SCIENTISTS have come up with a new gadget that lets the iPhone detect CANCER.

Good call ... mobile phone gadget Handyscope can detect skin cancer

The Handyscope, which launches today, plugs into the Apple phone and converts it into a dermatoscope, which doctors use to find skin cancer.

It uses a polarising light to detect whether a mole is abnormal, before taking a picture of it and sending it off to a doctor to check.

Target ... device spots skin cancer

The image can then even be posted off to a second opinion service where world-renowned specialists can weigh in with their view.

Now experts have come out to say it could be very helpful in battling the disease.

Dr David Pye, a researcher based at Salford University, said:

"This is a powerful piece of kit which could be very useful for people in the profession assessing whether a mole is cancerous.

"Sending images around the world for expert diagnosis could be incredibly helpful and this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this before.

"During a mole examination you're looking for things like irregular edges and unusual colouration, which the device would be very good at picking up.

"However, I don't think it will be Joe Bloggs performing examinations at home - this is likely to be for doctors who could do with a second opinion."

Handyscope is made by German-based firm FotoFinder and any data is encrypted and can be password protected to keep it confidential.

At £995 for the gadget and £6.99 for the app needed to use it, the technology is not cheap.

But the firm behind it said the device had the potential to save lives.

Marketing manager Valeska Heinrich said:

"The Handyscope combines the latest communication technology with a sophisticated tool for skin cancer screening, opening up a new era for cancer diagnosis.

"This is a very exciting innovation and the first of its kind in the world. The Handyscope makes skin examinations much more convenient by allowing them to be carried out anywhere.

"The brilliant dermatoscopic photos on-screen show important details at a glance, so a decision can quickly be made on whether a mole is suspicious."

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FROM Apple vs Microsoft to Star Wars vs Star Trek, we look at the top battles for technological greatness. Check down the list and let me know if you have some more tech competitors in you mind...

iPhone Vs Android - One of the most recent tech rivalries, the HTC Dream using Google's Android technology came exploding on to the mobile market to compete with the hugely successful Apple iPhone.

The rivalry is set to be epic owing to the Dream's open-sourced software which allows budding developers to fiddle around with it, while the iPhone already has a strong user fan base.

Microsoft Vs Sony - Fanboys come out to play whenever there's an argument about which gaming system is superior — the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.

Led by Master Chief from the Halo series, Xbox fanboys rejoice in the wide selection of gaming titles and a seriously awesome online community.

Kratos' minions who support the ginormous black monolith argue the PS3 has better graphics, is more dependable and has free online play.

Nintendo Vs Sega - The great console wars of the late '80s and early '90s saw the early battle for supremacy to win over the hearts and minds of gamers.

Leading the charge for Nintendo was Mario, the stumpy yet heroic Italian plumber, while the poster child for Sega was the speedy Sonic the Hedgehog.

Spanning the 8-bit era up to the 16-bit generation, it was a race that Nintendo eventually won / Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games — Sega

HD-DVD Vs Blu-ray - It was a short-lived high-definition war but when the dust settled on the battle between next generation formats it was Blu-ray that emerged triumphant.

The battle for your viewing pleasure took a sharp turn when HD-DVD pulled out of the market and allowed Blu-ray to take over its market share.

Pirates Vs Ninjas - When the epic battle erupts, which side will you choose?

What started out as an innocent question has escalated into one of internet culture's greatest rivalries.

Debate has raged on who exactly would win a fight between the two. Pirate enthusiasts will tell you that a pirate's battleground consists of three quarters of the earth's surface and is well stocked with weaponry.

Ninja enthusiasts claim that ninjas are quick, professional assassins and pirates lack depth perception due to visual impairment and their drunken nature. It doesn't matter anyway, robots own all

Star Wars Vs Star Trek - Wars in the future will not be fought on land or at sea, they will be fought in space — or possibly a very tall mountain.

One of the most enduring outer space battles is whether Star Wars or Star Trek is better.

On one hand you have Captain Kirk and his lack of sexual inhibition and on the other you have a whinging Luke Skywalker flailing a lightsabre with no conviction.

Star Wars fans will argue that Star Trek fans cannot decide who is better — Captain Kirk or Captain Picard — while Star Trek fans would rather face a Klingon Battleship than sit through a Jar Jar Binks monologue / Paramount Pictures/LucasFilm — Industrial Light and Magic.

Microsoft Vs Apple - It's the tech rivalry to end all tech rivalries. For years the computer community has been divided between which is better ¿ PC or Mac.

Both sides will tell you that the other is inferior. PC fans will tell you that Macs are an over-priced gimmick while Mac fans will tell you that PCs are overly vulnerable to viruses and they aren't as stylish as the Mac.

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