Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[daanjj]

Generally if you are using 2 sensors and having problems then the best fix is to connect the heart rate sensor via watchOS instead of via the app. This is because watchOS only allows a maximum of 2 Bluetooth connections across all third party apps, so by connecting via watchOS you will avoid any situations where it is exceeding the limit of 2 sensors.

This is compounded by the fact that watchOS sometimes seems to take a long time to disconnect from sensors, so if you tested it out before the race and then ended that test and then started another workout then watchOS can complain that the limit is exceeded because it hasn't fully disconnected after the previous workout.

Make sure to unpair the heart sensor from WorkOutDoors as well as pairing via watchOS. The app will not be aware that heart rates are coming from the sensor instead of the watch, but if the sensor is paired with the watch then that is what will happen.

Hopefully Apple will increase the sensor connection limit in the future, and make it faster to disconnect.

Hi Ian,

my issue was not so much in trying to connect more than 2 sensors - I only connect the Polar H10 HRM and the Stryd food pod. I also did not try to start WOD and get a sync before the start. I opened the WOD Running screen slightly early, maybe 3-4 min before the start, and kept it on the 'sensor traffic light' screen until I passed the starting line. I then pressed the START button but immediately noticed my sensors were not connected (two dashes instead of numbers on my main running screen in the Power, Speed and HR fields).

So it *had* a sensor lock but then WatchOS most likely took that lock away as there was too much time between landing on the sensor traffic light screen and pressing the START button on that screen?

So to others here: that is my question to you: does anyone has a failsafe approach to always start WOD properly on the starting line with the 1-2 sensors needed properly locked?

 

[cfc]

Hi Ian,

my issue was not so much in trying to connect more than 2 sensors - I only connect the Polar H10 HRM and the Stryd food pod. I also did not try to start WOD and get a sync before the start. I opened the WOD Running screen slightly early, maybe 3-4 min before the start, and kept it on the 'sensor traffic light' screen until I passed the starting line. I then pressed the START button but immediately noticed my sensors were not connected (two dashes instead of numbers on my main running screen in the Power, Speed and HR fields).

So it *had* a sensor lock but then WatchOS most likely took that lock away as there was too much time between landing on the sensor traffic light screen and pressing the START button on that screen?

So to others here: that is my question to you: does anyone has a failsafe approach to always start WOD properly on the starting line with the 1-2 sensors needed properly locked?

I haven't heard of that but as a general rule it is worth connecting an HR sensor via watchOS if you are using another sensor as well. This is because of the 2 sensor limit and the time taken to disconnect. It may be that it fixes your scenario as well.

 

[daanjj]

I haven't heard of that but as a general rule it is worth connecting an HR sensor via watchOS if you are using another sensor as well. This is because of the 2 sensor limit and the time taken to disconnect. It may be that it fixes your scenario as well.

Thx Ian, I'l do that right away! Is there any disadvantage on connecting at watchOS level vs directly from the app (other than that watchOS doesn’t show me if it uses the Watch sensor or the H10, which is also a bit of a nuisance)?

 

[cfc]

Thx Ian, I'l do that right away! Is there any disadvantage on connecting at watchOS level vs directly from the app (other than that watchOS doesn’t show me if it uses the Watch sensor or the H10, which is also a bit of a nuisance)?

The main difference is that the app doesn't show the red H when connected, but you can still tell that it is connected because the HR value will be shown.

 

[rcursor]

Hi @cfc
I have an easy question I think. When you run defining a pace interval, when you are going slower the pace appears with a blue background, and if you go faster it appears in red. Is there a way to edit those colors?

Thanks you

 

[cfc]

Hi @cfc
I have an easy question I think. When you run defining a pace interval, when you are going slower the pace appears with a blue background, and if you go faster it appears in red. Is there a way to edit those colors?

Thanks you

Yes, go to Settings / Pace & Distance and then change Target Fast Colour and/or Target Slow Colour.

 

[rcursor]

Yes, go to Settings / Pace & Distance and then change Target Fast Colour and/or Target Slow Colour.

Thanks for the quick answer.
I already did that, but is not changing the background color. I changed to Red and green, but still shows red and blue on the watch (AW Ultra) when running.
I used to have the bet, but expired (I am using the one in production now) so I guess can not send you a log. But if I can do something so you can see let me know.

 

[rcursor]

Thanks for the quick answer.
I already did that, but is not changing the background color. I changed to Red and green, but still shows red and blue on the watch (AW Ultra) when running.
I used to have the bet, but expired (I am using the one in production now) so I guess can not send you a log. But if I can do something so you can see let me know.

Just to clarify a bit more. I am not talking about a Target Screen. On the Overview screen, when I see Pace y has a background colour when running Interval Schedules. That colour is the one I would like to channge. Same with the alert if you are slower (has blue backgroound colour) or quicker (red colour).

 

[cfc]

Just to clarify a bit more. I am not talking about a Target Screen. On the Overview screen, when I see Pace y has a background colour when running Interval Schedules. That colour is the one I would like to channge. Same with the alert if you are slower (has blue backgroound colour) or quicker (red colour).

Sorry it looks like the colour changing doesn't work (and hasn't worked since the app was rewritten for the always on display). I will fix it in the next version, but that won't be released for several months. Sorry about that. I guess no-one ever uses that feature.

 

[coachjeffroc]

I have a quick question about Power (or pace, too) zones.

How is the decimal for zone 6 calculated? Because there is no zone 7, there would seem to be no way to calculate what fraction of zone 6 I'm at, but the app definitely gives me a 6 point something.

It makes sense for the other lower zones, and that decimal is important to me when I want to do a "progressive" workout. I'm never in Zone 6 long enough for it to matter too much, but I'm curious. Thanks.

 

[cfc]

I have a quick question about Power (or pace, too) zones.

How is the decimal for zone 6 calculated? Because there is no zone 7, there would seem to be no way to calculate what fraction of zone 6 I'm at, but the app definitely gives me a 6 point something.

It makes sense for the other lower zones, and that decimal is important to me when I want to do a "progressive" workout. I'm never in Zone 6 long enough for it to matter too much, but I'm curious. Thanks.

It uses the average size of a power zone to estimate what power zone 7 would be and then calculates the value using that.

It is very arbitrary (I have even written a comment in the code saying as such), but it does allow you to distinguish between higher and lower power values when you are just looking at the zone metric.

For heart rates the app just shows 6+ but I thought I would see what people thought if I tried something different when I added power and pace zones 18 months ago. You are the first person to mention it, so what do you think?

 

[coachjeffroc]

It uses the average size of a power zone to estimate what power zone 7 would be and then calculates the value using that.

It is very arbitrary (I have even written a comment in the code saying as such), but it does allow you to distinguish between higher and lower power values when you are just looking at the zone metric.

For heart rates the app just shows 6+ but I thought I would see what people thought if I tried something different when I added power and pace zones 18 months ago. You are the first person to mention it, so what do you think?

I think using that average size is a great way to handle it. I want to have a decimal there so I can choose to trigger an alert or set an interval target if I want to, too.

Primarily, I use it to help me to gauge what I'm doing at that high scary end of training. As a practical example: Hill Repeats. I want to be in Power Zone 6 for that 30 seconds, so I set that as an interval target to voice/haptic me so I don't have to look at the watch. Then, on my recovery screen, I can see "previous interval max power zone" to make sure I'm not overdoing it and/or to judge whether I'm dropping off after a handful of reps. The way it's setup now works just fine for that. I could just have WOD show the power in watts, but then I have to remember the watts and the target and then do oxygen-deprived math.

Is it difficult to code an optional user-inputted "maximum" HR/Pace/Watt for zone 6?

 

[cfc]

Is it difficult to code an optional user-inputted "maximum" HR/Pace/Watt for zone 6?

That would effectively be the start of a zone 7 and then there would be the same issue above that. The arbitrary values are for anything above the highest configurable value.

 

[Bacasable]

Hello cfc, why I have to pay the iPhone app on iPad whereas I have already paid for the iPhone app on iPhone ?

how to get the iPhone app on my iPhone without payment ?

 

[cfc]

Hello cfc, why I have to pay the iPhone app on iPad whereas I have already paid for the iPhone app on iPhone ?

how to get the iPhone app on my iPhone without payment ?

View attachment 2352018

The app has never been available on the iPad but for some reason a few people have asked this in the last few weeks so maybe Apple have changed something which makes it appear on the iPad App Store.

You would probably find that if you confirmed then it would say that you have already purchased the app. This is what happens if you buy the app on the iPhone and then again on the watch. I don't know why Apple can't tell you earlier in the purchase process. However don't try that because there isn't an iPad version of the app.

 

[Bacasable]

I understand there is no app for iPad, but Apple allow the iPhone app on iPad by filters on AppStore.
You know what, I will go to the end of the process to know, if I pay something it will be like a tip for you

 

[Bacasable]

Ok, I get the answer

 

[cfc]

View attachment 2352061 Ok, I get the answer

Thanks for trying that; it's useful to know that the App Store realises that the app is not compatible with the iPad.

Maybe there is a bug in the App Store app recently which makes it seem like it is available on the iPad. No-one has mentioned trying to install the app on the iPad for years and then suddenly 5 or 6 people have asked about it in the last couple of weeks.

 

[Bacasable]

To help you to understand the motivation of that, I wanted the app on iPad to see better the route I created.
Also to see better the graph (don’t know the word in English, sorry)


An other question, does it possible to smooth the line of the graph ?

 

[cfc]

To help you to understand the motivation of that, I wanted the app on iPad to see better the route I created.
Also to see better the graph (don’t know the word in English, sorry)
View attachment 2352075

An other question, does it possible to smooth the line of the graph ?

You could change Map to Map & Profiles, which shows 5 lines of the profile instead of the one in your screenshot.

I don't have any plans to smooth the pace graphs. Sorry.

 

[lectivo]

No-one has ever asked for either of those things before, but I will bear them in mind the next time I am looking at that area of the app.

Could I suggest that on the Elevation tab for a run it would be nice to have more details on the gradient at particular points when pressing on the Profile? And would it be possible to vertically fill the Profile with the gradient colour at each point to make it clearer, rather than just colouring the line?

I also strongly support the demand of "to vertically fill the Profile with the gradient colour at each point to make it clearer, rather than just colouring the line". This is something that bothers me from garmin climbpro in hiking profiles in Epix/Fenix where climbs are not coloured. You have the average gradient in a number, but in very irregular and long climbs, you are unable to really know which will be the gradient at some steep point. And by filling vertically it's more clear than just colour the line.

Addition personal opinion is that I prefer to make the elevation profile with the option to make zoom by using the button, (like etrex o coros watches) more than splitting the route like the Climbpro, because in smartwatch with small screen sizing, once the climbing has more than 10kms, you don't have enough resolution- to really know what comes next.

Waiting for those long-time expected updates

Regards,

Jon

 

[coachjeffroc]

I just had a very weird WOD experience. I set up a running interval schedule for a progressive pace run. Sent it to the watch. No problem. And we're off!
As soon as I enter a tunnel I often run through, the pace drops off. That never happened before, I don't think... Weird. It's a bit uphill, but... it's like the watch is using GPS. But everything has been set to pedometer/apple forever. Bizarre. But whatever. I come out of the tunnel, back to normal... But some weird GPS-like spikes as I continue my work. On my way back through the tunnel... downhill... my pace drops off again. It's OK. I'm experienced. I just keep my same effort. HR is OK too. And out of the tunnel and normal.
After the run, I confirm that everything is set on pedometer. Weird. And my Stryd power data was pristine and HR, too. I really don't think it was user error. Very twilight zone.

 

[cfc]

I just had a very weird WOD experience. I set up a running interval schedule for a progressive pace run. Sent it to the watch. No problem. And we're off!
As soon as I enter a tunnel I often run through, the pace drops off. That never happened before, I don't think... Weird. It's a bit uphill, but... it's like the watch is using GPS. But everything has been set to pedometer/apple forever. Bizarre. But whatever. I come out of the tunnel, back to normal... But some weird GPS-like spikes as I continue my work. On my way back through the tunnel... downhill... my pace drops off again. It's OK. I'm experienced. I just keep my same effort. HR is OK too. And out of the tunnel and normal.
After the run, I confirm that everything is set on pedometer. Weird. And my Stryd power data was pristine and HR, too. I really don't think it was user error. Very twilight zone.

I haven't heard of anything like that before. Is your pace configured to come from Stryd or watchOS?

 

[coachjeffroc]

I haven't heard of anything like that before. Is your pace configured to come from Stryd or watchOS?

WatchOS.
You know, before my run today (I don't remember if it was before or after sending the interval sched) I adjusted the pace smoothing all the way down to 0.
Is there some way to tell where the watch got my paces? (pedometer vs GPS?) I'm fully ready to admit that it was a hallucination, but I'm a pretty experienced user and something seemed strange...

 

[cfc]

WatchOS.
You know, before my run today (I don't remember if it was before or after sending the interval sched) I adjusted the pace smoothing all the way down to 0.
Is there some way to tell where the watch got my paces? (pedometer vs GPS?) I'm fully ready to admit that it was a hallucination, but I'm a pretty experienced user and something seemed strange...

Please could you send me the wkt file for that workout and I will take a look. To do this tap the Export button 3 times quickly and email to info@workoutdoors.net