Latest news with #DrHonPak
GSM Arena
4 hours ago
- Health
- GSM Arena
Samsung considering subscription model for Samsung Health
Earlier this week, Samsung announced the One UI 8 Watch, which will debut with the next Galaxy Watch coming in July. The One UI 8 Watch update brings new Samsung Health features, including Bedtime Guidance, Vascular Load, Running Coach, and Antioxidant Index. While Samsung Health features have been free to use until now, things could change going forward as the Korean brand is considering subscription plans for Samsung Health. In an interview with CNET, Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Health at Samsung, revealed that the company is exploring a premium subscription model for Samsung Health, similar to Garmin Connect Plus or Fitbit Premium, which would require Samsung Health users to pay a monthly subscription fee for advanced features. Basic features will likely remain free. These new advanced features, which could require a subscription, might be included free with premium Galaxy Watches (and possibly even Galaxy Rings), while users of older models would have to pay to access them. Right now, the new Samsung Health features introduced with the One UI 8 Watch are available through a beta program in the US and South Korea for watches as old as the Galaxy Watch5 series. However, their availability depends on whether or not your watch has advanced LED sensors. Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro For example, the Vascular Load and Antioxidant Index features are only available on the Galaxy Watch Ultra, while Running Coach will work with the Galaxy Watch7 or later. It's also worth mentioning that Vascular Load and Antioxidant Index are being introduced as Labs features, meaning they are experimental features and are available as early previews before their stable release. You can read more about the four new Samsung Health features here. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Samsung Galaxy Watch7 Source
Phone Arena
10 hours ago
- Health
- Phone Arena
You might soon have to pay to get the most out of your Galaxy Watch
Galaxy Watch 7 . | Image credit – PhoneArena Samsung's Galaxy Watch lineup already comes packed with a solid set of health and fitness tools – but that is not stopping the company from expanding even further. Just recently, Samsung confirmed a wave of new health-focused features coming with its next-gen Galaxy Watch 8 series. The goal? Helping users improve their sleep, heart health, fitness and nutrition with more personalized insights. But there is something else happening behind the scenes, too. For the first time, Samsung is starting to flirt with the idea of turning parts of its Samsung Health platform into a paid experience. Yep, a premium subscription might be on the way. In an interview, Samsung's digital health chief, Dr. Hon Pak, said the company is seriously considering adding a paid tier to Samsung Health – something along the lines of Garmin Connect Plus or Fitbit Premium. The latter, for example, offers users things like in-depth health analytics, personalized recommendations, guided workouts and more. Samsung didn't go into detail about which features might eventually end up behind a paywall, but the timing of the announcement lines up with the One UI 8 Watch update, expected to arrive publicly alongside the Galaxy Watch 8 launch next nothing has been confirmed yet, the signs are pointing toward a subscription model with a monthly fee. The basics – like standard health and fitness tracking – should still be free for everyone. But the deeper insights and some of the advanced tools? Those could be part of the paid plan. So far, the new health update brings four key features: Antioxidant Index, Bedtime Guidance, Running Coach and Vascular Load. But not every feature will be available on every watch. For example, Antioxidant Index and Vascular Load are exclusive to the Galaxy Watch Ultra and you'll need at least the Galaxy Watch 7 to use the new Running Coach. These are the new health features Samsung revealed. | Image credit – Samsung And while brand-new Galaxy Watch owners might get access to some of these features for free, folks using older models could be nudged toward the subscription route. Of course, we will have to wait and see how Samsung plays this. As for pricing, if we look at what others charge – $6.99/month for Garmin Connect Plus and $9.99/month for Fitbit Premium – I would guess Samsung's offering would probably land somewhere in that range, too. This shift to subscriptions wouldn't be a total surprise. Samsung already said its Galaxy AI features will stay free until the end of 2025, which strongly hints at another paid tier coming after that. And honestly, we are all kind of used to this model by now, right? Whether it is Netflix, Spotify, cloud storage or even AI tools like ChatGPT, subscriptions are everywhere these days. So, is Samsung Health the next app to join your monthly bill? Probably. But let's see what exactly the company decides to lock behind that paywall. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Android Authority
12 hours ago
- Health
- Android Authority
Samsung could soon put some Galaxy Watch features behind a paywall
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung is thinking about a paid Samsung Health subscription, according to a company executive. The executive reportedly likened the offering to Fitbit Premium or Garmin Connect Plus. This news also comes as Samsung inches closer to introducing a paid tier for its Galaxy AI features. Samsung's Galaxy Watch line offers a variety of health and fitness features, and the company is adding even more via the One UI 8 Watch update. Now, Samsung has confirmed that it's thinking about a subscription offering for these features. Samsung's head of digital health, Dr Hon Pak, told CNET that it's considering a paid Samsung Health subscription that would be similar to Fitbit Premium or Garmin Connect Plus. The company didn't specify which features would be placed behind a paywall, but the article generally focused on Samsung's One UI 8 Watch features. Samsung's upcoming watch software offers capabilities like Vascular Load metrics, Bedtime Guidance for sleep, antioxidant detection, and more. Would you buy a Samsung Health subscription? 0 votes Yes, absolutely NaN % It depends on the features NaN % No, absolutely not NaN % The outlet also suggested that new Galaxy Watch models would get the features for free while people with older Galaxy Watches would have to pay to receive them. Samsung's disclosure also comes almost a year after the company first hinted at the possibility of a Samsung Health subscription. Back at the company's July 2024 Unpacked event, Samsung noted that 'currently available' Samsung Health features won't require a paid subscription, but cautioned that 'different terms may apply' for future features. This wouldn't be the only Samsung subscription that could debut in 2025, though. Samsung previously said that its Galaxy AI suite of features would be free until the end of 2025. So don't be surprised if the company announces a paid AI tier later this year. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Health
- Phone Arena
Samsung announces Galaxy Watch upgrades for better sleep, fitness, and recovery
Samsung has just announced new health features for the upcoming Galaxy Watch (which should be the Galaxy Watch 8 series, although the company doesn't specifically say it) aimed at further improving your health and daily habits for a healthier lifestyle overall. The new features are aimed at improving sleep, heart health, fitness, and nutrition. Here are the new features Samsung has announced today: Bedtime Guidance: for optimizing your sleep habits Vascular Load: measuring stress on your vascular system when you sleep Running Coach: strategizing your training Antioxidant Index: measuring carotenoids for healthy aging With these new features, Samsung aims to help you become healthier by motivating you through instant feedback, providing rewards for successes or indicating warning signs. -Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience, Samsung Electronics. Dr. Pak also says that the new insights should lead to meaningful changes in users' lives and health management. Now, let's see exactly how these features work. Image Credit - Samsung Thanks to this feature, your Galaxy Watch will now suggest an optimal bedtime for you. This will be based on your lifestyle and sleep patterns, and your timepiece will also send you reminders to help you stick to a healthier bedtime routine. The feature works by analyzing your past three days' sleep patterns and evaluating your need for sleep pressure and your circadian rhythm. The suggested bedtime should maximize your alertness the next day. You may find this especially useful if you're trying to optimize your sleep after a period of irregular sleep (I find myself in this situation way too often for my own good). This is also super helpful if you have inconsistent sleep schedules between weekdays and weekends (yours truly is also guilty of that). All these factors will be taken into account by the feature, so the suggested bedtime should offer you an adequate amount of sleep. Image Credit - Samsung The Galaxy Watch will measure the amount of stress on your vascular system while you sleep as well. Basically, your vascular system carries blood throughout the body and delivers oxygen, and nutrients, while removing you sleep, stress on your vascular system should naturally dip. However, Samsung notes, that excessive fluctuations can impact your cardiovascular health and overall wellbeing. The feature will measure your vascular load and provide insights, taking into account sleep, exercise, and stress. Image Credit - Samsung Samsung is seeking to support runners with a new feature that should help you avoid getting injuries. Often, people who run can over-pace themselves, or not optimally push themselves. To help with that, Running Coach will offer you optimized-intensity and injury-preventing training suggestions, which makes it ideal for beginners or people who are not running all the time. The feature offers real-time guidance and motivation, providing you with a tailored training program based on your fitness level and your goals. When you wear your watch, you just need to run for 12 minutes for it to analyze your performance and running level. The smartwatch will then give you a running level from 1 to 10. You will also get a detailed training plan to help you complete a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or full marathon, based on your level. When you complete your training session, you'll also level up and have running challenges. Image Credit - Samsung Last, but not least, we have the Antioxidant Index feature. It is aimed at helping you age healthily. Drinking alcohol, smoking, UV exposure, stress and lack of sleep can accelerate agin of your skin by increasing free radicals in the body. These free radicals accelerate aging. Meanwhile, antioxidants are nutrients that are found in many healthy foods. Those neutralize the free radicals and help prevent illnesses and promote healthy aging. With this new Antioxidant Index, your Galaxy Watch will measure carotenoids (antioxidants found in green and orange veggies and fruit and stored in your skin). The Watch's BioActive sensor is used to measure carotenoids in five seconds. Of course, you'll then have insights that can help you improve your daily habits. For example, if you drink carrot juice, the changes in the carotenoids will show up in the index and act as motivation to make healthier choices. All these features are extremely helpful, especially for people like me who would love to improve their health, sleep, and overall wellbeing, but don't really know where to start. And also, needing lots of motivation. Samsung has announced these features for an 'upcoming Galaxy Watch', which is most likely the Galaxy Watch 8 , expected to be announced alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 sometime next month. However, Vascular Load and Antioxidant Indext can also work on the Galaxy Watch Ultra (or later), and the Running Coach feature will be available on Galaxy Watch 7 and later.
CNET
2 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Samsung Gave Me an Inside Look at Its Plan to Help Us Age Better (One Galaxy Watch at a Time)
Samsung is pushing its Galaxy Watch beyond everyday health and fitness tracking and into the realm of preventive care with personalized wellness coaching and a new blood analysis feature that aims to help people fend off disease and support healthier aging. I spoke with Dr. Hon Pak, Samsung's senior vice president and head of digital health, to get a closer look at what's coming to the Galaxy Watch and how it could change how we think about wearables. "There's illness, there's cancer, and so many other conditions that are actually preventable," Pak told CNET. "We know those behaviors are important, but in our busy lives, it's often hard to keep them up. At Samsung, our mission is to meet people where they are and help support those healthy behaviors in a meaningful way." The new tools are expected to debut alongside the next Galaxy Watch in July and include a noninvasive blood test that measures antioxidant levels (or carotenoids), a cardiovascular health assessment, personalized sleep coaching and an AI-powered run assessment with live feedback to help you train smarter. "What we really think we can do is bring this data about sleep, nutrition, activity and stress, and really contextualize it for the user," Pak said. At a time when there are a dizzying number of smartwatches and wearables available for consumers to choose from, Samsung aims to stand out by evolving its Galaxy Watch from a passive tracking device into a proactive health monitor. The goal is to help people take control of their health and keep them on track long-term. With more than 68 million people worldwide on Samsung Health, the company hopes to bridge the gap between that brief snapshot of data collected at the doctor's office and the continuous health data collected by wearables that can help paint a more complete picture of your health. The Galaxy Watch's Antioxidant Index measures antioxidant levels in your body without a blood sample; just your thumb on the sensor. Samsung Antioxidant detection, no needle needed Beta-carotene is just one example of the many naturally occurring carotenoids, or antioxidants found in vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes that can help neutralize toxins (free radicals) in the body, according to National Institute of Health. These toxins -- typically caused by stress, poor diet, smoking and aging -- can build up over time and contribute to serious health problems like cancer, heart disease and premature aging. Currently, one of the most common ways to detect carotenoid levels is through a lab test by having your blood drawn. With a new feature called the Antioxidant Index, the next Galaxy Watch will be able to measure carotenoid levels in the skin instantly without needles or lab work. Instead, you place your thumb on the back of the watch sensor for a few seconds. "This is a non-invasive way to see how your diet and lifestyle may be affecting your antioxidant levels," Pak said. "We use LED light sensors measuring four different wavelengths to detect beta-carotene in the skin. And we've validated the readings [from the Galaxy Watch] against levels in the blood," On the Galaxy Watch, people will receive a score from "low" to "adequate," with some general guidance on habits to improve antioxidant levels. Longer-term, Samsung is working on more targeted AI-driven recommendations tied to specific recipes, supplements, and nutrition plans. "If your levels are low, we might suggest more leafy greens or sweet potatoes," Pak said. "Eventually, we want to tie this to personalized recommendations through nutrition coaching and recipe suggestions." Smarter running tools on the Galaxy Watch create a custom training plan to reach your goals that adapts as you go. Samsung Running Samsung is also debuting a 12-minute run test to help Galaxy Watch owners establish a baseline fitness level, ranging from beginner (level one) to marathon-ready (level 10). Once the assessment is complete, the watch will generate a personalized training plan to help people reach specific distance goals, like running a 10K or half marathon. You'll also get real-time encouragement from an AI coach on the watch to help push you through a run, similar to Apple's new Workout Buddy feature on the Apple Watch. Samsung's AI coach will give guidance verbally like "push a little harder" or "ease up," as well as adapt plans for future workouts based on your performance. As users progress, they'll unlock new training challenges, making the program dynamic and goal-driven. It'll also help you put the training into context by showing you how it's affecting other health indicators already on the watch, like VO2 max, a key indicator of overall fitness. Eventually, these health indicators could be used as training targets instead of just distance goals to map out a training plan. "As we target more athletes clearly, that's going to be something people are going to want to do," Pak said. "That's a teaser for what's to come." The Bedtime Guidance feature on the watch gives you an optimal sleep and wake window that takes into account your individual circadian rhythm and sleep debt. Samsung Sleep Sleep is another core puzzle piece in Samsung's holistic approach to preventive care, and a major indicator of overall health, Pak said. Poor sleep has been linked to serious long-term risks like dementia, cardiovascular disease and obesity. "A lot of body repair happens during sleep, both physical and mental," he said. A new feature called Bedtime Guidance builds on the Galaxy Watch's existing sleep tracking tools, like sleep stage analysis and sleep apnea detection, by offering personalized recommendations for optimal sleep and wake times. It starts with a three-day analysis of your sleep habits to determine your unique circadian rhythm and sleep pressure (also known as sleep debt). From there, the watch provides tailored advice to help improve metrics like total sleep time and energy score based on your own sleep data. Rather than simply sending a generic reminder to get 8 hours of sleep, Bedtime Guidance recommends a personalized sleep and wake window. The goal is to help you recover from nights of poor or irregular sleep and improve alertness during the day. So, for example, if you were jet-lagged, this feature could (in theory) help reduce your sleep debt and get your sleep schedule back on track faster. The Galaxy Watch also takes a more nuanced approach to coaching by factoring in real-world inputs collected by the watch, your Galaxy phone, and other Samsung devices when available. For example, it may suggest improving your sleep environment by lowering the thermostat or making the room darker. "We have SmartThings connected with Samsung, so it can control your environment, things like humidity, temperature, lighting, or even automatically closing the blinds. We also have medical features, like sleep detection. After just a couple of nights, we may be able to detect signs of sleep apnea and suggest that you seek medical care," Pak said. Vascular Load on the Galaxy Watch measures the strain on your heart (or vascular system) during sleep. Samsung Vascular Load measures strain on the heart Another new metric is Vascular Load, which reflects the cumulative stress on your heart and vascular system while sleeping; stress that ideally should decrease overnight. Pak said the Galaxy Watch uses pulse wave analysis and optical sensors to track trends in arterial stiffness and overall cardiovascular strain. These readings are translated into a low-to-high scale to help you understand how behaviors (like sodium or alcohol intake) may be contributing to long-term heart disease risk. "Things like poor sleep, a bad diet or chronic stress can elevate your vascular load," Pak said. "This is one way we're trying to make those connections visible in a meaningful, measurable way." The features will be available on newer watches like the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7, but vary depending on the types of sensors available. John Kim/CNET Who gets these features, and how much will they cost? The new features are part of the One UI 8 Watch, which will be available on the newest Galaxy Watch series starting this month, through a beta program (currently limited to customers in the US and South Korea with a Galaxy Watch 5 or newer). Vascular Load and Antioxidant Index are being introduced as Labs features, which means they're considered experimental and available for early preview before their official release. All of these features are expected to make their official debut with the next Galaxy Watch, which we're expecting to come in July. The availability of each specific feature will depend mostly on whether your Galaxy Watch has the advanced LED sensors necessary to power them. Vascular Load and Antioxidant Index, for example, will be available only on the Galaxy Watch Ultra and later, while the Running Coach feature will require the Galaxy Watch 7 or later. Pricing is also still up in the air. During our interview, the company said it's exploring a premium subscription model similar to Fitbit Premium or Garmin's new Connect Plus that requires a monthly subscription to unlock advanced coaching features. Ideally, the features would be included free with the new watch, while older models could access them behind a paywall. We'll update this article as soon as Samsung shares more details on model eligibility and pricing. The Samsung Health app showing data from the Galaxy Watch Ultra. John Kim/CNET Samsung's future health plans Optically based glucose measurement may not be too far off, Pak suggested. As Samsung continues to explore noninvasive medical testing, it's clear the company sees wearables playing a growing role in day-to-day health tracking and as preventive care. Samsung's goal is to make clinical-level insights accessible at home and turn wearable data into actionable guidance before a problem becomes serious. "We believe wellness isn't just one thing," Pak said. "It's activity, nutrition, mental health, and sleep combined." Whether it all works as intended (and whether people actually stick with it) will depend on Samsung's execution. But one thing is clear, Samsung is making a serious play to turn your wrist into a true health hub.
