Healthcare App Challenge Focuses on Patient Safety

by Holly Shoemaker

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, recently announced a new app challenge that focuses on patient safety and reporting.

                                               

The challenge came about from a 2011 report that asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to evaluate health and safety privacy concerns. The IOM concluded that accurate reporting of data depends on a number of factors such as the users, doctors, vendors and any other entity involved in reporting. The IOM recommended increased monitoring of IT health products and clearer reporting guidelines.

Concluding Thoughts

Reporting and privacy concerns continue to remain an issue as hospitals and doctors' offices transition from paper-based records to electronic ones. No standard format or platform exits to report patient information.

As I have mentioned before, app challenges offer ways for developers to get their ideas known. However, when it comes to medical apps, a more stringent development and testing process is typically needed, especially when dealing with privacy concerns. While the contest addresses a need, the reward may not be worth the cost to develop, test and market. Therefore, the developer who wins the contest will likely have a long lifecyle before the app goes live.

Calling App Developers: Facebook Accepting Apps

by Holly Shoemaker

On Wednesday, March 9, 2012, Facebook announced that it plans to allow users to download apps via its App Center, its new online store. The App Center is currently available to developers and Facebook has encouraged developers to get their apps in prior to the consumer launch. Facebook’s App Center should become available to users in the coming weeks.

What Developers Should Know

• The company plans to take 30 percent from app-generated sales.
• To date, Apple has generated more than $1.7 billion in app sales, something that has not gone unnoticed by Facebook. Guidelines for the App Center are stricter than Google, but not as strict as Apple. Facebook, like Apple, will select what applications it offers. Facebook also plans to remove apps when needed. The company will base its standards on items such as ratings and engagement.
• If Facebook does not select specific apps, developers will have the ability to build software using Facebook’s tools and promote their apps via the news feed. 

Concluding Thoughts 

The announcement times well with the company’s initial public offering (IPO), which it will hold next week. Analysts expect the IPO to become the largest one ever for an  Internet company.

This is a good move for Facebook. More users are gravitating toward the company’s mobile site, and the company needs to increase its ability to generate revenue as limited advertising opportunities exist on its mobile app.

Will Mountain Lion Roar? Developers Receive Preview of New Mac OS

by Holly Shoemaker

Developers got a sneak peek today of Apple’s updates to its Mac operating system, “Mountain Lion.” The update will allow users to copy additional app features from iPhones and iPads to Macs.

Overview of Updates

The Mountain Lion preview, an update of the previous version known as Lion, allows app developers to make products in advance that use the new features. Some of the new features include:

• Game Center – An iPhone app that stores high game scores and connects users with opponents. The app will integrate with iCloud, the Internet storage service used on mobile devices.
• Notification Center – This will show changes made from calendars and email. It should function like the one used on the iPhone.
• Messages app – This replaces iChat and the format will be copied from the mobile operating system. Those who use Lion have the ability to download a free preview version of the app.

Apple will release the software to the public this summer. At this time, Apples has not released what Mountain Lion will cost. Apple sells Lion for $30.

Concluding Thoughts

This is a good move for Apple and helps the company integrate its line of products. This may also help Apple increase its computer sales. The preview release to developers has a strategic component too. Developers already have a preview version of Windows 8. Microsoft will release Windows 8 later this year.

RIM Offers PlayBook Promotion to Developers

by Holly Shoemaker

Research in Motion (RIM) continues to employ marketing strategies to remain relevant in the tablet and app world. Through February 13, 2012, Android developers who port an Android app to the PlayBook will receive a free tablet.

This is the latest attempt to make up for disappointing BlackBerry sales. In particular, the PlayBook underperformed in the United States in 2011. In January, RIM reduced the price for all PlayBook models. This move suggests that by offering a promotion, developers will create code for RIM’s mobile platform.

Concluding Thoughts

The logic behind this seems flawed. Individual consumers benefit from receiving a free device more than developers. App developers need exposure – Google and Apple house more apps, which means developers have the opportunity to make more profits. The PlayBook does not have the ability to offer the same amount of apps to entice Android developers. In addition, consumers will need to have this tablet or the ability to run the apps they want. While this keeps RIM in the news, there is no long-term incentive for developers.