Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[cfc]

Thank you for the tips- I now can see the screens. I know the problem... on the running screen I had the map, when I was swiping left/right the map would just move. I had to swipe at the very bottom row where the metrics were to get to the 2nd screen

Another question - is there a way to put a yellow dot (or some other color) at the top of the watch face if currently in a workout? Kind of like the red dot at the top when there is a pending notification? Noticed it's too easy to forget to turn off the workout timer if in other apps of the watch.

Unfortunately the app can't control what appears on the screen when it is not displayed.

In the past I am sure that watchOS showed some sort of workout icon there when a workout was active, but I can't see it now so maybe Apple have removed it.

 

[cfc]

I'm a long time strava/garmin user and wondering what people's "data strategy" is to store all of their workouts?

I am more than happy to move away from strava (frustrated with their poor subscription model and don't care for their social features) and as I've migrated away from garmin now with the Apple Watch I'm wondering how to approach this.

Is there a way to import all strava workouts into WOD so the full list shows up in the "workouts" tab? I don't see an import button so not sure if this is possible.

For those of you who moved to WOD, what's in your workouts tab? Just workouts created by WOD?

The app doesn't allow workouts to be imported because if there were problems with the app creating them then I would need to debug issues with that app, which I really don't want to do. Sorry about that.

 

[cfc]

AFAIK there is no way to import workouts into WOD. I treat it as a staging platform to get the workout into Strava and Apple Health/Activity. It's a shame really as the way WOD displays workouts is my favourite way of presenting them. The combination of the gradient/colour highlighting of the interval text, the combo maps and laps, the useful tabs and the interval summaries is perfect.

I would really like it if the app had iCloud integration to 'save' the workouts as I recently lost all my history when I had to reset the phone after it bootlocked.

iCloud support is rarely requested, which has always surprised me. It has been on my to-do list for years but never got near the top. So the best way to backup the data is to use Apple's File Sharing mechanism:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201301 (Windows)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210598 (MacOS)

Glad you like the app's workout analysis!

 

[Akrapovic]

If you restore a phone from an iCloud backup, it keeps the workout history doesn't it? I have an iPhone 13 Pro, so it can't be older than October. But WoD shows my runs back to May 2021.

 

[cfc]

@cfc

There are so many power fields, which are the metric for the new running power comes with Watch OS 9?

View attachment 2094651

Current Power (red arrow)
Average Power (blue arrow)
power graph (yellow arrow)

I find only metrics where a sensor is needed.

Apart from the Stryd specific power metrics for "form power" and "air power" all of the available power metrics should work with the new watchOS running power, so pick whichever ones you want.

I think description for the current power metric wrongly says that it needs a sensor and does not mention watchOS 9, but every power metric should work. I have fixed that description in the code for the next version.

 

[cfc]

If you restore a phone from an iCloud backup, it keeps the workout history doesn't it? I have an iPhone 13 Pro, so it can't be older than October. But WoD shows my runs back to May 2021.

Yes, if the phone is restored from a backup (wherever the source) then all the iPhone app data is preserved.

It is the ability for the app to automatically store every workout in iCloud that is missing because it is rarely requested.

 

[MrAcid]

Another question - is there a way to put a yellow dot (or some other color) at the top of the watch face if currently in a workout? Kind of like the red dot at the top when there is a pending notification? Noticed it's too easy to forget to turn off the workout timer if in other apps of the watch.

You can use the Fitness focus on iOS to achieve a similar result.

 

[mikeyhd]

one function that i would like to have is auto export in a cloud like icloud, dropbox,…

just like healthkit and wahoo have, a collection of gpx and fit file

for now i have to do manually

 

[noel18]

I am more than happy to move away from strava (frustrated with their poor subscription model and don't care for their social features) and as I've migrated away from garmin now with the Apple Watch I'm wondering how to approach this.

Runs created by WOD are also stored in HealthKit and from there you have lots of options. There is an iOS app called HealthFit that will sync data from HealthKit to a bunch of other services. There are a bunch of alternatives to Strava but I really like one named SmashRun. It's supper unpopular but has a ton of metrics if you pay. I think they gifted me a lifetime sub or something because I haven't payed in years but still have a sub. If I recall it's $45/year but they also have a free version. They aren't real clear on what you get by paying but it's significate and well worth paying.

 

[noel18]

@cfc

There are so many power fields, which are the metric for the new running power comes with Watch OS 9?

View attachment 2094651

Current Power (red arrow)
Average Power (blue arrow)
power graph (yellow arrow)

I find only metrics where a sensor is needed.

Run the iOS settings app then go to Privacy & Security>Health>WorkOutDoors and then verify that WOD has access to read all the new metrics.

 

[noel18]

one function that i would like to have is auto export in a cloud like icloud, dropbox,…

just like healthkit and wahoo have, a collection of gpx and fit file

for now i have to do manually

The HealthFit app will do this. HealthFit supports Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive and OneDrive and it will sync automatically without any user interaction.

 

[jwehman1]

Since WOD will soon become my only workout app, I would love if it could display each of the metrics on the larger of the screens on the iPhone app. Like this:

I can and do export this data to a lot of other apps, but each of them has their own deficiencies, and I feel like WOD has a lot more customize-abilty (?) and the developer listens and makes changes...

 

[cfc]

Since WOD will soon become my only workout app, I would love if it could display each of the metrics on the larger of the screens on the iPhone app. Like this:
View attachment 2094828

I can and do export this data to a lot of other apps, but each of them has their own deficiencies, and I feel like WOD has a lot more customize-abilty (?) and the developer listens and makes changes...

Do you mean that you want an option where the graph at the bottom fills the area where the map is? I have been thinking about that for a while but I don't think anyone has ever asked for it before so it has never been on my roadmap.

If I did it then I would probably allow a few metrics to be graphed against each other so you could choose which to compare.

However there are much higher priorities at the moment. Also I tend to prioritise improving the experience during the workout over the analysis afterwards, because there are lots of systems that can do that. Sorry. Maybe one day.

 

[jwehman1]

Do you mean that you want an option where the graph at the bottom fills the area where the map is? I have been thinking about that for a while but I don't think anyone has ever asked for it before so it has never been on my roadmap.

... Sorry. Maybe one day.

Yes - exactly. And yes on the multiple overlays at once.

But - understood. And you're right, there are many that can import the data, but most of them don't do a good job of allowing expansion of the data to zoom in, or even scrolling along the data to see individual points in time. WOD does both, albeit at the bottom of the map...

 

[mikeyhd]

The HealthFit app will do this. HealthFit supports Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive and OneDrive and it will sync automatically without any user interaction.

the only issue I have with that is when doing a bike session inside WOD there is power data, but sync through healthfit, there is no power (my guess is in heathkit there is none). But if I export a fit file and use another software there is power in there

 

[Akrapovic]

the only issue I have with that is when doing a bike session inside WOD there is power data, but sync through healthfit, there is no power (my guess is in heathkit there is none). But if I export a fit file and use another software there is power in there

My HalthFit runs now include power data, so I would be surprised if bike doesn't. Given this was new in iOS16 and HealthFit just had a large update, it might be worth trying this again.

 

[lucksidedown]

I'm a long time strava/garmin user and wondering what people's "data strategy" is to store all of their workouts?

I am more than happy to move away from strava (frustrated with their poor subscription model and don't care for their social features) and as I've migrated away from garmin now with the Apple Watch I'm wondering how to approach this.

Is there a way to import all strava workouts into WOD so the full list shows up in the "workouts" tab? I don't see an import button so not sure if this is possible.

For those of you who moved to WOD, what's in your workouts tab? Just workouts created by WOD?

I've been a Garmin user for the last 5 years and was using Garmin to sync to Strava, Smashrun, Runkeeper, and a few others. I purchased the Ultra about 5 days ago. After some research, I found RunGap.

So, my setup:

Start and log run with WOD. Save. It saves to Apple Health. RunGap then has Apple Health as the "Source". I then have Destinations setup for Garmin, Strava, Smashrun, and Runkeeper. You can launch RunGap to sync all of the data manually or you can pay for their swag-bag ($10) to have it automatically sync.

This works like a total charm. All of my data shows up in all of the places that it was logging to before. With the data going to RunGap and then to Garmin and Strava, I can still sign up for an achieve their challenges.

Let me know if you need more info!

 

[lucksidedown]

Is there an update coming to WOD to create a shortcut to start a workout item via the action button? Now that it's getting cold, wearing gloves and multiple presses on the screen makes it hard to get the watch started exactly when I'm ready to go. Anything to make that a little less frictionless would be great.

Alternatively, if there's another way to easily get to the START screen of an outdoor run, I'd love some suggestions!

 

[cfc]

Is there an update coming to WOD to create a shortcut to start a workout item via the action button? Now that it's getting cold, wearing gloves and multiple presses on the screen makes it hard to get the watch started exactly when I'm ready to go. Anything to make that a little less frictionless would be great.

Alternatively, if there's another way to easily get to the START screen of an outdoor run, I'd love some suggestions!

I am working on the action button at the moment. Unfortunately Apple have still not published official documentation on how to do it so I am working from unofficial blogs and tweets.

I have got it so that the user can start a workout with the action button and then can configure what happens when the action button is pressed during a workout. However I haven't yet got it working when the user starts a workout manually via the screens and then uses the action button for something else during a workout. I am slowly making progress though.

 

[noel18]

the only issue I have with that is when doing a bike session inside WOD there is power data, but sync through healthfit, there is no power (my guess is in heathkit there is none). But if I export a fit file and use another software there is power in there

Power should sync assuming WOD has permission to write the new metrics. Check this post, it's probably your issue: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/workoutdoors-new-workout-features.2134687/post-31621666

 

[aloper]

Just as an FYI, if it hasn't been mentioned before but you can setup the side action button on the Ultra to launch Workoutdoors via a shortcut.

On your iPhone, open Shortcuts and create a new shortcut. The only action needed is "Open App" and then select Workoutdoors. Once done, make sure you sync this new shortcut to the Ultra. Once that is done, just open settings on the Ultra, and then open Action Button. Select Shortcut, then select the shortcut you created. Once done, you can press the action button to launch Workoutdoors.

- A couple of small limitations. You can only use the action button/shortcut to launch the app...not a specific activity.
- When you press the action button, you will see for a second, a big shortcut screen for a second, then the app opens.

It's a decent workaround for now, till we get native support for the action button, in the app.

 

[lucksidedown]

I am working on the action button at the moment. Unfortunately Apple have still not published official documentation on how to do it so I am working from unofficial blogs and tweets.

I have got it so that the user can start a workout with the action button and then can configure what happens when the action button is pressed during a workout. However I haven't yet got it working when the user starts a workout manually via the screens and then uses the action button for something else during a workout. I am slowly making progress though.

Thanks!

 

[lucksidedown]

Just as an FYI, if it hasn't been mentioned before but you can setup the side action button on the Ultra to launch Workoutdoors via a shortcut.

On your iPhone, open Shortcuts and create a new shortcut. The only action needed is "Open App" and then select Workoutdoors. Once done, make sure you sync this new shortcut to the Ultra. Once that is done, just open settings on the Ultra, and then open Action Button. Select Shortcut, then select the shortcut you created. Once done, you can press the action button to launch Workoutdoors.

- A couple of small limitations. You can only use the action button/shortcut to launch the app...not a specific activity.
- When you press the action button, you will see for a second, a big shortcut screen for a second, then the app opens.

It's a decent workaround for now, till we get native support for the action button, in the app.

Thanks for that. I do have the app icon on my main watch face, so that’s my current shortcut. I’ll try this and see if it’s any easier.

 

[mikeyhd]

Run the iOS settings app then go to Privacy & Security>Health>WorkOutDoors and then verify that WOD has access to read all the new metrics.

it's all on, I have power running but not cycle power

and cycle cadence I don't have it either

Open the HealthFit apps with cycling there is no power nor cadence

 

[Mauki]

it's all on, I have power running but not cycle power

and cycle cadence I don't have it either

Open the HealthFit apps with cycling there is no power nor cadence

For cycling cadence you need an cadence sensor in your bike. Did you have this?