The FDA is investigating an app that lets users do self-administered urine tests to check for conditions such as diabetes.

In a letter written to Biosense Technologies Private Limited, the creator of uChek Urine analyzer, the FDA asks for proof of FDA clearances for the app. Here is an excerpt from the letter:

Since your app allows a mobile phone to analyze the dipsticks, the phone and device as a whole functions as an automated strip reader.  When these dipsticks are read by an automated strip reader, the dipsticks require new clearance as part of the test system.  Therefore, any company intending to promote their device for use in analyzing, reading, and/or interpreting these dipsticks need to obtain clearance for the entire urinalysis test system (i.e., the strip reader and the test strips, as used together).

Uchek, which launched this past winter, boasts that it gives users the ability to analyze their own urine samples and check for medical conditions without having to go to the doctor. Like at the doctor’s office,  a user pees into a cup and then dips a test strip into the cup. The strip will change color and users can match the strip with the app to analyze the results based on a color system. (Via The Los Angeles Times).

What will the world look like when more people have Google Glass?

This parody video imagines what a Google Glass viewer will look like shooting footage at a flower garden, rock concert or even a wedding. One reader disagreed with the hilarious video:

Glass’ Camera is not meant to be used for recording/capturing videos/photos that we MEAN & EXPECT to record, it is created for the moments when we are NOT READY with a camera in our hands. That’s why all of the things he showed us will continue being recorded by normal cameras, maybe except the pianist because he would really wear a Glass.

Mobile developer Bipper has released a free app called bSafe that lets you turn your smartphone into the ultimate safety device. Using the app you can push one button, to alert predefined contacts that you are in danger and share your location with them.

bSafe automatically sends a text message to your list of preselected contacts with a link to a map of your location, and will automatically call 911 or a personal contact of your choice. For non-emergency situations, the app also has a “Follow Me” feature that lets selected friends and family members follow along with you by GPS when you are alone.

It’s a great idea for people going on a blind date. It even gives users the ability to simulate an incoming call, a great excuse to leave if things aren’t going well.

Can’t be there to put your child or grandchild to bed? StorySticker lets you do create audio recordings of yourself reading their favorite book so that they can listen to your voice at bedtime.

The StorySticker audio book works through the combination of an app and a unique coded sticker that attaches to the inside of any children’s book. You can buy the stickers at a book retailer and paste it into your child’s book. Then you can download the free app and follow the prompts to record your reading. The recording is linked with the sticker and your child can hear your recording by scanning the StorySticker code or by selecting the book within the app.

stkr.it will introduce the StorySticker product line at BookExpo America in New York this week. “The joy of reading a physical book with a child is universal,” stated Mike Newman, president of stkr.it.  “StorySticker creates that joy for out of town grandparents and traveling parents – anytime, anywhere. With StorySticker, any children’s book can become a personal audio book.”

AboveAverageNetwork has created a parody video making fun of Kickstarter projects. The video is for a fake new social media app called iNotRacist.

The app lets users prove how “not-racist” they are by awarding them points every time they do something nice for someone of another race and then compare their points to their friends and family. Opening doors, dating and even voting for people of another race earns users points.

The video is the first in a series of Thingstarter videos produced by Broadway Video’s Above Average Network.

Looking for a Netflix streaming movie to watch this weekend? Online content-smith Mike Brunson has created a massive flowchart helping you explore Netflix streaming based on your mood.

We’ve embedded the complete infographic below–what’s your favorite? Answer a few simple questions and you can find a film to watch this holiday weekend:

I’ve done Google searches myself for “the best movies on Netflix” or “what to watch on Netflix” and nothing has ever actually helped. Instead I found myself looking through lists of the “top 100 movies” or “top 100 shows of all time”, picking ones to watch, then hoping they were available on Netflix. Since I can’t be alone in this struggle to choose something worth watching, I took those very same top 100 lists and made a flowchart with the titles actually available on Netflix … The availability of content on Netflix changes daily, and is dependant on your physical location. This flowchart was made based on the Netflix titles available in the US as of May 4th 2013.

Read more

The Silk interactive app turns gestures into colorful drawings, and you don’t have to be an artist to make something beautiful. There are minimal but effective controls for color, symmetry, spiral mode, and mirror mode. You can change and combine the effects for various drawing results. Most of my drawings tend to look like neon, interstellar snowflakes.

Once you are done with your drawing, you can save or share it. The Silk app has an original music score created especially for Weave Silk, so put on your headphones and start creating!

Amazon has expanded the Amazon Appstore globally and it is now available in almost 200 countries including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain,China and Japan, and it will soon arrive in Brazil. As part of the promotion of its Appstore expansion, Amazon is making the popular apps Fruit Ninja by Halfbrick Studios available for free on May 23 and Cut the Rope: Experiments by ZeptoLab available for free on May 24.

Amazon has also expanded the availability of the Kindle Fire, and will make it available in more 170 new countries on June 13. The Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HD 8.9” are now available for preorder in Ireland, Gibraltar, Austria, Monaco and Luxembourg.

“Kindle Fire HD is the No. 1 best-selling item in the world for Amazon since its launch, and we’re thrilled to make it available to even more customers around the globe today,” stated Dave Limp, VP, Amazon Kindle.

Twitter is a great place to share your thoughts and idea and for those of you that want to save your tweets page for posterity, there are a number of companies that will let you create print books out of your Twitter pages.

We’ve put together a list of five of these companies that will print out your favorite tweets, Twit pics and Twitter conversations, so that you can save them as a book. Below find our list of companies with descriptions about what their services do and a link back to their sites.

5 Tools That Will Turn Your Twitter Page Into A Book

1. Twournal: “Twournal allows you to create, buy and sell twitter books printed from your tweets. All Twournals have color covers, can include replies and photos from services such as Twitpic and Yfrog in color or black and white. You can choose a custom picture for your front cover. Select which tweets you want to start and end at. And you can add a dedication message to appear after your title.” Read more