Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[supercurio]

Graph improvements feature request (duration)​

Observations​

Today the graphs appear to present their metric from the beginning of the activity until current.
It's useful to get an overview from the beginning, but the utility is limited in multiple ways, mainly:

• the horizontal axis scale is a constantly changing duration
• when activities gets longer, recent changes becomes impossible to view
• low or high values, from peaks of intensity or intervals makes automatic vertical axis scaling ineffective

Example: heart rate zone graph showing the heart rate over the last 35 minutes, from the beginning of the ride.

Use cases for graphs​

The heart rate zones graph (called HR Intensity Graph in WOD) is my favorite tool for pacing and regulating intensity, especially when combined with power value or power graph.

The heart rate zone graph is my main tool on easy Zone 1 or Zone 2 runs to stay at the target intensity. It's an effective way to calibrate perceived exertion to the metabolic rate, and remain at a desired intensity without relying on annoying alerts.

I also use the heart rate zone graph extensively when cycling as means of transportation in order to not get carried away or sweaty while remaining efficient (for me: in the 120-130 bpm range)

Looking at the heart rate value is okay as a snapshot, but the heart rate can go back down quickly when coasting as well as up fast on a short climb. Glancing at a graph gives a much better overview of what's going on.

And this is just for heart rate, I'm sure there's just as much use for other metrics.

Feature suggestion​

Configurable time scale​

X-axis is time, and WOD would allow to select which amount of time is displayed with these options:

• Current interval (variable x-axis scale: shows only the current interval values)
• 30 seconds
• 1 minute
• 2 minutes
• 3 minutes
• 4 minutes
• 5 minutes
• 10 minutes
• 15 minutes
• 20 minutes
• 30 minutes
• 1 hour
• 2 hours
• 3 hours
• 4 hours
• Full duration (variable x-axis scale: shows all values from beginning to current)

Configuration options​

• Graph duration per activity type
• Graph duration can be configured on the watch itself while recording an activity
• Toggle to enable "Current Interval" during workouts

Colored zone graphs for Power, Pace and Speed​

A graph without scale or zones is not very useful, but a graph with zones is the most effective to get the info desired at a glance.
Like the HR Intensity Graph colored according to the zones definition, Power, Pace and Speed graphs will get a lot more useful with colors.

Min / Max / AVG values on the graph​

Dynamically updated values overlayed on top of the graph to give a sense of what the min, max and average values for the current graph visualization are.
It's a more informative alternative to showing a legend on the x-axis: the user who wants a graph typically uses it to target remaining within a range, and would like to know what the average is for the duration displayed.

Optional display of the current value​

A display of the current value in the bottom/left/top/right/center position, on the same slot.
This enables having a very large graph that's the easiest to glance at as well as the value itself - in an optimized layout for both.

Inspiration and acknowledgements​

• Heart Rate Zone Chart by Jorgillu on Connect IQ
  • effective layout
  • horizontal grid lines
  • configurable duration
• Heart Rate Zone Graph [hHRZone] by hSoftware on Connect IQ
  • configurable min/max/current functionality

Example: Heart Rate Zone Chart on Garmin with the constraints of a round display

 

[FMUK]

Getting repeatable crashes on v6.2.2 on the phone similar to what I had previously.

Zooming in to routes and then moving around exactly as before, which had seemed to be fixed (although not tried in last few released).

iPhone 15 Pro (and AWU2).

 

[cfc]

Getting repeatable crashes on v6.2.2 on the phone similar to what I had previously.

Zooming in to routes and then moving around exactly as before, which had seemed to be fixed (although not tried in last few released).

iPhone 15 Pro (and AWU2).

Please email me the wkt file at info@workoutdoors.net and I will take a look. To do this tap the Export button 3 times quickly.

 

[supercurio]

I went for a slow shuffle (very low intensity, low impact run) with 120 BPM target and the heart rate values displayed and recorded by WOD, from the internal Apple Watch 7 sensor became repetitively stuck after less than 30 minutes.

It even got stuck at reporting 170 BPM for nearly 2 min, until I stopped moving, paused and resumed the activity.
Later on, it seemed that stop moving or walking for a few seconds could get the HR value un-stuck.

The 41mm watch was worn snugly on my arguably small wrist. The Watch 7 heart rate sensor performs pretty well on me for cycling activities so far, so I'm surprised it's failing so bad on a mostly steady-state run.
All reviews indicate very high correlations vs a ECG strap so I'm confused.

Can it be a WOD specific issue? Or is the Apple Watch 7 HR sensor not working on me correctly?

On the HR graph visualized in FitFileViewer, you can see the 170bpm peak as well as all the other times the HR value flat-lined. I'm not too bad at maintaining a constant steady-state intensity but not that good.
It got worse with duration (ambient temperature went gradually down, not sure if that's a factor in case of HR sensor issue)

Attached as well, the original FIT file. The Stryd foot pod was connected.

 

[cfc]

I went for a slow shuffle (very low intensity, low impact run) with 120 BPM target and the heart rate values displayed and recorded by WOD, from the internal Apple Watch 7 sensor became repetitively stuck after less than 30 minutes.

It even got stuck at reporting 170 BPM for nearly 2 min, until I stopped moving, paused and resumed the activity.
Later on, it seemed that stop moving or walking for a few seconds could get the HR value un-stuck.

The 41mm watch was worn snugly on my arguably small wrist. The Watch 7 heart rate sensor performs pretty well on me for cycling activities so far, so I'm surprised it's failing so bad on a mostly steady-state run.
All reviews indicate very high correlations vs a ECG strap so I'm confused.

Can it be a WOD specific issue? Or is the Apple Watch 7 HR sensor not working on me correctly?

On the HR graph visualized in FitFileViewer, you can see the 170bpm peak as well as all the other times the HR value flat-lined. I'm not too bad at maintaining a constant steady-state intensity but not that good.
It got worse with duration (ambient temperature went gradually down, not sure if that's a factor in case of HR sensor issue)

View attachment 2558686

Attached as well, the original FIT file. The Stryd foot pod was connected.

The app just reports what the heart rate sensor tells it. By the sound of it you are experiencing "cadence lock" where it locks onto your steps rather than heart beats (which would explain why it is not an issue for cycling). I don't hear of that often but I have definitely heard of it more often in the last year, so I think Apple have changed something.

Apple have some hints on how to help here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207941#heartrate. I have also heard that wearing the watch on the other wrist can help for a few people, maybe because their blood vessels are closer to the surface on that other wrist.

However even these hints don't help for some people and then I recommend using an external heart rate monitor, which work in a very different way. They detect electrical impulses whereas the watch sensor beams a light into your wrist and detects heart beats from the reflections. However the effectiveness of this varies between people (tattoos, deeper blood vessels etc) and is also greatly affected by cold and also by motion. Some people only use an external monitor in the colder months and can get by in the warmer months, but a few people need it all year round.

 

[supercurio]

Thanks for confirming it can't be WOD so that I won't waste time to try reproducing the issue with the Apple Workout or Strava app 😅

The reason I asked is because of what Apple mentions in their "Choose the best workout", quoting:

When you use the Workout app, choose the option that best matches what you’re doing. For example, if you're running on a treadmill, choose Indoor Run. If you're doing a workout that isn't listed, tap Add Workout and choose the workout that best matches the activity you're doing.

That made me wonder if an app is supposed to hint the OS with an API call specifying the kind of activity that'll be recorded in order to help the HR sensor algorithm filter out noise according to a preset. Like you said for instance, cadence when running or vibrations when cycling.
But from a quick look at the SDK documentations, it doesn't seem to be a thing.


I added Cadence to the same graph (zoomed), cadence lock was my first guess too but it doesn't seem to be a lock per say, which typically results in HR = cadence. My Fitbit Charge 6 does that.
The graph shows how the HR sensor gets unstuck when I stop running (cadence dropping)

I own both a Polar Verity Sense and H10 so I'll be just fine 😄 But yeah, I didn't expect that from what's considered the best optical wrist HR sensor on the market.

 

[dblue]

Anyone have a workaround for connecting both a power meter and heart rate strap to workoutdoors? I know it is an apple limitation to only allow two connections, but the issue is my 4iiii power meter seems to have power and cadence be two separate connections. So I cannot connect a heart rate strap as well as far as I can tell.
Best option I can figure is disconnect the cadence (the one I care the least about) or wear the watch on wrist to get heart rate. I have a out front quarter turn mount for the watch and am following a route this weekend, so want to keep it visible. Basically, any way to combine the power and cadence to be one bluetooth connection?

 

[cfc]

Anyone have a workaround for connecting both a power meter and heart rate strap to workoutdoors? I know it is an apple limitation to only allow two connections, but the issue is my 4iiii power meter seems to have power and cadence be two separate connections. So I cannot connect a heart rate strap as well as far as I can tell.
Best option I can figure is disconnect the cadence (the one I care the least about) or wear the watch on wrist to get heart rate. I have a out front quarter turn mount for the watch and am following a route this weekend, so want to keep it visible. Basically, any way to combine the power and cadence to be one bluetooth connection?

If you connect the HR strap via watchOS instead of via the app then it doesn't count as one of the 2 connections allowed for 3rd party apps. WOD won't know that it is coming from the sensor rather than the watch but that is what will happen. Remember to unpair it from WOD as well.

 

[dblue]

If you connect the HR strap via watchOS instead of via the app then it doesn't count as one of the 2 connections allowed for 3rd party apps. WOD won't know that it is coming from the sensor rather than the watch but that is what will happen. Remember to unpair it from WOD as well.

Awesome. Thanks as always!

 

[Buadhai]

I live in Thailand where the humidity is high and I sweat a lot. For running and cycling workouts I need to enable water lock. Otherwise the watch goes crazy with ghost touches.

But, as far as I can tell, that means I can't change screens once a workout has started. I assume that if there a workaround it would have been implemented by now.

Is that a correct assumption? Or, maybe I just missed something.

 

[FMUK]

I live in Thailand where the humidity is high and I sweat a lot. For running and cycling workouts I need to enable water lock. Otherwise the watch goes crazy with ghost touches.

But, as far as I can tell, that means I can't change screens once a workout has started. I assume that if there a workaround it would have been implemented by now.

Is that a correct assumption? Or, maybe I just missed something.

Missing something 😉

Settings / Commands / Shortcut Gestures / Scroll to the bottom...

These are mine but you can try alternatives...
Rotate Crown Up - Next Screen
Rotate Crown Down - Previous Screen
...for both map visible *and* not visible.

Probably could use the gestures in this section too although I have all mine disabled, I *only* have buttons actually DO anything during an activity.

 

[supercurio]

I went for a slow shuffle (very low intensity, low impact run) with 120 BPM target and the heart rate values displayed and recorded by WOD, from the internal Apple Watch 7 sensor became repetitively stuck after less than 30 minutes.

I went for a trail run with the Polar Verity Sense as arm HR sensor, connected via Bluetooth and everything went well this time.
Indeed the Apple Watch 7 optical HR sensor struggles on my wrist, but no problem with an external one, connected to WOD directly.

 

[cubodado]

I recently went for a walk in the mountains and found your new version of the app with directions very useful. But I had some battery consumption issues (I have a series 10, around 95% battery capacity, and had some faults: didn’t charge to 100% before starting and didn’t use battery saving on trainings. I started around 78% of battery and lasted around 3h45’). Do you have suggestions to improve battery life without losing many functionalities for my next trip other than 100% charging and battery save mode on trainings on watch?

A feature request: is it possible to replicate the watch screen on the phone to see a bigger map for example?

Thank you again and congratulations for your work!

 

[cfc]

I recently went for a walk in the mountains and found your new version of the app with directions very useful. But I had some battery consumption issues (I have a series 10, around 95% battery capacity, and had some faults: didn’t charge to 100% before starting and didn’t use battery saving on trainings. I started around 78% of battery and lasted around 3h45’). Do you have suggestions to improve battery life without losing many functionalities for my next trip other than 100% charging and battery save mode on trainings on watch?

A feature request: is it possible to replicate the watch screen on the phone to see a bigger map for example?

Thank you again and congratulations for your work!

Glad you found the app useful. Battery life is the same as for Apple's app but if you look at the screen more often then it will use more power. This is often the case when you first use the app and especially if you are navigating.

Low power mode will make a big difference and for the ultimate battery life I recommend disabling Wake on Raise in Apple's Settings app. This means that you need to tap the screen to see it, which can be a pain, but it saves a lot of power.

It is also a good idea to reboot the watch before using the app if you are worried about battery usage. This is to make sure that the watch is not doing anything else. Also, if possible, don't update to a new version of watchOS in the days before, because operating systems can use more power in the days after they are installed.

In terms of showing information on the iPhone I plan to add that in the future.

 

[jtsang2000]

Hi, how do you get the workout recorded with WorkOutDoors and Stryd pose to Stryd power center? Is the only option to export the fit file from WorkOutDoors and import to Stryd? Are there any easier sync options? Thanks

 

[cfc]

Hi, how do you get the workout recorded with WorkOutDoors and Stryd pose to Stryd power center? Is the only option to export the fit file from WorkOutDoors and import to Stryd? Are there any easier sync options? Thanks

Exporting a FIT file from WOD and manually importing it into Stryd's Powercenter is the only way I know of. I don't think Stryd offer a way for other apps to send workouts to them.

 

[jtsang2000]

Exporting a FIT file from WOD and manually importing it into Stryd's Powercenter is the only way I know of. I don't think Stryd offer a way for other apps to send workouts to them.

I also use Watchletics app which does import structure workouts from Stryd and have auto export features to power center. I however like the work screens of the WorkOutDoors app more.

 

[cfc]

I also use Watchletics app which does import structure workouts from Stryd and have auto export features to power center. I however like the work screens of the WorkOutDoors app more.

I didn't know that Stryd allowed that now. Maybe one day.

 

[noel18]

I live in Thailand where the humidity is high and I sweat a lot. For running and cycling workouts I need to enable water lock. Otherwise the watch goes crazy with ghost touches.

But, as far as I can tell, that means I can't change screens once a workout has started. I assume that if there a workaround it would have been implemented by now.

Is that a correct assumption? Or, maybe I just missed something.

When you say "water lock", I assume you are talking about the lock in the control center. If so, I sugest not using that lock but instead use the lock function built into WOD. The advantage is you can still double tap the crown to swap to your last used app (typically a music app) and then be able to use the touch screen. The lock function in WOD only locks out touch within the WOD app. You can then configure a crown roll to switch between pages. I live in Florida and run in the rain a lot and need to use this function. I also use it in the winter when I'm running in long sleeves that eventually get wet from sweat.

I configured a quad tap of the screen to enable or disable the lock and then have a crown roll setup to cycle through the screens.

 

[muellered]

Sorry you had problems. There is an issue with offline caching in the current version, but only for Thunderforest maps and it looks like you are using the default Mapbox maps.

However you could try the latest beta which fixes the Thunderforest issue if you want? It may also help with what you are seeing, although no-one else has mentioned it with Mapbox. If so then please email me at info@workoutdoors.net

I had this issue as well on the last hike, I'm using the Thunderforest maps

 

[cfc]

I had this issue as well on the last hike, I'm using the Thunderforest maps

Please email me at info@workoutdoors.net if you want to try the beta.

 

[Buadhai]

When you say "water lock", I assume you are talking about the lock in the control center. If so, I sugest not using that lock but instead use the lock function built into WOD. The advantage is you can still double tap the crown to swap to your last used app (typically a music app) and then be able to use the touch screen. The lock function in WOD only locks out touch within the WOD app. You can then configure a crown roll to switch between pages. I live in Florida and run in the rain a lot and need to use this function. I also use it in the winter when I'm running in long sleeves that eventually get wet from sweat.

I configured a quad tap of the screen to enable or disable the lock and then have a crown roll setup to cycle through the screens.

Apparently I'm too dumb to do any of the things you describe. Sorry.

When I checked the WOD settings I see that I have "WaterLock Enabled on Start" for swim, run and bike workouts. You suggest using WOD's built-in lock function. I can't find where to do that for each specific workout. In More Settings I see "Lock Screen". If I enable that does it mean that the screen will always be locked for every type of workout? Or, do I need to do the quad tap at the beginning of a workout to enable WOD's lock?

 

[cfc]

Apparently I'm too dumb to do any of the things you describe. Sorry.

When I checked the WOD settings I see that I have "WaterLock Enabled on Start" for swim, run and bike workouts. You suggest using WOD's built-in lock function. I can't find where to do that for each specific workout. In More Settings I see "Lock Screen". If I enable that does it mean that the screen will always be locked for every type of workout? Or, do I need to do the quad tap at the beginning of a workout to enable WOD's lock?

You can't configure the screen lock to start at the beginning of a workout so yes, you would need to quadruple tap. I may make it possible in future versions though.

 

[Klunnnk]

In terms of showing information on the iPhone I plan to add that in the future.

This would pretty much eliminate the need for a separate cycling computer and I would really welcome this. I assume the iPhone does not limit the number of Bluetooth sensors?

I used the new GPX bend-detection feature on a recent multi-day hike in the Alps and I found unhelpful for hiking, since the twisting path caused the watch to beep almost constantly, especially if the pre-turn warning was additionally enabled.

But thank you and keep up the excellent work!

 

[cfc]

This would pretty much eliminate the need for a separate cycling computer and I would really welcome this. I assume the iPhone does not limit the number of Bluetooth sensors?

I used the new GPX bend-detection feature on a recent multi-day hike in the Alps and I found unhelpful for hiking, since the twisting path caused the watch to beep almost constantly, especially if the pre-turn warning was additionally enabled.

But thank you and keep up the excellent work!

The iPhone has a much higher limit in terms of the number of Bluetooth devices.

The bend detection will struggle on twisty paths for obvious reasons. In that situation I recommend loading a route file with proper turn-by-turn directions.

Bend detection is just a backup that the app offers because most route creation systems have ongoing costs and therefore require a subscription, which I don't want to add to the app.