We All Wish for Whisher

Here's a really neat concept. If everyone would allows others to share their Wi-Fi connections, then most of us would be able to use Wi-Fi anywhere in the world. Whisher is a free software program that accomplishes just that, keeping things secure, of course. Of course, your ISP may not be so happy with you (it may be against the Terms of Service, so check with them first.) This is a new service so there aren't many people signed up...yet.

Vista is Out

Here's a nice gallery of screenshots of Windows Vista, if you want to see what the fuss is all about.

Online Word Processing and Speadsheets

I've been playing around with the Google Docs and Spreadsheets, and I have to tell you, I'm very impressed. They have all the features you'd need with a traditional Office suite, and with the ability to easily email the documents and work on them with someone else online, if I were Microsoft, I'd be getting worried about now. Check it out as you'll come to really love this.

Trimming Down

As some of you read a few months ago, there are many Windows applications that can really slow down your computer; Symantec was the worst offender. Here's a list of software programs, all free, that can replace those memory hogs.

Dell Jumps the Gun

As of today, Dell Dimensions are now being offered with Vista (not due out for 3 more days). As I've been suggesting for months, until you check with your dental application companies (Dentrix, Dexis, Apteryx, etc.) on compatibility with Vista, I do not recommend getting Vista at this time.

Killer Monitor Deal

Just saw this at CompUSA: a sweet 22" LCD monitor for under $300! No comment on image quality (how bad can it be?!) but if you were in the market for a large monitor, this may be one to check out.

A Blank Slate

I know that many of you are debating what to do when Windows Vista comes out next week. Do you get Vista? XP? Something else? Well, Dell is making things a bit easier with their n Series computers. These are tough to find on their site, but basically, they are computers with no operating system installed. You buy them bare and install whatever software you want...saves some money as well.

The Secret To My Success

As many of you know, I scour the websites daily for news that I think is worthy. I came across a great site that lists many of the exact same sites that I use to get my tech fix. So, if you feel like beating me to the punch, check it out!

Bringo It On

Here's a brand new matching service for patients and dentists. It seems to be similar to 1-800-Dentist but has a different spin on the matching process. Here's the press release:


Amazing New Web-based Service Builds Dental Practices with Virtually No Effort

BRINGOdentist.com has dentists smiling all the way to the bank
with revolutionary technology that gives them a profitable way
to find and book new patients in just minutes

CHICAGO-Jan. 22, 2007-Dentists who need patients, and patients who need dentists now have a revolutionary new way to find each other, thanks to BRINGOdentist.com. Launched today, this first-of-its-kind service combines Internet and telephone technologies to help patients connect and schedule appointments with quality local dentists, while giving dentists a risk-free, cost-effective way to rapidly build their practices.
"Often the biggest challenge for dentists has been finding and attracting new patients," says Steven H. Keller, DDS, a 30-year dentistry veteran and Advisory Board Member for BRINGO. "BRINGOdentist.com is an exciting new service that directly matches dentists with patients based on their location, preferences, and immediate needs. With no up-front costs, why wouldn't a dentist join?"
BRINGOdentist.com has no upfront costs, membership fees, or risks-and dentists who join now will receive five free patient phone calls. Here's how it works, and what it costs:
· Dentists sign-up at BRINGOdentist.com, and are reviewed through the site's strict credentialing process (see screen capture).
· Patients seeking care log in to BRINGOdentist.com and enter when they want an appointment, how far they are willing to travel, their payment method, zip code, and telephone number (see screen capture).
· Within seconds, the patient receives a phone call from BRINGOdentist.com confirming their request and availability (see screen capture).
· Upon confirmation, BRINGOdentist.com's proprietary matching technology starts contacting dentists that match the patient's requests, and relays the pre-qualifying information to the office receptionist (see screen capture).
· The receptionist can then accept or deny the appointment request by pressing a number on their telephone keypad. If they accept the patient, BRINGOdentist.com immediately calls the patient, and instantly connects them with the office receptionist. Then-and only then-is the practice charged about $30 for the service. And dentists who sign up now will receive five free patient calls (see screen capture).
"There's never been an easier, faster, less costly way for dentists to fill their waiting rooms," says Mark Grazman, Principal and Co-founder of BRINGO. "Every day, 220,000 people go online to find a new dentist. BRINGOdentist.com quickly connects dentists with these potential new patients, using nothing more than the phone they already have. And since dentists can track how many calls and new patients come from BRINGOdentist.com, they'll have a clear picture of their return on investment. Direct mail and ads are costly, and there's no guarantee they're reaching the intended audience. BRINGOdentist.com is the answer."
BRINGOdentist.com is now actively soliciting dentists nationwide to sign up for this service, and hopes to boast active traffic in five to 10 major U.S. cities within the next six months. To sign up, dentists simply visit http://www.bringodentist.com/dentist.

ABOUT BRINGO
Founded in 2006, BRINGO is a healthcare technology company focused on helping consumers connect with local healthcare professionals. BRINGO quickly and efficiently helps people find qualified, experienced health care professionals in their local areas. For more information, visit www.BRINGO.com.

Vista Discounts

With Windows Vista due out in 8 days, it's time to start thinking about your upgrades. Were you aware that Microsoft offers Family Discounts for home users who need to upgrade multiple systems? You can save a lot of money vs. buying a boxed version for each computer. This website explains the old and new Family Discounts for Windows.

Of course, unless you know for sure that all of your applications have been tested and work with Vista, I obviously recommend a wait-and-see approach.

Ad-Aware Tip

As many of you know, I always recommend that you have maximum protection on your systems, including anti-spyware. One of my favorites is Ad-Aware, but when I run scans, it tends to slow my computers down. Here's a great tip to minimize the effect on your computer.

A Storm Is Brewing

There have been reports the past 24 hours of a major Trojan horse attack called the Storm Worm. It's being reported as one of the biggest in years, so be very aware of this. You can read about the details here.

Movies on Demand

Not really dental office technology...but still significant. Netflix, the service that emails DVDs to you, just started their download service yesterday. Subscribers will be able to download movies and start to watch them within a few minutes on their computers. I'm sure there will be safeguards to prevent them from being saved or copied. This is the future of video entertainment and the future is now.

A Great Idea

While the technology isn't here yet, it will be shortly and this is a huge benefit for dental offices. The biggest problem we hear about in practices is that in the ops, there is only mouse and one cursor, which makes it tough for both the doctor and assistant to use their system concurrently. A new technology called MultiPoint is coming out that will allow multiple mice and multiple cursors on the same computer. While designed for classrooms, the technology will work great in a dental office. Expect to see this in the next few months.

New Backup Service

As many of you know, I am starting to recommend (and my company now offers) an online backup solution for dental offices. The main downside is that it costs a lot to backup your files and store them on a server somewhere else. Well, what if you could backup your files easily to your home computer or a friend's computer? Enter CrashPlan, which does all of this and encrypts your data as well. It only costs $20-$60 if you buy it, and you can also have them store your data for as little as $5/month. Definitely worth a look.

USB Drives Get Larger

Verbatim announced this week the release of their 12 GB (yes, that's 12 GB!) USB drive. While I have been a bit reluctant to recommend USB Flash drives for data backup due to their limited storage, this is starting to be a non-issue. Flash drives are far more safe than external hard drives since there are no moving parts, and thus fewer failures. 12 GB is enough for your PMS software and for images for a small office.

Pricing should be around $180. True, that same price gets you about 20X more storage with an external drive, but don't be surprised to see Flash drives become the standard backup medium in 2-3 years.

Vista Sidebar

As most of you know, Windows Vista is due out in a few weeks. One of the cool new features is the Sidebar, which allows you to add multiple gadgets and widgets for easy access to information. Here's a list of the top 10 Gadgets (it's only one person's list but many are ones I'll plan to use).

White Monitor

One of the most frequent requests we get from offices is for a white monitor for the ops. There have been very few models we could recommend over the years. I just learned that Buffalo Technologies plans to release a very nice 20" LCD white monitor sometime next week. No word yet on pricing.

New Epson Printer

Epson announced this week the release of a new photo printer, the 1400. This is a high-end printer for dental offices that want to print quality photos at up to 13" X 19". You can read the details here.

Spam, Spam, Spam

You know it, and you hate it: spam. Unsolicited emails that clog up your inbox all day, every day.

Here's a great primer on what you can do to lighten the load. Some of it is technical, but much are steps you can easily follow to give yourself a spam break.

Kodak is Sold

Hardly a surprise to anyone that has been following my posts over the past 7 months, but Kodak's long-rumored sale has finally been announced. It's anyone's guess how this will affect end users, as the sale includes PracticeWorks, Softdent, and Trophy sensors.

Here's the press release:

Kodak to Sell Health Group to Onex for up to $2.55 billion

Sale fulfills strategic intention to focus investment, increase financial flexibility

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 10 -- Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Health Group to Onex Healthcare Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Onex Corporation (TSX: OCX), in a move that will sharpen Kodak’s strategic focus on consumer and professional imaging and the graphic communications industry.
Under terms of the agreement, Kodak will sell its Health Group to Onex for up to $2.55 billion. The price is composed of $2.35 billion in cash at closing, plus up to $200 million in additional future payments if Onex achieves certain returns with respect to its investment. If Onex Healthcare investors realize an internal rate of return in excess of 25% on their investment, Kodak will receive payment equal to 25% of the excess return, up to $200 million.

Because of tax-loss carry forwards, Kodak expects to retain the vast majority of the initial $2.35 billion cash proceeds. The company plans to use the proceeds to fully repay its approximately $1.15 billion of secured term debt. Other potential uses of the cash proceeds are under review and will be discussed at Kodak’s previously announced investor meeting, scheduled for February 8.

About 8,100 employees associated with the Health Group will continue with the business following the closing. Included in the sale are manufacturing operations focused on the production of health imaging products, as well as an office building in Rochester, N.Y.
Kodak’s Health Group, with revenue of $2.54 billion for the latest 12 reported months (through September 30, 2006), is a worldwide leader in information technology, molecular imaging systems, medical and dental imaging, including digital x-ray capture, medical printers, and x-ray film.

Onex Corporation, based in Toronto, is a diversified company and is one of Canada’s largest corporations,with annual consolidated revenues of approximately C$20 billion and consolidated assets of approximately C$20 billion. Onex has global operations in health care, service, manufacturing and technology industries. The health care operations include emergency care facilities and diagnostic imaging clinics.

“Kodak’s Health Group is a business with significant market presence and intellectual property assets,” said Antonio M. Perez, Kodak’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “This sale maximizes shareholder value by obtaining a full and fair valuation for this business, and allows Kodak to increase its financial flexibility.

“We now plan to focus our attention on the significant digital growth opportunities within our businesses in consumer and professional imaging and graphic communications,” Perez said.
Perez noted that Onex brings significant financial resources to invest in the Health Group business and to ensure its continued success.

“Onex is an ideal acquirer of Kodak’s Health Group because they understand the health industry and are committed to growing the business for the benefit of customers and employees,” Perez said. “I’m very pleased that we have such a favorable outcome for all of our constituents.”

“This is a great opportunity to acquire and grow a business that has established an impressive record in delivering innovative solutions to customers around the world,” said Robert M. Le Blanc, an Onex CorporationManaging Director. “Kodak’s Health Group has an exceptionally strong management team and we share this team’s vision for the future. We recognize that growth is critical and that digital technology is the future, and we believe strongly that customers and employees must continue to be a top priority.”

Subject to regulatory and other approvals, it is anticipated that the sale will close in the first half of 2007.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisor to Kodak on the sale of its Health Group and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP provided legal counsel. Lazard Freres & Co. provided a fairness opinion in relation to the transaction.

New Phone

In an announcement that surprised few, Apple has announced the production of a brand new cellular phone, the iPhone. The phone will combine features of a phone, ipod, and Internet device. It's going to work with Cingular (yuck! Not good in LA) and should be released in June, according to news reports.

NEA Fast Attach

Here's a press release from NEA, the company we highly recommend for attaching images to e-claims:

PRESS RELEASE
__________________________________________________________________________________

National Electronic Attachment, Inc (NEA) Offers FASTLOOK

January 8, 2007 – National Electronic Attachment, Inc. (NEA) of Atlanta, GA (www.nea-fast.com) announced today the launch of FASTLOOK, an ALL Payor attachment lookup accessible via the Internet. NEA partnered with the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) of Dallas, TX (www.nadp.org) to develop this unique solution to concerns raised by organized dentistry and providers about the complexity and accessibility of payor attachment requirements NEA and NADP are committed to reducing the cost, confusion and paperwork related to paper claims for both Providers and Payors. “Our partnership with NEA will help our members offer a valuable service to dental offices and practice management companies,” states Evelyn F. Ireland, CAE, NADP’s Executive Director.

NADP members anticipate this relationship will reduce unnecessary radiographs and other attachments for Providers and dental offices using the FASTLOOK service. What this means to a Provider sending a paper claim is, the Provider can look in FASTLOOK by Payor and determine exactly what or if an attachment needs to be sent. Until now, only Payors receiving electronic attachments posted requirements on the NEA FastAttach website for access by providers submitting electronic claim.

We are very pleased to announce our relationship with NADP. NEA is proud to have led the process in bringing this service to dental Providers and Payors in the marketplace,” states Tom Hughes, NEA’s CEO. NEA’s FASTLOOK product gives all dental offices the ability to know requirements of the nation’s dental Payors.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
National Electronic Attachment is the nation’s largest electronic attachment company. NEA’s premier product FastAttach™ enables healthcare claims attachments to be transmitted, via the Internet, to NEA’s repository where insurance companies are able to view the images on NEA’s web site, in support of electronic claims. NADP is the leading trade association in the US dental benefits industry. NADP’s member dental plans provide benefits to 132 million of the 163 million Americans with dental benefits or 81% of the total dental benefits market. NADP members offer various lines of dental benefits including DHMO, DPPO, Dental Indemnity and
Discount Dental plans.

NATIONAL ELECTRONIC ATTACHMENT, INC.
www.fast-attach.com
4588 Winters Chapel Road, Suite 200
Atlanta, Georgia 30360-2827
Phone: 770.441.3203 ¨ Fax: 770.441.3204
www.nadp.org
8111 LBJ Freeway, Suite 935
Dallas, Texas 75251-1347
Phone: 972.458.6998 ¨ Fax: 972.458.2258

Remote Control

Here's another nice remote control program: CrossLoop. It's very easy to set up and use. The downside is that the host computer needs to generate a code, that the remote user enters. This isn't great if you need constant remote access but is good if you only need it occasionally as you'll need a code each time, making it very secure.

Nuke It

As Windows Vista is closer to being released, many offices over the next few months will be replacing their older computers with new systems. However, it's absolutely critical that you completely erase any and all data on the old drives. There are some very expensive solutions for this, but one of the best (and is completely free) is Darik's Boot and Nuke. This website gives you the link to the software as well as a short tutorial on how to run it. Highly recommended.

More Dexis News

In another big development, Danaher, the parent company of Dexis, has acquired the i-Cat system. Here's the press release:

Des Plaines, Illinois, January 3, 2007 Imaging Sciences International has been acquired by Danaher Corporation and joins KaVo®, Gendex®, DEXIS® and Pelton & Crane® as part of Danaher’s group of market-leading dental equipment companies. Imaging Sciences, which is based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, manufactures, sells, and markets the i-CAT® Cone Beam 3-D dental imaging system, which is the market leading 3-D dental imaging solution for general practitioners and dental specialists.

Imaging Sciences' i-CAT has the ability to capture views of critical anatomy, including bone structure and tooth orientation. This imaging technology enables dental professionals to improve patient care by more accurately planning procedures such as implants and oral surgery, creating more predictable outcomes, and reducing treatment time and radiation. These advantages have driven the adoption of Cone Beam 3-D dental imaging solutions along with the steady growth in general dentistry, implant procedures, oral surgery, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) analysis, periodontal and orthodontic procedures.
Imaging Sciences’ President, Ed Marandola, said, “We are extremely excited to become a key part of the leading dental equipment team, and we are confident that this transaction will solidify i-CAT as the top choice for dental practitioners in need of a value-creating 3-D imaging solution.”

Bob Joyce, President of KaVo Gendex North America, stated, “Adding the number one 3-D imaging product line to our 2-D offerings from Gendex and DEXIS demonstrates our commitment to dental professionals at a time when practitioners increasingly recognize the need for the powerful information these systems provide. Imaging Sciences’ talented professionals will help us continue to deliver unsurpassed product performance, quality and customer service to dentists worldwide.”

In North America, i-CAT is exclusively distributed through Sullivan Schein Dental™, a Henry Schein division. i-CAT is distributed outside the U.S. by several other distributor partners. For more information on Imaging Sciences, visit www.imagingsciences.com.

Dentrix Merges with Dexis

I posted this on DentalTown but i's important enough to put on here as well:

The formal announcement is probably a day or two away, but I have it on very good authority that there has been a merger between Dentrix and Dexis. Under the terms of the merger, Dexis will take over all the digital components of Dentrix's business: the Image, Easy Image, and Clarity (Vipersoft) software, the ImageRayi and EasyRay sensors, and the ImageCam IOC.

What does this mean for users? Not really sure yet. According to what I heard, Dexis is taking over the manufacture and development of those systems. But, considering that Dexis has their own sensor and software, I cannot foresee any long-term situation where they will continue to produce competing lines of sensors and software. If I had to make a guess (and, it's just a guess), I would expect them to phase out of the Dentrix line over time.

This really isn't a huge surprise. When Schein started to market Dexis about 18 months ago, there was obviously something bigger in the works. And, considering that Image (Vipersoft) really hasn't had a major facelift in over 5 years, it makes sense for them to use the Dexis software. Dentrix has always been a practice management software company and if this agreement allows them to focus on that part of their business, it will hopefully be for the best.

It should be an interesting year...

New PhotoMed Camera

It looks like PhotoMed is now selling packages with the new Canon Rebel XTi. This is a really nice system and priced right with Photomed's usual complete packages. Check it out if you're in the market for a high-end digital dental camera system.

Free Software

There are plenty of free programs out there for Windows...but not many are actual Microsoft programs. Here's a nice site that lists about 150 Microsoft-certified free software programs for Windows and Office. There are some very useful utilities in this list, so take the time to look it over.

Clean it Up

Here's a great little utility I found called CleanUp! It basically will clean out your Recycle Bin, cookies (if you want) Temporary Internet files, etc. It allows you to run in demo mode first so that you don't actually delete any files until you see what would have been removed. Very customizable and as always, free to use. I freed up a whopping 2.7 GB on my desktop and 1.5 GB on my laptop.

Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year for 2007. I don't see how I can top 2006: we have a wonderful new baby and a fun business with four new employees. Thanks to all of you who have supported me in the past and I look forward to a great year!