Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[cfc]

When digging into elevation data issues I found out, that the elevation graph from a direct export from WorkOutDoors looks different compared to an export from Apple Health.

For me it looks like WorkOutDoors is applying some smoothing for the elevation data where Apple Health is not.

That surprised me. I assumed that the elevation graph would look identical no matter if exported from WorkOutDoors or Apple Health.
Can you confirm that this is really what happens?

Please see attached screen shot where the same workout is imported into Garmin. One is directly from WorkoutDoors and the second one out of Apple Health using HealthFit.

Background is, that some apps where I import the workout data have issues with the "jagged" elevation data exported from Apple Health.

Btw. I’m using the Altimeter Data. Will give the GPS option a try and see if that makes a difference to the elevation data stored in apple health.

The app does not store the elevation in Apple's Health system. I assume they derive that from the GPS data in the workout route, which could be why it is less smooth.

There are however issues in the current version when using the always on altimeter, so you may want to switch that off in the Other Settings section of the Settings tab in the iPhone app. These should be fixed in the next version.

 

[Barbaro]

Thanks for the new beta, looks better too on the ultra.

I can ask if it is possible to rename workouts directly from Apple Watch?

thanks

 

[cfc]

Thanks for the new beta, looks better too on the ultra.

I can ask if it is possible to rename workouts directly from Apple Watch?

thanks

No, that's not possible. Sorry. Thanks for testing the app.

 

[nilsalb]

Hi @cfc Thanks so much for making the best app for the apple watch. I just got an ultra and emailed you about getting access to the Beta.

One question I had was on the extended battery life feature for workouts (similar to what was released in WatchOS 9.1) -- Is extended battery life on the roadmap for WOD?

 

[cfc]

Hi @cfc Thanks so much for making the best app for the apple watch. I just got an ultra and emailed you about getting access to the Beta.

One question I had was on the extended battery life feature for workouts (similar to what was released in WatchOS 9.1) -- Is extended battery life on the roadmap for WOD?

I don't think that is available to 3rd party apps like WOD yet. I will add it as an option if Apple make it available in the future.

 

[nilsalb]

@cfc you're correct it's not available to 3rd party apps as a feature as of now, but it seems the main thing they are doing is pinging the GPS and HR every 2 minutes (vs. every second).

 

[cfc]

@cfc you're correct it's not available to 3rd party apps as a feature as of now, but it seems the main thing they are doing is pinging the GPS and HR every 2 minutes (vs. every second).

It isn't easy to stop/start the sensors like that and could potentially use more battery because getting an initial lock on either GPS or the heart is usually much more battery intensive than maintaining a lock.

So it is the sort of feature that is best implemented by watchOS.

 

[nilsalb]

That makes total sense... I hope Apple externalizes this feature. Routing is especially important for those longer activities.

Finally, any plans to add the planned elevation chart as well as an indication of your current position across the route? I've found that feature very helpful to get a sense of how much is left and how much climbing is coming up.

Thanks for all the hard work!!

 

[BenGoren]

Just did my first workout with WorkOutDoors this morning. I’m impressed! Thanks for all your hard work!

I used it for my own HIIT- style bodyweight workout: thirty seconds of an activity, ten seconds rest, thirty seconds of a different activity, and so on for about half an hour. Entering everything in the Schedule was a bit annoying, but not too bad, especially once I figured out how “Default” works.

I really like the spoken feedback! But the system chime sometimes does and doesn’t sound at the start of an interval. I’d prefer to just have the spoken feedback, but maybe somebody else would prefer just the chime? Maybe this could be made a configurable setting?

Also … it would be nice to multi-select all intervals of a given type in the Schedule and modify the watch screen for all at once. I’m okay with what I came up with before I started entering everything, but I wouldn’t mind making a couple tweaks.

Minor nitpicking, to be sure. I was a bit intimidated by how exhaustive the options were when I started, but quickly got over that. The end result really is a damned impressive app.

Thanks!

b&

 

[oceangoing]

new user and learning to use this fantastic app. Interested in the side button to pause/resume the workout as well.

Do we have any tips page to learn for new users?

 

[oceangoing]

Oupss I'm sorry I finally find WOD in the list... I'm new in this forum and I would like to thanks you for this APP.

Just one question. I have read many pages but I didn't find a subject about the ghost fonction. It's not possible to confront an old activity ?

Thanks

How you find the WOD in the shortcuts app? why can't I find it in the list? I am using the Shortcuts app. Which one you are using to create shortcut?

 

[cfc]

That makes total sense... I hope Apple externalizes this feature. Routing is especially important for those longer activities.

Finally, any plans to add the planned elevation chart as well as an indication of your current position across the route? I've found that feature very helpful to get a sense of how much is left and how much climbing is coming up.

Thanks for all the hard work!!

An elevation profile with "you are here" will be added when I improve the navigation features to "follow" the position on the route. This will also enable other features like turn-by-turn navigation (if the route includes it), and metrics showing the remaining distance, time, ascent etc.

Once the next version with action button support is released then I will start work on this along with the always on display. They are joint top on my priority list at the moment.

 

[cfc]

Just did my first workout with WorkOutDoors this morning. I’m impressed! Thanks for all your hard work!

I used it for my own HIIT- style bodyweight workout: thirty seconds of an activity, ten seconds rest, thirty seconds of a different activity, and so on for about half an hour. Entering everything in the Schedule was a bit annoying, but not too bad, especially once I figured out how “Default” works.

I really like the spoken feedback! But the system chime sometimes does and doesn’t sound at the start of an interval. I’d prefer to just have the spoken feedback, but maybe somebody else would prefer just the chime? Maybe this could be made a configurable setting?

Also … it would be nice to multi-select all intervals of a given type in the Schedule and modify the watch screen for all at once. I’m okay with what I came up with before I started entering everything, but I wouldn’t mind making a couple tweaks.

Minor nitpicking, to be sure. I was a bit intimidated by how exhaustive the options were when I started, but quickly got over that. The end result really is a damned impressive app.

Thanks!

b&

Glad you like the app! I plan to improve the editing of interval schedules in the future.

Adding the ability to import intervals from external systems such as Training Peaks is high on my list and it will probably require a rewrite of that area of the app, so I will probably improve the editing then.

 

[cfc]

new user and learning to use this fantastic app. Interested in the side button to pause/resume the workout as well.

Do we have any tips page to learn for new users?

The next version will allow you to use the action button to pause / resume. I have added you to the beta program following your email request so hopefully you will be able to to that now.

In terms of tips, there is a basic user guide on the website, which may help: http://www.workoutdoors.net/UserGuide.html

 

[MaxSto]

An elevation profile with "you are here" will be added when I improve the navigation features to "follow" the position on the route. This will also enable other features like turn-by-turn navigation (if the route includes it), and metrics showing the remaining distance, time, ascent etc.

Once the next version with action button support is released then I will start work on this along with the always on display. They are joint top on my priority list at the moment.

That´s great!
But please try to let the battery consumption like it is at the moment. It only uses around 5 % of battery per hour while a hiking workout with a downloaded map and track on the watch while the watch is in low power mode, which results in maximum workouttimes of around 18-20 hours.
Quite awesome in my opinion!

 

[oceangoing]

The next version will allow you to use the action button to pause / resume. I have added you to the beta program following your email request so hopefully you will be able to to that now.

In terms of tips, there is a basic user guide on the website, which may help: http://www.workoutdoors.net/UserGuide.html

Wow! Got what I need within new beta and have set access button up correctly based on your guidance from email. Really appreciate your help. It’s now connected with that button efficiently.

 

[cfc]

That´s great!
But please try to let the battery consumption like it is at the moment. It only uses around 5 % of battery per hour while a hiking workout with a downloaded map and track on the watch while the watch is in low power mode, which results in maximum workouttimes of around 18-20 hours.
Quite awesome in my opinion!

Only using 5% an hour is great to hear!

 

[MitzEclipse]

You can configure the distance alert in terms of miles, even if your have km set as the distance units.

The strength of the vibration is controlled by watchOS unfortunately. I may allow the vibration type to be configurable in the future, but it isn't high in my priorities. Sorry.

Thanks - yes, I have the distance alert in miles but the alert is only a vibration - when I raise my wrist, I just see 1.6km on the distance block - I would like it to say "Mile 1" then "Mile 2" or something like that - at least an alert that visually displays - is this possible?

 

[zach471]

Only using 5% an hour is great to hear!

Really great. The low power mode I think saves about 3 hours, so you’re looking at 12-15 full the screen on. Pretty impressive for this app.

 

[cfc]

Thanks - yes, I have the distance alert in miles but the alert is only a vibration - when I raise my wrist, I just see 1.6km on the distance block - I would like it to say "Mile 1" then "Mile 2" or something like that - at least an alert that visually displays - is this possible?

Ah I see. No that isn't possible. You can set the distance interval in miles, but it will display and speak the distances in km if that is what is defined as the units. Sorry about that. No-one has asked for that before.

 

[RunningDenver]

thanks for the add to the beta program. The physical button is a big improvement for pause / resume on the AWU. I do also confirm that turning off the setting for 'Use Always on Altimeter' gets more accurate elevation readings for me.

 

[RunningDenver]

@cfc you're correct it's not available to 3rd party apps as a feature as of now, but it seems the main thing they are doing is pinging the GPS and HR every 2 minutes (vs. every second).

that's how I read it too, which sucks for running anything that isn't straight. Accuracy running switchbacks on trails, when the GPS data is captured every 2 mins, will be miserable. I'll stick to my epix for anything that is beyond the battery life of the AWU and it's regular GPS recording interval.

 

[vapilot]

Wow! Got what I need within new beta and have set access button up correctly based on your guidance from email. Really appreciate your help. It’s now connected with that button efficiently.

Any chance I can also get involved in this too? Using the side button for pausing and resuming workoutdoors workouts on my Ultra is exactly why I came here (and registered). I am familiar with beta testing as well.

 

[oceangoing]

Any chance I can also get involved in this too? Using the side button for pausing and resuming workoutdoors workouts on my Ultra is exactly why I came here (and registered). I am familiar with beta testing as well.

Send email to Ian and you will receive a link to activate Beta version. Then you can assign WorkOutDoors app on action button which will give you the function of Pause/Resume by pressing the action button.
Very easy to identify and use!

 

[vapilot]

Send email to Ian and you will receive a link to activate Beta version. Then you can assign WorkOutDoors app on action button which will give you the function of Pause/Resume by pressing the action button.
Very easy to identify and use!

I will, thank you.