The Oura Ring is a fitness tracker popular among athletes, business execs, and celebrities.Fitness reporter Rachel Hosie has used one for four years and was originally attracted by its look.Oura ``Rings provide sleep data, step counts, and menstrual cycle tracking.When I first learned about a new fitness-tracking smart ring four years ago, it wasn't the promise of high-tech features that most piqued my interest, it was the look.As someone who enjoys both fashion and fitness, I didn't think the wrist-worn devices I'd encountered as a health reporter, such as the Whoop strap, Apple Watch, and Fitbit, were attractive enough for me to wear all day every day, to everything from the gym to a wedding.But the Oura Ring, which just looks like a chunky band (mine is gold but other colors are available), was different.Four years later, the look is still important to me, but it's the increasingly clever features that mean I still wear an Oura Ring.Launched in 2013, the Oura ring's popularity has soared in recent years and can be spotted on the hands of athletes, business execs, and celebrities. Last December, the Finnish company announced that its valuation had doubled to $5.2 billion since 2022, thanks to $200 million in new funding. Various brands have launched their own smart rings in recent years but Oura still leads the pack.At $349 to $399 for the latest Oura 4 model, plus a $5.99-a-month subscription, it's not cheap, but neither is an Apple Watch, which can cost as much as $799 for the top model.A few years ago, people were always surprised when I told them my ring was an activity tracker. Now everyone from the saleswoman at a jewelry counter to my sports teammates ask me if I'm wearing an Oura Ring and what it's like.Here are the pros and cons of the Oura Ring that I've found after four years of wearing one. The Oura Ring shows all the data it collects on the app. Oura Con: You can't really wear an Oura Ring while weightliftingWhile the look of an Oura Ring is a big selling point to me, a wrist strap would be better for strength training, which is the bread and butter of my exercise.For movements like deadlifts and pull-ups, I take my ring off as it pinches my skin.However, I'm only interested in tracking the weights I use and reps in workouts, which trackers can't do and so I log separately.Pro: The Oura Ring tracks my daily movementsI love that my Oura Ring picks up all my movement throughout the day, including my steps (a metric the Whoop strap, for example, doesn't track). And it's perfectly comfortable to wear, say, on a run, which is when I like to know my heart rate.The Oura Ring can track various activities, and it's remarkably good at knowing what you've done, from cycling to rowing. It even picks up housework as an activity, which I think is a fantastic way to remind people that all daily movement, not just formal exercise, is important.It also picks up restful moments, including naps if I were much of a napper.Although my ring's battery life has slightly worsened with time, I only have to charge it for about an hour every few days.While some people like having a screen on their device, data collected by the Oura Ring is shown on an app. I like being able to check mine when it suits me. Jennifer Aniston has been spotted wearing an Oura Ring. James Devaney/GC Images Pro: Oura Rings provide detailed sleep dataOura Rings are generally considered to be among the most accurate wearables for tracking sleep, and it's really interesting to see not just how long I've slept in total but also the split between sleep phases, how long it took me to fall asleep, and the overall quality.Research by the University of Oulu in Finland found that the Oura Ring measures resting heart rate at 99.9% reliability compared to a medical-grade electrocardiogram. Oura supported the study by providing equipment and software, and some of the authors were employed by Oura. However, the company was not involved in the study's design or collection and analysis of the results.Shortly after waking up, I find myself reaching for the Oura app to see how I slept, rather than checking in with my body and seeing how I actually feel, which I don't think is a great thing.The sleep data is clever and interesting, but arguably unnecessary for the average person. Wearing a smart ring won't improve your sleep, but it can help you change your habits.Pro: The Oura Ring encourages you to rest Rachel Hosie likes being able to wear her Oura Ring with any outfit. Rachel Hosie Like the Whoop strap, the Oura Ring was one of the first smart devices not just to push people to move more but to help users balance recovery with activity. If you're not well rested, Oura will suggest taking it easy.I like that it promotes balance, but most people can only exercise at certain times and don't necessarily have the luxury of waiting for the next day when their Oura Ring might say they're in a better place to train.That said, it's no bad thing to factor in that perhaps you should do a slightly lighter session.Pro: The temperature sensors can tell you if you're sickOura Rings are very sensitive to body temperature, and this is one of the methods they use to determine when you're feeling tired and where you are in your menstrual cycle.These features are really smart I've heard various Oura users say their rings know they're going to get ill before they do, and studies support this. Similarly, mine has alerted me when my period is going to be a few days late based on my temperature.I take Oura Ring data with a pinch of saltWhile I do believe the Oura Ring is one of the most accurate wearables available, I also know to take all the data with a pinch of salt, and I won't live or die by what it tells me.This is what Livvy Probert, a personal trainer, sports scientist, and head of science at personal health assessment company Hawq Score, previously told me. Wearable tech like Oura Rings are great for monitoring your own sleep and activity trends and progress, but because accuracy can't be guaranteed, you shouldn't necessarily read too much into the numbers.

What is PlayStation working on? (Sony Interactive Entertainment)A reader tries to work out exactly what games Sony is currently working on and comes up with a minimum number of 16.The last few years havent been much fun for PlayStation 5 fans. So few announcements, so few new games, and no real word from Sony as to what theyre doing (or not doing) especially when it comes to live service games. Its been anyones guess whats going and with no sign of a State of Play yet for 2025 it doesnt seem as if anythings going to change suddenly.The reason people are getting upset is that this never used to be how they did things and there doesnt seem any reason why theyve changed. Sony has a lot of first party developers and yet we hardly know for sure what any of them are doing right now. So I decided to go through them all and it seems to me theres a bare minimum of 16 games currently underway.16 games and yet we only officially know about four of them. Four, and all of them only through short pre-rendered trailers. Its bizarre and I just dont know how this is meant to benefit anyone, least of all Sony. So, heres the list by my reckoning. Ive probably missed out some, and some developers may be working on more than one thing at once, so the real number could be quite a bit more.Intergalactic: The Heretic ProphetNaughty Dog announced their new game at The Game Awards last month: some kind of third party sci-fi game thats also a new IP.The Last Of Us Part 3Naughty Dog has said theyre working on multiple single-player games at the moment, and I cannot believe that one of them is not a third Last Of Us game.Santa Monica Studio new IPWe know the makers of Santa Monica are making a new IP because they put job ads out for it just recently. Theres no clue what it is, but it might be sci-fi.New God Of WarThis goes without saying but there was a new job listing for this as well. It might just be a half-sequel, but either way its a new game.Ghost Of YteiHurrah! An actual officially announced game that we know is definitely coming out this year. Sadly, its the only one on the list.Bend Studio new IPThe makers of Days Gone have been said to be working on a new open world IP for a while, but definitely not Days Gone 2.Marvels WolverineOfficially announced but because of the hack last year it sounds like its had some trouble. Id hope theres still a chance it could come out this year though.Venom gameThis was rumoured to be a half-sequel like Miles Morales, but I havent heard anything about it since the hack, so this might be the only one on this list that doesnt happen. Especially as the voice actor died.Bluepoint GamesThey havent had a new game since the Demons Souls remake, but they said theyre working on a new IP so Im all for that.Fairgame$Another actually announced game! Although Im not sure anyone actually cares about this new live service game.Horizon multiplayer gameThis has been rumoured for ages, but I havent seen anything to say its been cancelled or anything after the failure of Concord.Horizon 3Theres no way this isnt happening and since Guerrilla Games hasnt announced anything new you can only assume its their next big project.Media Molecule new IPShockingly, the makers of LittleBigPlanet havent been shut down but are apparently working on a new IP.Housemarque new IPAnother studio whose last game was years ago (Returnal) but hasnt announced anything else new, despite saying theyre making a new IP.Gran Turismo 8Another dead cert, at some point at least, but either way Polyphony Digital has got to be working on something new. Unless Sony is paying these companies to be sitting there twiddling their thumbs.More TrendingNew Astro BotAnother guaranteed sequel and even if its not Team Asobi are obviously going to be working on something new and given the success of Astro Bot probably with a much bigger budget.By reader Zeiss Astro Bot the best game of 2024? (Sony Interactive Entertainment)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

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Online multiplayer has developed as a standard for many multiplayer games due to convenience. One factor that isnt always included is crossplay, the ability to connect between different gaming platforms. It helps to lengthen a game's lifespan for easier online communication, which helps avoid punishing players for using a platform that might have lower online activity.

Halo. Possibly the biggest name in sci-fi gaming, and instantly recognizable to many gamers. Whether they grew up with Halo 3 LAN parties, the overwhelming terror of The Flood in Halo: Combat Evolved, or started a little later with Halo 4 or one of 343's other entries, most gamers will admit that the single-player experience of Halo as a franchise has always been iconic.

The world of Miraland in Infinity Nikki is full of exciting mysteries for players to discover, and of course, plenty of fashion to show off as well. Nikki's neverending pursuit of becoming the top stylist is what has kept the game's player community engaged since its record-breaking launch in December 2024. To help all of those top-quality ensembles come to life, however, it comes down to finding all the required crafting resources.

I will avoid unconfortable enemy units as soon as I notice them (regardless if they get to fire at me or not).That's an argument, yes.It was just a vague impression of mine, just for feedback. It is (or was) very common in games that NPCs react instantly and thus too quickly. I choose open the door from a multiple chioce dialogue menu, and as soon as i click on the sentence i already see the NPC acting and hear the sound effect instantly and the door open