Latest news with #AlexLee
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
The Oura ring is my favorite fitness tracker and it has a rare $100 saving
As a fitness editor, I've tried pretty much every wearable out there. From the all-new Whoop 5 to the Apple Watch, I love a fitness tracker and I've tested them all. They range in price and what they offer in terms of features and of course, some are more impressive than others. However, there's one device I've personally been wearing solidly for years — the Oura ring (was $299, now $199, My Oura ring has never let me down. I use it to track my sleep, energy levels, menstrual cycle, and recovery and this tiny, chic device has helped me take my health and wellbeing to new heights. The only drawback with the Oura ring is that for some, this smart ring can be expensive. But, that's no longer an issue as the Oura ring gen 3 now has a saving of $100. The Oura ring 4 ($349, was voted the best smart ring on the market by senior tech writer Alex Lee and despite Samsung recently launching its Galaxy ring, Oura remains a firm favorite for fans of wearables, myself included. I love how the gold finish matches the rest of my jewelry and how lightweight, well-fitting, and easy to wear it is. Of course, you can also get the Oura in silver and cool, minimalist black as well as rose gold. The ring uses sensors inside the band to track variables that feedback information on your sleep quality, heart rate, and a raft of other health markers. To benefit from the discount and learn why I think you should invest, keep scrolling. If you're shopping for a tracker that simply measures fitness levels, there are plenty to choose from, but what makes the Oura ring special is that it offers much more. Not only is it small, lightweight, and easy to wear, it offers a range of insights that other trackers don't. My favorite features are the daily tags you can add to your activity log and the cycle calendar — which helps track your mood, sleep, and energy levels and predict the coming phases of your cycle. I've also found that I've been able to improve my sleep quality using the Oura ring — the sensors track your heart rate variability to track how long you spend in each phase of light, deep, and REM sleep, and by checking this and adapting the environment in my bedroom, taking my supplements at different times and going to bed earlier, I've been able to improve my overall sleep scores and rest better thanks to the ring. While the ring and subscription to the app aren't exactly cheap, this has been one of the most worthwhile investments I've made for my health. The deal on the third-generation Oura ring is impressively low and this is likely because Oura recently launched the ring 4. So, should you buy the newer model over the less expensive ring 3 that's on sale right now? Well, this all depends on what you're looking for in a smart ring. Both the Oura ring 3 and 4 are titanium-based, but the inside of the newer version is now wrapped in high-grade metal instead of the plastic used on the gen 3. The Oura ring 4 is also lighter, at 3.3-5.2g (depending on size), compared with 4-6g. While both versions of the ring promise to deliver similar metrics and insights, the ring 4 features an improved sensor platform that sits flusher with the ring, and it has an improved battery life, which is up to eight days, compared with the ring 3's seven days. In his review of the latest Oura ring, tech expert Alex said: 'The main benefit that the Oura ring 4 provides, compared with the gen 3, is improved durability, comfort and accuracy. This isn't a generational upgrade over the Oura ring 3, merely strengthening its position as the best smart ring out there for sleep tracking and recovery.'
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
The Oura ring is my favorite fitness tracker — and it has $100 off in the Memorial Day sales
As a fitness editor, I've tried pretty much every wearable out there. From the all-new Whoop 5 to the Apple Watch, I love a fitness tracker and I've tested them all. They range in price and what they offer in terms of features and of course, some are more impressive than others. However, there's one device I've personally been wearing solidly for years — the Oura ring (as $299, now $199, My Oura ring has never let me down. I use it to track my sleep, energy levels, menstrual cycle, and recovery and this tiny, chic device has helped me take my health and wellbeing to new heights. The only drawback with the Oura ring is that for some, this smart ring can be expensive. But with the Memorial Day sales already in full swing, that's no longer an issue. The Oura ring gen 3 now has a saving of $100. The Oura ring 4 was voted the best smart ring on the market by senior tech writer Alex Lee and despite Samsung recently launching its Galaxy ring, Oura remains a firm favorite for fans of wearables, myself included. I love how the gold finish matches the rest of my jewelry and how lightweight, well-fitting, and easy to wear it is. Of course, you can also get the Oura in silver and cool, minimalist black as well as rose gold. The ring uses sensors inside the band to track variables that feedback information on your sleep quality, heart rate, and a raft of other health markers. To benefit from the discount and learn why I think you should invest, keep scrolling. If you're shopping for a tracker that simply measures fitness levels, there are plenty to choose from, but what makes the Oura ring special is that it offers much more. Not only is it small, lightweight, and easy to wear, it offers a range of insights that other trackers don't. My favorite features are the daily tags you can add to your activity log and the cycle calendar — which helps track your mood, sleep, and energy levels and predict the coming phases of your cycle. I've also found that I've been able to improve my sleep quality using the Oura ring — the sensors track your heart rate variability to track how long you spend in each phase of light, deep, and REM sleep, and by checking this and adapting the environment in my bedroom, taking my supplements at different times and going to bed earlier, I've been able to improve my overall sleep scores and rest better thanks to the ring. While the ring and subscription to the app aren't exactly cheap, this has been one of the most worthwhile investments I've made for my health. The deal on the third-generation Oura ring is impressively low and this is likely because Oura recently launched the ring 4. So, should you buy the newer model over the less expensive ring 3 that's on sale right now? Well, this all depends on what you're looking for in a smart ring. Both the Oura ring 3 and 4 are titanium-based, but the inside of the newer version is now wrapped in high-grade metal instead of the plastic used on the gen 3. The Oura ring 4 is also lighter, at 3.3-5.2g (depending on size), compared with 4-6g. While both versions of the ring promise to deliver similar metrics and insights, the ring 4 features an improved sensor platform that sits flusher with the ring, and it has an improved battery life, which is up to eight days, compared with the ring 3's seven days. In his review of the latest Oura ring, tech expert Alex said: 'The main benefit that the Oura ring 4 provides, compared with the gen 3, is improved durability, comfort and accuracy. This isn't a generational upgrade over the Oura ring 3, merely strengthening its position as the best smart ring out there for sleep tracking and recovery.'
The Independent
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Our favourite budget portable air conditioner is at its lowest ever price
If the mini May bank holiday heatwave has left your house feeling stuffy and an electric fan isn't cutting it, now might be a good time to invest in a portable air conditioner. Luckily, we've spotted a fantastic deal on our best smart portable conditioner, the Black+Decker 5000 BXAC40023GB, which puts it at its lowest ever price. The portable air conditioner has smart app controls so you can turn it on and off, increase the speed or put it in sleep mode, all from your phone. Our eagle-eyed deal hunters spotted it reduced by £90 on Amazon today – smart portable air conditioners don't come cheap, so this is a good offer to take advantage of if you've been thinking about buying one. A portable AC unit can be a pricey purchase, with our top model reaching almost £400. This can increase depending on the appliance's British Thermal Units (BTUs) – higher BTU models can cool a larger space, but they come with a higher price tag. If you spot an air conditioner with a discount like this, it could be worth buying. The smart portable air conditioner originally cost £399.99, but dropped to £289.99 this time last year and has stayed at this price since. A further reduction now puts it at £199, which is its lowest ever price and 50 per cent off its original RRP. Our tester and senior tech critic Alex Lee put the Black+Decker 5000 BXAC40023GB air conditioner to the test in his flat, which has been known to reach up to 30C in heatwaves. He praised its portable, lightweight design and range of settings, with cooling, dehumidifying and standalone fan modes. 'It's not the most powerful air conditioner unit,' he said. 'But it managed to cool down our small office room in about 45 minutes.' It's not perfect – Alex found it was quite loud, for example – but if you've got a small space to cool, this is a good deal to snap up. If you miss the deal on Amazon, you can also get your hands on the portable conditioner at Curry's and Very for £199.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cat declawing bill passes California State Assembly
(KRON) — California's Democratic and Republican lawmakers are clashing over several bills in Sacramento this week. One issue, however, received bipartisan support Monday: protecting cat paws. AB 867, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, aims to outlaw cat declawing statewide. The bill passed the California State Assembly floor with a unanimous 72-0 vote. Removing a cat's claws involves amputating the toe bones or severing the tendon controlling its paws, according to Lee's office. 'Cat declawing is a cruel and barbaric surgical procedure that causes lifelong disfigurement and pain,' Lee said. 'Mutilating healthy cats merely for convenience is inhumane and unethical. It's the equivalent of removing a person's fingers at the top knuckle.' Lee said he wrote the bill with inspiration from his own beloved cats, named Udon and Soba. Lee represents the 24th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Fremont, Newark, Milpitas, and San Jose. AB 867 would prohibit the declawing of a cat unless a veterinarian performs the procedure for a medically necessary purpose that benefits the cat's health. 'Scratching is a natural cat behavior, and non-surgical alternatives are available to address inappropriate behaviors such as nail trimming, soft claw caps, and behavioral training,' Lee's office wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
California one step closer to banning cat declawing after bill passes Assembly
The California Assembly has unanimously passed a bill to ban cat declawing in the state. The bill will now go to the state senate. Assembly Bill 867 was authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-Milpitas) and is co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). The bill would only allow declawing if a veterinarian deems it medically necessary. "Cat declawing is a cruel and barbaric surgical procedure that causes lifelong disfigurement and pain," said Lee. "This is a common sense bill reinforcing that cat declawing goes against ethical treatment standards for animals." According to the ASPCA, "Declawing of cats, or onychectomy, is the amputation of the last digital bone, including the nail bed and claw, on each front toe. If the surgery is performed correctly and the entire nail bed is removed, the claw cannot regrow. " The California Veterinary Medical Association is opposed to the bill. They submitted a letter to the chairman of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee saying "The CVMA is deeply concerned that the veterinary profession is being singled out among our fellow healing arts professionals with legislation proposing to ban specific medical and surgical procedures in statute, which is a dangerous precedent. Accordingly, the CVMA respectfully must "oppose" AB 867." According to Lee, cat declawing has been outlawed in New York state, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.
