Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[cfc]

Why is the time gone? Is this a watchOS 10 bug?

Apple changed something in watchOS 10.1 that means the time is missing (it is displayed by watchOS rather than by the app). However I have somehow worked around it in the code and released a new version of the app a few days ago.

So please update the app from the App Store. As usual you will probably need to update the watch app as well because Apple often do not update the watch app when you update the iPhone app. To do this go to the App Store app on the watch and install it from there. Do not reinstall the WorkOutDoors watch app by using Apple’s “Watch” app on the iPhone because doing it that way will lose the data in the watch app.

I assume that it is a bug in watchOS 10.1 because I thought that Apple forced apps to show the time there, but maybe they are being more relaxed about that now. Possibly as a concession to the watch face apps so they don't need to use hacky ways to remove the time.

If it is intentional by Apple then in the future I may make it optional as to whether to show the time there. Or maybe allow a different metric to be shown there. However I will wait a while before deciding because they may fix it in the future. If it is still possible in watchOS 11 then it may be worth considering.

 

[ChrisJohn23]

hello to further improve this almost perfect application, it would be interesting to have a trail profile in addition to running. I don't use the same data screens on road and trail.
And would it be possible to have something close to Garmin's ClimbPro feature (https://www.garmin.com/fr-FR/blog/climbpro-nouvelle-fonction-pour-gerer-vos-efforts-en-ascension/) ?
THANKS.

 

[sparksd]

hello to further improve this almost perfect application, it would be interesting to have a trail profile in addition to running. I don't use the same data screens on road and trail.
And would it be possible to have something close to Garmin's ClimbPro feature (https://www.garmin.com/fr-FR/blog/climbpro-nouvelle-fonction-pour-gerer-vos-efforts-en-ascension/) ?
THANKS.

I'll second that - great suggestion.

 

[kitenski]

Quick question, does the sailing function use GPS on WoD ? Just used the native app and it doesn’t appear to have used gps which is a touch annoying!

 

[23MONTERO]

Hi CFC, is there any way to "improve" the accuracy of the total distance travelled on a route?
I've tried to put on Pedometer, also in GPS mode and WorkOutDoors is definitely the app that makes the biggest difference... (in the last route...
WOD: 8.01 km
Strava: 8.72 km
Wikiloc: 8.72 km
Komoot: 8.11 km

Thank you!

 

[cfc]

Quick question, does the sailing function use GPS on WoD ? Just used the native app and it doesn’t appear to have used gps which is a touch annoying!

Yes, sailing uses GPS to display you location on a map and also for analysis afterwards.

 

[sparksd]

Quick question, does the sailing function use GPS on WoD ? Just used the native app and it doesn’t appear to have used gps which is a touch annoying!

What native app were you using that did not use GPS?

 

[cfc]

Hi CFC, is there any way to "improve" the accuracy of the total distance travelled on a route?
I've tried to put on Pedometer, also in GPS mode and WorkOutDoors is definitely the app that makes the biggest difference... (in the last route...
WOD: 8.01 km
Strava: 8.72 km
Wikiloc: 8.72 km
Komoot: 8.11 km

Thank you!

When you say that you have tried the pedometer and GPS it sounds like you are changing where the current pace is coming from rather than the distance. The distance choice is between Apple and GPS.

As your Apple distances are inaccurate then you probably need to recalibrate the watch as described here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204516.

If the recalibration doesn't work then you can switch the app to use GPS to determine distance. Note that this makes it susceptible to poor GPS signals, such as when you go through tunnels etc.

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 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 running stride length, which has affected the distance estimates.

 

[WesFromParis]

Hi @cfc, your app is awesome, it is the reason why I chose to run with an Apple Watch. Quick question: From the Healthfit app workouts summary I noticed that every time I use WOD, my average GPS is about 10 Meters less accurate than when I use the Workout default app (I know GPS signal can fluctuate but this happened on dozens of 1h runs compared). I'm talking 12-13 Meters with WOD vs 2-3 Meters with Apple Workout. Is it because of the smoothing algorithm that Apple uses? Thanks in advance.

 

[cfc]

Hi @cfc, your app is awesome, it is the reason why I chose to run with an Apple Watch. Quick question: From the Healthfit app workouts summary I noticed that every time I use WOD, my average GPS is about 10 Meters less accurate than when I use the Workout default app (I know GPS signal can fluctuate but this happened on dozens of 1h runs compared). I'm talking 12-13 Meters with WOD vs 2-3 Meters with Apple Workout. Is it because of the smoothing algorithm that Apple uses? Thanks in advance.

Yes, that is because of the smoothing that Apple applies after the workout (presumably when it is saved). I guess that they can be more confident of the accuracy of each location afterwards than they can during a workout. WorkOutDoors is showing the GPS accuracy reported for each location during the workout but HealthFit is showing the updated accuracy that is stored in Apple's Health system after the smoothing has been performed.

For example watchOS may have a certain level of confidence about the latest location when it is reported during the workout, but afterwards if it sees that location is exactly between the previous location and the following location, then it will be more confident that it was accurate.

 

[Gandie]

Hi cfc, long time user first time poster. I noticed that the complication on my watch face now displays the last run I've done, which is a cool feature. There's other stats I would prefer to see in this place though, notably my running mileage (7days or monthly) or other stats. Is such a feature planned? Thanks.

 

[cfc]

Hi cfc, long time user first time poster. I noticed that the complication on my watch face now displays the last run I've done, which is a cool feature. There's other stats I would prefer to see in this place though, notably my running mileage (7days or monthly) or other stats. Is such a feature planned? Thanks.

Sorry, not at the moment. WatchOS 10 made it necessary to add the Smart Stack so I just added something quickly, without any user configuration capability.

I will probably improve that in the future but in the short term I am now planning to focus on improving the navigation features.

 

[Trekking]

I use Garmin Connect for creating Running courses. Mainly generated courses.

For hiking I love Komoot.

I also used Komoot for a lot of hiking trips but if you want to start a bigger trekking tour I would absolutly recommend https://mytrails.info/en/

 

[NME42]

I also used Komoot for a lot of hiking trips but if you want to start a bigger trekking tour I would absolutly recommend https://mytrails.info/en/

Lately, I was planning all my WOD routes with https://brouter.de/brouter-web/ . It is free, easy to use and their algorithm to determine a good path between A and B is superb.

Guess there is also an English version there.

 

[longhilljohn]

Happy to try it and report back, thanks!

TLDR: summary - playing music costs lots of watch battery.

And for anyone who decides to read past the summary, I'm circling back on cfc's request with some battery info. You asked me to focus on battery drain of playing downloaded music from AWU to bluetooth headphones.

15 Oct all versions up to date (from my previous post):
3 1/2 hour workout;
AWU Cellular on;
Phone not with me;
Bluetooth music from AWU on (from downloaded library on board AWU);
AOD off;
battery start 95 end 35;
roughly 17.1% burn rate per hour

21 Oct all versions up to date (new data point - believe this was the week I moved up to 5.3.4):
1 3/4 hour workout;
AWU Cellular off; sad
Phone with me (and per your request - phone is the music bluetooth source here);
No bluetooth music from AWU;
AOD off;
battery start 75 end 60;
roughly 8.6% burn rate per hour

29 Oct all versions up to date (new data point - believe this was the week I moved up to 10.1):
2.5 hour workout;
AWU Cellular off;
Phone with me (and per your request - phone is the music bluetooth source here);
No bluetooth music from AWU;
AOD off;
battery start 88 end 70;
roughly 7.2% burn rate per hour

In my non-scientific review, endurance workouts should strongly consider not using the apple watch processor to play music, even if it is downloaded (and not cellular streaming). While not controlling every variable under the sun, I'm a bit surprised how much processing power it apparently takes the AWU to play already downloaded music to a pair of bluetooth headphones. One thing I wish I would have thought to do would be to get some data points with AWU cellular on, while music off, so my family could track me and do an occasional text message. I'll try that.

Back to my OP, I think this gives me enough info for me to not worry about the battery for an endurance event I have coming up in a couple of weeks by basically using the AWU for the OWS; totally disabling everything during the bike maybe even just turning the watch completely off while carrying the phone; then getting a little persnickety on the AWU settings for the run but hopefully using cellular on AWU/leave phone behind/AOD off/no music. Really appreciate you cfc, and the wonderful app you created that allowed me to stop switching back and forth between Garmin watch and apple watch all the time!

Clearly time for me to try out the tip jar. Thank you!

 

[cfc]

TLDR: summary - playing music costs lots of watch battery.

And for anyone who decides to read past the summary, I'm circling back on cfc's request with some battery info. You asked me to focus on battery drain of playing downloaded music from AWU to bluetooth headphones.

15 Oct all versions up to date (from my previous post):
3 1/2 hour workout;
AWU Cellular on;
Phone not with me;
Bluetooth music from AWU on (from downloaded library on board AWU);
AOD off;
battery start 95 end 35;
roughly 17.1% burn rate per hour

21 Oct all versions up to date (new data point - believe this was the week I moved up to 5.3.4):
1 3/4 hour workout;
AWU Cellular off; sad
Phone with me (and per your request - phone is the music bluetooth source here);
No bluetooth music from AWU;
AOD off;
battery start 75 end 60;
roughly 8.6% burn rate per hour

29 Oct all versions up to date (new data point - believe this was the week I moved up to 10.1):
2.5 hour workout;
AWU Cellular off;
Phone with me (and per your request - phone is the music bluetooth source here);
No bluetooth music from AWU;
AOD off;
battery start 88 end 70;
roughly 7.2% burn rate per hour

In my non-scientific review, endurance workouts should strongly consider not using the apple watch processor to play music, even if it is downloaded (and not cellular streaming). While not controlling every variable under the sun, I'm a bit surprised how much processing power it apparently takes the AWU to play already downloaded music to a pair of bluetooth headphones. One thing I wish I would have thought to do would be to get some data points with AWU cellular on, while music off, so my family could track me and do an occasional text message. I'll try that.

Back to my OP, I think this gives me enough info for me to not worry about the battery for an endurance event I have coming up in a couple of weeks by basically using the AWU for the OWS; totally disabling everything during the bike maybe even just turning the watch completely off while carrying the phone; then getting a little persnickety on the AWU settings for the run but hopefully using cellular on AWU/leave phone behind/AOD off/no music. Really appreciate you cfc, and the wonderful app you created that allowed me to stop switching back and forth between Garmin watch and apple watch all the time!

Clearly time for me to try out the tip jar. Thank you!

Thanks for the analysis. It does seem that playing music uses a lot of power. Cellular is also power hungry.

Many thanks for tipping!

 

[bcalvanese]

If I do a WorkOutDoors workout, will it count towards my 7-Workout Week award in the Fitness app?

 

[BenGoren]

If I do a WorkOutDoors workout, will it count towards my 7-Workout Week award in the Fitness app?

Yes. I’ve been using WorkOutDoors exclusively for quite some time and still have racked up a number of 7-Workout Week awards — as well as monthly activity challenges and the rest.

Ian has done a great job at integrating the app into Apple’s Health system. Maybe there’s some oddball something-or-other for which WOD isn’t a drop-in replacement for the original app, but I certainly have no clue what it might be.

b&

 

[bcalvanese]

Yes. I’ve been using WorkOutDoors exclusively for quite some time and still have racked up a number of 7-Workout Week awards — as well as monthly activity challenges and the rest.

Ian has done a great job at integrating the app into Apple’s Health system. Maybe there’s some oddball something-or-other for which WOD isn’t a drop-in replacement for the original app, but I certainly have no clue what it might be.

b&

Thanks,

I used WOD years ago and noticed it was not counting workouts towards the awards, but maybe it has been fixed since then.

I will try a workout today and see.

 

[iamasmith]

Totally missing the complication now with watchOS 10.1, a reboot doesn't help at all but I did see a prompt when I opened the app after it asking for access to heath data - yes to all.. still no complication now.

Ultra Gen 1 if it makes a difference.

If I go into the edit screen it thinks it's in that position btw, just not visible and doesn't launch if I try it.

Action button still launches the workout I have set though

I checked it's fully up to date on the phone and the watch AppStore btw.

 

[cfc]

Totally missing the complication now with watchOS 10.1, a reboot doesn't help at all but I did see a prompt when I opened the app after it asking for access to heath data - yes to all.. still no complication now.

Ultra Gen 1 if it makes a difference.

If I go into the edit screen it thinks it's in that position btw, just not visible and doesn't launch if I try it.

Action button still launches the workout I have set though

I checked it's fully up to date on the phone and the watch AppStore btw.

The complications do seem unreliable since the latest version. I had to rewrite them to support the Smart Stack and some people have reported problems.

However these problems have also gone away for a few people, so I suspect it takes iOS/watchOS a while to catch up when you change the way a complication is implemented. As a result I am going to leave it a few weeks before I worry about them.

 

[bcalvanese]

Yes. I’ve been using WorkOutDoors exclusively for quite some time and still have racked up a number of 7-Workout Week awards — as well as monthly activity challenges and the rest.

Ian has done a great job at integrating the app into Apple’s Health system. Maybe there’s some oddball something-or-other for which WOD isn’t a drop-in replacement for the original app, but I certainly have no clue what it might be.

b&

I just did a 3 mile outdoor walk, and it did NOT count toward my 7 workout week. Also if I go into the Fitness app and view the workout, it's missing the time in zones, split data, etc...

It's a shame too, because it's such a good app, but I can't use it if it can't count toward awards, and give me the same metrics in the Fitness app that the native workout app gives.

 

[cfc]

I just did a 3 mile outdoor walk, and it did NOT count toward my 7 workout week. Also if I go into the Fitness app and view the workout, it's missing the time in zones, split data, etc...

It's a shame too, because it's such a good app, but I can't use it if it can't count toward awards, and give me the same metrics in the Fitness app that the native workout app gives.

The heart zones are not shown for workouts created by any third party apps, including WOD. This is presumably because Apple do not make the zone information available to such apps and therefore they could have their own configurable zones (as WOD does). So Apple do not show the zones because it could be confusing with two sources of zones. If they ever make the zones available then I will probably sync them with WOD and maybe they will then show them in their Fitness app.

As far as I know splits are also only shown for workouts created by Apple's Workout app. In the past they would automatically calculate them from the workout data but this changed when they changed the name of the app to Fitness with iOS 14. I don't think there is a way for the app to store them such that Apple will display them, but I could be wrong. However I like to think that the splits information provided by WOD is much more comprehensive (although I may be biased!).

Awards seem to vary. I have lost track of which awards require workouts to be created with Apple's native app and which do not mind if you use a third party app. The majority are fine but a few do require Apple's app. I sometimes wonder if there are issues with insurance companies that use awards to ensure that their clients are doing exercise. They may insist that such awards are only possible with the native app. That is a complete guess though.

 

[bcalvanese]

The heart zones are not shown for workouts created by any third party apps, including WOD. This is presumably because Apple do not make the zone information available to such apps and therefore they could have their own configurable zones (as WOD does). So Apple do not show the zones because it could be confusing with two sources of zones. If they ever make the zones available then I will probably sync them with WOD and maybe they will then show them in their Fitness app.

As far as I know splits are also only shown for workouts created by Apple's Workout app. In the past they would automatically calculate them from the workout data but this changed when they changed the name of the app to Fitness with iOS 14. I don't think there is a way for the app to store them such that Apple will display them, but I could be wrong. However I like to think that the splits information provided by WOD is much more comprehensive (although I may be biased!).

Awards seem to vary. I have lost track of which awards require workouts to be created with Apple's native app and which do not mind if you use a third party app. The majority are fine but a few do require Apple's app. I sometimes wonder if there are issues with insurance companies that use awards to ensure that their clients are doing exercise. They may insist that such awards are only possible with the native app. That is a complete guess though.

Thank you for the detailed explanation.

 

[Richo5]

I just did a 3 mile outdoor walk, and it did NOT count toward my 7 workout week. Also if I go into the Fitness app and view the workout, it's missing the time in zones, split data, etc...

It's a shame too, because it's such a good app, but I can't use it if it can't count toward awards, and give me the same metrics in the Fitness app that the native workout app gives.

For what it's worth, WOD definitely used to count for the 7 workout week (I have 130 of them and only use WOD) but I just checked then and the last time I got it was in August. I'm thinking that maybe Apple have stopped counting WOD since the iOS17 / watchOS 10? I never look at those specific workout stats so hadn't noticed the change as I track all my workouts in Strava but I could see that would be a bit annoying. Things like move streaks seem to still work fine.