Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[ignas]

Hey, love the app!

I have run into a couple minor issues:

1. Sometimes the GPS route does not get imported into Apple Health, but it is visible in WorkOutDoors. Is there a way to reimport the workout to Health after it's finished? Right now I end up exporting TCX and then use RunGap to import it, but it would be nice to not use a different app (importing TCX like this adds segments for every km).

2. It feels like average run pace is wrong at the start of the workout, as if it's including time from when I opened the app instead of when I press the button to start. I usually keep the app open for a half minute or so to acquire GPS lock before starting.

I don't mind either too much, but if there's a setting somewhere already, I'd appreciate a pointer.

 

[cfc]

When I pause WOD for a long time (like 8 hours), it drains the AW battery (due to the app staying active, with gps etcetera).
I do such long pausing when I take my bike to work and back home and I want both trips in one exercise.
Is there a way to avoid the battery drain while pausing for a long time?

The app isn't really designed for such long pauses. It is best to separate that into two workouts.

One of the problems is that watchOS is very likely to kill the app off if you pause for so long, especially if it needs the resources for something else such as another app or even a notification. When an app is running a workout then it gets protection from this, but when paused for a long time it seems to lose that protection, making it vulnerable.

 

[pmxams]

Quick question, does WOD supports the always on display on AW? Mine still shows only the watch when I lower my arm

 

[cfc]

Quick question, does WOD supports the always on display on AW? Mine still shows only the watch when I lower my arm

Third party apps were unable to use the always on display until watchOS 8 was released. I plan to add it in the future but it won't be in the app for a while because it will be a lot of work. Sorry about that. Updating the screen when inactive requires Apple's latest coding language (known as SwiftUI). This appeared long after WorkOutDoors was first released, so the app does not use it.

My current plan is to finish off the next version of the app and then look into it. It is Apple's developer conference in a few weeks, so there may be more information then. I am not optimistic but you never know...

 

[pmxams]

Third party apps were unable to use the always on display until watchOS 8 was released. I plan to add it in the future but it won't be in the app for a while because it will be a lot of work. Sorry about that. Updating the screen when inactive requires Apple's latest coding language (known as SwiftUI). This appeared long after WorkOutDoors was first released, so the app does not use it.

My current plan is to finish off the next version of the app and then look into it. It is Apple's developer conference in a few weeks, so there may be more information then. I am not optimistic but you never know...

OK. Understood. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[mgmooij]

The app isn't really designed for such long pauses. It is best to separate that into two workouts.

One of the problems is that watchOS is very likely to kill the app off if you pause for so long, especially if it needs the resources for something else such as another app or even a notification. When an app is running a workout then it gets protection from this, but when paused for a long time it seems to lose that protection, making it vulnerable.

There are systems where you can merge workouts, for example this one: https://feub.net/gps-track-tools/merge-activities/

 

[mag1c10]

Hi @cfc . Wondered if it would be possible to add option to hide/show certain screens on each activity? I like to have different screens for different types of runs. Happy to edit on the iPhone beforehand but other than deleting and then recreating can't see a way of doing this.

 

[cfc]

Hi @cfc . Wondered if it would be possible to add option to hide/show certain screens on each activity? I like to have different screens for different types of runs. Happy to edit on the iPhone beforehand but other than deleting and then recreating can't see a way of doing this.

That isn't possible at the moment but it sounds a good idea, so I will bear it in mind.

In the long term I plan to allow the creation of activity types that map to existing activity types, so for example you could create Trail Running and Road Running, with both of them mapping to the Running activity but being different in terms of the configuration of screens, alerts, etc.

 

[estesbubba]

Any tips on preserving battery on longer activities? I have the AW 7 and using the beta, and yesterday did a 71-mile gravel cycling ride using WOD. I had a GPX loaded and entire route was download to the watch, and my phone was with me. At about halfway through the ride my watch battery was at 50%, so I turned on theatre mode (to kill AOD) and watch was at 10% when I finished just under 7 hours. Anything I can do on the watch and/or WOD to preserve battery on these longer rides?

 

[cfc]

Any tips on preserving battery on longer activities? I have the AW 7 and using the beta, and yesterday did a 71-mile gravel cycling ride using WOD. I had a GPX loaded and entire route was download to the watch, and my phone was with me. At about halfway through the ride my watch battery was at 50%, so I turned on theatre mode (to kill AOD) and watch was at 10% when I finished just under 7 hours. Anything I can do on the watch and/or WOD to preserve battery on these longer rides?

7 to 8 hours with the iPhone present is slightly lower than expected but not massively so. Were you running any other apps such as music? It is best not to use the watch for anything else if possible.

Switch off cellular if the watch has it (especially if you have your phone with you). Also it is a good idea to reboot both the watch and the phone before starting a long workout in case any other apps have gone rogue or are running in the background using up power.

You may also want to switch off wake on raise, although tapping the screen to wake it is easier when hiking than when cycling. This can be particularly effective if the screen is constantly being activated by something in the way you move. For example it is very common with activities like paddling but I guess it may also happen on a bumpy cycle ride.

With the right settings some people get 10+ hours or even 12+ hours, but it depends on several variables, such as the model of watch; the state of the watch's battery; how often you look at the screen etc.

 

[mgmooij]

Any tips on preserving battery on longer activities? I have the AW 7 and using the beta, and yesterday did a 71-mile gravel cycling ride using WOD. I had a GPX loaded and entire route was download to the watch, and my phone was with me. At about halfway through the ride my watch battery was at 50%, so I turned on theatre mode (to kill AOD) and watch was at 10% when I finished just under 7 hours. Anything I can do on the watch and/or WOD to preserve battery on these longer rides?

Maybe use a HR belt so the watch doesn’t need to measure your heartrate.

 

[super.sjimmie]

There are systems where you can merge workouts, for example this one: https://feub.net/gps-track-tools/merge-activities/

That won't work for what I need. I am using another app where I get credits with my exersises, but only for one excerise per day and only credits if the duration is long enough (togetther with a high enough avg HR). The app gets its information from Strava. So I want one long exercise that goes from WOD to Strava. And no, the app will not accept an exercise that I manually import.

 

[Significant1]

That won't work for what I need. I am using another app where I get credits with my exersises, but only for one excerise per day and only credits if the duration is long enough (togetther with a high enough avg HR). The app gets its information from Strava. So I want one long exercise that goes from WOD to Strava. And no, the app will not accept an exercise that I manually import.

How do you upload to strava today and is not possible to pause this, so the workouts can be merged beforehand ?

Just a link to another fit file tools, which may or may not be usefull.

Combining Strava GPS (TCX|GPX|FIT) files, exporting GPX files from Garmin Connect, and adding time stamps to GPX files - GOTOES free utilities

A Suite of tools to help you Merge, Combine, Repair, and Edit your GPS Tracks before uploading to STRAVA, GARMIN CONNECT, TRAINING PEAKS, RUNKEEPER, and others

gotoes.org

(I have played with it to get training effect imported to my garmin. I where succesfully once. But not been able to reliable make it work and the watch crashes if I open the workout on watch. But it also defeat the purpose of training effect, because training effect on the imported workout is not computed, but up to me to make what scores I want).

 

[super.sjimmie]

How do you upload to strava today and is not possible to pause this, so the workouts can be merged beforehand ?

Just a link to another fit file tools, which may or may not be usefull.

Combining Strava GPS (TCX|GPX|FIT) files, exporting GPX files from Garmin Connect, and adding time stamps to GPX files - GOTOES free utilities

A Suite of tools to help you Merge, Combine, Repair, and Edit your GPS Tracks before uploading to STRAVA, GARMIN CONNECT, TRAINING PEAKS, RUNKEEPER, and others

gotoes.org

(I have played with it to get training effect imported to my garmin. I where succesfully once. But not been able to reliable make it work and the watch crashes if I open the workout on watch. But it also defeat the purpose because of training effect, because training effect on the imported workout is not computed, but up to me to make what scores I want).

How I upload to strava? Simple, that is what WOD does.
So I start WOD in the morning at home, pause WOD when I arrive at work, resume when I leave work and stop when I come home. Then I let WOD upload to strava.

After that, there is one exercise in Strava, and as soon as it is in Strava, my other app automatically pulls it from Strava.

 

[NME42]

Any update on how the beta is doing and when the release will be there?

 

[cfc]

Any update on how the beta is doing and when the release will be there?

I am hoping to submit it to Apple in the next few days. A tester found a bug today with the new "Possibly Travelling Home" alert where it is active and can notify the user even when it isn't enabled, so I need to fix that.

The current plan is that I will release a beta with the fix for that later today, give it a couple of days for testers to check that it is stable, and then submit it to Apple if it is.

 

[Significant1]

How I upload to strava? Simple, that is what WOD does.
So I start WOD in the morning at home, pause WOD when I arrive at work, resume when I leave work and stop when I come home. Then I let WOD upload to strava.

After that, there is one exercise in Strava, and as soon as it is in Strava, my other app automatically pulls it from Strava.

Ok. I am no Strava expert, just still wonder how it differs from other methods of uploading, if you disabled WOD's strava upload. But, manually merging is a lot of work. I guess the best solution, was for WOD to have an option for pause workout and resume later. Meaning the watch would stop being in workout mode until you want to resume workout.

 

[super.sjimmie]

Ok. I am no Strava expert, just still wonder how it differs from other methods of uploading, if you disabled WOD's strava upload. But, manually merging is a lot of work. I guess the best solution, was for WOD to have an option for pause workout and resume later. Meaning the watch would stop being in workout mode until you want to resume workout.

Yes, what you say: a lot of work. Now I can just start/pause/resume/stop WOD and my credits appear in the other app.

It's just that WOD drains the AW battery when on pause.

Having to export 2 exercises, merge them somewhere, manually import them into strava, just sounds like a "not so user friendly" workaround to save my battery.

 

[cfc]

Yes, what you say: a lot of work. Now I can just start/pause/resume/stop WOD and my credits appear in the other app.

It's just that WOD drains the AW battery when on pause.

Having to export 2 exercises, merge them somewhere, manually import them into strava, just sounds like a "not so user friendly" workaround to save my battery.

It does sound like you have a very specific requirement, so I am sorry that WOD cannot meet it.

In the future I will probably add the ability to resume a workout where you left off, but it is very rarely requested and would be a lot of work, so it is unlikely to be added anytime soon. Sorry about that.

 

[super.sjimmie]

It does sound like you have a very specific requirement, so I am sorry that WOD cannot meet it.

In the future I will probably add the ability to resume a workout where you left off, but it is very rarely requested and would be a lot of work, so it is unlikely to be added anytime soon. Sorry about that.

I know, it wasn't a request, it was just a question if it was possible to prevent the battery draining.

 

[estesbubba]

Maybe use a HR belt so the watch doesn’t need to measure your heartrate.

When cycling I use a Wahoo HR strap that is paired with my Wahoo ROAM computer. I sometimes use WOD to also record to easily follow the route and get quick stats. Some items:

1. I wonder if the BT HR strap can pair with both the ROAM and AW at the same time?
2. Is there a way to do a WOD workout without recording HR? I think this can be done with the Apple Workout app.
3. I could do Map-Only to follow the route, but then I think I get no stats, which might be fine at times.

 

[Significant1]

When cycling I use a Wahoo HR strap that is paired with my Wahoo ROAM computer. I sometimes use WOD to also record to easily follow the route and get quick stats. Some items:

1. I wonder if the BT HR strap can pair with both the ROAM and AW at the same time?
2. Is there a way to do a WOD workout without recording HR? I think this can be done with the Apple Workout app.
3. I could do Map-Only to follow the route, but then I think I get no stats, which might be fine at times.

1. Depend on which Wahoo hr belt you have. According to their homepage they have models which support multiple simultaneously BT and Ant+ connections.

 

[cfc]

When cycling I use a Wahoo HR strap that is paired with my Wahoo ROAM computer. I sometimes use WOD to also record to easily follow the route and get quick stats. Some items:

1. I wonder if the BT HR strap can pair with both the ROAM and AW at the same time?
2. Is there a way to do a WOD workout without recording HR? I think this can be done with the Apple Workout app.
3. I could do Map-Only to follow the route, but then I think I get no stats, which might be fine at times.

It is not possible to record a workout without HR unless you specifically remove the app’s permission to see it, which is not recommended.

 

[Maryn]

When cycling I use a Wahoo HR strap that is paired with my Wahoo ROAM computer. I sometimes use WOD to also record to easily follow the route and get quick stats. Some items:

1. I wonder if the BT HR strap can pair with both the ROAM and AW at the same time?
2. Is there a way to do a WOD workout without recording HR? I think this can be done with the Apple Workout app.
3. I could do Map-Only to follow the route, but then I think I get no stats, which might be fine at times.

Did you try to turn on power saving mode for trainings which disable cellular and heart rate monitor?

 

[alzxjm]

I have a Feature Request: Triathlon or Multisport mode. I searched the thread and found in an earlier post that cfc has thought about it before, but it apparently wasn't popular enough to merit inclusion. I'm here to request it again and see if there's more support for it!

Ideally, the workflow would be:

• Start the Triathlon/Multisport WOD activity at the gun at the start of the race. Triathlon activity would begin recording an open water swim (OWS).
• At the end of the swim (transition from OWS to bike, or Transition 1, or T1), the athlete hits the crown and side button at the same time and WOD begins an Other workout activity.
  • The crown/side button functionality is essential. During T1 you're wrestling with your wetsuit and trying to pull on shoes and run with a bike. Messing around with the lock screen and touch screen on a wet watch is definitely not fun. The physical button solution would be really important.
• At the end of T1 when the athlete hits the timer tape and mounts the bike, hit crown and side button together and ends the Other activity and starts the Outdoor Cycle activity.
• Same at T2: hit the crown/side button chord to end Outdoor Cycle and start Other for T2.
• Finally, hit crown/side button to end the T2/Other workout and begin the Outdoor Run activity.
• At the finish line, one last push of the crown/side button to end the Outdoor Run and the whole race.

This would be really useful for triathlons, Swim/Runs, runs off the bike (bricks), or any other multisport activity. I hope this feature makes it into WOD eventually, as that would be the real Forerunner-killer feature.

As an aside, I've actually drawn up a 3D printable bike handlebarmount for the Apple Watch that would have a charging puck and battery inside. The mount will be an oval and will allow a stretchy band to slip over the mount and the AW to sit on the puck. Some kind of clamp or tether to keep the watch in place. If WOD had the multisport feature, and perhaps Always On Display, the AW could be a true start-to-finish triathlon device, even for Ironman distances.

• Use the AW with a the stretchy solo loop
• At T1, simply stretch the watch/band over the mount and get on the bike
• AW functions as bike computer and charges for the entire bike ride.
• At T2, hop off the bike and slip the charged watch on for the run.

My bike has a bluetooth power meter and I have a bluetooth HR monitor. The dream of the One True Device awaits!