DOCFILES

Reading articles on the Ipad

2011-12-21T07:47:00.001+08:00

Trying to go paperless on reading articles.

ETG Eherapeutic Guidelines

2011-11-22T09:59:00.001+08:00

I find that ETG very useful for quickly looking up reliable information and treatment. Concise' authoritative and fast.

Insanely good

2011-10-07T10:43:00.001+08:00

It was a bit of a shock to hear of Mr Jobs passing. Expected but so sudden and only a day after the iphone 4s was revealed. I haven't met anyone who has survived pancreatic cancer for so long but he fought it to the end. Each iphone, ipod,ipad and mac is a tribute to this remarkable man's vision. The world will never be the same.

New Tools for the GP

2011-09-16T07:51:00.001+08:00

I am finding the ipad to be a useful tool in patient education. Also in doctor education because it it's easy to look up information and drug doses.

Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

2011-09-06T12:46:00.001+08:00

More gadgets for doctors. Portable pulse oximeters are relatively cheap and easy to use.

No touch thermometer

2011-09-01T07:44:00.001+08:00

I have been using this no touch IR thermometer. Useful in a gp setting as you don't have to change probe covers. Tympanic temperature is probably more accurate but it is a good screening method for normal cough and colds.

Iphone 4 to Android : Week 2

2011-08-24T09:19:00.000+08:00

Ok I think I've figured out most of the problems and got over my frustrations with my Galaxy S2. I've been switching between my Iphone 4 and Galaxy S2. Both are great. Now that I've figured out how to organise and customise my Galaxy S2, it's easier to use. I must say that the phone function and call quality on the Galaxy S2 seems better than the Iphone 4. However it still is a battery sucker and is not as easy to use. Generally for personalisation the android Os is better. But for usability and app eco system, the Iphone- Ipad combination still gives a better experience. We will see how we go.

ETG THERAPEUTIC GUIDELINES

2011-08-24T07:18:00.001+08:00

I love using the ETG as it gives clear guidelines and treatment which is easy to look up. It is an evidence based concensus guideline. It is also available in isilo on the iphone. It is not free but worth the subscription.

Diagnostic tattoo patches

2011-08-13T12:14:00.001+08:00

Interesting developments with stick on diagnostic patches. Hopefully wireless that could be used to monitor patients vitals and maybe blood sugars? Hopefully we will have hyposprays and tricorders coming soon. Probably in the next ten years we will have a ultrasound and oxymeter in our pocket to add to our wireless stethoscope.
Credit : cnet

Android to iphone : Day 3

2011-08-10T18:41:00.002+08:00

Where are the games?
I mean the good games like NOVA, Spiderman, street fighter etc? Whats the use of a dual core processor if all it is going to play is a puzzle or board game or a driving game? Also their medical apps are lacking too.
I admit there are some good free games available like Angry Birds but where is Plants.Vs Zombies? Noom is a great app, and the Blogger apps and general ease of downloading youtube videos and files are ok. However the overall quality of apps is a disappointment and confusing as some apps are not compatible with all android phones. Prices of the apps seem to range from free to very expensive compared to those in the apple appstore.

Battery life has been bad. I know I have to give it time to achieve it's maximum efficiency but I never had to give my iphone that much time. To acheive a passable battery life with moderate use I had to disable all animations all eye candy, background syncing, bluetooth, screen brightness, change the background to a dark background. I had 2 batteries but I had to use them both up to get me through the day. It reminds me very much of my pocket pc days. Great file system, multimedia, poor battery life.
Camera wise I don't think the galaxy 2s is much better than the iphone 4 especially in low light conditions. Not that many camera apps either.

I will keep using it for a week but at the moment I am considering going back to my iphone 4. I wanted very much to love my Galaxy 2s after looking at the great reviews. However the actual user experience has been a disappointment.

HP Touchpad and Blackberry Playbook

2011-08-10T13:34:00.001+08:00

I was checking out the new tablets. Sadly to say that the ipad is still king of the hill. Not so much because of hardware but more of the eco system and apps.
Even with using android I miss the intuitive functions of the iphone although hardware wise the androids trump the iphone.

Apple Remote

2011-08-10T12:11:00.001+08:00

Just bought a apple remote for my mac mini. Costs Aud$20 at Dick Smith.

Screen Captures in the Samsung Galaxy 2s

2011-08-10T08:43:00.001+08:00

Screen captures were driving me crazy on the android phone.
I finally figured it out on my Galaxy 2S without rooting it.

1. PRESS THE HOME BUTTON FIRST
2. IMMEDIATELY PRESS THE POWER BUTTON WHILE HOLDING THE HOME BUTTON
3. HOLD BOTH BUTTONS FOR 1 SECOND THEN RELEASE THE POWER BUTTON ONLY

A small message saying screen capture will appear. The image will be saved in the gallery.
Hope this works for you. It took me a few tries to do it consistently. You can also try pressing both buttons at the same time.

THE TRICK IS TO RELEASE THE POWER BUTTON FIRST TO TAKE THE SCREEN CAPTURE

Iphone to Android Day 2

2011-08-10T06:38:00.001+08:00

I notice that the battery life isnt as good as my iphone with heavy use. Wifi internet hotspot, email, widgets. It only lasts half a day which is annoying. I will give it some time for the batteries to settle in.
The screen is good of course but seems harsher on the eyes. Contrast is better but the resolution and pictures look more realistic on three iphone 4.

My Iphone to Android experience: Day 1

2011-08-08T05:20:00.001+08:00

I finally caved and decided to try out the Samsung Galaxy 2s. I guess I could call myself an android virgin struggling with swype and those little squiggles you have to use when making double letters.
I must admit I am feeling uncomfortable with it at the moment. Almost having a Palm to Pocket PC moment.
My main reasons for trying Android although I am ballot with my iphone 4 was just to try something new. Secondly was the compelling hardware of the Samsung Galaxy S2 with it's huge 4.3 inch super amoled screen. Thirdly it's my birthday and I love kung fu...er oops techy stuff. So I will be posting my Android experience in my blog.

Leng Chee Kang Dessert

2011-08-04T22:28:00.001+08:00

I am at Trengganu road having dessert. A hot gingko nut, Longan, lotus seed in a sweet rock sugar soup. You can also have it as a refreshing cold dessert.

Location:Jalan Trengganu,George Town,Malaysia

Fried Bee Hoon with Salted Fish

2011-08-04T08:26:00.001+08:00

Ah breakfast. I think I will give the all bran a break and have a freshly stir fried vermicelli with bits of kiam hu ( salted fish ). I like to eat it in this coffee shop next to the Pulau Tikus wet market.

Location:Lengkok York,George Town,Malaysia

Skype for IPad finally out!

2011-08-02T22:20:00.001+08:00

I have been using the blurry iPhone Skype app which works ok. Finally the official iPad version is available for download.

Durian Durian

2011-07-31T11:40:00.001+08:00

Ah you can never miss a durian stall as the pungent aroma makes it known to everyone within 20 meters. Even if you drive past it you can smell it wafting through the air conditioning. To some it may smell worse than rotten eggs. To others, it is the perfume of the Gods!

I had some this morning and I feel hot and sweaty as I write this. There are too many kinds of durians to choose from. They can be cheap or very expensive. I prefer the ones with a small seed (chew hoot) as it gives me more of the yummy flesh. So if you buy one ask for the ones with small seeds.

Nowadays the durian seller will open and pack the durians for you. Expect to pay anything from rm7 to rm50 per durian depending on the quality of the durians.

Putu Mayom

2011-07-31T11:28:00.001+08:00

I enjoyed this sweet Indian dish this morning at Pulau Tikus Market. The rice net vermicelli is steamed over a rattan base. It's green as it has some pandan(screwpine) flavoring. The main taste comes from the freshly grated coconut and brown sugar. Mix this all together for a refreshingly light mouthful.

Angry Birds everywhere

2011-07-30T12:41:00.001+08:00

Yes I had to get one also. Plush toys in various sizes, cups, pens, bags etc. Looks like a cute game can really catch on.

Breakfast at the Coffee shop

2011-07-26T07:54:00.001+08:00

A hot breakfast in the cool of the morning.

iPads in Medicine

2011-07-19T08:35:00.001+08:00

I notice that I am seeing a lot more iPads being carried around the hospital. Currently it's mainly for reference and storing medical data and articles. Looking up references in the Internet is easy. Of course occasionally a round of Angry Birds helps with sanity.

Jailbroken IPad 2

2011-07-14T20:44:00.001+08:00

Successfully jailbroken my iPad 2 and iPhone 4 at www.jailbreakme.com
Don't forget to change your ssh password using mobile terminal.

Mobile phones not linked to Brain Tumours

2011-07-14T18:45:00.001+08:00

Well 10 years of mobile phone use hasn't increased the risk of brain tumours. We will have to wait and see what the next 20 years tell us.

The Android Army Marches On

2011-07-14T10:36:00.001+08:00

It seems that all the new smartphones in Australia are Android based. They seem to be selling well and certainly are compelling. Big screens and 3d cameras and more variety. However my iPhone 4 is still pretty cool. Maybe I'll get a new cover or something!

iPhone 4 Pics

2011-07-13T15:09:00.001+08:00

During a short trip to Queensland, I only had my iPhone 4 camera with me but it did well in catching nice shots if the lighting was not too dark. Here are some shots.

Crab Balls at low tide

Little blue crab

Underwater world

Ipadd

2011-05-29T23:12:00.001+08:00

I was watching reruns of Star Trek TNG and saw Geordi carrying a PADD in engineering. Looks a lot like an iPad.

Good bye Stargate Universe

2011-05-25T11:03:00.001+08:00

I just watched the finale of SGU. Not much of an ending as the show was cancelled only into it's second season. Enjoyable and definitely one of the last few good sci fi series left. Now I am forced to watch reruns of Star Trek Voyager on youtube. I hope that somewhere along the way, a new Star Trek or Stargate series will return. What's a geek going to watch now?

No Squatting

2011-05-19T06:38:00.001+08:00

I guess blogging comes from a desire to share thoughts on the everyday things we come across. Planking seems to be a bit dangerous. This sign seems to say no squatting on toilet bowls in the airport. Perfectly understandable if you realize that most people in villages don't have sit down toilets. They generally squat over a hole.

Doc gets the iPad 2

2011-04-17T09:06:00.001+08:00

I have been having a great time with my iPad 2. Basically it's whiter,lighter, faster and has 2 cameras.

I try to tell myself I got the iPad to keep up to date with reading and organising my medical articles. Works great for PDF files. Evernote is a great way to keep track of notes stored online in the cloud. Goodreader is another excellent app to store your articles.

One of the main reasons I got the iPad 2 ( no it's not angry birds!) is to keep in touch with family and friends through FaceTime and Skype. Although there isn't a dedicated iPad Skype app, the iPhone Skype appp works great. Video calls work fine with Skype and FaceTime as long as you have a reasonable connection.

iPad 2 launches

2011-03-26T18:39:00.001+08:00

I checked out the new IPad 2 today. I have the first iPad and the first thing I noticed was that the iPad 2 was noticeably lighter. Feels more comfortable to hold.

Build quality was up to Apple's usual good standards. The only disappointment was the camera quality. It was grainy. I didn't get a chance to try out FaceTime or Skype yet. My friend lined up for me and he is passing it to me in a couple of days.

Bluetooth Keyboard

2011-03-17T15:39:00.001+08:00

Just got a bluetooth keyboard over ebay for AUD$26, postage included. Pretty nice to use a keyboard to blog once in a while. Its similar to the apple wireless keyboard with the chicklet keys. Luckily the tactile feedback is pretty good and set up is pretty easy. Just press the pairing button and it will pair with your iPad or iPhone. It's just plastic materiel and not aluminum but its cheap.

Nuclear Meltdown

2011-03-16T23:07:00.001+08:00

My heart goes out to the thousands of Japanese affected by the 9.0 earthquake, tsunami and now the threatening nuclear meltdown of the damaged reactors. Last week no one would have thought such a thing would happen. Everyone was focused on the massive quake in Christchurch. Then suddenly we have a continent moving quake with a massive tsunami. Wasn't the last tsunami in 2004 supposed to be a 1 in a 100 year event? Evidently not. I admire those working hard to prevent a nuclear disaster. They may be exposed to fatal amounts of radiation and are risking their lives to save others.

Interactive Power Point Slides

2011-03-08T07:38:00.001+08:00

Click on the multiple choice answers and get the answers immediately. Useful for power point presentations.

Old iPads on Sale

2011-03-07T09:47:00.001+08:00

With the iPad 2 coming next week you get 100 off the iPad 1.

Not much competition for the iPads at the moment. No motorola Xooms down under yet. Just the Galaxy Tab.

iPad 2 coming up

2011-03-02T21:50:00.001+08:00

What surprises me most is that Apple has managed to keep it a secret so well. A few hours to go to the launch and all we have is pure speculation and good guesses. Anyway I will keep track of it on my iPad 1.

Indian Apom

2011-02-17T13:34:00.001+08:00

Apom or pancake is cooked in a small wok like pan over a coal fire pot. The middle is thick and the edges are paper thin.

Duck Rice

2011-02-16T13:20:00.001+08:00

Hidden away in Pulau Tikus opposite Tan Mark bookstore is my favourite duck rice coffee shop.

It's a small cosy coffee shop with difficult parking. However if you are going to eat there you can park just in front of the shop.

They have special soups as side dishes which you have to try. My favorite is the Lau Ti Mun( old cucumber) and the watercress soup.

You can have a combination of roast pork, cha siew and duck of course.

Plus the fresh groin green chilly.

And duck drippings which give the rice a fragrant ducky aroma.

Location:Jalan Nunn,George Town,Malaysia

Koay Chiap

2011-02-09T10:11:00.001+08:00

Ah back in Penang again and time to update my blog. Sorry for the lapse. Having my favorite breakfast in Pulau Tikus. Duck soup noodles.

Mobile Mim : review your medical imaging

2011-02-05T09:13:00.001+08:00

Mobile Mim website
The FDA has just approved the secure web system that enables medical doctors to review scans and xrays on their iPhone and iPads. Just a step closer to the Star Trek medical Padds.

Iphone Al Jazeera News App

2011-01-29T11:39:00.001+08:00

If you like to keep up to date with a live stream of news, Al Jazeera app for iPhone is a simple non nonsense live stream of the latest news. So if you have CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera news apps, you will definitely be too uptodate. Just make sure you don't over step your data usage.

iPhone Slow Internet Tethering Fix

2011-01-29T07:06:00.001+08:00

I had just started tethering my netbook to my iPhone 4 on Telstra but found it to be pretty slow and sporadic. My Skype connections would cut off and my streaming videos seemed to stutter.

I found that the fix for me was to turn off push notifications. That seemed to make the connection much smoother and fixed the Skype video dropping problem. That's my experience but worth a try if you have similar problems.

Handyscope : iPhone Dermoscope

2011-01-25T20:47:00.001+08:00

Handyscope Website

It seems that more interesting medical applications for the iPhone are being born. I was actually thinking of getting a dermoscope and it's actually a great idea to be able to convert your iPhone into one.
At the same time you can take a picture of the magnified image of the skin lesion for the records or consultation with a dermatologist. The price is still a bit high but not much more than a high end dermascope.

Waterproof iPhone Case

2011-01-24T11:09:00.001+08:00

I go fishing quite often and sometimes will be on a boat. I went ahead and bought the iDry waterproof case for the iPhone 4/3GS from eBay for about Aud$30. I think you could fit almost any phone that has a similar shape to the iPhone in it.

It is a pretty big case that probably wouldnt fit in your swimming outfit, but it comes with a handy neck strap. It has a silicon membrane you you can still use the touchscreen. It had a clear back so you can also use the camera.
This effectively makes your iPhone into a waterproof camera up to 6 meters. I will have to put it to the test... Soon.

iPhone Instant Heart Rate App

2011-01-23T20:08:00.001+08:00

An interesting app turns your iphone into a surprisingly accurate heart rate monitor. Instant Heart Rate can be downloaded in a free version with advertisements or a paid version without adds and with more features.

Basically you start up the app and place your index finger directly against the iPhone camera.

I have tried it on my iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. The LED flash in the iPhone 4 gives you a faster and more accurate heart rate.

I assume the app must pick up the pulsations in my finger in terms of slight colour changes as the blood flows through. Pretty cool idea that actually works.

Drive Through Bottle Shop

2011-01-23T07:12:00.001+08:00

Yup I didn't realize that you could drive through your gopher/scooter too.

Papago Malaysia Singapore GPS

2011-01-23T07:06:00.001+08:00

Papago for the iPhone is a turn by turn voice navigation gps app. It costs Aud$24 which is not bad. I am considering buying it to try it out. The download is 460mb.

Car Radiator Bug / locust Screen

2011-01-17T13:53:00.001+08:00

I made my own bug screen to protect the radiator of my pajero from the locusts and other bugs.

It's quite simple and all you need can be bought from your local hardware shop.

I got a meter of fly screen from Bunnings. You can get them in nylon or aluminum mesh for under 10 dollars.

Next you need some black cable ties.

After that it's as simple as opening your bonnet and using the cable ties to attach the mesh to your air intake. QED.

Warrnambool Breakwater Sunset

2011-01-16T19:12:00.001+08:00

2 boys running along the breakwater at sunset. Taken with my iPhone 4.

Location:Karana Dr,Warrnambool,Australia

Weatherzone App

2011-01-15T15:15:00.001+08:00

I like iPhone weather apps especially free ones. I am currently using Weatherzone which is free with advertising banners at the bottom.

I like the simple graphical display and short description of the weather expected.

It was pretty accurate today anyway. Hmm I feel a bit sunburnt despite my sunblock lotion.
Pretty simple to use and it's GPS automatically picks your location. Check it out at the AppStore.

Warrnambool Breakwater Sunset

2011-01-12T20:55:00.001+08:00

Used my iPhone 4 to take this nice shot of the sunset with 2 boys running along the breakwater wall at sunset.

Floods in Australia

2011-01-11T13:38:00.001+08:00

It was a year of drought last year and at the moment it is raining torrentially in Queensland with serious flash floods.
I have family in Gympie and knowing the river, it must have risen to 14meters to have swamped the bridge. Fortunately in Victoria there are no floods but despite all mans technology the power of nature is amazing.

Location:Iona Ave,Warrnambool,Australia

Finally got my IPhone 4

2011-01-10T12:47:00.001+08:00

I have been holding off for a while but finally given in to getting an iPhone 4. Skype video calls was the final push for me to get it so I can keep in touch with my family on the go. The better camera will also make blogging more interesting and I might try posting more pictures of beautiful Warrnambool where I am at the moment. Next thing I need to do is get it unlocked and a screen protector on.

Watch Pedometer

2011-01-10T12:13:00.001+08:00

Trying to get more walking done. Bought a watch pedometer & heart rate monitor over eBay. Just got it in the mail.

iPhone 4 still hard to get

2011-01-07T06:58:00.001+08:00

Finally I am at the end if my phone contract and want to change my iphone 3GS to a iPhone 4. But it seems that the iphone is always out of stock in Geelong and Warrnambool anyway. The problem is that the iPhone 5 is coming out sometime in July but I will be locked into a 2 year contract if I get one now. My other issue is coverage. Telstra has the best coverage but also the most expensive plans. Optus has better deals but I can't get 3G reception indoors. Oh well.

iPhone ECG

2011-01-07T05:18:00.001+08:00

2011 is here and there are a lot if exciting iPhone medical innovations. AliveECG is an ECG accessory for the iPhone. There is also a new Blood pressure monitor that attaches to the iPhone. While these may still be expensive but in the future I am sure mobile technology will be part of the doctors bag.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

2010-12-08T20:14:00.001+08:00

YouTube Video

I checked out the new Galaxy Tab at the local Optus store in Warrnambool. I was quite impressed with the build quality and screen. Using it as a phone is a bit strange but you can use a Bluetooth headset.

Oprah Hugs a Koala

2010-12-08T20:05:00.001+08:00

I will keep an eye out for Oprah and her entourage in case she visits the Great Ocean Road.

No such thing as a Healthy Hepatitis B Carrier

2010-12-02T10:43:00.001+08:00

Just attending a talk on Hepatitis B. The message is that everybody with Hepatitis B even if he or she is a carrier can convert into an active phase and develop a hepatoma. The other message is that chronic Hep B affects 1 in 4 people on this earth. Lastly Hep B immunization in babies with mothers who have Hep B is essential within the first 12 hours. Hep B patients need to be monitored every 6 to 12 monthly. 6 monthly ultrasound and a yearly DNA viral load is needed.

Portable mini Projectors

2010-12-01T10:54:00.001+08:00

Target is selling Aiptek Pocket Cinemas t30. Looks pretty useful and handy. Next time we can have power point presentations anywhere. All the more to present medical images.

Heat sensor light tap

2010-11-30T19:30:00.001+08:00

An interesting gadget that screws on to your tap.

The tap turns blue when the water is cold.

A thermostat senses the temperature and turns the light red when the water is hot.

Too many new doctors?

2010-11-27T09:32:00.001+08:00

What a nice predicament to be in. Unfortunately the quality of these new doctors trained in interesting places is questionable. The problem lies with poor planning. Churning out 4000 doctors on production lines without the facility to train them properly should have been foreseen.

Tablet Book Readers

2010-11-25T12:06:00.001+08:00

I was just browsing through Borders Book Store and noticed quite a few affordable ebook readers.

In the future it will probably be the norm for us to check our medical lab and imaging results on a medical pad.

As it is the iPad has a great screen and connectivity. It's good for looking up stuff and reviewing results but not for a lot of data input.

Having said that, I am blogging this on my iPhone which is sort of a Mini padd.

Spring & Mania

2010-11-23T10:13:00.001+08:00

It's the first really warm week in Geelong. Working in Psych at the moment and apparently mania seems to be associated with spring in Bipolar Affective Disorder.

Location:Malop St,Geelong,Australia

Psychiatry

2010-11-03T10:14:00.002+08:00

So you think you're not crazy? Congratulations! Actually most of the psychotic patients think they are not crazy either. It's hard not to be judgemental but to approach each individual as a person rather than a crazy person. Going to be doing some psych for 6 weeks so that should be interesting.

2010-10-31T06:35:00.001+08:00

I remember that a friend told me his mother received a scam similar to this in the 1970s through snail mail. Now they are doing it through SMS and email. I guess if you send out a million SMS there should be one gullible person that gets scammed.

Location:SMS Nigerian Scams

Consuming Data on the IPad

2010-10-17T11:10:00.001+08:00

It's been about 2 months since I got the iPad. It seems to have taken over most of the Internet browsing time at home. Having a tablet style touch interface really is nice to use around the house.

Even in the bathroom catching up on the news while brushing my teeth is no hassle. It's about as close to a computer built into bathroom mirror that I will get.
The main drawbacks is the lack of a camera and FaceTime, plus the limited data capacity and USB ports. However those are the things my netbook is used for.
Reading medical articles and journals on the iPad feels more natural than on a laptop. But really I don't spend all my time reading journals. YouTube and video work well over the iPad and the battery life really makes it portable.
I am still waiting for a competitor for the iPad but so far it's all vapourware.

Casio W-S210HD Solar Tide Watch

2010-10-13T07:56:00.002+08:00

I love tide watches as they are useful when I go fishing. This latest affordable watch from Casio is pretty good. It has the easiest method to set the tides so far compared to my other tide watches. Basically you just enter the time for the first high tide of the day and the watch calculates the rest. No fiddling with locations or lunitidal settings.
The current tide flasheson the graph and it even shows the neap and spring tides. The only thing I don't like is that the casing is actually plastic with a metallic paint which I think will eventually rub off. It is water resistant to 100m which is good for swimming and splashes from fishing adventures.
The solar function is pretty good which means that you will never have to buy a battery. The current battery charge is indicated by the HML(High Medium Low) display. Overall a very functional and useful watch especially if you want to know what the moon and tide is doing. It is selling for about Aud $40 on eBay.

How to Adjust A Casio Metal Watch Strap

2010-10-13T07:48:00.001+08:00

YouTube Video

I could not find a helpful video on how to do this so I made a short one. I hope it will be useful for you. This is for my Casio Solar Tide Watch W-S210HD.

Windows Phone 7 on the way

2010-10-12T03:31:00.001+08:00

Windows Phone is officially launching on the 21st of October. We are already getting a preview of the many handsets available that will use WP7. Looks good but in terms of medical apps we have to wait and see what is available. Personally I don't really like the today screen as it is a bunch of square blocks but it may be functional.

Anti Stress Kit

2010-10-09T12:57:00.001+08:00

For those stressful days. If it doesn't work you aren't doing it right.

Teh Tarik

2010-09-13T09:49:00.001+08:00

Ahh yes a nice hot Teh Tarik is what you need for a break. It is usually diabetes inducingly sweet so you can ask for less sugar which is better for your health. Still a shot of that sweet Ceylon tea with condensed milk pulled and aerated between two mugs is something I miss.
This Teh Tarik in Geelong is at Rich Maha and I can say it is quite authentic.

Reading Medical Articles with the Ipad

2010-09-10T11:23:00.001+08:00

One of the main reasons I got an iPad (besides the geek factor and games) was to try to do my medical article reading. Yes it was one of the justifications to part with my hard earned moolah and here I am comparing reading my AFP journal with both the hardcopy and soft copy.
Access to the articles we're pretty straightforward through the relevant websites. In this case the RACGP website which had each Australian Family Physician journal indexed with it's relevant PDF file. Clicking on that file via safari opens the PDF file quite easily. This is good because it's relatively idiot proof, but is it doctor proof enough?

Doctors are either pretty techie or carry the old nokia idiot phone, well that may be too harsh but let's just say the phone that just makes phone calls but doesn't check your email (heaven forbid!). In this respect the iPad works well. As long as you know how to google the journal you want to read then it's relatively easy to access the relevant article as long as you have the appropriate subscription. Google reader is another way to keep up to date ( Uptodate is pretty good to) but I degress.

The iPad has a brilliant screen that is pretty easy to read in the landscape mode. Scrolling and navigating is easy. Altough the iPad does not have the retina screen but it's pixel density is good enough for most. Pinching and zooming can also enlarge the font to suit your visual acuity.
I still find the iPad a bit heavy to hold for long periods but hey if you pull one out at your medical conference, the cool factor will compensate for the carpal tunnel syndrome you would develop. Make sure you turn off the volume before you start playing a few rounds of Angry Birds though!

Selamat Hari Raya 2010

2010-09-10T05:40:00.001+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya to all my Muslim friends and bloggers. I would ask for forgiveness for any wrongs I may have done against anyone. Have a fantastic day.

What's Missing on my Ipad

2010-09-10T05:12:00.001+08:00

Something about the iPad just makes you want to use it and the experience has been great so far. The main thing I wish it could do is Skype with video. I guess the next generation of ipads will come with cameras. If they can fit tiny cameras in the iPods I am sure a camera in the iPad is not a problem.

iPad available but iPhone 4 is a month's wait

2010-09-06T14:35:00.001+08:00

I asked at the Optus shop about how long I have to wait for an iPhone 4 and was given a non committal 1-2 month wait! Anyway my. iPad is keeping me busy and my iPhone 3GS is really doing all I want my iPhone to do. Now back to my LCARS er... iPad.

Happy Merdeka

2010-08-31T00:43:00.001+08:00

Pic from today Malaysia.

As we celebrate Merdeka day, my wish is for peace and harmony in our country. May we always fight racism and stand up for the poor no matter what colour they are.

Negaraku
Tanah tumpahnya darahku
Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju

Apple Centre Sydney

2010-08-29T14:26:00.001+08:00

Ah yes just passing through the apple centre in Sydney. The apple iPhone 4 in Australia is still a 4 week wait to get one.

Location:George St,Sydney,Australia

Sydney opera house

2010-08-29T13:24:00.001+08:00

Walking around the Sydney Opera House today an doing the touristy thing.

Snapped a few shots using my iPhone and the video panorama app. Taking a panoramic picture is as easy as just taking a video of the scene.

Duplicam

2010-08-21T08:34:00.001+08:00

Ah my second day with my iPad and I was looking for an app that allowed me to use my iPhone 3GS camera to take pics while tethered to my iPad. Well Duplicam does the job easily and well. You just have to install it on both the iPad and iPhone, open them up and it will connect automatically. It opens up a whole can of possibilities as it basically uses your iPhone as a remote camera through Bluetooth or wifi.

MyWi on IPad

2010-08-21T06:52:00.000+08:00

MyWi 4 works well on the iPad. Why would I do that? Well it's because the data plans for the iPad is cheaper than the other mobile plans.

Doc gets the Ipad

2010-08-20T17:33:00.001+08:00

Finally took the plunge and got a 32 gig 3G iPad. just got my Telstra line going for 3 gig aud30 a month. Its basically a big iPhone but I am getting used to typing on the keyboard. Feels a bit weird. Anyway on a cold wintery night in Geelong I am testing out my iPad.

Code Brown

2010-08-15T21:55:00.001+08:00

We had a code brown warning today. But fortunately it was cancelled as the patients were diverted elsewhere.

iPhone 4 Fingerprint Magnet

2010-08-13T11:27:00.001+08:00

Even the mighty iPhone 4 can't keep all the smudges off it's retina screen. I am still wondering if I should upgrade from my 3GS but besides the better screen and faster processor, the functionality is pretty much the same. Since the new iPhone 4 cannot be jailbroken for now, it's actually the biggest deterrent for me.

Selamat Berpuasa

2010-08-11T10:57:00.001+08:00

Wishing all Muslims a special and meaningful fasting month. The fasting month is also a special month to sample Malay delicacies when the fast is broken each evening about 7pm. Temporary food markets open to cater for the break of fast usually from 5pm so that families can break fast with delicious food at 7pm.

Check you Malaysian Immigration Status

2010-08-10T10:22:00.001+08:00

If you want to check if you are on the Malaysian Immigration blacklist, here is the link:

Http://sspi2.imi.gov.my/

Streetfood Penang Iphone App

2010-08-05T22:12:00.001+08:00

I was wondering if there was an app for Penang Hawker Food and yes, there is an app for that. Penang street food app is a pretty useful app for getting the locations and info on most of the common hawker foods in Penang. And did I mention it's free, well add supported anyway.

It has all the main hawker foods listed with pictures and a nice summary which is pretty accurate from a local point of view.

Best of all it uses the iphone's gps to show you how to get to the coffee shop to try out the delicasy. For example if you selected Char Koay Teow, it would give you the locations of the coffee shops that serve the dish on google maps.
Hats off to the makers of this app. You can download it free from the Apple AppStore. Well recommended by this humble blog site.

Location:Jalan Burma,George Town,Malaysia

Soya Bean Curd & Milk

2010-08-05T12:14:00.001+08:00

I always enjoyed a refreshing soya milk drink and a tau hua(soya milk curd) with palm sugar.

This hawker has a mobile van in front of Rhb bank in Pulau Tikus. Nice and refreshing on a hot day.

Location:Jalan Burma,George Town,Malaysia

Dragon Fruit

2010-08-04T11:17:00.001+08:00

I wad at Swatau lane and had a fruit platter. Tried the dragon fruit which is intensely purplish red in colour. It has a bland slightly sweet taste. One thing to look out for is that it will turn your urine a nice purple colour which often causes some alarm. Just one whole dragon fruit will do it.

Location:Persiaran Midlands,George Town,Malaysia

Duku Langsat

2010-08-04T11:12:00.001+08:00

Exotic seasonal fruits are part of the food experience in Penang. At the moment the duku langsat is in season. It is a cross between the langsat and dokong fruit which makes it a nice sweet fruit. The exterior skin is peeled off revealing a translucent juicy segmented interior. There are small seeds which you can spit out or even swallow whole. I bought some from lorong Kulit for rm2 a kilo.

Location:Solok Midlands,George Town,Malaysia

Duck Rice

2010-08-02T13:23:00.001+08:00

One of my favourite duck rice in Penang. Parking is horrendous but the duck is sublime.

Location:Jalan Pasar,George Town,Malaysia

Wan Tan Mee

2010-08-01T11:36:00.001+08:00

At Pulau Tikus. Still rm2.50

Location:Jalan Burma,George Town,Malaysia

Back in Penang : Roti Telur

2010-08-01T11:35:00.001+08:00

Roti Telur with a curry dip for breakfast. Not bad but certainly high on the calories.

Location:Jalan Burma,George Town,Malaysia

Back in Malaysia

2010-07-31T09:32:00.001+08:00

Just flew in from Melbourne. Air Asia is no frills but good value for money. The world is really a small place.

Location:Jalan Klia S4,Klia,Malaysia

iPhone 4 Launches in Australia

2010-07-30T09:21:00.001+08:00

Ok I couldn't help myself. Sleep deprived after a night shift in ED I went down to the Optus shop to check out the new Iphone 4.
There weren't lines waiting but Geelong isn't exactly the tech capital of Australia. Other than that I was pretty impressed with the 4. It was sleek and thin sporting that amazing retina screen.
The first thing I did of course was to try to replicate the death grip. I didn't see a definite signal drop but the signal indicator did fluctuate from 4 bars to 2 bars over 5 minutes. Compared to my iPhone 3gs that only got 1 bar consistently.
Of course that's not a scientific test but the regular user probably would not notice it. We will have to see how it performs when it hits the streets. There's already a waiting list and at least a 1 to 7 day wait.

Bluetooth Mouse from Ebay

2010-07-23T20:37:00.001+08:00

I just bought a Bluetooth mouse over eBay. Cost about aud 20. I am pretty happy with it as it frees up a USB port on my netbook. It is also rechargeable, has a dedicated on/off switch and works pretty much out of the box. A great accesory for a portable netbook.

iBlogged from my iPhone

Medical Iphone

2010-07-23T10:06:00.001+08:00

The pda scene has changed so much since i started blogging 10 years ago. From my first Palm m100 and being amazed at being able to check my email by plugging a dial up modem to my phone line, and now wirelessly blogging with ease from my iPhone.
Palm is dead, Windows mobile is gone, the iPhone reigns for now with the Android army gathering in the horizon. But what does it mean for the average medical doctor who wants a useful smartphone for reference or connectivity?

Well at the moment my recommendation would be an iPhone. Anything from the 3GS to the new iPhone 4 despite antennagate. As I look around the hospital in Geelong, Australia, the iPhone reigns in terms of doctor usage. Why? Well I think mainly because it's relatively idiot(doctor) proof and intuitively easy to use. Secondly the amount of medical apps available for it is staggering.
From the classic Skyscape and Lexicomp medical references, the free epocrates, medcalc and a plethora of ECG references and online Uptodate webapps, there is just about anything you want. But more than that, it's easy to install and use without consulting your local techdoc geek(yours truly!)
With the uptake of facetime video conferencing and Skype, future medical referrals and consultations may include a picture of a rash or a virtual consult, in your pocket. Xrays and scans can be transmitted through your phone or tablet for review.
Anyway the future is exciting as I blog this with a cup of coffee. Even typing this on the onscreen keyboard is as easy as using graffiti on my old Palm. I will probably do a series of posts of my most useful medical iPhone apps in the coming weeks.

iBlogged from my iPhone

Masterchef Finale

2010-07-23T09:40:00.001+08:00

Well it's the finale this Sunday between Callum and Adam. All the favourites are out and I am wondering what in the world is Callum doing there despite his obvious inexperience and bad cooking in the team events. Adam is more impressive but who knows what will happen. It looks like it's better to fly under the radar and be a consistently mediocre cook to get to the end. Still you are only as good as your last dish. Good luck to both of them!
iBlogged from my iPhone

iPhone 4 Nobody's Perfect

2010-07-18T11:19:00.001+08:00

All this huha about the new iPhone 4's antennae problems seems to hog the limelight. I am still happy with my Iphone 3gs but would consider the iPhone 4. It's not so much the hardware nowadays but the software and usability.
It's funny how it used to be the Palm vs Windows arguments. Now it's the Apple vs Droid fanbois.
I've used them all and if you are happy with what you have then good for you. If you aren't then try something else. Anyway don't take it too seriously, it's only a phone. Right?
iBlogged from my iPhone