I'd be to pay a premium for a device like this if I wasn't limited to the manufacturers own app for collecting and interpreting data.
As is? Nah...
As is? Nah...
I stopped wearing it because the app is so user hostile. The ring can't sync in the backround, so each time you open the app you need to wait 30 sec while it syncs. After it syncs there are a series of popups about coins, stars, and streaks. Then you need to dig through a bunch of AI garbage to see the data.
I just want to see my heartrate while I run and track my sleep. There's no need for so much gamified nonsense in the app.
[1] https://support.ouraring.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025438734-...
Apple Health data are only stored on your device unless you choose to synchronize them to iCloud, in which case they're e2e encrypted.
Apple does occasionally offer the option to contribute to research studies, in which case they'd have access to the relevant data but this is an explicit opt-in.
All the Apple Health data are also available through HealthKit APIs so that they can be used in other apps, including various export apps (though export is also a native feature). Use of this API requires an explicit app-specific and data category-specific opt-in from the user.
All this is to say: I don't think it's accurate to say Apple owns your data in this case. Apple likes to put themselves as privacy-first and you may disagree more generally whether they live up to their image but IMO this is one of the cases where they've done a pretty good job.
https://cloud.ouraring.com/dashboard
Log in to Oura on the Web with your Oura account details
Select the profile OOTW profile.png in the upper right corner > My Account
Under Export Data, you'll find options to download Oura metrics in either CSV or JSON formatI think the concern is privacy, not the user's access to the data.
You are still at the whim of the company, who can turn off that data spigot any time it becomes expedient for them.
There's no way to get the data off of the device and use it yourself, without the same data going to their servers.
You pay hundreds of dollars for a device that doesn't let you use it, and rely on the kindness of the company to know your own heartrate.
I have spent my entire career messing around with APIs and platforms and I have no interest in doing this DIY. oAuth into Oura ring's servers, which is totally available to you, is just fine.
If privacy is this much of a concern, why wear a trackable wearable in the first place?
I think people WOULD like to keep their health data local, if given the option.
But companies do things in their own self-interest, including carefully crafted product descriptions, privacy policies, apis, protocols and apps.
I will mention Garmin watches don't require activation or to be "connected" to work.
In any case garmin watches are not all $800.
In comparison, most other devices require activation to work. Have you tried to use an apple watch or a fitbit?
I have a garmin watch, have never used bluetooth, wifi, garmin connect, etc. It keeps track of my health and activities, motivates and makes recommendations. It's really useful to track sleep and fitness level.
The only local thing it does not do is EKG, they lock that until you go online and give your location as in the US.
The amount of work Oura would need to do would be trivial: they'd need to provide a basic description of the format of the packets the ring sends over Bluetooth (or just release protocol headers/internal client libraries). They'd also need to not put in work to deliberately prevent other apps from connecting (which some manufacturers do; not sure about Oura).