I believe that RunKeeper has had voice feedback for a while, just no Auto Pause. I just worry about it's accuracy. Strava does not have voice feedback but uses pedometer data to increase it's accuracy and it's spot on. So none of them are perfect, but I prefer accuracy over anything at this point.
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Apps Running with the AW2
- Thread starter dallison13
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It really is frustrating isn't it? I bought an external heart rate monitor because the one on the watch is a shambles for me during a workout. Ive been using Nike run club but the standalone watch version will not work with the external heart rate monitor. Plus it's crashed 3 times in a month for me and won't allow you to do interval training without the phone. Strava has zero haptic or audio feedback so interval training is surely impossible? I haven't tried the watch app yet though so happy to be corrected on this.
Runkeeper sounds like it should do the trick but if the accuracy isn't there then what's the point? I'll give it a go tomorrow though to see how it works for me.
Runkeeper sounds like it should do the trick but if the accuracy isn't there then what's the point? I'll give it a go tomorrow though to see how it works for me.
As mentioned earlier I use the build in workout app, but have been getting some higher average pace times when pausing half way for example. After a short break and a glass of water and starting out again it raises the average pace time. Have you guys tried that? My old Nike GPS watch did the same years back actually
I am still using Nike Run Club without any issues. It seems very accurate to me based on the routes I run that I know the precise distance. In about 100 runs, I have only had one run not sync properly, and rarely have issues with heart rate accuracy, besides some cadence lock when I get into the 170s and 180s.
Really like the voice feedback from Nike .. just wish they would add heart rate to it. RunGap still works fine to sync the run data to Strava.
I did have a pre-order in for a Garmin Fenix 5s, but cancelled it after reading about some of the issues others were having and decided to stick with the AW2. I don't run with my phone, so really like having everything on my wrist .. GPS, HR, Music, etc.
Really like the voice feedback from Nike .. just wish they would add heart rate to it. RunGap still works fine to sync the run data to Strava.
I did have a pre-order in for a Garmin Fenix 5s, but cancelled it after reading about some of the issues others were having and decided to stick with the AW2. I don't run with my phone, so really like having everything on my wrist .. GPS, HR, Music, etc.
It's definitely the slickest app. It won't read heart rate from an external monitor though which is a showstopper for me. I find the watch tracks heart rate way too high during exercise and it keeps losing my pulse.
So far...none of the apps give interval warnings. It's so frustrating!!
Split notifications just been added to the strava watch app. Won't be trying it out until tomorrow but I assume it's just some haptic feedback rather than voiceover.
Nice to see that watch updates are still on their agenda though
Nice to see that watch updates are still on their agenda though
I don't know how I feel about haptic feedback while running. I feel like I never notice vibrations mid-run. But I guess some people prefer that over voice feedback?
Just went for a run, and sadly it is only haptic notifications, an audible beep, and a popup message on the watch .. no voice feedback.
Can't understand why Strava struggles so much to provide features that small 3rd party developers have already implemented like voice feedback that is configurable both to the metrics and frequency.
Back to Nike Run Club for me .. it seems much more accurate, has voice feedback that I get at the .25 mile mark, and I haven't had any sync issues for months.
Do the notifications eventually disappear from the screen or do they require a manual press? I kept pressing to get rid of them today so I could see my time. Could see that being a problem in the rain though!
I think I dismissed the first one using the button, the rest I just glanced at and they eventually went away.
That's the one thing I like about voice feedback, is that you really don't have to ever look at the watch. NRC would be perfect in that regard if they would just add heart rate to the feedback .. especially since they have used such a tiny font for the heart rate value which is impossible to read.
My big issue with Nike Run Club is that it doesn't support external heart rate monitors. My watch heart rate monitor is way off during exercise unfortunately.
I guess I am fortunate in that the AW HR monitor is mostly right on the money for me. There are a few occasional blips, but no more than you get with a chest strap.
You have probably already tried these things, but be sure to wear your watch at least an inch from your wrist bone, and tighten it at least one notch before running.
Yeah..I've persevered for over a year with it. I used to go running with the apple watch and my Garmin forerunner which had a chest strap. I always found the the watch tracked around 20 ppm higher than the chest strap. It frequently fails to get readings as well. For what it's worth, I also tried a Scosche Rhythm+ heart rate monitor which you wear on your upper arm and it was temperamental for me as well. The chest strap seems to be rock solid and works with runkeeper, strava and the apple workout app. The nike plus app just displays a blank reading however.
It seems optical wrist-based heart rate monitors work really well for some, and not so well for others. I fall into the first group i guess as everyone I have tried (Garmin 225, Garmin 235, Basis Peak, Scosche Rhythm+) have all worked reasonably fine for me.
As I said earlier, they all have their occasional blips where the will lock into your cadence when your heart rate approaches your cadence rate, but that is about the only issue I have seen.
Honestly, out of all I have tried, the Apple Watch Series 2 as been the most accurate for me .. and I certainly don't miss wearing the chest strap.
A little update on my experiences...
I actually decided to buy a Garmin Fenix 5 but will be returning it. I'll come back to that.
I was getting frustrated with the apps that were running on the AW2. I think of myself as an advanced user but also an incredibly patient one. I test beta software all the time. I sign up for beta software on purpose to get first dibs at new features with the knowledge that I may end up with a less than desirable experience for a time.
That said, I feel like the AW developers are all using us as their beta testers. Not 1 AW running app was bulletproof or full featured 6 months after release. Let me clarify. I think the best running app 6 months after the release of the AW2 was the native app itself. Short of audio notifications and gpx exporting, it's simply the best. But the lack of sharing data alone is enough reason to not use it because I use Strava.
Strava actually thinks that their premium subscribers are idiots and treats them as such based on their Apple Watch roadmap. They make users feel like there is n o reason to expect features that other 3rd party apps have already implemented. The app is improving, but still missing basic features like voice prompts and the 10ths digit in the distance. How can a running app only show 3.1 miles for 3.12 miles? That's insane. There's no need to round up or down. Are you kidding me? It has a few other issues too. Why are running and biking the only two options? No cadence? No screen customization? Why is it SO SIMPLE? And HR recording has actually gotten worse through the app.
Strava's mapping also could use some serious smoothing. It's so jagged and records such a horrible mess especially if you walk or run slow. It's terrible. Apple's native app smooths TOO much. Nike gets it just about right.
I'm actually back to Nike now because it seems stable despite their poor poor poor excuse for a website. But the watch app seems solid. I'd still like to see more integration with the watch's native features. And how about more than running?
All the other apps have SOMETHING wrong with them, that makes them too bare bones, unusable, boring, or simply inaccurate. I emailed the developer for the Motifit app about using accelerometer data to improve accuracy and for cadence and they claimed it was something that seemed unnecessary. My response was the the apps gps distance calculations were not accurate and that Strava, Nike and Apple implemented this for a reason. Also the app keeps nagging me for a subscription that Ive already paid for. Deleted.
So I bought a Fenix 5 to just use for running, cycling, hiking, etc. This thing is fantastic. When set to 1 sec recording, it's smooth, uploads quickly, records elevation, is customizable beyond words, and gives you more performance information about yourself than you ever thought you needed.
But something has happened. I'm realizing that maybe I just don't care about that stuff as much as I thought I would and I'm holding onto the Fenix for stats that I don't need. The Fenix is too expensive for me to use for activities 1-2 hours a day 4 days a week and then tuck away into my bag. So back to my Apple Watch hoping that the apps will improve.
I'm hoping that in June, Apple will announce a few WatchOS updates. Here is what I'd like to see.
- The ability to export from the Workout app or Activity app. Period. Sync, Export; Call it what you want. I want my data to be freed. I fully expect this to happen.
- Either add more Workout options with GPS or allow us to change the sport after the fact. I should not have to select Outdoor Walking if I go Hiking. or Cycling for Mountain Biking.
- Add titles or custom descriptions to activities...
- Add photos to an activity...
- Add graphs of some sort for elevation, HR, Pace, etc.
- Add historical stats based on week, month, year or custom dates
- Add Personal Records
- Add Gear Used
- Compare your run, ride, swim, etc to comparable events
- Automatic tagging of activities
- Ability to search activities
I know many of these won't be seen, and much of this resides in the activity app so it would be more of an IOS11 issue, but I hope it comes. I'll be SORELY disappointed if that's not the case.
What do you hope to see for the AW1 or 2?
Also, I'm hoping for a barometer in the AW3.......
I actually decided to buy a Garmin Fenix 5 but will be returning it. I'll come back to that.
I was getting frustrated with the apps that were running on the AW2. I think of myself as an advanced user but also an incredibly patient one. I test beta software all the time. I sign up for beta software on purpose to get first dibs at new features with the knowledge that I may end up with a less than desirable experience for a time.
That said, I feel like the AW developers are all using us as their beta testers. Not 1 AW running app was bulletproof or full featured 6 months after release. Let me clarify. I think the best running app 6 months after the release of the AW2 was the native app itself. Short of audio notifications and gpx exporting, it's simply the best. But the lack of sharing data alone is enough reason to not use it because I use Strava.
Strava actually thinks that their premium subscribers are idiots and treats them as such based on their Apple Watch roadmap. They make users feel like there is n o reason to expect features that other 3rd party apps have already implemented. The app is improving, but still missing basic features like voice prompts and the 10ths digit in the distance. How can a running app only show 3.1 miles for 3.12 miles? That's insane. There's no need to round up or down. Are you kidding me? It has a few other issues too. Why are running and biking the only two options? No cadence? No screen customization? Why is it SO SIMPLE? And HR recording has actually gotten worse through the app.
Strava's mapping also could use some serious smoothing. It's so jagged and records such a horrible mess especially if you walk or run slow. It's terrible. Apple's native app smooths TOO much. Nike gets it just about right.
I'm actually back to Nike now because it seems stable despite their poor poor poor excuse for a website. But the watch app seems solid. I'd still like to see more integration with the watch's native features. And how about more than running?
All the other apps have SOMETHING wrong with them, that makes them too bare bones, unusable, boring, or simply inaccurate. I emailed the developer for the Motifit app about using accelerometer data to improve accuracy and for cadence and they claimed it was something that seemed unnecessary. My response was the the apps gps distance calculations were not accurate and that Strava, Nike and Apple implemented this for a reason. Also the app keeps nagging me for a subscription that Ive already paid for. Deleted.
So I bought a Fenix 5 to just use for running, cycling, hiking, etc. This thing is fantastic. When set to 1 sec recording, it's smooth, uploads quickly, records elevation, is customizable beyond words, and gives you more performance information about yourself than you ever thought you needed.
But something has happened. I'm realizing that maybe I just don't care about that stuff as much as I thought I would and I'm holding onto the Fenix for stats that I don't need. The Fenix is too expensive for me to use for activities 1-2 hours a day 4 days a week and then tuck away into my bag. So back to my Apple Watch hoping that the apps will improve.
I'm hoping that in June, Apple will announce a few WatchOS updates. Here is what I'd like to see.
- The ability to export from the Workout app or Activity app. Period. Sync, Export; Call it what you want. I want my data to be freed. I fully expect this to happen.
- Either add more Workout options with GPS or allow us to change the sport after the fact. I should not have to select Outdoor Walking if I go Hiking. or Cycling for Mountain Biking.
- Add titles or custom descriptions to activities...
- Add photos to an activity...
- Add graphs of some sort for elevation, HR, Pace, etc.
- Add historical stats based on week, month, year or custom dates
- Add Personal Records
- Add Gear Used
- Compare your run, ride, swim, etc to comparable events
- Automatic tagging of activities
- Ability to search activities
I know many of these won't be seen, and much of this resides in the activity app so it would be more of an IOS11 issue, but I hope it comes. I'll be SORELY disappointed if that's not the case.
What do you hope to see for the AW1 or 2?
Also, I'm hoping for a barometer in the AW3.......
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Great post.
According to some of the tear downs I have seen, I am pretty sure I read that the AW2 does have a barometer .. but in typical Apple fashion, it is not being utilized.
I agree with all of your points, and also flirted with the idea of a Fenix 5S. But after wearing my Garmin Forerunner 235 for a couple of days as an everyday watch, I decided against it and cancelled my preorder.
I just felt I would miss the smartwatch functions of the AW, and some of the apps that are pretty amazing in my eyes like AutoSleep and HeartWatch. I found the Garmin's sleep tracking to be poor, as was the all-day/all-night heart rate tracking. Also, going back to running with my phone for music, didn't appeal to me much either.
I continue to use NRC for my runs, and then RunGap to get the data to Strava .. it is still the most buttoned up and full featured app. I don't get what Strava is doing with their app, as they keep making promises like voice feedback, and then implement haptics and beeps instead.
I am holding out hope that Apple will enhance the Workout app to include export and voice feedback, but I kind of doubt it will happen.
The workout app actually got a pretty nice upgrade in the latest big WatchOS so hopefully they will continue that path
I notice that the HR monitor, when worn higher up on the wrist, works well for me with NRC, but not so much with Strava. I think that Strava has some bad coding which shouldn't surprise anyone, although their devs have told me it's not an issue.
@Bob190 , Nike seems to be working well for me, although I wish they would poll the GPS more often. I feel like 5 seconds, or whatever it is they do leaves too much of a jagged trail, especially on winding trails or in forests.
I'd be really surprised if any of the apps did anything with the heart rate information rather than just read it. Apple probably doesn't require them or allow them to do anything else. For what it's worth, strava, runkeeper and the workout app all give identical results with my chest strap. NRC unfortunately doesn't work with it and gives a blank reading when using the watch app.
So, I did a side by side comparison on a marathon the other day. Apple Watch on one wrist with Strava and Garmin Forerunner 225 on the other. It's difficult to get into the detail because I turned the devices on at slightly different times and not sure I turned off the Garmin until quite late. But, at a slightly more than superficial level they look to be pretty close. I think that the Watch was giving me a slightly faster pace when I looked at both during the run, but that was just the occasional glance down and the Strava app did respond quickly to make a glance at the data practical. Heart rate pretty much the same. Moving times were a little different 3:30:04 according to watch, 3:30:21 according to Garmin and 3:30:11 according to chip time of race. Again given time taken to turn things on and off, that's not too bad.
BUT, the biggest issue was the low battery warning from the Watch. It was fully charged at 23:00 - I wore it to sleep (for alarm) marathon started at 9:50 (didn't use it for music). Can't exactly remember when the warning, came but I think it was about 3 hours in (or even slightly less).
So, if you're going to use AW for a marathon - make sure it's fully charged before you start and even then be prepared to run quite quickly.
BUT, the biggest issue was the low battery warning from the Watch. It was fully charged at 23:00 - I wore it to sleep (for alarm) marathon started at 9:50 (didn't use it for music). Can't exactly remember when the warning, came but I think it was about 3 hours in (or even slightly less).
So, if you're going to use AW for a marathon - make sure it's fully charged before you start and even then be prepared to run quite quickly.
First off, NICE JOB on the Marathon! That's a great time! Congrats!
Glad to hear that you basically had success with your Strava app on your watch. Did the distances come in pretty equal as well?
I'm still that guy running with my Garmin on one arm and the AW on the other (mostly for music now). Looking forward to some announcements at WWDC next week. Planning on running the 'hopefully' beta on my AW2 while using my Garmin as a backup.
Thank you - I was rather pleased with my time, it gives me a few 'good for age' opportunities
And yes, the distances did come in about the same.
I think Strava are getting there with their watch app, but the biggest issue is going to be battery life. I wonder if the Strava app is heavier on battery than the stock running app or if they're much the same and that's what we should expect. The Garmin still had over 60% battery and it had not been charged for two days before that.
I used my AW-S2 for a marathon last Sunday and didn't have any problems with my battery - my watch charges at night so it was fully charged, but I use the stock app ... I think after a marathon in over 4 hours 29 minutes (was very very hot so didn't meet my 4 hour goal) a battery enough for the rest of the day was pretty good
Looks like Nike is up to their tricks again. Changing their available sampling output from 1 or 4 to 10 seconds, when exported to another platform. I assume this is just for Smashrun, but if the data I export out of Nike via RunGap is every 10 seconds from now on, then I'll literally delete the app off my watch. @Bob190, any thoughts on this?
Here is the link... http://blog.smashrun.com/nike-import-changes/
Here is the link... http://blog.smashrun.com/nike-import-changes/