Subj : Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 adds a key cycle tracking feature  but App
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Thu Apr 20 2023 12:00:03

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 adds a key cycle tracking feature  but Apple did it 
first

Date:
Thu, 20 Apr 2023 10:51:14 +0000

Description:
Samsung finally activates a Galaxy Watch 5 health sensor Apple Watch has used 
for ages.

FULL STORY
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Samsung has remotely enabled a new Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 
Pro feature, allowing watch owners to use their devices skin temperature 
sensor for more accurate menstrual cycle tracking. 

Announced on the Samsung blog , the post says the skin temperature sensor 
uses infrared light to automatically record an estimate of your basal body 
temperature, or BBT. The blog post states: As people search for ways to 
forecast their next period, theyre turning to temperature readings to help, 
since basal body temperature varies by menstrual phase. 

Getting accurate BBT readings requires measurement the first thing every 
morning, a process that can be inconvenient and sometimes even forgotten. 
Samsungs new feature automates this process, making it easier and more 
convenient. 

The long and the short of it is that two of the best smartwatches for Android 
users just got even better, and far more accurate when it comes to 
automatically predicting your next period. Samsungs been developing this 
feature in partnership with Natural Cycles, an app approved for use by the 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and its rolling the feature out to watch 
owners all across the world right now. (Image credit: Basil Kronfli / 
TechRadar) Do I need to do anything to activate the new feature? 

If you own a Watch 5 or Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and want to make use of the 
feature, Samsung says youll need to select Cycle Tracking in the companion 
Samsung Health app and turn on the predict period with skin temp settings. 

After the watch collects enough data, itll show your previous months readings 
in a graph in the Cycle Tracking section of the Samsung Health app, and a 
predicted ovulation and fertile window. 

Samsung is keen to stress all collected data is encrypted and stored securely 
on the users own device, giving them more control over their data. If you 
want to secure your data further, check out our four steps to protect your 
period tracking data . Analysis: Apple did it first (Image credit: Apple) 

Its surprising that Samsungs obviously had the skin temperature sensor in the 
watch the whole time, and is rolling this feature out months after release. 
The watches pre-date the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra by a 
month, and Apples offerings include similar skin-temp based cycle tracking 
options. 

Still, wed rather Samsung take its time and get the feature right than not 
get it at all, and were sure itll be front-and-center on the Galaxy Watch 6. 

Natural Cycles is an app which uses a complex algorithm to determines your 
fertility status based on body temperature readings, so were betting that 
algorithm was the missing piece of the puzzle for Samsung to put its existing 
technology to use.



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/news/samsung-galaxy-watch-5-adds-a-key-cycle-trackin
g-feature-but-apple-did-it-first


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