The iPhone could never become truly a handheld computer for the healthcare community until the reference applications could reside on the device. Web-based versions that accessed the database wirelessly have been available but are slow and awkward to use. Now Skyscape has brought their vast selection of titles to the iPhone.
They have done it by making a free portal application My Skyscape available on iTunes. Enter your Skyscape account info and you can then download purchased titles to your iPhone or iPod Touch. They are also giving away some basic titles including their Archimedes medical formula and reference guide.
The current titles appear to follow the basic layout of the Palm OS titles but with some size changes to take advantage of the iPhone's larger screen. Control is easy with a finger and it is a pleasure not to use a stylus.
I tried to buy a title but the app would not let me register. A Skyscape support person tells me it will be one to two weeks before titles will be able to be downloaded. In the meantime you can access the web-based version of purchased titles.
Skyscape has drawn first blood in the medical reference wars. The creation of a portal removes the hassle for Skyscape of putting each title on iTunes. It also lets them keep their subscription model. The portal also lets you keep all your titles under one home page icon. So go ahead and try it, just remember you'll need to wait a bit until you can buy new titles.
16 comments:
All I can say is sweeeeeet! Finally something more comprehensive than a drug reference for my iPhone. Don't get me wrong, I like Epocrates but Skyscape gives me everything else I need... together, its the best of both worlds. I love linking between the Skyscape applications. I wish I could link from Epocrates to Skyscape and vice versa. When are these two companies going to get together? It would be the perfect merger.
I couldn't agree more. Skyscape has always had the quick, intuitive interface and nice layout for information. Now that the full portfolio is available for sale, the application really shines as a comprehensive library instead of a one-off product (unlike ePocrates's drug information). I like the medalert portal as well.
Interesting comment about epocrates and skyscape. have you heard anything to suggest that? I don't think it will happen as the 2 companies have different approaches.
Just picked up My Skyscape Apps for the iPhone. Awesome!! I never liked Epocrates. Skyscapes' interface is soo much more easy to use.
So it seems that skyscape apps on iphone are only available as a yearly subscription and no standard edition (with 1 year of updates and your to own) option like ALL the other mobile platforms.
I can understand this for drug guides but for dictionaries? You save 20-25% off the standard edition price but unlike the standard edition which is yours to use forever, the subscription edition (iphone) has to be repurchased EVERY year and is deactivated if you discontinue the subscription.
UNBELIEVABLE!
It is not true that the Skyscape titles need to be repurchased to work. They just won't update after the subscription ends.
From the Skyscape web site:
Q: Does the product on my handheld device ever stop functioning, if I choose not to upgrade after a year?
A: No, the product will continue working on your handheld device, as long as your handheld device is functioning properly. If your device fails and you replace it with a new device, you can download the product version you are eligible for from your Skyscape.com | My Account page under the expired registration section. The new device will require a new unlock code. However for these expired products if you have updated your handheld to a device with a new operating system such as a Pocket PC with Windows Mobile 5.0 you would need to renew your product(s) to obtain a compatible version.
Yes they do. It is something specific to iphone. As all iphone native apps are subscription only:
"iPhone
Q: What Happens When My Subscription Expires?
A: The program(s) will no longer be available; you will need to renew the subscription to continue the use of your program(s)."
What you are saying is true of the standard version which is not available on iphone.
Please see my agonising conversation with customer relations at skyscape all back up by their knowledgebase info in their support section.
http://kenseidave.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/skyscape-screws-iphone-users/
David:
I think I discovered the problem you are having.
Skyscape began offering iPhone subscriptions last year for access to their server-residing data resources. That access connects you to a web-app version of the resource title.
Last week Skyscape posted the My Skyscape portal iPhone/i{Pod Touch web app. The problem was they were not ready with their device-residing data versions of their resources. To add to the confusion their web site was listing iPhone applications that were device-residing and others that were server-residing.
When I last looked at the site it seems they pulled all the iPhone titles until the resources are ready.
I bought a Davis Drug Guide and was able to download it to my iPhone. It was listed as an iPhone/iPod Touch version. As of this morning it is no longer listed on the Skyscape site.
These device-residing resources are called Standard resources by Skyscape. They are functional after the subscription period ends, but cannot be updated without resubscribing.
It looks like Skyscape released its portal a little too soon. Their support tell me by the beginning of November the problem should be resolved.
Hmmm. I hope you are right. They seem to be listing the subscription version as a seperate 1 year renewing subscription (i am assuming that is web app reapplied).
Previously the web app version has been included in the pull down menu with the standard edition.
Now all titles have no iphone/ipod touch standard edition and and only the separate iphone/ipod touch subscription version.
I live in hope that they provide a standard edition version for iphone and that the Q&A question answer that said that "the standard version is not available for iphone/ipod touch" was relating to the web streamed version and not the new version coming.
Like david i am very dissapointed with this decision of skyscape to not offer standard version of their applications. It is the end of November now and I have been visiting their web regularly but no luck, they are still offering suscription versions only for iPhone and they clearly state in the drop down menu that after a year you can no longer use the application. Previously I had over 10 app installed on my palm and it looks like iwont be able to use iPhone in the same way
Oscar
Brent and I have been on contact with Skyscape to express our dismay at their locked subscription model and have told them that they need to look at other options such as a standard edition or at least 3 year subscriptions for all non drug books.
I said for some books subscriptions don't work. Like tezt book that only get one edition and not reprinted. Yet we keep paying subscriptions for nothing.
I suggest you write them too. The more clinicians that express their disappointment will me the more pressure they will placed under to provide more fair and equitable price options.
Hi David,
I did speak to a costumer representative on line, he said he did not have any info about skyscape future policies. I expressed my dissapointment and he agreed to pass the message on to his managers. Not sure there is anything else we can do. I hope other providers like unbound medicine will take the lead in this issue an and force skyscape to work harder if they don't want to loose dr to the competion
Regards
Oscar
I like the subscriptions that Skyscape is offering. There are 2 kind of subscriptions now. One is standard which is valid for 1 year and another is with choice of duration like 4,6,12..months. In first type, we can keep the product but we wont get any updates and in 2nd type, product would stop functioning after subscription expires.
Thanks for the news. Here's the text from Skyscape.com:
Standard:
-Free content updates for 12 months (not including new editions)
-Continued use after 12 months (no updates)
-90 days phone support (chat and email ongoing)
Subscription:
-Free new editions included during term of subscription
-Convenient auto-renewal option for continued use
-Ongoing phone, chat and email support
-Device upgrade protection
Only Standard editions remain usable after the initial period. Some have said that subscriptions force you to stay up to date, but I have also noticed that many reference titles are not updated more than every few years. So why pay for a short term access to a title that would be usable for years?
excellent news.
Looks like Skyscape took our concerns on board.
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