Maybe some things shouldn't be replaced by technology

The Guardian reported this week that the U.K. Clinical Research Collaboration is in the process of developing a way for people to test themselves for sexually transmitted diseases using their mobile devices. If they are successful, users will be able to place their own urine or saliva on a small computer chip that plugs into the mobile device, which will then produce the test results.

According to the Guardian, the app is being produced with technology-savvy young people in mind – those that experts say may be too embarrassed to go to the doctor to be tested though their age group has the highest rate of STDs. The test is meant to be private and quick, much like a drug store pregnancy test, and to reduce the growing number of STDs, which have increased in frequency over the last decade in the U.K.

Appadvice points out that this news may mean one day doctorâ€s offices could be obsolete, or at least less frequently visited. If the average person can test themselves for an STD, whoâ€s to say people wonâ€t diagnose themselves and print out their prescriptions in the future?

We donâ€t see that happening until sometime very far into the future, and the app being developed does not seem to include a way for people to treat themselves in private as well. This could mean it will not actually reduce the rate of STDs. If someone is too embarrassed to see a doctor to be tested, they may be too embarrassed to be treated as well.

And now that weâ€ve discussed all the particulars can we take a minute to talk about how inserting your own urine or spit into your mobile phone is disgusting? Weâ€re sure the creators will have some way to keep the process totally sterile and clean, but weâ€re not planning on sticking anything up against our cheeks and ears that has once housed our own pee. Trying to stop the growing rate of infection any way possible is a great idea and should be commended, but how about educating young people about STD prevention and coming up with ways to make them feel more comfortable talking to their doctors instead?

Zazu, on the other hand, plays that sound or music, but also speaks to you.  The app will read headlines to you from select RSS feeds, give the local weather, or tell the user their day’s agenda.  The free version of the app will let users select from ten select RSS feeds including The Huffington Post and Engadget.  When the premium version launches users will be able to select their own feeds other than the preset ten options.

Just being realistic, talking can put most people to sleep (how many times have you dozed off while the TV’s on?). If there’s a voice that’s annoying enough to wake you from your sleep, but tolerable enough to want to listen to over and over though, it could be a suitable replacement for the usual blaring alarm that shocks you awake.

The app is launching in private beta sometime next week for Android, with the full release coming a bit after that.  While the first version of the app will be for Android 1.6 and up, Zazu Mobile hopes to bring the app to to all platforms including the iPhone and Windows Mobile.  While a premium version of the app is planned before the end of the year, the company is unsure of the price.  The app could range from $5 to $10.

Spotify, the European music streaming service is adding some new plans, as it launches into a new country.  Unfortunately for Americans, that country is the Netherlands.  The plans, however, might be another indication that the service is looking into the US market.

The new plans are called Spotify Unlimited and Spotify Open.  Spotify Unlimited will cost users £5, or the equivalent thereof, for unlimited, ad-free streaming to a single computer, not unlike how MOG works for US customers.  Spotify Open doesn’t need any payment or even credit card information.  It includes 20 hours of listening per month to anyone that lives within a country that supports Spotify {Spotify}.

The problem with Spotify, for would-be American users is that despite constant promises from Spotify and it’s purchase of US servers in March, there is still no planned launch date.  We’ve already gone through a few this year alone ranging from “early 2010” to “Spring,” “Q3” and the latest “before the end of the year” {Wired}.  As Wired points out the new plans are similar to the sort of deals that the RIAA approves for other services such as MOG.  Meanwhile, MOG is working on a mobile app that could possibly be similar to Spotify, Rhapsody continues it’s service, and rumors are flying of Apple announcing an iTunes streaming service sometime soon {Gizmodo}.

If Spotify fails to get in the US market soon and either MOG or Apple come out with high-quality mobile apps that do the same thing, the chance could be easily lost.  Despite it’s social features, Spotify likely can’t win unless it has a presence before Apple expands their iTunes offerings.

Today, Microsoft’s KIN phones will be released on Verizon Wireless to masses of “generation upload” users dying to get their hands on the social network-centric devices.  The phones themselves actually aren’t bad, the KIN ONE, despite the odd form is actually a cute-looking phone.

The problem many would have with the phones is that both come with $30 a month data plans, the same plans that come with all other Verizon smartphones.  That means that the phones will cost at least $70 a month to use.  For phones directed at mainly teenagers, adding a mandatory data plan that costs as much as say a Droid Incredible or Motorola Droid doesn’t make much sense.

Microsoft has responded to those claims by saying that the KIN phones will eventually have apps.  The apps would be the same as the apps on the upcoming Windows Phone 7 as the two platforms merge {Electronista}.  For now, however the phones remain app-less.  The plan for KIN is actually a bit reminiscent of the original iPhone, with no apps outside of the built-in Apple apps.  That doesn’t mean the KIN phones will reach the popularity of the iPhone, but the promise of something more than the current basic options is intriguing.

It wouldn’t be surprising, though, if the KIN phones, as they merged with the Windows Phone 7 encounter the same issues that Android phones are encountering with fragmentation.  The KIN ONE, with it’s smaller screen might have trouble running apps built for larger screens, which could lead to confused or frustrated users.  It happens now with the wide range of Android versions being used right now, and hopefully Microsoft has a way around the problem that doesn’t leave out those who buy the KIN phones on the promise of apps in the future.

Image {HighTech Review}