Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[cfjmooney]

In terms of not closing this may be because you have enabled the "Keep the GPS on after use" option in Other Settings. This option is no longer necessary. The app used to do this in the past so that it didn't temporarily lose the GPS signal if you dropped your wrist before starting a workout. However watchOS changed the way things worked and for some users it started to appear that the app would never close. So I made it optional, defaulting to off.

Sorry about the "consecutive resume events" error. You are correct that it is not a coincidence and is indeed related to watchOS 8. It only happens when using Apple's auto-pause and can be ignored. If it is annoying then you could switch to the app's auto-pause algorithm instead. I have fixed it in the code and it will not happen in the next version.

Glad you like the app!

Thanks a million for the fast and helpful reply.
I’ve turned off the GPS option like you suggest, and that seems to do the trick.
On the message error, no need to apologise, it’s no big deal and as long as it doesn’t affect recording of my run (which I confirm that it didn’t this morning) then all is good with the world! ?

Sincere thanks again ?

 

[yoak]

The new topo maps looks great. The Color option looks like a sure winner. Thank you for the great job you do Ian

 

[ArrToo]

At some point recently the Info Screen has fallen off my Long Touch Menu. It's still selected as the Top Left item but does not appear (the other three items do, with the last one centred at the bottom). I have tried choosing a different item (which works, giving all four options) and then re-selecting Info Screen, but it still does not appear. Also tried moving it to a different slot. Is this a known issue? My current workaround is to bind it to Tap 4x, which works fine.

 

[cfc]

At some point recently the Info Screen has fallen off my Long Touch Menu. It's still selected as the Top Left item but does not appear (the other three items do, with the last one centred at the bottom). I have tried choosing a different item (which works, giving all four options) and then re-selecting Info Screen, but it still does not appear. Also tried moving it to a different slot. Is this a known issue? My current workaround is to bind it to Tap 4x, which works fine.

Sorry - that is a bug in watchOS 8. It seems to have lost the 'i' icon, so that any menu button that uses that button is no longer displayed.

In the next version I have switched the icon to a custom one instead of relying on watchOS, so it should not happen. Glad that you have worked around it with the quadruple tap gesture and are using a different command for that 4th button.

Part of me wonders if it was deliberate by Apple because they are trying to move away from the long touch menu!

 

[PaladinGuy]

I’m sure someone else already asked this but when do you plan to include the always on display for watchOS 8?

 

[Apple_Robert]

I’m sure someone else already asked this but when do you plan to include the always on display for watchOS 8?

WorkOutDoors: New workout features

I certainly hope to include some sort of always on functionality if possible, but not in the next version. That will include all the new features that I have been working on, and will also make the most of the new 41mm and 45mm screens, but I don't plan to look into the always on stuff until...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[PaladinGuy]

Thanks!

 

[joefrank64k]

Loving the app on runs. The metrics are SO much easier to read, especially in sunlight.

Today though, I had a problem with an Open Water Swim. This is the first OWS I did with this app. It got the distance very wrong. It showed I swam 18.89 miles in 59min. That would be awesome if true, haha!!

We actually swam about 0.8mi. My swim partners were using the Apple OWS workout and it got the distance perfect (like it’s done with me many times).

Any idea what may be going on?

 

[tcarlisle]

The topo map data will come from a company called Thunderforest, who supply the maps for OpenCycleMap (and a lot more). They will not require any extra payment because, unlike Mapbox, they do not charge extra for the topo data.

Mapbox will still be the default in the next version, but you will be able to switch to Thunderforest maps if you wish. If it goes well then I will probably make Thunderforest the default in the future but at first I am playing it safe. The Thunderforest map tiles are much larger than the Mapbox tiles so they will be slower to download and transfer to the watch and may possibly exceed resource limits on the watch for some particularly detailed areas. They have been fine for me but I cannot test every area, so I am still wary.

So it would be good if you can beta test it. Please email info@workoutdoors.net and I will let you know when the beta is ready.

I would love to add satellite maps as well in the future, but at the moment I can't find a source that would not cost me extra money which I would have to pass on in the form of a subscription or in-app purchase, neither I which I want to add.

I'm an active contributor ot OpenStreetMaps so any topo based on OSM will be great as the trail updates I make will ultimately make it into the map source. OpenCycleMap will be a great addition--as would any of the other Thunderforest maps. The Smart Contours looks very helpful as well.

I sent you an email so that I can do some beta testing when you're ready for that.

 

[NickYanakiev]

@cfc love your app! Any updates on using Stryd with it?

I believe a competitor app has been able to work with Stryd for a while. Thanks!!!

 

[cfc]

@cfc love your app! Any updates on using Stryd with it?

I believe a competitor app has been able to work with Stryd for a while. Thanks!!!

The next version will support Stryd (and many other sensors). It will start beta testing soon, and the date for release to the App Store will depend on how that goes.

 

[cfc]

Loving the app on runs. The metrics are SO much easier to read, especially in sunlight.

Today though, I had a problem with an Open Water Swim. This is the first OWS I did with this app. It got the distance very wrong. It showed I swam 18.89 miles in 59min. That would be awesome if true, haha!!

We actually swam about 0.8mi. My swim partners were using the Apple OWS workout and it got the distance perfect (like it’s done with me many times).

Any idea what may be going on?

Thanks for sending me the data for that workout. WatchOS sends the distance estimates to the app and it looks like the initial estimate of 29km after 3 minutes (!!!) was very wrong. Hopefully this was just a one-off glitch in Apple's code because it is not something I have ever seen before.

It was probably caused by the GPS being extremely poor for those 3 minutes (>200m), but I haven't seen Apple get it quite that wrong before!

 

[oboe5150]

Hi Ian, getting excited about the next version! If we have beta tested in the past will we automatically be rolled into the new testing program or do we need to re-volunteer

cheers

 

[cfc]

Hi Ian, getting excited about the next version! If we have beta tested in the past will we automatically be rolled into the new testing program or do we need to re-volunteer

cheers

I usually send out emails to anyone who has tested the last version or maybe either of the last couple of versions. I don’t like to pester people who haven’t tested it for a couple of years.

Thanks for testing the app!

 

[joefrank64k]

Thanks for sending me the data for that workout. WatchOS sends the distance estimates to the app and it looks like the initial estimate of 29km after 3 minutes (!!!) was very wrong. Hopefully this was just a one-off glitch in Apple's code because it is not something I have ever seen before.

It was probably caused by the GPS being extremely poor for those 3 minutes (>200m), but I haven't seen Apple get it quite that wrong before!

And thanks for looking it over!!

I’ve used Series 2-7 watches for swimming, and this was the first OWS that didn’t track right. Like I had mentioned, maybe I’ve got a bad S7.

I just updated to watchOS 8.1, so we’ll see how the swim tracks this Sunday. If this happens again, I’ll see about getting the watch repaired/replaced.

 

[zokstar]

@cfc apologies if this has been asked and answered before.

Is it possible at all to have the "music" app/screen easily accessible whilst recording in WOD?

Thanks

 

[cfc]

@cfc apologies if this has been asked and answered before.

Is it possible at all to have the "music" app/screen easily accessible whilst recording in WOD?

Thanks

You can configure the app to show the Now Playing screen in response to a gesture. To do this go to the Settings on either the watch app or the iPhone app and then tap "Commands" and then "Shortcuts". This will show a list of gestures such as swiping, tapping multiple times or using both side buttons at once. Tap the gesture that you want to display the Now Playing screen and a list of operations will appear. Choose "Show Now Playing" and the music controls will appear whenever you perform that gesture.

 

[zokstar]

Prefect, thank you!!!

 

[joefrank64k]

And thanks for looking it over!!

I’ve used Series 2-7 watches for swimming, and this was the first OWS that didn’t track right. Like I had mentioned, maybe I’ve got a bad S7.

I just updated to watchOS 8.1, so we’ll see how the swim tracks this Sunday. If this happens again, I’ll see about getting the watch repaired/replaced.

Happy to report: went on an OWS and the watch/app tracked perfectly!! Subsequent bike and run also tracked perfect. Loving this app!!

 

[Nanning]

Any idea how to fix my Strava login on the watch (Error: No Strava Login), on the phone it is working from the app, so credentials are for sure ok. I already tried to reinstall the Workoutdoors app on the watch and reconnect Strava to Workoudoors in the phone app.

 

[cfc]

Any idea how to fix my Strava login on the watch (Error: No Strava Login), on the phone it is working from the app, so credentials are for sure ok. I already tried to reinstall the Workoutdoors app on the watch and reconnect Strava to Workoudoors in the phone app.

Try switching off Automatic Strava Upload in the Export Options of the iPhone app. Then tap Send and then switch it on again and tap send.

Have you maybe upgraded your phone or watch recently? Something in the process this year seems to occasionally lose watch settings.

 

[Nanning]

Try switching off Automatic Strava Upload in the Export Options of the iPhone app. Then tap Send and then switch it on again and tap send.

Have you maybe upgraded your phone or watch recently? Something in the process this year seems to occasionally lose watch settings.

Thanks a lot this solved the problem! And to answer your question I had this problem quite some time so it had nothing to do with a recent update.

 

[Ziaforz]

I'm an active contributor ot OpenStreetMaps so any topo based on OSM will be great as the trail updates I make will ultimately make it into the map source. OpenCycleMap will be a great addition--as would any of the other Thunderforest maps. The Smart Contours looks very helpful as well.

I sent you an email so that I can do some beta testing when you're ready for that.

Here are some screenshots of the configuration screens for the new terrain map when looking at an area at the top of Mont Blanc. The first image shows how it looks at the moment without the terrain data. The 2nd image shows the same area with the new contours and hill shading.

The 3rd image shows what I call "Smart Contours", which are coloured according to your elevation and therefore change as your elevation changes. You can choose a different colour for the contours above and below you. In that image I have selected red contours for above and blue for below. The idea is that the colours give you context, so you can more easily and quickly understand the terrain. I think that it is particularly useful on the small watch screen because it is harder to get context when looking at a smaller area.

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Just signed up today and really like what I see! Will those new maps show more trails? At the moment there are very few mountain bike trails showing on the maps in my area (Queensland, Australia) compared to Trailforx and Strava. Fingers crossed...

 

[cfc]

Just signed up today and really like what I see! Will those new maps show more trails? At the moment there are very few mountain bike trails showing on the maps in my area (Queensland, Australia) compared to Trailforx and Strava. Fingers crossed...

The app only shows the trails that are in OpenStreetMap, so if those trails are not in OSM then they won't be in WorkOutDoors. Usually OSM has excellent coverage and shows trails that other maps do not, but maybe there aren't as many contributors in Queensland as there are in other parts of the world.

Trails will be visible at higher zoom levels in the new map, so you do not need to be zoomed in as much to see them, but it won't show trails that are not visible in the current map.

 

[sam3k]

Would it be possible for route names in include full stops / periods?

I'm not particularly imaginative so I usually name my routes with the date and distance (e.g. "2021 6.3km"), but I can't do that at present.