Apple vs Google: Battle of the Tech Titans

The technorati debate on Apple iDevices vs Google Android devices has been going on for months. With the announcement of the iPad, it's geared up considerably. Today I point out some food for thought, with the caveat that much of it was written before the iPad announcement, and right now we don't know if there will be any tweaks before the actual iPad launch (or what's in store for iPad 2.0). Right now there’s a lot of speculation on what the device will or won’t do, but it appears very likely that it WILL impact the medical office.

On October 20, 2009 Jeff Brandt guest posted on KevinMD.com with a provocative blog titled “Why doctors should choose Google Android over the iPhone for medical apps.” The post fostered a number of critical comments over facts and assumptions that might have been erroneous. It prompted a followup post on November 23, 2009 by the editors of iMedicalApps called “Misinformation or mistakes? Rebuttal to ‘Doctors should choose Google Android over the iPhone for medical apps’ post on KevinMD.com”.  A couple months later, after more Android based phones were released in time for the holidays, another editor of iMedicalApps posted on the MedPageToday.com blog “And the winner is…Google?” Now keep in mind that all these posts focused on the iPhone, and the iPad was not even released yet.

Fast forward to Feb 2 (today as I write this). A blog post on KevinMD.com by Joseph Kim, MD, MPH describes “10 ways an Apple iPad can help doctors improve patient care”. What I like about this post is that it transcends the snarky debate on what the iPad does or doesn’t have, and focuses on what’s really important to physicians and health-care professionals: improving patient care. What potential does the device have? Dr. Kim does a nice job of making its multimedia education capabilities the number one point. He describes some great creative ways docs might use the device in their offices. So it doesn’t support Flash? So what!? If it supports YouTube you can show all sorts of patient education videos on it. I also like his suggestion to let patients check email on it. They’re already doing it, and the larger screen on the iPad will be a welcome feature for those of us already losing their vision from squinting at their mobile phones.

A few days before that, Steve Woodruff wrote about "Apple iPad's health impact for doctors and hospitals". He does a good job of pointing out how it can be an "accelerator" and not a game-changer. It's accelerating the capabilities of technology that already exists for the iPhone/iPod Touch.

I admit I have a soft spot for Apple but like the Google integration of the Android products. But until Google releases a 9.7 inch ultra-fast touchscreen mobile app product, the current advantage goes to Apple. Now, prepare for the next volley!
 

About the Author

Stephen Welch

Senior Vice President, Communications
Executive Editor, CHEST

This blog, "It Ain't Rocket Surgery" is intended to help busy health-care professionals find useful online and mobile resources that will enhance their self-education and professional research efforts, or point out important topics of discussion related to online information and content. The blog's title is a Yogi Berra style mash-up of two common phrases, "it ain't brain surgery" and "it ain't rocket science". I hope it will be casual, fun, insightful, and -- most of all -- educational.

You can follow me on Twitter. 

I currently serve ACCP as the Senior Vice President of Communications, as well as the Executive Editor of CHEST, the ACCP’s flagship journal. During my 15 years here, ACCP has focused on growing and developing the editorial, technological, and business aspects of the College. We are constantly striving to make the journal and other ACCP educational content as accessible and useful to clinicians as possible.

When not at work, I like to spend time scuba diving with sharks, collecting original comic book artwork, exploring the digital world, and searching for good BBQ.

Your feedback about the blog is always appreciated. So are tips on good BBQ joints.