Health Legal Technology

iPhone-based remote medical diagnosis systems for fractures and diseases including COVID-19 may only be a few testing cycles away, as a solution from Butterfly Network is seeing use during the pandemic.

Remote diagnostics take a big step forward

U.S-based Butterfly Network has created an iPhone accessory that turns your smartphone into the equivalent of an ultrasound machine, making this essential life-saving analysis tech much easier to deploy in new environments.

The system was demonstrated at WWDC 2019.

It consists of a handheld ultrasound scanner that is connected to an iPhone via the Lightning port to collect ultrasound images using the accompanying TeleGuidance app.  (The app works on recent iPhones, iPads and Macs. The scanner itself also works with Android.)

Under FDA rules, a trained medical professional needed to be with the patient in order to make the scan, but these rules have been temporarily relaxed during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Now, it is possible for doctors to perform ultrasound scans using the device remotely, guiding the patient through the process. You can find a little more concerning how these solutions are being used in real-world medical situations during the pandemic here.

In a statement revealing the news, Dr. John Martin, Butterfly’s Chief Medical Officer, explains:

“We will be able to bring the expertise of the physician to the patient instead of the other way around. This is critical in these times and extremely valuable for the future transformation of care.”

Atrium Health is already using these devices. Dr. Rasu Shrestha, executive vice president, and chief strategy and transformation officer at Atrium, sees the benefits of the system, “…going well beyond the current pandemic. Our teams are already using it to provide care for heart patients, and we anticipate this device ushering in a new era of frontline care.”

Better tools for frontline care

This introduction of more effective tools for frontline care is also a compelling illustration of how iPhones and other mobile devices are becoming integral components for healthcare provision.

We’re already accustomed to digital consultations and tools to track activity levels, but the Butterfly system also shows us how these devices will eventually drive collections of important diagnostic tools – just as your Apple Watch picks up extensive quantities of health and heart information.

Ultimately, this should democratize the diagnosis and provision of healthcare, enabling the kinds of tools you once needed to visit a hospital to access to become smaller and more portable. This should improve access in remote communities, for example.

The company has improved its TeleGuidance software to enable remote monitoring, said Laurent Faracci, Butterfly’s CEO:

“To support the FDA’s new policies, we accelerated our efforts to build a breakthrough telemedicine solution for ultrasound at home under the prescription and supervision of a trained practitioner.”

TeleGuidance leverages an array of leading-edge and easy-to-use augmented reality guiding tools to allow trained practitioners to perform an ultrasound scan without being next to the patient.

Respecting social distancing guidelines, the scanning process can be handled by a trained assistant sent on-site with the equipment, or a close family member – all they need to do is follow the instructions. You’ll find out more here.

This isn’t the only illustration of how mobile devices may be of use. Apple and Google’s work to find a way to deliver actionable outbreak data while also protecting user privacy and Gauss Surgical’s solution that enables more effective and safer ways to improve the testing procedure are both good examples of this.

The future won’t entirely be defined by the pandemic, but it is showing us how the mobile tools and devices we use can be extended to provide solutions to this and other future problems. It seems likely that one day an iPhone will be as useful a tool in the doctor’s kit as a stethoscope.

Updated in line with guidance: The system is used to monitor the progress/condition of COVID-19. 

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.

Windows Latest writes that the May update, which was supposed to roll out on May 12 but got delayed due to a zero-day vulnerability, will start rolling out between May 26 – 28.

Let’s hope it doesn’t cause the kind of issues we’re used to seeing in Windows updates.

Reserve Space now optional

You might remember that back in January last year, Microsoft added a feature that reserved 7GB or more for updates. It meant that users no longer risk running out of storage space in the middle of a large update, and they shouldn’t see their free disk space decrease during the download process.

Microsoft might have thought the feature would be welcomed by users, by many didn’t appreciate Windows 10 consuming an additional 10GB of space. Thankfully, Reserved Storage can now be disabled using the DISM tool in Windows 10 version 2004 or newer.

New Logos

December saw Microsoft reveal plans to revamp over 100 of its icons for the company’s various services, tools, and apps. The change affects the Windows logo, File Explorer, Notepad, Paint, and many others, bringing them in line with the “Fluent Design” philosophy.

The May update brings the new icons to Microsoft’s first-party apps, adding more uniformity with Windows 10X.

Cloud Downloads

Another feature we first heard about via an Insider Preview Build last year was a cloud recovery system. Most of us have ran into problems with Windows 10, and some of these are serious enough to require a system recovery, restoring a PC back to its default state. That usually means digging out the original Windows installation media, which many of us will admit to having lost.

With the Cloud Recovery button, you can reinstall Windows 10 from a system image directly from Microsoft’s servers, so no need to hunt down that USB drive/CD.

Other changes

Elsewhere, Windows Search will only index files when the PC isn’t being actively used, thereby increasing the overall performance. There’s also the introduction of the Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.7, which is good news for those who use multiple monitors as it improves video output, performance, and refresh rates on these setups. Finally, support for 10th generation Intel Comet Lake processors and AMD’s Ryzen 4000-series processors has been added, and on new PCs, Microsoft is ending support for 32-bit versions of Windows 10.

Trying to find the right app for any given area on Android is a lot like trying to order dinner at a restaurant with way too many options on the menu.

How can you possibly find the right choice in such a crowded lineup? With the Google Play Store now boasting somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 gazillion titles (last I checked), it’s no simple task to figure out which apps rise above the rest and provide the best possible experiences.

That’s why I decided to step in and help. I’ve been covering Android from the start and have seen more than my fair share of incredible and not so incredible apps. From interface design to practical value, I know what to look for and how to separate the ordinary from the extraordinary. And taking the time to truly explore the full menu of options and find the cream of the crop is quite literally my job.

Bit by bit, I’ve been figuring out the best Android apps for a variety of areas relevant to you, the modern mobile professional. Whether we’re talking broad themes like organization and collaboration or specific needs like password management and note-taking, I’m making it my mission to find the best of the best for the categories that really matter.

You can find links to stories with all my recommendations below — and be sure to check back regularly, as the recommendations will be revisited routinely and the areas I cover will keep expanding over time.

The best office apps for Android

Create an optimal Android office app power-pack with these thoroughly researched recommendations.

The best email and texting apps for Android

Give yourself an edge in business communication with these exceptional Android messaging apps.

The best calendar apps for Android

Strengthen your Android calendar experience with these standout selections for serious professionals with a range of scheduling needs.

The best Android apps for team collaboration

Stay connected and productive wherever you are with these first-rate collaboration apps for Android.

The best privacy and security apps for Android

Forget malware scanners or over-the-top security suites: These are the apps that’ll actually improve your security and protect your privacy on Android.

The best Android apps for organizing your life

From projects to places and to-do lists to travel, these Android apps will help you organize all the important areas of your life.

6 efficiency-enhancing Android apps

These clever tools save you time so you can get straight to work.

The best note-taking apps for Android

Note-takers, take note: Whether you want gobs of features or uber-simplicity, these are the best apps for collecting and managing info on Android.

The best Android keyboard apps for on-the-go productivity

Heads up, busy professionals: The right Android keyboard app can save you precious time and unlock your performance potential. So what are you waiting for?

The best travel apps for Android

Save yourself time, headaches and even money with these standout Android apps for business travel.

The best Android password managers

Not all Android password management apps are created equal — so which one makes the most sense for you?

The best Android file manager apps

From optimizing your phone’s storage to integrating your device with the cloud, these standout Android apps will let you juggle files like a pro.

The best Android launchers for enhanced efficiency

Save time and make your Android home screen work better with the help of these eclectic tools.

The best Android widgets for busy professionals

Turn your Android home screen into a powerful productivity hub with these exceptional, business-friendly widgets.

Android apps for Chromebooks: The essentials

Turn your Chromebook into a uniquely versatile modern computing machine with these Chrome-OS-enhancing apps.

Related video: Now that you’ve built up your app arsenal, watch the tutorial below to learn how to get around Android in a snap.

Apple released an iPhone version that absolutely nobody can match only a few weeks ago. The new iPhone SE has the same design that Apple introduced in 2014, including large and top and bottom bezels that are out of place in 2020. But the device packs the same processor that powers the three iPhone 11 versions. That’s a chip that outperforms anything running Android right now, including all the hot flagships of 2020, like the Galaxy S20 Ultra and the OnePlus 8 Pro. Thanks to that A13 processor, the iPhone SE will be an excellent phone for several years, as it’s likely to receive more iOS updates than Pixel phones ever will. The best thing about the iPhone SE is that it sells for just $399, which is an incredible value, especially in the year of the coronavirus.

The Pixel 4a was also rumored to start at $399, and reports said the phone will hit stores at some point in May. We even saw ads mockups that listed the price tag for the new handset:

Reports this week revealed two unexpected developments for the Pixel 4a. The phone will be announced in early June, several weeks later than initially expected. And the handset might be even cheaper than we thought. The 128GB version would cost $349, which is $50 less expensive than the 64GB iPhone SE. The news came from 9to5Google’s Stephen Hall, who posted it on Twitter.

Previous rumors said that the 64GB Pixel 4a would start at $399. But that’s a severe asking price for a phone that can’t match the $399 iPhone SE. Granted, we’ll never know whether Google was planning to sell the Pixel 4a for $399, but it’s not unreasonable to assume that the new iPhone SE may have forced Google’s hand.

It’s unclear whether there will be a 64GB Pixel 4a, to begin with. Such a device would have to be even cheaper than the 128GB model, but can Google go below $300?

Let’s not forget that the Pixel 5 is rumored to feature a mid-range Qualcomm chip rather than the high-end Snapdragon 865. If that turns out to be accurate, then there will be no contest between Pixel 5 and iPhone 12 when it comes to performance. And Google will have to price the Pixel 5 accordingly.

So if you genuinely love the Pixel series and you’re looking forward to buying a new one this year, then you’ll also have to thank the iPhone for possibly forcing Google to offer you a much better deal.