Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[cfc]

Hi!

I have three more questions.

First of all, are you considering adding a separate workout type for trail running? Currently, I am using the running workout for both "normal" runs (i.e. on paved roads) as well as for trail running, however I am using substantially different screens for each workout type. Therefore, I currently have 9 running screens in total, which is too many for my liking.

Secondly, I am still a bit confused about the difference between cached maps and offline/downloaded maps. I noticed that, when browsing in "Map" mode, the areas I have scrolled through are somehow accessible offline (i.e. are in cache memory). Is there a difference between areas in cache mode or downloaded maps? I feel like downloaded maps are more "secure", especially when going to areas with limited/no daata signal, however this is just my gut feeling.

Finally, not really a question but I really like the app, keep up the good work!

The app uses Apple’s workout system, so it is limited to the activity types that offers, which only includes one type of outdoor running. In the future I plan to allow the ability to create custom activity types that map to Apple’s types, so you would be able to create a separate trail running activity with a different configuration. However there are higher priorities at the moment. Sorry about that.

If you have not specifically downloaded an area of the map for use offline then the app will download it "on-demand" as necessary. These tiles are then kept in a cache for future use the next time you need a map of that area. So those are what I call "cached" maps, whereas the maps that you specifically download on the iPhone and send to the watch I call "downloaded" maps. They are equally secure, its just that I like to differentiate them for informational purposes.

Glad you like the app!

 

[jtsang2000]

Hi, i noticed this for a while now but didn't get a chance to ask here. The audio notifications when using WOD on my Apple watch Ultra and having podcast playing on my bluetooth headphone, if I pause the audio on the podcast app, I do not get any audio feedback from WOD app until I press play to resume the podcast, audio then plays from WOD. Is there a setting to change this?

 

[cfc]

Hi, i noticed this for a while now but didn't get a chance to ask here. The audio notifications when using WOD on my Apple watch Ultra and having podcast playing on my bluetooth headphone, if I pause the audio on the podcast app, I do not get any audio feedback from WOD app until I press play to resume the podcast, audio then plays from WOD. Is there a setting to change this?

I have heard of that before but not very often. The audio interaction with other apps is controlled by watchOS. The app can pass a few parameters but essentially it just asks watchOS to speak a certain phrase and that does the rest. It can be slightly flaky at times and generally I recommend rebooting the watch when it isn't doing what you expect.

 

[dynamike]

Is there a way to multi select past workouts and batch export fit files?

 

[cfc]

Is there a way to multi select past workouts and batch export fit files?

No, but I think HealthFit offers batch exporting of FIT files from the workouts stored in Apple's Health system.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/healthfit/id1202650514?mt=8

 

[LeTraKeuR]

Hello all,
What activity do you use for downhill Mountain biking ?
I don’t want register when I go up with the chairlift. With my Garmin I had a specific app but with the AppleWatch, I don’t know What to use. The only solution I have found is to do a manualy pause but It’s not great.
It’s possible with Wod ?
Thanks

 

[vapilot]

Hello all,
What activity do you use for downhill Mountain biking ?
I don’t want register when I go up with the chairlift. With my Garmin I had a specific app but with the AppleWatch, I don’t know What to use. The only solution I have found is to do a manualy pause but It’s not great.
It’s possible with Wod ?

I don’t think so. I’ll be impressed if someone knows how.

 

[cfc]

I don’t think so. I’ll be impressed if someone knows how.

The app does this for skiing, by using Apple's run detection to split the workout into intervals, but not for cycling. Manually pausing is the best solution.

 

[kitenski]

Appreciate this isn't a WOD issue, but interested in liked minded peoples experiences of the heart rate accuracy with an Ultra.

I just did a 67km walk over 19 hours and WOD was superb for mapping, but the HR was pretty poor, lots of flat lines and missing sections, so not sure I can trust it! I do have an external strap but didn't want to wear that for such a big day out!

Pics of how I wore it with the strap I used.

 

[Richo5]

Appreciate this isn't a WOD issue, but interested in liked minded peoples experiences of the heart rate accuracy with an Ultra.

I just did a 67km walk over 19 hours and WOD was superb for mapping, but the HR was pretty poor, lots of flat lines and missing sections, so not sure I can trust it! I do have an external strap but didn't want to wear that for such a big day out!

Pics of how I wore it with the strap I used.View attachment 2209732View attachment 2209739View attachment 2209740

I think the big factor is the choice of band. I use the trail loop band which has the infinitely adjustable velcro strap. At the start of an activity I habitually tighten it so it is sitting snug on my wrist and doesn't move up or down. When I swap the band out for the sports band (the silicone one) I find I occasionally see results like yours although typically only on a run.

There is sometimes a problem with heartrate for me at the start of a run as it can take a couple of km to lock onto the heartrate. I believe that this might be fixed in the next WOD release as it will now get a heartrate lock at the start of an activity. If I need accurate heartrate for a workout then I start the activity, pause immediately and then get a manual heart rate reading. When I unpause the recording is generally spot on.

 

[cfc]

I believe that this might be fixed in the next WOD release as it will now get a heartrate lock at the start of an activity.

Yes, in the next version if you use the 3 dots icon to start a workout, or configure the app to show the start button when you tap the menu option, then the app connects to the heart rate sensor and shows the latest bpm at the top of the screen.

In the future I may extend that to always showing it on the main menu like it does for GPS, but that may use too much battery power, so I am starting conservatively.

 

[vapilot]

Yes, in the next version if you use the 3 dots icon to start a workout, or configure the app to show the start button when you tap the menu option, then the app connects to the heart rate sensor and shows the latest bpm at the top of the screen.

In the future I may extend that to always showing it on the main menu like it does for GPS, but that may use too much battery power, so I am starting conservatively.

When I start a run, The recorded heart rate usually shows my heart rate closer to where it is when I end a run. When I start I know it isn't that high and it should be more close to my walking heart rate. I am not sure why it does this. Any ideas?

 

[johnl1275]

I don't think this has been posted here yet. But here is a great video on using WorkOutDoors. He goes into great details and I actually learned a couple of things!

 

[vapilot]

That showed up in my youtube feed last night. I started to watch it but saved it to watch later. I guess the Algorithm fed it to you too!

 

[Richo5]

When I start a run, The recorded heart rate usually shows my heart rate closer to where it is when I end a run. When I start I know it isn't that high and it should be more close to my walking heart rate. I am not sure why it does this. Any ideas?

Mine too. I think it might be because the app hasn't told the watch to start recording the heartrate regularly so it ends up getting some stray readings until it is properly recording. I often see a single super high reading (180bpm) then it stays on that without any new readings (you can tell as it is a perfect straight line) and then some minutes later it starts recording correctly. I'm fairly confident this will be fixed with the new version when it is released. In the short term I have found that when you are on the start screen for a run (with the big green start button), switch to the regular heart app on the phone and force a reading by touching the crown with your other hand. You can then switch back to the start screen and commence your run. This sets a more reasonable starting baseline.

 

[vapilot]

Mine too. I think it might be because the app hasn't told the watch to start recording the heartrate regularly so it ends up getting some stray readings until it is properly recording. I often see a single super high reading (180bpm) then it stays on that without any new readings (you can tell as it is a perfect straight line) and then some minutes later it starts recording correctly. I'm fairly confident this will be fixed with the new version when it is released. In the short term I have found that when you are on the start screen for a run (with the big green start button), switch to the regular heart app on the phone and force a reading by touching the crown with your other hand. You can then switch back to the start screen and commence your run. This sets a more reasonable starting baseline.

Almost exactly what mine does to. I’ll try your suggestion.

 

[cfc]

When I start a run, The recorded heart rate usually shows my heart rate closer to where it is when I end a run. When I start I know it isn't that high and it should be more close to my walking heart rate. I am not sure why it does this. Any ideas?

I have heard of this a couple of times. That area of the app has been completely rewritten for the next version, so hopefully that will fix it.

 

[Mitch8]

When my ultra was new, I did some runs with apples Software to calibrate. Now I saw in WOD (Footer 2. screenshot) a big difference in distance (running, 7,43km
/ 6km)). It’s 25% less in GPS. See screen. Settings were to „apple“. But isn’t that a very big difference? And: when I measured with apple in the past , did the GPS measured too ?

 

[cfc]

When my ultra was new, I did some runs with apples Software to calibrate. Now I saw in WOD (Footer 2. screenshot) a big difference in distance (running, 7,43km
/ 6km)). It’s 25% less in GPS. See screen. Settings were to „apple“. But isn’t that a very big difference? And: when I measured with apple in the past , did the GPS measured too ?

When the distances are as massively wrong as you are seeing then it usually means that you have done something strange to confuse watchOS. Have you maybe done a different activity (in any app) and told the watch that it was a running or walking activity? I have heard of people doing skateboarding or cross country skiing but have told the watch they were running. This has then made the watch think they have the wrong stride length, which has affected the distance estimates.

 

[MaxSto]

Ok, your app is still king.

 

[zach471]

Ok, your app is still king.

Yep. Didn’t get the ability to navigate offline

 

[Mauki]

What Apple showed today of new Sport features in WatchOS 10 at WWDC is disappointing.

@cfc
Is there anything that is interesting for WOD?

 

[cfc]

What Apple showed today of new Sport features in WatchOS 10 at WWDC is disappointing.

@cfc
Is there anything that is interesting for WOD?

There were several interesting features, but the keynote just gives the headlines so it is impossible to know the effect on WOD yet. The details will come out over the week.

The things that looked interesting at first glance were: bluetooth cycling sensors; topographic maps; live activity on the iPhone; and the interval schedule improvements. The golf and tennis stuff also could be useful.

 

[danny121pt]

There were several interesting features, but the keynote just gives the headlines so it is impossible to know the effect on WOD yet. The details will come out over the week.

The things that looked interesting at first glance were: bluetooth cycling sensors; topographic maps; live activity on the iPhone; and the interval schedule improvements. The golf and tennis stuff also could be useful.

Also apps like training peaks to make it so you can access workouts from TP on apple workout etc.

That may be popular with some.

 

[NME42]

What Apple showed today of new Sport features in WatchOS 10 at WWDC is disappointing.

What did you expect?