Following the release of various other new smart rings this year, Oura has announced the Oura Ring 4, the latest generation of probably the best-known smart ring. It comes with a wide range of changes and new features, plus a brand new design.
Prior to the launch, Jason Russell, vice president of consumer software product at Oura, talked to Digital Trends about the ring, giving us some interesting insights into what makes it special.
“We have improved the comfort for 24/7 wear, we’ve expanded the size range, improved battery life, and we have this incredible new sensing platform,” Russell told Digital Trends, setting the scene for the critical updates.
The Oura Ring 4 is made of titanium, and this time, the metal extends to the underside of the ring, replacing the epoxy resin used for the previous-0generation models. The dome-like 1.3mm-high nubbins have been removed, and the sensors are practically flat at 0.3mm high, increasing overall comfort. The Oura Ring 4 weighs between 3.3 and 5.2 grams, is 7.9mm wide, and is 2.88mm thick. It’s now available in more sizes, ranging between size 4 and size 15.
It’s available in six different finishes: silver, black, Stealth, gold, rose gold, and brushed silver. The Stealth version has a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating, while all the others have a physical vapor disposition (PVD) coating for toughness and scratch resistance. However, the underside of the ring isn’t coated, and titanium is hypoallergenic and skin-friendly. The ring has 100 meters of water resistance and is suitable for swimming. Oura claims the battery will last for eight days, up from seven days for the third-generation Oura Ring, and it comes with its own charging plinth, which should recharge a flat battery fully in 80 minutes.
You may be wondering how the recessed sensors have affected accuracy. Russell explained how accuracy has actually been increased with the new design.
“We designed [the dome sensors] five years ago because of their usefulness for accuracy, and we’ve seen many smart ring makers leverage that same design. You also see some that don’t utilize those domes, which really comes at the expense of accuracy. We’re not willing to sacrifice accuracy, and that’s what’s really remarkable about [the Oura Ring 4] as we’ve lowered the domes, not just while maintaining accuracy, but actually making a huge leap forward using a revolutionary new sensing platform called Smart Sensing.”
Oura
The Smart Sensing algorithm works with the sensors to gather information across 18 different pathways, up from the eight pathways on the Oura Ring Gen 3. The algorithm dynamically adjusts to find the optimal path for increased accuracy. Oura’s own studies indicate the Smart Sensing platform will return a 120% improvement in blood oxygen sensing, a 15% improvement in breathing disturbance accuracy, and fewer gaps in heart rate recording during the day and night. Russell told Digital Trends that the Oura Ring 4 has new LEDs to go with the new algorithm.
“We really want [the Oura Ring 4] to adapt to you,” Russell continued. “The ring can rotate 30 degrees in either direction, and we can still get a good signal. We address all varieties of finger shape and size and get a good signal on them. The titanium interior is helpful for comfort, but it’s also helping for accuracy as it channels light in a more precise way, as it doesn’t create light diffusion or absorb reflected stray light that could happen with the epoxy material and dome configuration.”
To go with the new ring design, Oura has also redesigned its companion app.
“We have introduced 24 new features over the last 18 months,” Russell reminded us. “We’re packing a lot in, and it can be overwhelming. We have reorganized the app with that in mind, putting the focus on holistic health and connecting it with short-term metrics used for Readiness and sleep activity and longer-term metrics like cardiovascular age.”
There are three tabs along the bottom of the app: Today, Vitals, and My Health. Notably, shortcut tabs along the top of the Today screen show familiar Readiness, Sleep, Activity, Heart Rate, Stress, and Menstrual Cycle scores, while the main section below shows current biometrics and progress toward your goals. The Vitals screen provides more in-depth data, while the My Health screen has long-term health metrics such as Stress Resilience, Cardio Age, and ongoing trends.
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All features will be available for all Oura Ring members
There are some changes to existing features, too. The Activity feature has gained automatic heart rate monitoring for 40 activities, up from just five before, complete with heart rate zone tracking and V02 Max monitoring. The stress monitoring feature now includes daily movement and activities, plus manually added tags, for a more informative overview of your daily condition. Tags can be added to a timeline, along with photos of meals, which the app will categorize automatically for meal tracking.
Russell also mentioned that a fertility window feature will launch soon, and that all features will be available for all Oura Ring members. The new app will be made available to current Oura Ring owners over the coming weeks, and the previously iOS-only Oura Labs feature is now available for Android owners too. Digital Trends also confirmed there is no change to the subscription cost, which remains at $6 per month or $70 per year. The Oura Ring 4 comes with one month’s free access to the app.
The Oura Ring 4 starts at $349 and is available for preorder through Oura’s online store today abd will be ready for release on October 15. It’ll also be available through Amazon and in stores including Best Buy, Target, and John Lewis in the U.K. Oura notes that the Oura Ring 3 will continue to be available to purchase until stock runs out, but we’d recommend buying the latest version unless you find it for a considerably lower price. Oura also has a new sizing kit and recommends you use it even if you already own an Oura Ring, as it says Oura Ring 4 sizes may be slightly different.
Its arrival comes after Samsung released the Galaxy Ring, RingConn launched its updated RingConn Gen 2, and Circular made some changes to its Circular Ring Slim. Oura has long been the benchmark for smart rings, and from what we can see at this stage, it has made significant advancements in all areas, from design to accuracy, to help maintain its position with the Oura Ring 4.
In this video I build an open frame network rack from scratch, explaining along the way the each step and the reason I am doing it the way that I am. This is intended for a small business network, not a home residence. I made this video for first time builders, so I try not to assume that you have built a lot of these and that you are looking for some general guidance. With an open frame rack, taking control of the giant pile of wires you end up with is more important than ever – both on the front of the rack and the rear where the cables are entering.
Below are the items I used in this video – these are Amazon links that help me out, but of course you don’t have to use them.
Navepoint 15U Open Frame Rack (Uses cage nuts) – https://amzn.to/46dTCvA
TrendNet 48 Port Blank Keystone Panel – https://amzn.to/3XdrXqg
Ball Grip Cordless Screw Driver – https://amzn.to/3nF48KP
2U Neat patch – https://amzn.to/447oCwa
All in One Crimp Tool – https://amzn.to/3KZn8ez
Crimp Tool Cat6 Jacks – https://amzn.to/3LlllBQ
My toolbag, and its contents:
Bag – https://amzn.to/3QMyV4m
Punch tool – https://amzn.to/3DYWoaW
Crimper from vid – https://amzn.to/3P2KanS
A better crimper – https://amzn.to/3shOOFS
Construction Pen – https://amzn.to/45dOg2m
DeWalt Jab Saw – https://amzn.to/3O8ec9T
Low Voltage Cutout – https://amzn.to/3pELzXP
Voltage Sensor (Always-on version) – https://amzn.to/3LUrO5W
Tape Measure – https://amzn.to/3QHYEea
Cordless Screw Driver – https://amzn.to/3nF48KP
All in One Crimp Tool – https://amzn.to/3KZn8ez
Needle Nose – https://amzn.to/3slXhYs
USB C Flashlight – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RZ9SG8Q/
Those of us still rocking AirPods with Lightning ports finally have a way to upgrade them to USB-C that doesn’t require complicated modifications or the cost of completely replacing the case. Engineer Ken Pillonel has created a smart case for older AirPods models that includes a USB-C charging port on the outside.
The protective cases are made from a durable but flexible 3D-printed plastic and can be installed on an AirPods charging case in about 10 seconds. The USB-C port on the outside passes power along to the AirPods’ Lightning port using some added electronics hidden in the base, but the case is also easily removable should direct access to the Lightning port still be needed.
Pillonel’s USB-C Protection Case is available for the original AirPods all the way up to the AirPods Pro 2.Image: Ken Pillonel
Before buying you’ll want to make sure to double-check that the specific model number listed on your AirPods charging case is compatible with the supported versions specified in each case’s listing.
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Pillonel has developed a USB-C adapter for the original AirPods Max, too.Screenshot: YouTube
Pillonel has also come up with a solution for AirPods Max users who don’t want to spend another $549 for Apple’s new USB-C model. His USB-C External Adapter for the original AirPods Max simply plugs into its Lightning port and hangs off the bottom of the right earcup. It’s not quite as elegant as the protective cases, but it’s small enough to be hard to notice while wearing the headphones out and about.
For a few years now, Pillonel has been waging war on Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, which overstayed its welcome as USB-C became commonplace. In 2021, he released an open-source design for upgrading the iPhone X to USB-C and later revealed methods for upgrading AirPods and the AirPods Max to USB-C. Pillonel does sell electronic kits for upgrading Apple’s wireless headphones on your own, but the new cases and adapter don’t require any hardware mods or soldering skills.
U.S. crude oil prices rose nearly 2% on Thursday for a third consecutive session of gains, as the market braces for Israel to retaliate against Iran.
The risk of oil supply disruptions increases as fighting in the Middle East intensifies, but OPEC+ is sitting on a large amount of spare crude that could step into the breach, according to Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad Energy.
U.S. crude oil has gained 5% this week.
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Here are Thursday’s energy prices:
West Texas Intermediate November contract: $71.53 per barrel, up $1.46, or 2.08%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil is nearly flat.
Brent December contract: $75.29 per barrel, up $1.39, or 1.88%. Year to date, the global benchmark has fallen more than 2%.
RBOB Gasoline November contract: $2.0242 per gallon, up 1.93%. Year to date, gasoline has pulled back nearly 4%.
Natural Gas November contract: $2.0243 per thousand cubic feet, up 1.98%. Year to date, gas has gained more than 16%.
“This spare capacity is for now preventing runaway prices amid one of the deepest and most pervasive crises in the Middle East in the past four decades,” Galimberti told clients in a Thursday note.
OPEC+ spare capacity would be sufficient to cover a disruption to Iran’s exports if Israel strikes the Islamic Republic’s oil infrastructure as retaliation for Tehran’s ballistic missile attack, said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at the Swedish bank SEB.
But traders would begin to worry about supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Schieldrop said. “That would add a significant risk premium to oil,” he told CNBC’s “Street Signs Europe.”
As a consequence, oil prices could surge to $200 per barrel if Israel hits Iran’s oil infrastructure, he said.
Most of us have worked under a less than tech-savvy leader at some point or another, but new research suggests C-suite executives are specifically targeted as they often represent an organizations ‘weakest security link.’
Executives have access to critical information and sensitive data, but a tendency to store it on personal devices, making them a target for hackers, and a survey by GetApp has revealed that 72% of US senior executives have been targeted by cyberattacks in the last 18 months.
Attacks are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated, with a 29% increase in scams, piracy, and fraud targeting executives in the last year. Worryingly, impersonation scams in particular have seen a 26% rise.
Deepfake impersonations
Given the development of deepfake technology and its deployment against businesses, this could have dire consequences. Millions of dollars have already been lost to cybercriminals this year, and 27% of attacks on senior officials have used AI-assisted deepfakes – highlighting just how critical the threat is.
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“The targeting of the C-suite is a strategy for cybercriminals seeking maximum impact. What many organizations fail to realize is that the security of their top leadership needs to be a priority at all times. C-level executives need to be aware of threats beyond the corporate environment,” says Andrius Buinovskis, cybersecurity expert at NordLayer.
To mitigate the risks, 87% of IT and cybersecurity professionals think senior executives should receive more training than other employees, and security experts recommend proactive approaches to digital security.
Cybersecurity remains a top concern for many organizations, with budgets expanding due to the demand for the protection of C-suite communications and for firms as a whole. As the threat landscape becomes more complex, companies will have to develop more robust security measures to protect their data.
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According to Jonathan Haidt’s bestselling book The Anxious Generation, the proliferation of smartphones and subsequent exposure to social media among children and young people has harmed mental well-being, resulting in an “anxious generation”. Hence Haidt’s title.
However, a closer look at the data reveals that such thinking is aimed in the wrong direction. The meaning and causes of increased rates of anxiety in young people remain complex and unclear. But simply put, when it comes to phones and modern tech, it is often parents who are the overly anxious ones, not their children.
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