stud we all have really deep inside.

So let’s start. First, take a look at the mirror and see what can be improved. Most of girls like a clean face, so that’s a start. You may turn on the front facing camera on your nokia and see how you are looking. Do your hair, brush your teeth, dress properly and you are done.

Then its time to get the date. Pop out the Facebook app and  check women that you would like to invite for dinner. It might be hard to only choose one, who should it be? Sofia, Ramona, Jessica, or Alejandra? Let your gadget choose for you, take out your phone and ask the Magic 8 ball who should you ask out. Remember, the  ball is the law, if it says no it’s no, and when it say yes do not doubt it!

Should I date Sofia?

Should I date Ramona?

Should I date Jessica?

Should I date Alejandra?

Great, after a extremely methodical and scientific process we now have a lucky girl! And if you doubt it, just check what your heart has to say:

Yep it’s love!

So let’s think what do girls like to do when they are out on a date? Of course you are correct, they love romantic dinners and for that you cannot order a pizza, so instead you should make or order sushi. Sushi is good and the fish puts people in the ‘mood’. So now again the Ovi Store may help you on this one with the Sushi touch app. If you don’t know anything about sushi this is a good start.

Now, Alejandra has accepted the date and you are setting up the environment, you should set the mood with some music and why not let the phone make you a setlist with the most cheesy and romantic music you have on it. Start your Playlist Dj and pull the romantic bar all the way up and all the other bars their way down. This way you will make sure you will only get extra slow romantic music from your collection. Alejandra will love it.

Never understimate the power of the lights, a good lighting will make wonders for your date and Alejandra will feel more confortable at a dinner under the light of the candles. But do not mistake my friend, we do not use the prehistoric wax made candles anymore. The trend is to use your phone do as everything and this includes (but not limited to) a candle. Install the candle touch app and you are ready to go. The environment is set and your girl is taking a romantic dinner that will surely never forget.

Conversation will flow easily with all these tips, just remember that most girls do not enjoy talking about symbian multitasking and the wonder that the N900 will be when you buy it the next week.

Congratulations, you are now a happy geek with a happy lady, that was not so difficult! Make your cellphone jealous and spend your days with your woman. Go on Fring and tell all your communities! Someone might love reading your fairy story!

David Castro