iPad 3 Announcement Expected Today

No company probably loves secrecy more than Apple. The folks in Cupertino have managed, over the years, to keep an amazing cover over some of the hottest tech products in history. Speculation always abounds whenever there is an official Apple event and today is no exception. Today in San Francisco Apple has scheduled such an event. The timing of which corresponds pretty well with the design/release schedule of the iPad product line.
Does this mean that the iPad 3 will be debuted today? Probably. Of course there well could be some other product that is launched while Apple moves through the remaining inventory of iPad 2's, but that is doubtful. Apple has been pretty consistent in sticking to the cycle of an iPad upgrade every year (similar to the iPhone) and making those announcements in the first quarter.
I'm anticipating a new iPad with some upgrades like a faster processor, improved display, maybe faster wireless and maybe Siri. Those last 2 are a bit on the edge, but I'd like to see them.
Don't anticipate as radical an upgrade this time as there as between the original iPad and the iPad 2. Usually in tech, the first model upgrade is fairly drastic while following models offer more modest improvements...

Henry Schein launches new version of Dentrix Mobile enhanced for the Apple iPad

Although I'm not a Dentrix user, I feel that it's important to keep those of you who are as up to date as possible. Over the years I've developed some good friends at the Dentrix division of Henry Schein and they are always kind enough to share with me their ideas improvements so that I can be one of the first sources to get this info out to you� the Dentrix users. Here is the latest info on Dentrix Mobile, which has been upgraded to integrate and display even better with the iPad. Read on for all the details. Oh, and if you happen to be a dental software company reading this, please feel free to send me any and all info you'd like to get into the hands of your users. I'm glad to do what I can.

If you are an Apple iPad user and want to use it as part of your Dentrix practice management, you may be interested to know that Henry Schein just launched of a new version of Dentrix� Mobile that is enhanced for the iPad�s large screen and resolution. Dentrix Mobile is a remote access tool that allows dentists and office staff to view their appointment schedules, prescriptions, medical alerts and patient information from their smartphones and tablet devices. The updated version allows dentists to take advantage of the iPad�s larger screens to see an enhanced view of their Dentrix practice and patient information whenever they are out of the office. It also lets users add notes to the appointment book or confirm appointments -- anytime, anywhere.

�Many of our Dentrix users own Apple iPads and understand how effective tablets can be to remotely access their Dentrix data,� said Kevin Bunker, President, Henry Schein Practice Solutions. �With our new version of Dentrix Mobile, dentists who use Apple iPad or Motorola Xoom tablets can now take advantage of the larger screens to see enhanced Dentrix graphics and more practice information.�

The new notes feature will help iPad and Xoom users keep track of requests and after hours patient follow-up while out of the office. �Since notes can be added for a specific patient or day in the appointment book, dentists who take after-hour calls can take notes and have them automatically updated to Dentrix and able to see them the next time they open the patient�s appointment,� said Adam McDaniel, eServices product manager for Henry Schein Practice Solutions.

Dentrix Users who also own Dentrix eCentral -- a bundle of electronic services that manage patient communication and insurance billing -- can now use their iPad or Xoom to confirm appointments outside of the office with the new version of Dentrix Mobile. �The confirmation is immediately updated in Dentrix so that the front desk team, hygienist or contracted workers can confirm appointments outside of normal business hours or without going into the office,� Mr. McDaniel said. �Dentrix eCentral users can also mark a patient�s insurance status as eligible or initiate an eligibility verification update from the patient�s insurance carrier without being in the office,� he added.

Dentrix Mobile offers security features to ensure practice employees have authorized access and patient data security is safe. Dentrix Mobile manages multiple accounts, giving dentists the ability to easily add or remove users as necessary. �Having multiple accounts eliminate the need for the entire staff to learn new login credentials when an employee leaves. Also, dentists can see which team members have logged in to Mobile and when,� McDaniel added.

Dentrix Mobile runs on the latest smartphones and mobile devices, including BlackBerry�, iPhone�, iPad�, Palm Pre�, Motorola Xoom� and Android�. The newest upgraded version of Dentrix Mobile is free to customers with the latest version of Dentrix and a Customer Service Plan.

Kno Textbook App for iPad

While many of us love to read books on Kindles, Nooks, and tablet devices, we've been more or less forced to read what the sellers in our respective online stores will sell us. Not that I'm complaining, but what I mean by that comment is that if I have a Kindle, I can only read what Amazon has in the Kindle store, etc.

Now in most instances, this is great. If you read for pleasure or personal growth, the device stores has more titles than you could consume in a lifetime.

Oh, and I *love* being able to read a book on my Kindle, my Xoom, and/or my iPad. It's a great way to read and I love being able to highlight, make notes, dog ear pages, and all the other fun stuff you can do.

The only real drawback? You can't read textbooks. That can be a pain to those of us who are professionals and continue to use textbooks as reference materials.

Well, that is now changing thanks to Kno. The concept is a nice one. Kno is an app for the iPad and also an online store with over 70,000 (yes... 70,000) textbooks. Just download and install the app from the Apple App Store, go to the store, buy your textbook, and start reading.

While I haven't had a chance to review the store... yet, you can bet I will be doing so in the near future. I'm already lightening my load by letting Lexicomp put 15 drug and medical reference textbooks on my Xoom and iPad. Soon, I may also be carrying a huge reference library of my favorite textbooks courtesy of Kno. Check them out and then post a comment!

3-In-1 iPad Camera Connection Kit

For the iPad lovers out there, here's a new device that provides one basic improvement over the original that was developed and sold by Apple. This is the 3-In-1 iPad Camera Connection Kit. The device connects to the base of the iPad in the docking slot and provides a USB connection, SD card slot, and a microSD slot. The advantage of the microSD is that it allows you to access the tiny cards that most of us are now carrying in our phones. Personally, I also like the idea that it comes in black, but that's just me.

The downside? It won't be available until after Christmas, so if you are looking for a gift for the iPad lover in your life, you'll have to wait until their birthday or something.

Cost is $30, which is the same price as the Apple version that has only USB and SD slots.

I still think that it was a mistake for the first generation of iPad to be built without a USB port, a situation that rumors say will be fixed this spring when the next version hits the streets. However, for those of us steadfastly ensconced in the Early Adopter Camp, this is as good as it gets.

For the complete scoop on the details, here is the MIC website.