Apps WorkOutDoors: New workout features

[Viktor Cistic]

Hi! Map rotation using compass does not work for me. I have AW7 and the compass in apple native app works well (just want to clarify that the compass is working). I have double checked all the settings in WOD and simply put the compass, thus the map orientation, is always stucked to north. Actualy it has the same effect as if I completely turn off map rotation. For “Direction of Travel” setting the rotation works just fine…
I should mention that I am new to AW and also to WOD, so maybe I am missing something? Thanks!

 

[cfc]

Hi! Map rotation using compass does not work for me. I have AW7 and the compass in apple native app works well (just want to clarify that the compass is working). I have double checked all the settings in WOD and simply put the compass, thus the map orientation, is always stucked to north. Actualy it has the same effect as if I completely turn off map rotation. For “Direction of Travel” setting the rotation works just fine…
I should mention that I am new to AW and also to WOD, so maybe I am missing something? Thanks!

That sounds like a permission issue. I have heard some people say that the Compass Calibration option can affect whether the app can use the compass, so it is worth enabling that if it has been disabled. To do this go to Apple's Settings app on the iPhone and tap Privacy / Location Services / System Services, and then enable Compass Calibration.

If it is already enabled then disable it and then reboot both the watch and the iPhone, and then re-enable it. There is a rare bug in iOS / watchOS where the watch loses the permission, and this process nudges iOS into sending the permission again. I haven't heard of it for compass permissions before but it happens with many other types of permission.

 

[Viktor Cistic]

That sounds like a permission issue. I have heard some people say that the Compass Calibration option can affect whether the app can use the compass, so it is worth enabling that if it has been disabled. To do this go to Apple's Settings app on the iPhone and tap Privacy / Location Services / System Services, and then enable Compass Calibration.

If it is already enabled then disable it and then reboot both the watch and the iPhone, and then re-enable it. There is a rare bug in iOS / watchOS where the watch loses the permission, and this process nudges iOS into sending the permission again. I haven't heard of it for compass permissions before but it happens with many other types of permission.

That’s it! Problem solved. Thanks! Compass calibration was off…

 

[muellered]

In the long term I plan to add iPhone functionality during workouts. I will probably start with just mirroring metrics from the watch to the iPhone and that will be a stepping stone towards being able to perform a workout on the iPhone app without a watch.

However that is a long way off at the moment because I want to build more functionality into the watch app first. This includes topo maps and sensors (in the next version) and then AOD, turn-by-turn, improved routes and waypoints, schedule importing etc. If nothing else has become high priority after I have added all of those features then I may start looking into mirroring to the iPhone, but that won't be for a long while!

Just came across this thread today; and looks like the two things I wanted the most to be added - Topo maps and turn-by-turn - are on the list for future updates! Hopefully they come soon enough (before, or during, summer) because that would make this app perfect for me! Love absolutely everything else about it.

 

[cfc]

Just came across this thread today; and looks like the two things I wanted the most to be added - Topo maps and turn-by-turn - are on the list for future updates! Hopefully they come soon enough (before, or during, summer) because that would make this app perfect for me! Love absolutely everything else about it.

Topo maps will be in the app in the next few months (testing will begin very soon) but turn-by-turn may be a while. It was top of my to-do list for the following version, but the always on display has edged ahead recently.

Glad you like the app!

 

[jtsang2000]

Topo maps will be in the app in the next few months (testing will begin very soon) but turn-by-turn may be a while. It was top of my to-do list for the following version, but the always on display has edged ahead recently.

Glad you like the app!

Does that mean there is a possibility the AOD will be available in the next release? Also, what's the timeframe on "very soon" for beta or prod release? I know these ques has been asked months ago as well and seems to have similar response. Thanks again your great work though on this wonderful app.

 

[cfc]

Does that mean there is a possibility the AOD will be available in the next release? Also, what's the timeframe on "very soon" for beta or prod release? I know these ques has been asked months ago as well and seems to have similar response. Thanks again your great work though on this wonderful app.

The next version won't have the AOD, but it has risen above turn by turn navigation in the priorities for the following version.

I don't really like to set myself deadlines in terms of releases. To be honest I could release the beta now but there are a couple of issues that I want to sort out first. The app has so many beta testers these days that I have been more thorough with the alpha testing than usual.

 

[Akrapovic]

On my last 2 hikes, using WoD, my Apple Watch S4 has rebooted whilst in use. The first time I put it down to a one off. The second time it was also during WoD. I've never had it do it at any other time - either with other apps (or no apps), or WoD with other workouts (I use the Run/Hike features).

Are there any logs I can submit that would be of any use? Going hiking again this weekend, so keen to see how it'll cope.

 

[Akrapovic]

Also, can I just say - this app introduces features to the AW that many Garmin's don't have until you spend £600. This app is an absolute steal.

 

[cfc]

On my last 2 hikes, using WoD, my Apple Watch S4 has rebooted whilst in use. The first time I put it down to a one off. The second time it was also during WoD. I've never had it do it at any other time - either with other apps (or no apps), or WoD with other workouts (I use the Run/Hike features).

Are there any logs I can submit that would be of any use? Going hiking again this weekend, so keen to see how it'll cope.

This is a rare bug in the watchOS workout system which the app uses. The best fix is to unpair the watch from the iPhone and then re-pair it.

I have heard of this a few times since watchOS 7 was released 18 months ago. It is much rarer with watchOS 8 but can still happen. It is definitely an issue with watchOS because no app should be able to cause the watch to reboot, even if it wanted to (which it doesn't )!

 

[YouWeA]

First, your app is awesome! I have my AW 7 for about two weeks and one of the first apps I bought was WOD. Since then I have used it for all of my fitness activities (both indoors and outdoors).

Something I just happened to realize is the following: When I track my indoors activities with WOD and Apple's workout app at the same time, the heart rate looks strange in WOD. When I track indoors activities only with WOD, it is ok. I attach three screenshots to demonstrate what I mean. The first two screenshots show the strange behavior, the last one the normal behavior when I track only with WOD.

For the outdoors activities, I do not observe this strange behavior.

Do you know what causes this behavior?

Sorry, if this has been asked before - I couldn't find anything using the search function.

 

[cfc]

First, your app is awesome! I have my AW 7 for about two weeks and one of the first apps I bought was WOD. Since then I have used it for all of my fitness activities (both indoors and outdoors).

Something I just happened to realize is the following: When I track my indoors activities with WOD and Apple's workout app at the same time, the heart rate looks strange in WOD. When I track indoors activities only with WOD, it is ok. I attach three screenshots to demonstrate what I mean. The first two screenshots show the strange behavior, the last one the normal behavior when I track only with WOD.

For the outdoors activities, I do not observe this strange behavior.

Do you know what causes this behavior?

Sorry, if this has been asked before - I couldn't find anything using the search function.

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WatchOS does not allow two apps to run a workout at the same time. If you are running a workout in one app and then start a workout session in another app then watchOS will kill off the workout session in the first app. This can cause all sorts of unpredictable behaviour. WorkOutDoors will save workouts to Apple's Health system so you shouldn't need to run Apple's app at the same time.

I hope that helps. Glad you like the app!

 

[YouWeA]

WatchOS does not allow two apps to run a workout at the same time. If you are running a workout in one app and then start a workout session in another app then watchOS will kill off the workout session in the first app. This can cause all sorts of unpredictable behaviour. WorkOutDoors will save workouts to Apple's Health system so you shouldn't need to run Apple's app at the same time.

I hope that helps. Glad you like the app!

Thanks for your fast reply.
This behavior only happens with indoor activities. When I track outdoor activities with both apps, everything is as it should be. So, there seems to be a difference and I don't understand why it works for outdoor activities to track with two apps and not with indoor activities.

I realized that WOD saves into Health, but I kinda think that there are some challenges that specifically need tracking with Apple's workout app (but probably I'm wrong here - or probably I shouldn't give a damn about those challenges ).
Anyway, thanks for your efforts!

 

[cfc]

Thanks for your fast reply.
This behavior only happens with indoor activities. When I track outdoor activities with both apps, everything is as it should be. So, there seems to be a difference and I don't understand why it works for outdoor activities to track with two apps and not with indoor activities.

I realized that WOD saves into Health, but I kinda think that there are some challenges that specifically need tracking with Apple's workout app (but probably I'm wrong here - or probably I shouldn't give a damn about those challenges ).
Anyway, thanks for your efforts!

The app uses Apple's workout system so in theory the workouts it creates should count towards the challenges etc. However I have heard some people say that workouts created by third party apps do not count in some circumstances, but I don't know if that is true or if iOS/watchOS were just not working properly for them.

If you run workouts in two apps at once (which is not recommended) then the order in which you start workouts makes the biggest difference because the first app will be the one that has problems. So maybe you started Apple's app first when outdoors and WorkOutDoors first when indoors?

 

[YouWeA]

The app uses Apple's workout system so in theory the workouts it creates should count towards the challenges etc. However I have heard some people say that workouts created by third party apps do not count in some circumstances, but I don't know if that is true or if iOS/watchOS were just not working properly for them.

If you run workouts in two apps at once (which is not recommended) then the order in which you start workouts makes the biggest difference because the first app will be the one that has problems. So maybe you started Apple's app first when outdoors and WorkOutDoors first when indoors?

Ah, ok, I will try it out with just WOD and see if it counts towards the challenges. I haven't tried it out, just was assuming it doesn't count.

When I start Apple's app first and then start WOD, it automatically stops Apple's app - no matter if for indoor or outdoor activities. So, I always start WOD first and then start Apple's app and then switch back to WOD.

As I said, it puzzles me that there seems to be a difference when I start an outdoor or an indoor activity with two apps...

 

[cfc]

Ah, ok, I will try it out with just WOD and see if it counts towards the challenges. I haven't tried it out, just was assuming it doesn't count.

When I start Apple's app first and then start WOD, it automatically stops Apple's app - no matter if for indoor or outdoor activities. So, I always start WOD first and then start Apple's app and then switch back to WOD.

As I said, it puzzles me that there seems to be a difference when I start an outdoor or an indoor activity with two apps...

I wouldn't worry about it. Just don't use both apps at once because watchOS is not designed for that.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

The app uses Apple's workout system so in theory the workouts it creates should count towards the challenges etc. However I have heard some people say that workouts created by third party apps do not count in some circumstances, but I don't know if that is true or if iOS/watchOS were just not working properly for them.

If you run workouts in two apps at once (which is not recommended) then the order in which you start workouts makes the biggest difference because the first app will be the one that has problems. So maybe you started Apple's app first when outdoors and WorkOutDoors first when indoors?

Just out of interest, does it contribute to onboard VO2max data also?

 

[cfc]

Just out of interest, does it contribute to onboard VO2max data also?

Yes, iOS calculates that from the running/walking workouts saved into the health system, including those created by third party apps such as WorkOutDoors.

 

[JBinPDX]

Ah, ok, I will try it out with just WOD and see if it counts towards the challenges. I haven't tried it out, just was assuming it doesn't count.

I use WOD almost exclusively. The only challenge I've found that it doesn't contribute to is the "7 Workout Week" badge. Every workout using WOD, however, does show up as a workout in the Fitness+ app and the Health app. I think the problem with the 7 Workout Week is actually on Apple's side. WOD certainly contributes to closing rings, limited and monthly challenges, and all the stats.

I don't know if the workout types badges all ignore WOD — first walking workout, first core workout, workout record, etc. All of those I've gained while using Apples Fitness app.

 

[Viktor Cistic]

I use WOD almost exclusively. The only challenge I've found that it doesn't contribute to is the "7 Workout Week" badge. Every workout using WOD, however, does show up as a workout in the Fitness+ app and the Health app. I think the problem with the 7 Workout Week is actually on Apple's side. WOD certainly contributes to closing rings, limited and monthly challenges, and all the stats.

I don't know if the workout types badges all ignore WOD — first walking workout, first core workout, workout record, etc. All of those I've gained while using Apples Fitness app.

I am affraid those particular challenges are linked to native Workout app as in the description there is explicitly written ”….using Workout app….”

 

[muellered]

@cfc is there / will there be a possibility to create a workout with multiple activities at once? For example, there's times when I bike to a point, hike, and then bike back from there, so something like combining the multiple activities into one single workout? Something similar to what Garmin, or Apple Fitness, has?

 

[cfc]

@cfc is there / will there be a possibility to create a workout with multiple activities at once? For example, there's times when I bike to a point, hike, and then bike back from there, so something like combining the multiple activities into one single workout? Something similar to what Garmin, or Apple Fitness, has?

Multi-activity workouts are on my list of features to add, but are surprisingly rarely requested, and are therefore not high on the list. When I first wrote the app over 4 years ago I was expecting that to be one of the most requested features, but strangely it hasn't been.

I will probably get around to adding it at some time, but at the moment I am focussed on more requested features. Sorry about that.

 

[johnl1275]

Multi-activity workouts are on my list of features to add, but are surprisingly rarely requested, and are therefore not high on the list. When I first wrote the app over 4 years ago I was expecting that to be one of the most requested features, but strangely it hasn't been.

I will probably get around to adding it at some time, but at the moment I am focussed on more requested features. Sorry about that.

Put me as a vote for this feature please!!

 

[satchmo]

With this app receiving so much praise, how long before Apple buys them? ?

 

[cfc]

With this app receiving so much praise, how long before Apple buys them? ?

Lol! That would be great but I can't see it ever happening. They like simple and elegant apps, and WorkOutDoors is neither!

To be honest I don't think they have even heard about it because the app has never been featured on the App Store anywhere in the world. Or maybe they are aware of it but just don't like it!