Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[cfc]

Hi - new user here. I am a member of CityStrides community, where people try to run as many streets as possible in a certain city or geographical area. Which means many of my routes try to cover as many streets as possible and get quite complicated - out-and-backs and loopbacks are common. Navigation on such routes is always a bit of an issue. I used to just check a map on my phone from time to time but recently tried WayOutDoors and its turn-by-turn navigation with audio alerts is a big improvement. But one problem that I noticed is waypoint alerts on loopback routes. If my route goes through the same street twice, and there is a turn I want to take the second time but not the first time, the alert is triggered both times. My guess is it is triggered based on proximity and not on the waypoint order. Not a huge problem but it means that I cannot rely on audio alerts 100% and occasionally have to check the map, which is not that convenient when you are running. Is there a way around this - either through app settings or some other clever solution?

Sorry, the algorithm can get confused by loopbacks etc. I have actually coded around it but decided to start simple and never incorporated that code.

A few people have mentioned it so it's on my to-do list for when I next revisit the navigation aspect of the app, but that won't be for a while. Sorry about that.

In the meantime please could you send the route file for one of your complex routes to info@workoutdoors.net then I can use that to test the code when I do add it. Thanks.

 

[sigis]

Thanks for the reply, I do hope you will get to it sooner rather than later, and I would be happy to beta test it if you need to. I'll send you my gpx file shortly.

 

[daanjj]

That's interesting. The app only creates the speech synthesiser when the app first speaks. This is because by default it doesn't do any speaking.

So maybe I should create it when the app starts up. I may make that change in the code and see if it helps. Thanks for the feedback.

@cfc Maybe my idea of allowing users who want to test if the voice works before the workout is started (either automatically if configured like that, or by long-pressing the big green start button) addresses this nicely?

 

[Madonepro]

You can display all those fields using WorkOutDoors. The time of day is always in the top right of the screen (Apple don't allow that to be removed) but can also be displayed elsewhere if you wish. The HR zone gauge can be configured at the bottom of the screen by going to Settings / Screen. And the other fields can be configured in the Screens tab.

You won't have exactly the same layout because the Apple Watch doesn't have a circular screen, but you could get close.

Note that you can now configure many new layouts by merging adjacent fields. So the grid that shows 3x6 fields can be made to show fewer larger fields in many different arrangements. Although in your case the 2x4 grid may be better to start with and then merge the top and bottom rows.

Just revisiting the topic, especially as my Fenix 8 died, (Garmin offered like for like replacement, but many are having the same issue, so I declined and got a complete refund).

You mention that Apple Watch doesn't have a circular display, but then when scrolling through many of its watch faces, I note a lot offer a circular face, within the square/rectangular display.
So I have created a mockup, to demonstrate how good it would look.

 

[cfc]

Just revisiting the topic, especially as my Fenix 8 died, (Garmin offered like for like replacement, but many are having the same issue, so I declined and got a complete refund).

You mention that Apple Watch doesn't have a circular display, but then when scrolling through many of its watch faces, I note a lot offer a circular face, within the square/rectangular display.
So I have created a mockup, to demonstrate how good it would look.

That does look nice but I don't have any plans to change the layouts in the near future. Sorry about that. Maybe when I add mirroring to the iPhone and need to add extra layouts for that.

However your use of red lines to separate the metrics has got me thinking about an option that does that but in the colour of the current heart zone colour (or a toned down version of the zone colour). That would be very easy to implement and a nice way to show the zone without using any extra space.

 

[Madonepro]

That does look nice but I don't have any plans to change the layouts in the near future. Sorry about that. Maybe when I add mirroring to the iPhone and need to add extra layouts for that.

However your use of red lines to separate the metrics has got me thinking about an option that does that but in the colour of the current heart zone colour (or a toned down version of the zone colour). That would be very easy to implement and a nice way to show the zone without using any extra space.

As you state, it looks nice, and would be a driver for increased downloads and purchases for your app. As many Garmin/Coros/Polar/Suunto users look for alternatives, having an app, that looks good is vital. With Runna/Strava looking at this area too, to tie up their integration with both platforms, and a cleaner, customisable app, that permits workouts to be fed in, and screens similar to mine, the playing field is about to get crowded.

 

[kitenski]

As you state, it looks nice, and would be a driver for increased downloads and purchases for your app.

You can get exactly the same data with the current version of WOD? Are you just wanting a 2 field, 2 field, 1 field layout? See quick screenshot I hacked up on the app. Can you get the layout like that screenshot at all @cfc

 

[Madonepro]

You can get exactly the same data with the current version of WOD? Are you just wanting a 2 field, 2 field, 1 field layout? See quick screenshot I hacked up on the app. Can you get the layout like that screenshot at all @cfc

It’s not the data I’m looking for, but it’s presentation.
All the data options are squared off, industrialised as it where.

The image I mocked up, shows how curves can soften the presentation, to make it look more like a watch, and less like ms-dos

 

[kitenski]

It’s not the data I’m looking for, but it’s presentation.
All the data options are squared off, industrialised as it where.

I’m not worried about presentation when running 😂

 

[Madonepro]

I’m not worried about presentation when running 😂

Perhaps that wasn't the best word to use. Readability perhaps. Any how, which would you choose to look down on, when running?

 

[kitenski]

Perhaps that wasn't the best word to use. Readability perhaps. Any how, which would you choose to look down on, when running?

Honestly for me, I go with a very simple screen as I don't run in reading glasses so need a large font 🙂

 

[oric1sg]

Perhaps that wasn't the best word to use. Readability perhaps. Any how, which would you choose to look down on, when running?

This is not the screen you're seeing when running but it's after you've stopped the run. This is a Post-Workout Summary screen.

 

[Madonepro]

View attachment 2621757

This is not the screen you're seeing when running but it's after you've stopped the run. This is a Post-Workout Summary screen.

Post updated with correct image.

 

[Madonepro]

The time of day is always in the top right of the screen (Apple don't allow that to be removed)

Have you read this from https://stackoverflow.com/questions...t=1 Answer,add additional context in comments.
There is a way to remove the status bar, which includes the time data set.

 

[cfc]

Have you read this from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/77674626/how-to-hide-the-digital-time-on-watchos-10#:~:text=1 Answer,add additional context in comments.
There is a way to remove the status bar, which includes the time data set.

Thanks for that. It worked but I am not sure if it would pass Apple's review process. According to Apple's documentation that modifier (without the underscore) is available for iOS, macOS, visionOS etc but not for watchOS.

So it looks like it is available if you use the underscore, but not officially available. So I don't know about the review process. I may make it an option and see what happens. I can always remove the option if Apple reject it.

By the sound of it I guess that it would also remove the other status icons like the water lock, low power mode etc but that probably isn't an issue for most people.

 

[Madonepro]

Thanks for that. It worked but I am not sure if it would pass Apple's review process. According to Apple's documentation that modifier (without the underscore) is available for iOS, macOS, visionOS etc but not for watchOS.

So it looks like it is available if you use the underscore, but not officially available. So I don't know about the review process. I may make it an option and see what happens. I can always remove the option if Apple reject it.

By the sound of it I guess that it would also remove the other status icons like the water lock, low power mode etc but that probably isn't an issue for most people.

Yes it can fail the 'review' process, as I believe, time needs to be available, but you could also add an invisible video player, or make it mandatory to have a 'current time' data field in any data page.

 

[WesFromParis]

I really love the idea of using colour-coded dividing lines to match specific zones (heart rate, power, pace, GPS accuracy etc.). Would that allow switching the dark grey background to solid black to help save some battery?? I think that would also look a little sleeker.

 

[cfc]

Yes it can fail the 'review' process, as I believe, time needs to be available, but you could also add an invisible video player, or make it mandatory to have a 'current time' data field in any data page.

The invisible video player sounds interesting but someone on that link said it doesn't work for watchOS 26.

To be honest I generally try not to annoy Apple so I probably won't look into it soon, but at least I now know that it is possible, albeit not officially.

 

[cfc]

I really love the idea of using colour-coded dividing lines to match specific zones (heart rate, power, pace, GPS accuracy etc.). Would that allow switching the dark grey background to solid black to help save some battery?? I think that would also look a little sleeker.

If enough people like the idea then I will probably add it at some time.

The next version of the app will have the ability to have black backgrounds instead of the dark grey. For beta testers this is the "Grey Backgrounds" option in the watch app theme settings.

 

[Philoustetou]

I really love the idea of using colour-coded dividing lines to match specific zones (heart rate, power, pace, GPS accuracy etc.). Would that allow switching the dark grey background to solid black to help save some battery?? I think that would also look a little sleeker.

Agree with you 👍🏻

 

[iamasmith]

Not digging the appeals for eye Candy changes really. WOD has always been super efficient and customisable on the information displayed and it gives you a lot in a format you can see when out running.. I've long worried that Apple would buy it, water it down and kill it behind a swishy UI that really cripples the functionality.

 

[Madonepro]

Not digging the appeals for eye Candy changes really. WOD has always been super efficient and customisable on the information displayed and it gives you a lot in a format you can see when out running.. I've long worried that Apple would buy it, water it down and kill it behind a swishy UI that really cripples the functionality.

You call it Eye Candy, but it's how the most popular sports brand of watch displays its info. To have that kind of presentation, on an Apple Watch, could garner large volumes of potential customers for 'Workout Doors', and with all due respect, the current configurations look more like MS DOS, than macOS 26.

 

[Psdn]

Perhaps that wasn't the best word to use. Readability perhaps. Any how, which would you choose to look down on, when running?

The Garmin screen 👍

 

[portal123]

Do you use any other apps whilst using WorkOutDoors in map-only mode? WatchOS will sometimes kill off an app to make room for other apps (or sometimes even for a notification). If an app is running a workout session then it has priority and is therefore usually protected from being killed off, but WOD doesn't run a workout when in map-only mode.

So if you are running other apps (especially a workout app) and they use a large amount of resources then watchOS may kill off WorkOutDoors if it is in map-only mode.

Yup, and this setup with map-only and a external workout app like Apple Workout or Runna—with "Return to Clock" on the workout app disabled—works really nicely.
If possible, please consider the needs of map-only folks when building and prioritizing your next release.
- If the app can be leaner or use fewer resources in map-only mode it would be much appreciated.
- Also if selecting, changing, and reversing a route can be made smoother and take fewer taps would be awesome.
- Lastly if you can bring waypoint based navigation to map-only mode it would be even more amazing (though performance is still preferred over new features).
Thank you much!

 

[Ament]

So I have created a mockup, to demonstrate how good it would look.

Dude, this is the best thing I've ever seen on a square screen 🙂