Purchasing Guidance for Mobile Devices

Overview

This document provides guidance on purchasing devices that support ACP Tools for iOS and Android.

Note: Please coordinate with your IS/IT team before making a choice on which device is best for your project. Careful consideration should be given to security, support, and implementation requirements.

Purchasing a Device

Not all devices are created equal. The cheapest up-front device may cost more for your team to support and lead to frustrating and inconsistent experiences for clinicians and patients.

Meeting Minimum Requirements

In our experience, purchasing devices that deliver consistent, high-quality video playback experiences while honoring internal security and support standards are the best options. Please make sure your device meets our minimum requirements when considering a purchase and that you coordinate with your IT and security teams about this choice.

Device Storage

Devices with 32GB or more of storage are strongly recommended for the best possible experience. The size of our library changes as we add new content. At the time of this writing, it is approximately 9GB. We recommend 32GB or more on any device because many 16GB devices have only ~8GB of free space after taking system usage and other apps.

The storage size of our library changes as new content is added. Because of this, we always recommend you download only the videos you need and not the entire library. Here is a list of our most common videos with sizes for reference:

Name of Video	Average Length	Size	# Videos per 1GB
CPR: General Overview Video	2 minutes	~12 MB	85
Goals of Care: General Overview Video	6.5 minutes	~40 MB	25
Hospice: An Introduction	8.5 minutes	~55 MB	18

Can I upgrade the storage later?

This depends on the device. Apple devices are not upgradable, while some Android devices can be upgraded (with added cost) by adding memory cards. Please consult your device manufacturer for available options and your IS/IT team if removable storage (e.g. an SD memory card) is allowed due to its added security risk.

Should I stream or download videos?

This depends greatly on your network conditions using Wifi or Cellular data. The ACP Tools App can use a significant amount of data to stream videos. If you are interested in conserving data, we recommend downloading the videos you use most. The app does not use a network connection if playing a downloaded video. Please review the Downloading Videos for Offline Use on iOS Devices or Downloading Videos for Offline Use on Android Devices guides for more information.

Do I need a different device depending on cellular data provider (e.g. AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile)?

Your organization may have a dedicated provider for cellular data. If you plan on using cellular data, you must make sure that the device you purchase is compatible with that carrier (e.g. AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile). Android devices and some pre-2017 Apple iPads will require you to purchase a different device specific to the carrier.

Are there devices that will work on any cellular data provider?

Apple's current iPads offer a feature called the Apple SIM which allows the device to work on any carrier.

Comparing Tablet Options

Android provides a page comparing popular Android tablets here.
Apple provides a comparison of their iPad tablets here.

Any devices that support iOS 10+ will work, but we recommend iOS 11 for security and performance reasons.

From our internal testing and feedback from customers, the following devices offer the best experiences:

WiFi and/or Cellular-Capable Devices

WiFi Only Devices

Accessibility for Patients

What is the best screen size?

We recommend evaluating screen size based on the needs of your patient population. Devices with screen sizes of 8 inches or larger are best for patients with low vision.

What about sound and volume?

The smaller the device, the more limited the speakers and power often are. We often recommend external speakers (either Bluetooth or wired) if a device is not loud enough for your purposes.

From the devices above, the loudest options are the Apple 9.7-inch iPad Pro and Apple 12.7-inch iPad Pro due to their 4 large stereo speakers.

Do all devices support subtitles?

Availability of accessibility features may vary between Android manufacturers. Android version 4.4 and above has the most consistent experience. All Apple devices running iOS 10 or iOS 11 support subtitles on.

Do phones work with the ACP Tools App as well?

Yes! We support 5-7 inch screen sizes for Android devices and all iPhones that run iOS 10.3 and iOS 11+.

Infection Control

Before bringing devices into any clinical environment, it is important to have a strategy for infection control. There are many different products (like Easy Screen®Cleaning Wipe by PDI Healthcare) that can be used to sanitize devices and protect your patients.

It is also important to follow the device manufacturer's directions for screen cleaning so the cleaner does not damage the device. Check with your organization and compliance team to determine the right product for your needs.