Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[cichykot]

I was running on the first beta, everything was smooth, no problems. Really good job.
only stryd, stryd is missing this is the only reason why I don't use it on a daily basis, but only for testing....
and I regret it very much.
nevertheless, a piece of decent work !!!!
Thank you Ian.
ps
oh, one thing I miss from the beginning is a screen with 4 or 6 divisions.

 

[cfc]

I was running on the first beta, everything was smooth, no problems. Really good job.
only stryd, stryd is missing this is the only reason why I don't use it on a daily basis, but only for testing....
and I regret it very much.
nevertheless, a piece of decent work !!!!
Thank you Ian.
ps
oh, one thing I miss from the beginning is a screen with 4 or 6 divisions.

Glad you like the beta. Many thanks for testing it.

Stryd is joint top of my list after this version is released to the App Store!

 

[cichykot]

I know Ian I also know that I am like this Pliny with Carthage only stryd and stryd
but it's just the only device that gives me confidence in my runs.

 

[involuntarheely]

You could try Blue Heart or HeartCast for that purpose. Downloaded the first but never had tried it.

I have tried HeartCast. I'm not sure whether it only works with peloton or with any BT receiver, but anyway it defeats the purpose because once you start recording from HeartCast, you cannot track the activity with WorkOutdoors.

Clearly the point is to keep using WorkOutdoors and record everything with it (because it's just the best), while also broadcasting the heartrate for other devices.

My specific use case is the following: I have a bike computer (which in my case is an android phone, but it could be anything), which connects via ANT+ to the power meter. Then I have the AW with which I record heart rate. The two options I have currently are (1) put a chest strap for HR and connect that to the bike computer, or (2) merge data from the two activities after recording them. obviously option 2 doesnt let me see my HR during the activity.
It would be awesome if WorkOutdoors could broadcast the HR data so that I could read that directly on the bike computer.

 

[cfc]

I have tried HeartCast. I'm not sure whether it only works with peloton or with any BT receiver, but anyway it defeats the purpose because once you start recording from HeartCast, you cannot track the activity with WorkOutdoors.

Clearly the point is to keep using WorkOutdoors and record everything with it (because it's just the best), while also broadcasting the heartrate for other devices.

My specific use case is the following: I have a bike computer (which in my case is an android phone, but it could be anything), which connects via ANT+ to the power meter. Then I have the AW with which I record heart rate. The two options I have currently are (1) put a chest strap for HR and connect that to the bike computer, or (2) merge data from the two activities after recording them. obviously option 2 doesnt let me see my HR during the activity.
It would be awesome if WorkOutdoors could broadcast the HR data so that I could read that directly on the bike computer.

No-one has ever asked for that before but I can see why you would want it with your setup. However my current plan is focussed on receiving data from sensors rather than in broadcasting sensor data to other devices.

Sorry about that, but I will certainly bear it in mind for the future.

 

[NME42]

I am a biker too and do record my rides with the bike computer as I do not want to look at my watch while riding. Also using a power meter and want this data recorded.

 

[involuntarheely]

I am a biker too and do record my rides with the bike computer as I do not want to look at my watch while riding. Also using a power meter and want this data recorded.

The thing with power meters as far as I know is that they transmit a lot more data through ANT+ which the watch/iphone aren't compatible with.
I'm not sure whether the power meter can send BT and ANT+ simultaneously, but in that case it would be great if WorkOutdoors could record whatever is transmitted via BT.

@cfc thanks for the reply and no worries, the feature set is amazing rn already.

 

[Tpilot]

I use Workoutdoors for Skitouring for the first time. Any suggestions what sport to select.
So far I use hiking but its may be not the best selection. In hiking it does not show VO2 Max. So somehow the Apple watch must “feel“ that this is no hiking.
I get perfect VO2 max when I use „hiking“ for hiking.

 

[cfc]

I use Workoutdoors for Skitouring for the first time. Any suggestions what sport to select.
So far I use hiking but its may be not the best selection. In hiking it does not show VO2 Max. So somehow the Apple watch must “feel“ that this is no hiking.
I get perfect VO2 max when I use „hiking“ for hiking.

Thanks for buying the app! I would recommend using the Skiing (XC) option, which can be found in the "Other Activities" section. If that doesn't work then try the Other Outdoor activity.

It is not a good idea to use an activity that you often use (such as Hiking) for a different activity. This is because it can confuse watchOS. By default the app uses the watchOS estimates of distance, which are based on the pedometer, which needs calibrating. I have seen a few people who use the Running activity for Skitouring (or for other activities) and this confuses the watch into thinking that their stride length when running is very long. This then causes the watchOS distance estimates to be far too long when they actually go running.

 

[Tpilot]

Thanks for buying the app! I would recommend using the Skiing (XC) option, which can be found in the "Other Activities" section. If that doesn't work then try the Other Outdoor activity.

It is not a good idea to use an activity that you often use (such as Hiking) for a different activity. This is because it can confuse watchOS. By default the app uses the watchOS estimates of distance, which are based on the pedometer, which needs calibrating. I have seen a few people who use the Running activity for Skitouring (or for other activities) and this confuses the watch into thinking that their stride length when running is very long. This then causes the watchOS distance estimates to be far too long when they actually go running.

Thank you for the hint cfc!
I used XC Skiing today for the uphill and Skiing for downhill. It worked well as expected and I can recommend the setting.
Thanks for the best app on Apple Watch (at least for my use cases)

 

[marevacre]

Hi, newbie here: just registered forum user, and bought yesterday WOD. Love the app very much. Did my first run, an interval training running session but not everything went / is going well... So, I'd like to ask for some help.

While running, using Watch S6 and "default" WOD settings, I see that Cadence and (current) Pace remain empty. But I do get a reading from lap and avg Pace. And also I finally get the cadence data in the phone app, and output file at the end. It's just that Cadence and current Pace give no reading while the activity is running. Why???? I have tried uninstalling and installing app back, to no avail. Some settings that I might be missing?

Changing subject... Cant really exit the app, since it keeps running in the background. I have to FC it in the recent apps list.

Any help much appreciated.
Cheers

 

[cfc]

Hi, newbie here: just registered forum user, and bought yesterday WOD. Love the app very much. Did my first run, an interval training running session but not everything went / is going well... So, I'd like to ask for some help.

While running, using Watch S6 and "default" WOD settings, I see that Cadence and (current) Pace remain empty. But I do get a reading from lap and avg Pace. And also I finally get the cadence data in the phone app, and output file at the end. It's just that Cadence and current Pace give no reading while the activity is running. Why???? I have tried uninstalling and installing app back, to no avail. Some settings that I might be missing?

Changing subject... Cant really exit the app, since it keeps running in the background. I have to FC it in the recent apps list.

Any help much appreciated.
Cheers

Please check that you have given the app permission to access the pedometer. To do this go to the Settings app on the iPhone and tap Privacy then Motion & Fitness. Make sure that it is switched on and also that it is enabled for WorkOutDoors.

Sorry that the app is staying on. To kill it off press and hold the side button until the power off menu appears, and then press the crown until the app disappears.

This is a problem with watchOS 7 that only affects a few people. The app uses the GPS for a few minutes after you use it, so that it doesn't have to reacquire the GPS if you briefly drop your wrist. It seems that for some people watchOS 7 is treating this in the same way as it does a workout, and somehow keeping the app always active. Hopefully it is a bug they will fix rather than a deliberate change.

The next version of the app is currently being beta tested (many thanks to the testers!) and in this version it is optional whether or not to keep the GPS on. This should be released in the next few weeks.

 

[marevacre]

Please check that you have given the app permission to access the pedometer. To do this go to the Settings app on the iPhone and tap Privacy then Motion & Fitness. Make sure that it is switched on and also that it is enabled for WorkOutDoors.

Sorry that the app is staying on. To kill it off press and hold the side button until the power off menu appears, and then press the crown until the app disappears.

This is a problem with watchOS 7 that only affects a few people. The app uses the GPS for a few minutes after you use it, so that it doesn't have to reacquire the GPS if you briefly drop your wrist. It seems that for some people watchOS 7 is treating this in the same way as it does a workout, and somehow keeping the app always active. Hopefully it is a bug they will fix rather than a deliberate change.

The next version of the app is currently being beta tested (many thanks to the testers!) and in this version it is optional whether or not to keep the GPS on. This should be released in the next few weeks.

Thank you! Indeed, I didn’t have that permission given.
Cheers

 

[tkermit]

Sorry that the app is staying on. To kill it off press and hold the side button until the power off menu appears, and then press the crown until the app disappears.

This is a problem with watchOS 7 that only affects a few people. The app uses the GPS for a few minutes after you use it, so that it doesn't have to reacquire the GPS if you briefly drop your wrist. It seems that for some people watchOS 7 is treating this in the same way as it does a workout, and somehow keeping the app always active. Hopefully it is a bug they will fix rather than a deliberate change.

BTW: The way I currently deal with this without having to force quit the app is to not press the "Done" button on the summary screen after completing a workout. The session has been saved and transferred to the phone at that point regardless. But staying on that screen will prevent WOD from continuing to run in the background once I switch back to the watch face. Only when it's time for my next session, will I press that button and then start a new workout right away.

 

[cfc]

BTW: The way I currently deal with this without having to force quit the app is to not press the "Done" button on the summary screen after completing a workout. The session has been saved and transferred to the phone at that point regardless. But staying on that screen will prevent WOD from continuing to run in the background once I switch back to the watch face. Only when it's time for my next session, will I press that button and then start a new workout right away.

That is a very good idea! I will suggest that to people until the next version is released. Thanks for that.

 

[Mauki]

@cfc
A cool feature would be to use the AW as a bike computer.

Access to my Specialized Vado/Creo SL like BLEVO it does. BLEVO can show many datas like motor power, cadence, state of battery and many more.

Access is via BLE

 

[Mauki]

@cfc
and German language for new versions

 

[johnl1275]

@cfc Is there not a weight training workout type or am I just missing it?

 

[johnl1275]

@cfc Also is it possible that WorkOutDoors tracks indoor walking/running workouts better than the default Apple Watch workout app? I did an indoor treadmill walk using WorkDutDoors and it seemed to track way more accurately than the default app usually does.

 

[cfc]

@cfc Is there not a weight training workout type or am I just missing it?

The current version does not have it but the next version will do.

 

[cfc]

@cfc Also is it possible that WorkOutDoors tracks indoor walking/running workouts better than the default Apple Watch workout app? I did an indoor treadmill walk using WorkDutDoors and it seemed to track way more accurately than the default app usually does.

In theory it should be the same because the app uses the distances provided by Apple’s workout system.

It could be that the watch is better calibrated now than when you last used the native app.

 

[keeper]

Is the lock function working correctly?
Every time I go for a ride a tap 4 times and it shows locked.
Every time I come back to the watch after a ride its unlocked?

Am I missing something??

 

[cfc]

Is the lock function working correctly?
Every time I go for a ride a tap 4 times and it shows locked.
Every time I come back to the watch after a ride its unlocked?

Am I missing something??

The screen lock function only works during a workout so if you end the workout then the screen should work as normal.

If you are finding that it unlucks during a workout then you may want to change the shortcut that controls it (maybe use the side buttons instead of 4 taps), or use the water lock function instead.

 

[keeper]

If I test mine I can 4 taps to lock, but once locked a long press will bring up the menu where end can be selected without requiring 4 taps to unlock.

In winter I guess coats are applying enough pressure to activate the screen and must be ending the session, it did this today 3.5 miles into a 10 mile ride.

 

[cfc]

If I test mine I can 4 taps to lock, but once locked a long press will bring up the menu where end can be selected without requiring 4 taps to unlock.

In winter I guess coats are applying enough pressure to activate the screen and must be ending the session, it did this today 3.5 miles into a 10 mile ride.

I haven’t heard of this before but I guess that it is possible and maybe more so since Apple removed force touch.

It is probably best to use water lock if you want to completely remove the chance of this happening.