Annals.org Reader, Presenter-to-Go

OB/GYN News, April 15, 2004 by Thomas G. McLeod, Jon O. Ebbert

Featured App: Annals.org Reader

Document readers for Palm and Pocket PC handheld computers come in all shapes and sizes. Fundamental differences between these applications include file format compatibility (such as Palm or Word, Adobe PDF) and feature sets (including navigation and search functions).

The American College of Physicians has got it right with their release of the ACP Annals.org Reader for Palm OS. This well-organized program was made available at no cost to Annals of Internal Medicine subscribers in 2003.

After registration at the ACP personal digital assistant portal (see Surf This Site below), users are directed via hyperlink to download the Reader installation files to their desktop computer Performing synchronization transfers the program to the handheld. Once on device, a variety of documents from the ACP may be viewed on the handheld. These include full issues of the Annals of Internal Medicine as well as article collections.

Navigation is intuitive. Editor's notes, abstract, full text, and citation information are accessed for each article via drop-down box at the top of the screen. A tap of the upper right corner binocular icon reveals clear, directed search options. A favorites collection is easily established by menu selection and is helpful for archiving articles of particular interest for future reference. Issues and collections may be installed (or subsequently moved) to external card memory.

Put the Annals in your pocket today with Annals.org Reader for Palm OS!

Accessorize: Presenter-to-Go

Tired of lugging your laptop around to speaking engagements? Margi's Presenter-to-Go may be just what you need. Initially released in 2001. Presenter-to-Go is a compact presentation setup for Palm OS and Pocket PC handheld computers.

The package includes desktop and handheld software, a device-specific cable (attached to handheld via card port), a gender adapter for connection to a projector, and a 14-button remote. Installing the desktop software places an icon on your PowerPoint toolbar. Create your presentation, tap the Margi icon, synchronize and you're ready to hit the road. Presentations are of notebook quality (1024 X 768 resolution) and support color, graphics, and images. As an added bonus, the package also includes Margi's useful Mirror application.

The program allows presenters to output the contents of their handheld screen to a projector or video graphics array (VGA) display. This capability provides a convenient mechanism to demonstrate basic PDA functions or program features to other users.

Pick up Presenter-to-Go and leave your baggage behind!

Surf This Site: www.acponline.org/pda

ACPOnline, the Web site of the American College of Physicians, now supports a useful and growing PDA portal. The PDA Services at the Web site was first created in late 2000. Initially, available resources included primarily Palm OS documents that addressed a variety of clinical practice concerns. Over the past year, this portal has been greatly expanded. Clinical reference, office teaching, and manuscript preparation documents are now available.

The above-mentioned Annals.org Reader for Palm OS permits additional access to current (and back) issues of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Pocket PC users may obtain the same content through use of the iSiloX Clipper application (instructions for use provided at the portal).

Continued expansion of the Physicians Information and Education Resource (PIER) is perhaps the most exciting development at ACPOnline. PIER (http://pier.acponline.org) provides authoritative, evidence-based clinical guidance on more than 250 screening topics, disease entities, alternative medicine, and ethical issues.

A PIER demo version for Palm OS PDAs, including 10 sample disease modules, is now available for download.

Finally, ACPOnline's PDA Services also provides a link to the PDA Store at www.pdaMD.com, where ACP members enjoy a 5% discount on selected hardware and software products. Check out ACPOnline PDA Services today!

DR. THOMAS G. MCLEOD and DR. JON O. EBBERT are with the division of community internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Their reviews are independent evaluations, and they receive no compensation from and do not consult with the manufacturers of the products evaluated in this column.

BY THOMAS G. MCLEOD, M.D., AND JON O EBBERT. M.D.