Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[cfc]

This is more of a request for a feature to maybe add one day (or maybe it already is and I missed it). Is there a way to handle indoor treadmill runs the same way Coros does? Coros Treadmill

The two main things i would like to see is:

Manual Speed​

Select this option if using a treadmill. You will need to manually adjust the speed on the watch each time you adjust the speed on the treadmill.

Indoor Run distance and pace calibration​

COROS watches support calibration on Indoor Run workouts. The calibration range is up to +/ - 25% of the distance recorded by the watch.

Both are good suggestions, and on my to-do list, but rarely requested so not high on the list. Sorry. However they will rise up the list as a result of your request.

A slightly more common request is to set the distance after a treadmill session, but I prefer your suggestions because they would probably provide better data during a workout, and because they are probably easier for me to implement.

This is because Apple's Health system doesn't allow workouts to be edited after the fact, so changing the distance after the workout would require the app to recreate the workout with new distance and speed data, which would be a lot of work.

 

[mws1986]

Both are good suggestions, and on my to-do list, but rarely requested so not high on the list. Sorry. However they will rise up the list as a result of your request.

A slightly more common request is to set the distance after a treadmill session, but I prefer your suggestions because they would probably provide better data during a workout, and because they are probably easier for me to implement.

This is because Apple's Health system doesn't allow workouts to be edited after the fact, so changing the distance after the workout would require the app to recreate the workout with new distance and speed data, which would be a lot of work.

Sounds great. Thank you for you continue work on this!

 

[rmh78]

Unfortunately not. It only works with the native app. However Apple have provided the ability for third party apps like WOD to more easily send the workout data from the watch to the iPhone. The apps still need to display the data though.

So mirroring the workout on the iPhone has risen slightly on my to-do list as a result of being easier to implement.

Any news on the feature of mirroring the workout on the iPhone especially for bike usage?

 

[javataco]

Hi @cfc,

This might be a bug. Did a new workout where basically it was 5 min at a specific pace, 75 seconds jog, 4 min fast, 75 seconds jog, 3 min, 75 s jog, 2 min, 75 s jog, 1 min, 75 s jog, 5 min. In the interval schedule when I start the jogs I told it to speak “Pace (Prv Int Avg)” as I wanted to know my pace for these 5/4/3/2/1/5 min intervals, but out of the 5-6 times it was meant to read it out, it only did it once. I was listening to a podcast through my airpods initially, but paused it mid-workout in case that was the issue. Have you heard of this happening before?

I have another interval workout on Thursday that I will try and monitor it.

 

[cfc]

Any news on the feature of mirroring the workout on the iPhone especially for bike usage?

It is not currently in my immediate plans. Sorry about that. At the moment I am focussed on navigation improvements (which are going well) and after that custom activity types and interval schedule importing are the next major features on my list. Mirroring is probably next after those features, but by then watchOS 11 and the new watches will probably be my focus

In theory mirroring to the iPhone has become easier since watchOS 10 and since I rewrote WOD in Apple's latest coding language (SwiftUI). This is because watchOS 10 provides the ability to share workout information more easily from the watch to the iPhone; and because SwiftUI makes it easier to convert code that works on the watch to work on the iPhone.

This means that it may not take as long as I previously thought. I may put aside a few days to investigate, so that I have a better idea of how long it would take. If I think it would not take too long then there is a chance that I will squeeze it in before watchOS 11 if I feel that there isn't time for custom activities but there is time for both interval schedules and mirroring. However that is some way off.

 

[cfc]

Hi @cfc,

This might be a bug. Did a new workout where basically it was 5 min at a specific pace, 75 seconds jog, 4 min fast, 75 seconds jog, 3 min, 75 s jog, 2 min, 75 s jog, 1 min, 75 s jog, 5 min. In the interval schedule when I start the jogs I told it to speak “Pace (Prv Int Avg)” as I wanted to know my pace for these 5/4/3/2/1/5 min intervals, but out of the 5-6 times it was meant to read it out, it only did it once. I was listening to a podcast through my airpods initially, but paused it mid-workout in case that was the issue. Have you heard of this happening before?

I have another interval workout on Thursday that I will try and monitor it.

I haven't heard of that before. Maybe try rebooting your watch, and also your phone if the AirPods are connected to that.

 

[javataco]

I haven't heard of that before. Maybe try rebooting your watch, and also your phone if the AirPods are connected to that.

Will do and let you know how it goes.

 

[blimundus]

At the moment I am focussed on navigation improvements (which are going well)

Thanks for this reminder to give you a tip “to show appreciation and to support future development”. 😌

Done! 🙂

 

[cfc]

Thanks for this reminder to give you a tip “to show appreciation and to support future development”. 😌

Done! 🙂

That wasn't the intention but many thanks anyway! 🙂

 

[LetItSnow]

I may add elevation labels to contours in the future but it isn't high in my priorities. Labels use a lot of resources (surprisingly) and can clutter things on a small watch screen. Maybe one day though.

Is there any chance you could add elevation labels to maps as part of your navigation work?
It could be defaulted to off to not use a lot of resources for most people.
For backcountry skiing the elevation info on the map is a big deal since there are not trails or routes to follow; navigation decisions are usually made on the go.
I'd gladly have the map screen be a little slow in exchange for the extra detail.
Thanks again for the great app and your continued support here.

 

[rmh78]

It is not currently in my immediate plans. Sorry about that. At the moment I am focussed on navigation improvements (which are going well) and after that custom activity types and interval schedule importing are the next major features on my list. Mirroring is probably next after those features, but by then watchOS 11 and the new watches will probably be my focus

In theory mirroring to the iPhone has become easier since watchOS 10 and since I rewrote WOD in Apple's latest coding language (SwiftUI). This is because watchOS 10 provides the ability to share workout information more easily from the watch to the iPhone; and because SwiftUI makes it easier to convert code that works on the watch to work on the iPhone.

This means that it may not take as long as I previously thought. I may put aside a few days to investigate, so that I have a better idea of how long it would take. If I think it would not take too long then there is a chance that I will squeeze it in before watchOS 11 if I feel that there isn't time for custom activities but there is time for both interval schedules and mirroring. However that is some way off.

Sounds like a nice plan!

 

[cfc]

Is there any chance you could add elevation labels to maps as part of your navigation work?
It could be defaulted to off to not use a lot of resources for most people.
For backcountry skiing the elevation info on the map is a big deal since there are not trails or routes to follow; navigation decisions are usually made on the go.
I'd gladly have the map screen be a little slow in exchange for the extra detail.
Thanks again for the great app and your continued support here.

It's unlikely, sorry. The map area of the code is different to the navigation area.

Tapping the GPS arrow cycles through showing various positional information, including the elevation, which map help.

Also you could set the colour to be different for contours above and below your current elevation. That helps to make the contours easier to read. I like to use red for contours above me, and blue for those below me:

 

[Bacasable]

Just to show you my grateful, and give idea for users

Using your app for 2 years, done a marathon and workouts by it, climb mountain and run in city …

Best app for sport for sure !👍

 

[cfc]

View attachment 2334834 Just to show you my grateful, and give idea for users

Using your app for 2 years, done a marathon and workouts by it, climb mountain and run in city …

Best app for sport for sure !👍

Many thanks! I really appreciate that. 👍

 

[ukms]

Quick Apple ID question !
I’ve recently changed my App Store Apple ID (it’s now changed to the same as my iCloud Apple ID). If I delete the work outdoors app and redownload with my new ID (same ID for Apple fitness / health.) will I retain all my data ?

 

[cfc]

Quick Apple ID question !
I’ve recently changed my App Store Apple ID (it’s now changed to the same as my iCloud Apple ID). If I delete the work outdoors app and redownload with my new ID (same ID for Apple fitness / health.) will I retain all my data ?

If you delete the WorkOutDoors iPhone app then you will lose the data on that app. However you can use Apple's File Sharing mechanism to copy all the app's data to a computer and then back again after reinstalling:

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

It's actually a good idea to do this occasionally anyway, in order to have a backup.

 

[oric1sg]

If you delete the WorkOutDoors iPhone app then you will lose the data on that app. However you can use Apple's File Sharing mechanism to copy all the app's data to a computer and then back again after reinstalling:

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

It's actually a good idea to do this occasionally anyway, in order to have a backup.

Ian,

I'm a Windows user and I don't uses iTunes as it's a bloated ware just for the sake for using it as backup.

Is there anyway WOD could allowed us to backup to iCloud and restore from there? I've many iOS apps that allows that and restore if the app has issues.

If this feature is not available, could we request for it, please? Thanks!

 

[cfc]

Ian,

I'm a Windows user and I don't uses iTunes as it's a bloated ware just for the sake for using it as backup.

Is there anyway WOD could allowed us to backup to iCloud and restore from there? I've many iOS apps that allows that and restore if the app has issues.

If this feature is not available, could we request for it, please? Thanks!

Sorry, iCloud support has been on my to-do list for ages but never got high up the list because other features are always more requested. I am sure that I will add it one day though.

 

[lectivo]

Hello,

My goal is to be able to keep counting Calories in long journeys by using a chest HR band, when the battery life in apple watch is smaller than the number of hours required for the hiking.

What I've seen is that if I remove the watch from the wrist, and I keep counting the HR with the band, WOD (apple watch) keeps counting calories. However, when I start to charge the apple watch with a portable battery, in this case WOD is able to keep storing the Heart rates, but the calories keep frozen.

Do you know any workaround to keep counting calories with HR band while watch is charging?

Regards,

Jon

 

[cfc]

Hello,

My goal is to be able to keep counting Calories in long journeys by using a chest HR band, when the battery life in apple watch is smaller than the number of hours required for the hiking.

What I've seen is that if I remove the watch from the wrist, and I keep counting the HR with the band, WOD (apple watch) keeps counting calories. However, when I start to charge the apple watch with a portable battery, in this case WOD is able to keep storing the Heart rates, but the calories keep frozen.

Do you know any workaround to keep counting calories with HR band while watch is charging?

Regards,

Jon

Calories are calculated by watchOS so the app can’t control that. It just receives calorie values from watchO, so there is probably nothing it can do in your situation. Sorry about that.

It is interesting that watchOS keeps calculating calories when off the wrist (presumably using heart rates stored in Apple Health by WOD) but does not do that when on charge.

You could try connecting the sensor via a different way: via watchOS if you currently connect via the app, or vice versa. I doubt it will help (it may even stop the heart rates being stored as well) but it may be worth trying.

Note: If you charge the watch during a workout then do not use it whilst it is charging. WatchOS can kill off an app to make room for other apps that need it, or even occasionally just to display a notification. Apps running a workout are protected from this but that protection disappears when on charge. This is very rare but can happen.

 

[javataco]

Hello,

My goal is to be able to keep counting Calories in long journeys by using a chest HR band, when the battery life in apple watch is smaller than the number of hours required for the hiking.

What I've seen is that if I remove the watch from the wrist, and I keep counting the HR with the band, WOD (apple watch) keeps counting calories. However, when I start to charge the apple watch with a portable battery, in this case WOD is able to keep storing the Heart rates, but the calories keep frozen.

Do you know any workaround to keep counting calories with HR band while watch is charging?

Regards,

Jon

Honestly - it sounds like the Apple Watch is not the device you need it to be.

 

[Bacasable]

Hi guys,
For my trails, I would like to track my metrics while I run and go down in separate interval while a I go up.
Then at the end of trails I could watch my average for descent and ascent.

How do you do ?

 

[cfc]

Hi guys,
For my trails, I would like to track my metrics while I run and go down in separate interval while a I go up.
Then at the end of trails I could watch my average for descent and ascent.

How do you do ?

You could set up an interval schedule with a repeat of fast/slow intervals with manual durations. Then when you change from ascending to descending (or vice versa) then you could start a new interval (maybe using the action button on the Ultra).

If you have separated a workout into fast and slow intervals then after the workout you can look at the averages for all fast intervals and the averages for all slow intervals by going to the iPhone app and changing Map to Intervals. At the bottom of the screen will be two lines showing the totals/averages for Fast and Slow.

http://www.workoutdoors.net/Intervals.html

 

[kplunk]

Hi Ian - It's exciting to hear that the navigation work is is going well. I saw a YouTube video the other day, from the US (thehikingguy I think) and he showed among other things the 'set distance' feature in the current version. I had no idea it existed! To test it I imported a gpx route of 16.85 miles into the app then set the distance to the same on the watch when I started the hike. A the end the distance was only out by 0.02 miles and the remaining time estimating was pretty accurate too. As I'm not interested in turn-by-turn stuff, that feature along with the 'Off Route' warning actually does a large part of what I would need anyway. I wish I'd known about it before! Cheers, Johnny.

 

[cfc]

Hi Ian - It's exciting to hear that the navigation work is is going well. I saw a YouTube video the other day, from the US (thehikingguy I think) and he showed among other things the 'set distance' feature in the current version. I had no idea it existed! To test it I imported a gpx route of 16.85 miles into the app then set the distance to the same on the watch when I started the hike. A the end the distance was only out by 0.02 miles and the remaining time estimating was pretty accurate too. As I'm not interested in turn-by-turn stuff, that feature along with the 'Off Route' warning actually does a large part of what I would need anyway. I wish I'd known about it before! Cheers, Johnny.

That is good to hear! When people ask for the "remaining" metrics to work for a route then I usually suggest setting the fixed distance as a workaround. However to be honest I can't remember actually trying it myself, so I am glad that it was reasonably accurate for you.

If anyone else wants to try this then tap the circular icon with 3 dots that is shown to the right of the activity name. Then select "Fixed Length" in the menu that appears, and then "Set Distance". If you set the distance to the total distance of the selected route then you should see reasonable values in the "Distance Remaining" and "Time Remaining" metrics.

Note that this method does rely on you following the route exactly, whereas that won't be necessary when I have coded it properly.