[idockter]

First, I love my new Q10. The new and improved operating system is sharp and intuitive. I know that people have been ranting about the lack of native apps. I'm here to say this. Firstly, I contacted Epocrates and asked when they were going to jump onboard to BB10. They informed me that their company was not going in that direction because it would be of no benefit to them. I have since contacted Medscape and am still waiting to hear back. I loved my BB Bold 9930 and easily accessed both of these applications on a daily basis. As an eye doctor, I cannot go without a drug reference. Nothing that BB10 offers in its apps department is suitable.

I need advice from you guys, because I'm really not that savvy with coding and trying to transfer Android apps in .bar files to my BB Q10. This is coming from someone that hasn't ever sent a text message or uses BBM. I just need my email, internet, drug reference, and Pandora (Apollo) for the car. I'm simple, but yet Blackberry cannot meet my needs. Unless you guys have an idea as to what I should do, I will be forced to return my phone, as I am doubting Medscape will want an affiliation with the depleted application community of Blackberry.

The Q10 is the sharpest looking phone out there and the keyboard on the Z10 is second-to-none, but I seem to be at a loss.

Thanks,

Dr. Sam

[donmateo]

Either sideload or maybe there's a ported app?

[The Aficionado]

I am not a medical professional, so I don't know what those things are.

Can they be accessed from the browser? Bb10 browser is great

When the user base is so small, it can be hard to justify making an app. There are maybe 4 to 6.5 million bb10 users in total right now

But by the end of the year there could easily be 3 times as many and then things will start to change app wise

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[idockter]

I tried the side-load idea, but really wasn't sure what the problem was. I watched a tutorial posted on Crackberry to attempt this, but had no luck.

BB10 browser is excellent and I am able to save these sites to my home page; however, these medical companies don't construct their websites in a way that can be easily accessed as a "quick-mobile-reference" like an app would provide. I agree, apps will increase as time goes on, but it is just so disappointing to hear from powerhouse medical reference companies such as Epocrates wanting no part of the new operating system from Blackberry.

I appreciate the suggestions, but I'm really hoping more can add to this.

[theRock1975]

Hi, can you tell me where this medical information is stored? Is it accessible using a desktop?

Perhaps a simple app can be whipped up in 1 weekend.

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[amazinglygraceless]

I checked MedScape (WebMD) and their last support for BBRY was OS5

[papped]

Other people have said both Epocrates and Medscape work sideloaded.

So either you can sideload them or switch platforms.
1 - Download and install vnbb10 on your PC vnBB10 – Utility for Side-load app from bar files into BlackBerry 10 and get Hardware ID | vnbb's blog
2 - download the converted .bar Epocrates for Playbook and BB10 - Blackberry Playbook and BB10 Health and Fitness Apps :: Android APP Store – Blackberry Playbook & Z10 and Q10 Apps
3 - connect your Z10 to wifi on the same network as your windows PC
4 - Find out your current wifi ipaddress (Settings > About > Network)
5 - Enable development mode (Settings > Security and Privacy > Development Mode> Use Development Mode). Requires setting a password.
6 - Open vnbb10 and set your IP and password correctly, connect to your device. Then install the .bar. After that you can disable development mode and remove the password if you want.

[papped]

ps. it's not actually that many steps once you've done it before. Only takes like a minute.

[idockter]

Again, thanks for all the feedback. I am going to slowly go through this and see if I can get it working via side-load. I will keep you guys updated with any questions I WILL have. Just know, you don't have to be smart to be a doctor...

[lactose]

More and more medical stuff is finding its way on to cellphones. If I understand correctly your application merely fetches data. So maybe there are some HIPPA issues the devs are afraid of ?

I am aware of a Samsung Note that is being used to control a defibrillator, so you might imagine the bar is much higher for quality. It is a very locked down Android build, had cooperation from Samsung, and gets around the clock smoke testing.

I hope BB feels this is an endeavor worthy of support. There is definitely medical stuff headed this way, and my gut feel is I would rather see medical stuff on BB. But they need to get these random stability issues worked out, hardware (my guess) , software, or space particles, whatever it is.

[00stryder]

Other people have said both Epocrates and Medscape work sideloaded.

So either you can sideload them or switch platforms.
1 - Download and install vnbb10 on your PC vnBB10 � Utility for Side-load app from bar files into BlackBerry 10 and get Hardware ID | vnbb's blog
2 - download the converted .bar Epocrates for Playbook and BB10 - Blackberry Playbook and BB10 Health and Fitness Apps :: Android APP Store � Blackberry Playbook & Z10 and Q10 Apps
3 - connect your Z10 to wifi on the same network as your windows PC
4 - Find out your current wifi ipaddress (Settings > About > Network)
5 - Enable development mode (Settings > Security and Privacy > Development Mode> Use Development Mode). Requires setting a password.
6 - Open vnbb10 and set your IP and password correctly, connect to your device. Then install the .bar. After that you can disable development mode and remove the password if you want.

Great support papped, and Dr. Sam, I have both Epocrates and Medscape sideloaded on my Z10 and they both work great. I went the route of converting both apps myself using xsacha's method, but I still have the converted .bar file from my PlayBook if the downloaded file from Good eReader doesn't work for you.

Just finished med school and I can attest to the convenience of Epocrates nowadays (btw, the included calculators are great as well, though you search for Qx Calculator in BlackBerry World). Good luck!

Posted via CB10 on my Z10 & loving it!

[00stryder]

More and more medical stuff is finding its way on to cellphones. If I understand correctly your application merely fetches data. So maybe there are some HIPPA issues the devs are afraid of ?

I am aware of a Samsung Note that is being used to control a defibrillator, so you might imagine the bar is much higher for quality. It is a very locked down Android build, had cooperation from Samsung, and gets around the clock smoke testing.

I hope BB feels this is an endeavor worthy of support. There is definitely medical stuff headed this way, and my gut feel is I would rather see medical stuff on BB. But they need to get these random stability issues worked out, hardware (my guess) , software, or space particles, whatever it is.

Nope, the apps that the OP are talking about, and most medical apps on smartphones these days for that matter, don't include any patient information so HIPAA isn't an issue (it's only if the medical center/system decides to implement mobile support for their electronic medical records that issues of privacy come into play). Honestly, it's as the earlier poster said, it's a matter of devs not seeing enough of a market on BB10 to justify porting their app over. I think it'll get better in the next year or so though.

Posted via CB10 on my Z10 & loving it!

[TgeekB]

I too am in the medical profession and it is a big problem for BlackBerry. No one at our hospital uses a BB10 device and only a few are left with legacy devices. Soon they will be gone too.

[idockter]

I have been trying to follow the directions above. When I download and install, the vnBB cannot recognize my phone's IP and password and then it become unresponsive. I am using the Q10, so I don't know if I have the right version or not.

I tried this last night:

Tutorial: Run any Android 2.3.3 App on Blackberry10 � Qtness Development

I was the last to respond in the comments section of this tutorial. I couldn't connect my phone to the laptop.

[JR A]

Return the phone and get an iPhone.

And no, I'm not being sarcastic. Seriously, get the iPhone.

[idockter]

Sadly, I am going to. I went to Verizon tonight and tried some different models. I am going with the iPhone 5.

I just want to say to the Blackberry Community, I hope BB10 thrives and continues to improve upon its new operating system. I think you guys are awesome. Thank you again for the help.

Dr. Sam

[livejam]

I too have Epocrates side loaded working well. Sorry it couldn't work out for you

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[eldricho]

Hope to have you back soon, if possible! Sorry it didn't work out
Maybe you can look at it again in a couple of months to see if the apps are here

[nuangel2]

well i am sorry it did not workout for you.but i am an er nurse and use epocrates on my z10.i also have programs from skyscape acls pals meds etc that work great for me.good luck.

[kdna]

BlackBerry is a tool not an app developer.

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[JR A]

Good choice with getting an iPhone 5 considering your needs.

I would hate to recommend a BB10 phone knowing that the best solution is to sideload a very critical app.

God forbid that app gets updated or you need another app that isn't available on BB10. Lives could quite literally be endangered because of this...

[JeepBB]

God forbid that app gets updated or you need another app that isn't available on BB10. Lives could quite literally be endangered because of this...

This ^

Sideloading Apps with potentially life-threatening content from a historic bar file and using information from that App is a law suit waiting to happen!

I hope any doctor I consult isn't using some version of a medical library that someone on the interwebs found and converted!

It's like flying with an out of date air-map, fly somewhere where you shouldn't (oh sorry, it wasn't on my old map Sir), and you are toast.

P.S. Friend of mine inadvertently flew into a air corridor not marked on his old (paper) map... nearly had a midair collision with a fast jet (how he laughed)... he stopped laughing when he was joined in the sky by a military helicopter and escorted to the nearest airfield... where he was detained for the rest of the day and came "that close" to having his licence taken away.

[ynomrah]

Good choice with getting an iPhone 5 considering your needs.

I would hate to recommend a BB10 phone knowing that the best solution is to sideload a very critical app.

God forbid that app gets updated or you need another app that isn't available on BB10. Lives could quite literally be endangered because of this...

This ^

Sideloading Apps with potentially life-threatening content from a historic bar file and using information from that App is a law suit waiting to happen!

I hope any doctor I consult isn't using some version of a medical library that someone on the interwebs found and converted!

It's like flying with an out of date air-map, fly somewhere where you shouldn't (oh sorry, it wasn't on my old map Sir), and you are toast.

P.S. Friend of mine inadvertently flew into a air corridor not marked on his old (paper) map... nearly had a midair collision with a fast jet (how he laughed)... he stopped laughing when he was joined in the sky by a military helicopter and escorted to the nearest airfield... where he was detained for the rest of the day and came "that close" to having his licence taken away.

I'm pretty sure actually that's not how things work. I would consider it very far reaching to state that lives could be endangered by such a thing. Applications are meant to be quick solution tools. References used to make the user more productive in their daily lives. They should however not be the be all solution for every use case, and the sole provider for their everyday tasks. People should be all the wiser, and have a backup plan or reference. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if the end user is to he blamed in the worst case scenario, it almost shouldn't even be relevant how it was caused outside of their own negligence.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[TgeekB]

I'm pretty sure actually that's not how things work. I would consider it very far reaching to state that lives could be endangered by such a thing. Applications are meant to be quick solution tools. References used to make the user more productive in their daily lives. They should however not be the be all solution for every use case, and the sole provider for their everyday tasks. People should be all the wiser, and have a backup plan or reference. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if the end user is to he blamed in the worst case scenario, it almost shouldn't even be relevant how it was caused outside of their own negligence.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Medical apps, especially drug references, are professional tools used in every hospital these days. Of course you need backups but, in a critical situation, time is of the essence. (a code in the ER) They are updated quite frequently with the latest information about drugs, allergies, etc. Having the real app is the only way to go, not sideloading. This is what the others are saying and I agree. You should not be sideloading medical apps.

[anon(5624621)]

Medical apps, especially drug references, are professional tools used in every hospital these days. Of course you need backups but, in a critical situation, time is of the essence. (a code in the ER) They are updated quite frequently with the latest information about drugs, allergies, etc. Having the real app is the only way to go, not sideloading. This is what the others are saying and I agree. You should not be sideloading medical apps.

Out of curiosity, does the info for these apps get downloaded so you can use it offline? If not, wouldn't a side loaded app be fetching the same data?

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