Last night Apple chairman, co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs passed away. Few have done as much to bring about the rise of mobile devices in healthcare. Apple devices are the most popular ones among healthcare professionals. Few have done as much to make possible the market for mobile health services. Jobs passed last night, the day after the launch event for Apple's iPhone 4S.

R.I.P.

"[iPads] are also showing up in hospitals, where medical professionals are using them to access patient records, to review medical images, to administer bedside care," Apple's recently appointed CEO Tim Cook said at the iPhone 4S launch event this week. "Over 80 percent of the top hospitals in the US are now testing or piloting iPad, and it doesn't stop here, in fact. From the board room to the back room -- and everywhere in between -- iPad is showing up. At this point -- and this is a stunning number -- 92 percent of the Fortune 500 companies are testing or deploying iPad. This is in less than 18 months. It is unheard of."

Unfortunately, one of the few journalists live blogging Cook's presentation left out the word "top" in the quote above. The blogger over at Engadget wrote that "80 percent of the hospitals in the US" were piloting or testing the iPad. That would have been a staggering figure. An unbelievable one even. Unfortunately, many did believe it. Many retweeted the quote on Twitter or posted it on other blogs.

The actual quote certainly is a head scratcher. What does "80 percent of the top hospitals" really mean? How many is that, anyway? Eight out of the top ten? Whose top ten?

Apple hasn't live streamed a video feed of its presentations in recent years, so its up to those few bloggers in attendance to report in real-time on Apple's announcements. It is at times a frustrating filter.

For example, we reported this week that the new iPod nano had improved its fitness features so that it was easier to use with Nike+. That is true: The new iPod nano leverages its accelerometer to estimate steps taken on walks and runs. Users can upload this tracked data after they work out in their NikePlus.com account by plugging the new iPod nano into a PC.

The new iPod nano does not require a user to have a Nike+ sensor in their sneaker. As Apple SVP for worldwide marketing said:

"And fitness, of course is one of the most popular uses for the [iPod] nano. You can use it when you go to the gym, when you go on one of those walks, [and] a lot of people like to run with their iPod nano. So we have improved the fitness experience as well. Now, right out of the box with the iPod nano, you can go on not only a walk but a run as well without adding any extra sensors or devices -- right out of the box. You go for your run, come back, plug your nano into your Mac or PC, and you can upload all your data about your run right into NikePlus' website and track all of your runs over time, look for achievements, compete with friends. It's a really great way to get fit."

Last year Apple introduced a similar looking iPod nano with a pedometer powered by an accelerometer, but the device required an extra dongle to connect to the user's Nike+ sensor in their sneaker. The new generation of iPod nano just uses the sensors it has embedded.

So, yes, the iPod nano just became an even simpler and easier to use fitness device. Look out, Fitbit and BodyMedia.

And, no, 80 percent of US hospitals aren't testing iPads, but already some 30 percent of US physicians own one. Isn't that impressive enough?

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