Mediaboss Marketing

Seattle, Washington-based BloomAPI has raised $2.4 million for its medical records processing software. Y Combinator, Slow Ventures, Founders Co-Op, Section 32, Liquid 2 Ventures, and Parker Conrad all contributed to the round.

HIPAA allows anyone to ask for and receivetheir medical records. But EHR systems arent always designed with an elegant way to get records out of the system, leading to a status quo where records are often printed out and then faxed, mailed, or hand-delivered to patients, as well as to insurance companies that might need them.

BloomAPI is aiming to tackle that problem by installing a free software at practices that allow them to release records securely, easily, and electronically. The company has 300 doctors in its network currently and helps transmit records for more than a million patients.

While the software is free to providers and sits on their existing systems, BloomAPI makes money by selling access to its API to insurers and other vendors. That product is called ChartPull.

Interoperability between health records has long been a goal in healthcare, one that still seems a long way off. Whats interesting about the BloomAPI approach is that, rather than tackling the huge problem of enabling seamless data sharing between EHRs, the company is just trying to make the current status quo record requests a little more high-tech. While electronically requesting and transmitting records might not be as good as real data exchange, its still quite a bit better than printing and faxing.

This is the first round of funding for the company, and it will go toward hiring engineering, operations, and sales staff in the Seattle area.

See more here:
BloomAPI gets $2.4 million for software to release digital records securely, and more easily - Healthcare IT News

If you don't need the full might of Microsoft Office on the desktop, use the free online version instead.

Do you want to use Microsoft Office without paying for it? Try the free Office Online edition.

As the name indicates, Office Online is an online version of Microsoft's popular software suite. Instead of installing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on your computer, you tap into cloud-based varieties of the different programs; all you need is a web browser.

Instead of residing on your computer, files are saved to Microsoft OneDrive, the company's cloud-based storage service. The only catch is that Office Online isn't as feature-packed as the desktop edition. You'll find all the basic editing commands but not much more. If that satisfies your needs, however, it's an option worth trying.

Office Online includes four core programs Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. You can also tap into other apps, including Mail, People, and Calendar. Another application called Sway allows you to create interactive reports and presentations. Let's go through the steps for accessing and using Office Online to create, edit, and share your documents.

First, you'll need a Microsoft account. If you don't already have one, set it up at Microsoft's Account website. Then navigate to the Office Online website. Click on the icon for the application you wish to use, such as Word or Excel.

The page asks if you want to log in with a Microsoft, work, or school account. Assuming you don't have a work or school account, choose the option to sign in with a Microsoft account and enter your account username and password.

You're then taken to a page where you can select a template to create your document or file. For example, Microsoft Word offers templates for resumes, cover letters, flyers, and calendars. If you don't need a special template, just click on the one for New blank document.

Word Online opens for you to start creating your document. In Word, you'll find all the basic editing options via the toolbar. For example, you can set the font, point size, and other attributes of your text as well as apply certain styles. You can insert tables, pictures, page numbers, and headers and footers. You can adjust the page size, margins, and orientation. You can zoom in and out of your document. And you can run a spell check.

Your document automatically saves as you work, so there's no need to manually save it. Click on the File menu, and you can also save it with a different filename and download the file to your PC, either as a Word document or a PDF. From the File menu, you can also print your document and share it with other people by emailing them a link to it.

To open a file you're already created, click on the Open command and choose from recent documents, or click on the link to "More on OneDrive" to access all your online files.

The online versions of Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote work similarly to Word in that they offer all the basic commands and features. To access another program in the online suite, click on the "List of Microsoft Services" button in the upper-left corner (it's the one that contains nine small squares) and then select the application you wish to open. Since the programs and your files are all online, you can access them from any Windows computer.

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Surviving a long and varied career in publishing, advertising, and IT, Lance Whitney now wears a few different technology hats. By day, he's a journalist, software trainer, and sometime Web developer. By night, he's asleep. These days, he writes news stories, columns, and reviews for CNET and other technology sites and publications. He;s written two books for Wiley & Sons: Windows 8 Five Minutes at a Time in 2012, and Teach Yourself VISUALLY LinkedIn in 2014. Contact Lance via Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. More

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How to Use Microsoft's Free Office Online Software | News ... - PCMag - PCMag

CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals pageand follow the Cheapskate on Twitter!

Good morning, cheeps. (Have you ever wondered about the etymology of that word? It comes from "cheapskates," of course, and also "peeps," meaning friends. Cheapskates + peeps = cheeps! Why not "cheaps"? Simple: It looks weird.)

Today I bring you a heaping platter of deals, everything from free software to crazy-cheap LED desk lamps to heavily discounted phones. Let's get to it.

WonderFox is once again holding a summer software giveaway, with seven apps available for free (ending tomorrow!) and seven more coming tomorrow.

First on the list: WonderFox's own DVD Ripper Pro -- assuming there's anybody left who still needs to rip DVDs. Also of note: six months of IObit Advanced Systemcare Pro 10 and one year of Sticky Password Premium. For most of these freebies, you'll download a Zip file containing instructions and/or the necessary license key. Make sure to follow the instructions.

Be sure to check that same giveaway page tomorrow for the next batch of freebies.

I've said many times that I like Microsoft Office a lot -- I just don't like having to pay annually for it. You can buy a license outright, but that's even costlier (at least initially) than the subscription option.

Not today. GamesDeal, for some reason, has a Microsoft Office 2016 Professional Plus 1-user license for $25.33 when you apply discount code GDdealnews25 at checkout. That nets you a license key good for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, OneNote and Publisher -- but not the Skype credit or OneDrive space you get as part of a subscription.

How can this be so cheap? I'm honestly not sure, but GamesDeal has a very high rating at ResellerRatings.com. I've heard stories of "gray market" Office keys that come up invalid after a short period of use, but if that were to happen here, you could almost certainly get a refund via your credit card provider (assuming GamesDeal refused to issue one for some reason). This seems perfectly legit, but as with any/all deals shared in this space, buyer beware.

A Kindle Paperwhite for $50 is a steal, even if it is refurbished.

There are times, like when I'm reading in bed, that I prefer a Kindle to a phone or tablet. It's lighter and easier to hold, easier on the eyes and brain (no blue light) and not in constant need of charging.

Of course, it has to be a touchscreen model and has to have a backlit screen. Like this one: While supplies last, Woot has the refurbished Kindle Paperwhite (2nd gen) for $49.99, plus $5 for shipping. A new, current-gen Paperwhite would run you $120. I don't think I've seen any model, refurb or otherwise, priced this low.

Interestingly, you can also get the 3G version for $64.99, though I can't say I've ever seen much value in having 3G in a Kindle. Are there really times when you need a book right now and there's no Wi-Fi available?

Either way, these are "used - good" stock, meaning they might have minor cosmetic issues. They come with a 90-day Woot warranty.

Speaking of B-stock, last year's premium phones are this year's bargains. Seriously: Just a year ago, an unlocked Galaxy S7 Edge would have cost you well over $600. Even now it retails for $570.

Don't mind a few scuffs or scrapes? For a limited time, and while supplies last, Garage Cell (via Ebay) has the refurbished Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (32GB) for $274.99 shipped. It's a factory-unlocked GSM model available in your choice of gold, silver or black.

I've seen deals on the non-Edge S7 that came pretty close to this, but I've never seen the Edge this low. The seller has an excellent rating on Ebay, but if there's a caveat, it's the 30-day warranty. What do you think: Worth the risk to get the phone for half the price you'd pay elsewhere?

LEDs are just about the best thing ever. Way cheaper to operate than old tungsten bulbs, and way cooler (in both temperature and design) to boot. Oh, and they last significantly longer. In your face, Edison!

(I kid, I kid. Thomas Edison was a freakin' superhero.)

For a limited time, and while supplies last, Neon Mart (via Amazon) has the Lighting Ever dimmable LED desk lamp for $9.99, with free shipping for Prime subscribers. This long-neck lamp features seven brightness levels controlled by a touch-sensitive panel along the base, and has a 4.3-star rating from over 300 buyers.

Looking for something a little more stylish? From the same seller and company, this curvier LED desk lamp (pictured) is also $9.99 when you apply promo codeU8QSHF49 at checkout. But it has a mere three brightness levels and no user reviews. Decisions, decisions.

And that's it for this thrifty Tuesday.Who's buying what?

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Thrifty Tuesday: Free software, dirt-cheap Office and more - CNET

Has your computer been acting strange lately? Maybe your default search engine or other browser settings changed, or youre getting suspicious warnings about your computers performance.

Has your computer been acting strange lately? Maybe your default search engine or other browser settings changed, or youre getting suspicious warnings about your computers performance. Are you are seeing ads that dont seem to belong like ones that cover up parts of the webpage or are on a site that doesnt usually show ads?

If so, you may have unwanted software on your computer. Your next step: get rid of any malware.

But how does unwanted software get on your computer in the first place?

If you installed some free software, you may have accidentally downloaded it at the same time. Extra software and sometimes malware can get bundled together with popular free software downloads, and you might not realize what youre getting. To avoid this problem:

For more tips, read more about malware.

Click here to contribute your news or announcements Free

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SCAM ALERT: Beware of Free Software For Your Computer, Tips To Protect Yourself - SpaceCoastDaily.com

Mercedes-Benz is recalling hundreds of thousands of cars in the UK for a software update to reduce their nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

Almost every new diesel bought over the past six years is affected by the move, which the company said was voluntary and would involve owners being contacted to be offered the upgrade.

German owner Daimler said it was taking the action across Europe covering three million vehicles in total.

It refused to give a country-by-country breakdown but said one million were sold in Germany. It is believed the UK numbers are still being finalised.

The UK is one of its biggest customers in the EU - with 170,000 Mercs sold in the country last year alone.

The vehicles affected have diesel engines meeting the Euro 5 standard - implemented in 2011 - and the existing Euro 6 rules which further limited the output of NOx and particulates - blamed for thousands of deaths each year.

Sky News was seeking clarification from the company on whether the upgrade would have any effect on a vehicle's performance such as its acceleration.

Daimler said it was taking the action, at a cost of 190m, to "reassure" customers as many manufacturers move to shun diesel technology in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal of 2015.

VW admitted then it had fitted so-called defeat devices to diesel cars sold in the US to cheat emission testing regimes.

It has since been forced to pay billions in fines and compensation in the US.

The company also remains the subject of criminal and regulatory scrutiny in Europe and is facing civil action by drivers in the UK who are demanding compensation, claiming they were also duped. VW denies it broke EU law.

The controversy prompted VW and its rivals to concentrate their development power on electric and hybrid technology as campaigners demand the brakes are applied to diesel technology on health grounds.

Dr Dieter Zetsche, the head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: "The public debate about diesel engines is creating uncertainty - especially for our customers.

"We have therefore decided on additional measures to reassure drivers of diesel cars and to strengthen confidence in diesel technology.

"We are convinced that diesel engines will continue to be a fixed element of the drive-system mix, not least due to their low CO2 emissions."

Originally posted here:
Mercedes recalls diesel cars for emissions software update - Sky News