Latest news with #JasonRussell
Cosmopolitan
22-07-2025
- Health
- Cosmopolitan
The Oura Ring 4 Fixed My Sleep. Here's My Honest Review in 2025.
I love my Oura ring. Ask any of my friends and they'll tell you that it's become one of my main personality traits over the past year and a half, that if I had a cartoon character, she would have a gold ring on her pointer finger. I'm never seen without it (if I am, get ready to hear a panicked 'Wait… did I lose my Oura ring?' in three… two… one…) and the minimal weight slips below the level of consciousness so it's basically a part of me. In the time since I last updated my 2023 review of the Gen 3 Oura ring, the company released a brand new iteration, the Oura 4. Checks out, as they've historically released a new version every three years. And because of the aforementioned making-it-my-whole-personality thing, I knew I had to do a full test of the new version. After wearing it for six months, I'm ready to give you my full, in-depth, scientifically-proven (okay, I'm not a scientist, but there's lots of ~health data~) review—it's broken down into sections that are easy to scroll through in case you're looking for something specific, with tons of pics and anecdotes about what I loved and didn't love. Note: If you want a more in-depth walkthrough of how I picked out my ring and set it up, you can read the full breakdown in our Oura 3 review here. The fit metrics and process of ordering a size kit are both still the same, just make sure you're specifically ordering the Oura 4 size kit—either on their website or on Amazon! So, the Oura Ring is a health tracker. But what does it actually track? 'The Oura Ring boasts temperature sensors, a suite of LED lights to measure heart rate and blood oxygen, and an activity accelerometer to provide you with accurate insights to support your overall health,' says Jason Russell, Oura's Senior Director of Product. Once data is collected via the sensors, you're given three scores each day to help you interpret your stats at a glance: your Sleep Score, your Readiness Score, and your Activity Score. It's a number out of 100 that grades your sleep, your movement, and how prepared your body is to take on the day based on tons of data points from REM and deep sleep to heart rate variability and your body temperature while you're asleep. You also get a stress rating and resilience rating, and you can opt into Cycle Tracking as well. While the basic concept and experience you know and love is still the same, there are a handful of useful new features that the Oura team rolled out with the fourth-generation ring. And pssst: While the new hardware features are unique to the 4, the software and app updates will be available for anyone with any version of the Oura Ring! First up: Major redesign! The app used to have a fixed design but now, you'll see different stats and scores highlighted depending on what time of day you open up your app. Whatever is most helpful or notable will float up to the top throughout the day, whether it's an exceptional sleep score or an elevated body temperature. Huge news for anyone who doesn't want to get into the weeds of HRV charts and just wants to be given the most important highlights! Visually, the bumpy domes on the inside of the Gen 3 have been removed and replaced with flat sensors for a more comfortable wearing experience. This new ring also has smart sensing and increased accuracy, which didn't pick up on any life changing new data so it wasn't a huge, measurable impact on my life, but someone who tracks their heart rate or body temperature more closely will appreciate this. I also find that the battery lasts a lot longer, allowing me to go several days without charging rather than having to juice it up every other day. I was a perfect size 6 in the Gen 3, so I ordered the size 6 in the Gen 4, but that ended up being so loose that I was experiencing gaps in my data. I exchanged it for a size 5, which I wore on a smaller finger. A word to the wise: Because the Oura 4 has flat sensors on the inside instead of the Oura 3's raised sensors, it's going to be slightly looser even if you get the same size you had before. Don't assume you'll be the same size in the newer Gen 4! To avoid this, order a sizing kit beforehand. And if you have an older Oura ring that you're upgrading, transferring your data over is incredibly easy—just click on the battery signal in the top right corner of your app, hit 'Set up a new ring,' and follow the tutorial (it took me 30 seconds…max). The Oura Ring 4 will cost $349 for Silver or Black, $399 or Brushed Silver or Stealth, or $499 for Gold or Rose Gold. In addition to that, there's a $5.99 monthly subscription cost to use the app that displays and interprets all of your data. Would I say that's cheap? No. But the monthly subscription cost barely makes a dent compared to other health apps (WHOOP costs hundreds per year) so you're really just making a one time investment that you'll be able to wear for a couple years. I'm not proud of it, but I used to check Instagram and TikTok first thing in the morning. Like, as soon as I opened my eyes. I can't say I've fully kicked the phone habit, but I'm no longer going straight to brain rot the second I'm awake, because now I check my Oura app as soon as I wake up to get the full download on my sleep. When you wear the ring overnight, it collects data on when you fell asleep, what sleep stages you were in throughout the night, how your breathing, heart rate, and temperature changed through each phase, and how long you slept for. That's insanely valuable data, people, considering the fact that it's hard to monitor your own sleep while you're, well, asleep. Once you check your app in the morning, you'll receive a sleep score from 0-100 based on your numbers as well as whether your stats were higher, lower, or about on par with the usual. I found that I tended to average in the 80s, but it really depends on how stressed I am! Oh, and your Oura Ring will track naps, too. Whether it's an accidental 30 minute couch snooze or your attempt at falling asleep in your dinky economy seat that only lasts 15 minutes, your ring will pick up on that and adjust your daily sleep score accordingly. Ah, the elusive Readiness score. What does it actually mean to be ready? What is 75 points ready vs. 90 points ready? Do I have to cancel all of my plans if I wake up with a 56 as my readiness score?! All good questions. To put it simply, it's a rating of how ready your body is to take on the day based on how well you've been sleeping and how your resting heart rate has been trending recently. If you've been clocking under six hours a night with a heart rate that won't calm down (a symptom that usually correlates with drinking, by the way!) your readiness score might be lower than usual. This, paired with your Resilience level (which basically measures your current stress levels and how you're recovering from it), is a great indicator of how much your body is able to take on. But you don't have to be tied to it. Sometimes getting a great sweat in on a lower Readiness day helps me bounce back from it, whereas other times it's permission to skip that workout class and cancel your nighttime plans in order to get better recovery sleep. The Oura Ring is meant to make your life better—so think of a high Readiness score as an encouragement to try going the extra mile, and a low Readiness score as a reminder to be kind to yourself if things feel harder than usual. When I reviewed the Oura 3, the weakest point was probably the fact that the old software would think that certain activities (walking, emptying the dishwasher, going up the stairs) were other activities (boxing, swimming, sports). But I can confidently say that the activity tracking on the new ring and new software has improved. It correctly picked up on the fact that I was boxing, skiing, and kayaking without me needing to manually tag each activity, and it's nice to be able to see my route and cardio zones via the Oura app when I (very occasionally) go on a run through Central Park. In addition to activity detection and running features, the Oura Ring also tracks your steps and caloric expenditure, if you're into that kind of thing. I don't do a ton of cardio and I'm aware that as a New York City resident I clock plenty of steps per day, but it was nice to see the correlation between heavy activity days and how quickly I was able to fall asleep the following night. The Oura Ring may not be the most comprehensive training tracker on the market. It doesn't claim to be! It is, however, hands down the best middle-of-the-road option out there. It's chic, non-intimidating and accessible, it looks pretty on your hand, and it gives you comprehensive activity data with zero pressure to close activity rings (you know what I'm talking about) or stand up every 30 minutes. It's perfect for someone like me, who wants to remain active and have a general awareness of it—but not at the cost of my sanity or how cute my accessories are. I was confused about a lot of things during my teenage years, including my period, which was pretty high up on the blind-navigation list. Basically, it would come every 25-40 days, and it was a complete shock every time. But after learning how to track my cycle via body temperature over the past couple of years, I've gone from being like, 'My period is here AGAIN?!' to being like, 'Yeah I know I'm getting my period at some point today because my temperature dropped.' Confused? Basically, your body temperature typically sits below baseline during the follicular phase (the first part of the menstrual cycle), spikes right around ovulation, and then sits above baseline during the luteal phase (the part of the menstrual cycle right before you bleed) until the day of your period when your temperature drops noticeably. The Oura Ring 4 takes your temperature every day and charts it so you can keep track of where you're at in your monthly cycle, which is, uh, SO much better than going into it blindly and then being stuck without a tampon in a public restroom while wearing white jeans. Just me? This temperature data can also be used to estimate fertile days if you're trying to conceive or trying to avoid getting pregnant without being on hormonal birth control. I didn't find Oura's in-app ovulation and period prediction dates to be super accurate, if I'm being honest, but you can sign up for the Natural Cycles app (an FDA-cleared form of non-hormonal birth control) which integrates seamlessly with the Oura app. I found the Natural Cycles predictions to be much more accurate and consistent, and it's $119.99 per year, which comes out to just $9.99 a month. The most important part of the entire review, if you ask me. I've tried so many different stacks, some out of necessity (because my ring is a little loose on certain fingers) and some for style purposes. My favorite compliment is 'Omg I didn't even notice you were wearing a health tracker, it blends right in with the rest of your jewelry!'. Here are some of the stacking rings I've invested in… The complimentary rings I reach for the most often are these two Pavoi bands that went semi-viral on TikTok for being under $20 each. Tons of people started wearing these bands above and below their Oura ring for a shockingly luxe look—and yes, I can confirm that it's a totally seamless stack. Alternatively, I love wearing my Oura ring with a solitaire crystal ring—my go-to is from Uno de 50 and currently sold out, but below are some alternatives as well as rings I tend to wear on other fingers! And lastly, I've found it really helpful to wear a thin chain around my neck for periods where I need to take my ring off but want to make sure I don't lose it, like when I'm getting a manicure or when I'm lifting weights and don't want the bar to scratch up the metal. Okay, that was a lot of information! After testing out the Oura Ring 4 for six months I can confidently say that I'm a huge fan and love the product even more than I did before, but if you're still trying to digest all of that before making your decision, let's break it down into a simple pros and cons list... Hannah Oh is a self-proclaimed nerd for biometrics and sleep optimization. Along with writing about the best sales and deals to spend your hard-earned money on, she has tested a variety of sleep-tracking devices and wearables on her quest to create the perfect bedroom sanctuary in the middle of noisy New York City. She is never seen without her Oura ring and has been known to tell strangers on the street why they should buy one, too. Hannah is the Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from chic home decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and pictures of her office outfits that nobody asked for.
Boston Globe
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Actor Kurt Russell makes 4th of July visit to Arlington home of ancestor killed in Revolutionary War
The home, which was built by 'According to legend, the actor's forefather shot down and bayoneted on his own doorstep,' the statement said. Advertisement After the battle, British regulars went through every home, ransacking and plundering them before setting the homes on fire, the statement said. There are at least 13 surviving scars on the property from the battle. After visiting the home, Russell and his son took a tour guide to the Old Burying Ground, where they saw the gravesite of Jason Russell and his compatriots. Russell said in the statement that it was 'an incredibly eye-opening experience' after visiting both locations. 'It was haunting to see the bullet holes that remain in the wall from that fateful battle, but it was also inspiring,' Russell said. 'To see the grave of Jason Russell was something I won't ever forget. That's a humbling reminder of how grateful we should be for the freedom that our forefathers fought for and won for us.' Advertisement Adam Sennott can be reached at
CBS News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Actor Kurt Russell spends July 4th visiting home of his ancestor in Arlington, Massachusetts
Actor Kurt Russell spent his Fourth of July visiting the home of his ancestor in Arlington, Massachusetts. Russell was joined by one of his sons, Boston Russell, who visited the Jason Russell House and Museum. The Hollywood star is best known for his roles in "Tombstone," "Escape from New York," and the Marvel movie, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2." Actor Kurt Russell spent his Fourth of July visiting the home of his ancestor in Arlington, Massachusetts. Town of Arlington Jason is Kurt's eighth great-grandfather and his son's ninth. "I'm very amazed, honored and proud of the fact that my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was so instrumental in changing the world," Kurt said. "It's fantastic. To learn this at this time in my life is kind of shocking." Kurt Russell tours historical sites in Massachusetts Kurt said that the first time he heard about his ancestor was when his son, Boston, and his other son, Wyatt Russell, were speaking about him. Then he said that someone reached out to his agent about their connection to Jason. His ancestor fought and died during the Battle of Lexington, Concord, and Mentomy during the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1776. Jason was killed on his own doorstep, according to the legend. He also built the house, the Town of Arlington said. Kurt and his son were given a guided tour of the home, a look at their historical collection, documents from the battle, and the 13 bullet holes in the house. They then visited Jason's gravesite in the Old Burying Ground. "This coming to Arlington and understanding what took place in Mentomy, which became Arlington, and the connection that I have with learning about him is kind of fascinating because I'm already hearing things that remind me of my father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather that I remember in my life. Maybe even in myself. DNA is a funny thing. That's what I'm being struck by, how connected. It wasn't that long ago," Russell explained. Kurt said that there were some connections to the area that he hadn't even realized, like his son's name, Boston, which had nothing to do with the city. He also mentioned that April 19 is significant in their family already, as it is his stepdaughter Kate Hudson's birthday. "We keep finding these connections that are pretty fun," Kurt said. Kurt Russell with the executive director of the Arlington Historical Society, Matt Beres. The Town of Arlington "We'd like to thank Kurt Russell and Boston Russell for being our guests and stepping back into history with us as we celebrate the birth of America, remembering the sacrifice of people like Jason Russell in the fight for our nation's independence," said Matt Beres, executive director of the Arlington Historical Society. The visit was in honor of Arlington 250, which recognizes the town's role in the Revolutionary War. For more information about the Jason Russell House and Museum, click here.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Boats to race up to 100mph at King's Lynn water sport festival
Boats travelling at speeds of up to 100mph are set to race at one of Europe's biggest water sport Hanseatic Festival of Watersports in King's Lynn, Norfolk, attracts athletes and spectators from across the continent. Over the weekend, the event will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a variety of competitions on the River Great Ouse, which runs beside the town. Jason Russell, the festival's organiser, said: "There's a big hype, it's an absolutely adrenaline packed race." Over the two-day event, spectators at the Quayside in King's Lynn will be able to see jet ski, powerboat and water ski races. The event will also include a flyover from the World War Two Lancaster Bomber plane and live music. Mr Russell said he was "proud" of the festival's growth over the past decade. "When we started it, we said to the council that this could be massive, and it's turned into that," he said. "People just love coming here."He credits the riverside location to the success of the event, as spectators were able to get a close view of the location also provides a safe shelter from adverse weather conditions."It can't get cancelled as it's in the banks of the river, so the weather does not deter it if it gets windy or rough... They're guaranteed to race." On Saturday, it is forecasted to reach 31C at the site of the festival in King's Lynn. The Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency have issued an amber heat health alert for across the weekend, meaning that the weather could impact the health of the wider population. People attending the event are being encouraged to keep hydrated and wear sun cream. "We've got plenty of paramedics who will be patrolling and keeping an eye on everybody," Mr Russell said."It's lovely when this weather's here, but at the end of the day, we have to be sensible about it." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Apple, Fitbit, and Whoop will not like Oura's new updates
I knew something was off when my Oura step count suddenly tanked a few weeks ago. I was hitting the gym six days a week, walking everywhere, and crushing errands, yet my numbers weren't adding up. It turns out I wasn't imagining things. Related: Oura launches genius features to take on Apple, Fitbit, and Whoop Jason Russell, VP of Consumer Software Product at Oura, later confirmed I was probably part of a small group - just 2 to 4% - affected by a bug that misinterpreted smaller gait patterns. Considering I'm barely five feet tall with shoes completely makes sense. The glitch has since been fixed. But it was just the appetizer. Today's main course? A major software update and new features from Oura. And if you're Apple, Fitbit, or Whoop, you may want to pay closer attention. Today, Oura announced a huge software update doubling down on movement tracking - more accuracy, better functionality, and cleaner user data. Earlier this week, during my interview with Russell, I asked about competitors like Apple, Fitbit, and Whoop. He shrugged. "We actually don't compare ourselves to competitors when it comes to accuracy," he told me. "Instead, we measure ourselves against the medical gold standard." The biggest headline? A revamped, machine-learning-driven, step-counting algorithm brings Oura closer to pedometer-level accuracy. It weeds out false counts - like those accidental steps from typing or motorcycle rides - so your step totals actually reflect real movement. Related: Popular fitness tracker users angry following product launch "Members kept saying, 'I don't trust these numbers,'" Russell explained. "This change restores that trust." Another win: Oura now imports heart rate data from Apple Health and Google Health Connect, fixing gaps in Readiness and calorie tracking. "We think this is going to be a game changer," Russell said. "It's going to help people get credit for the work they're really doing." Other standout upgrades include: Ability to edit or add activities up to seven days prior24/7 activity tracking - even between midnight and 4 active minutes trend view, now with the ability to adjust heart rate zones using your max HRGPS-based running splits for more detailed walking and running insightsPartner integrations with CorePower Yoga, The Sculpt Society, Technogym, and Open One thing's clear: Oura is listening - and making moves. This update packs flashy features, but Oura's real advantage - and market threat to competitors - lies beneath the surface. Russell emphasized Oura's obsessive focus on accuracy. "We're at the optimal spot on your body for accurate heart rate," he said. "We intentionally avoid screens, buzzes, and flashy distractions. Our goal is quiet effectiveness until we have something important to say." Even in tricky metrics such as step count or calories burned, Oura sticks to science. Its sleep tracking matches polysomnography, the clinical gold standard, with 80% accuracy. "All wearables estimate," Russell said. "But we've slashed our margin of error by 61%." That kind of precision isn't just a spec - it's something users can actually trust. As the wearables market grows more crowded, Oura is making a serious push to lead the wellness space. With sharper data, smart partnerships, evolving AI tools, and a fast-growing user base, Oura is positioning itself to pull market share from the major players. And if loyal users like me already feel the improvement, Apple, Fitbit, and Whoop should definitely feel the heat. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
