My wife recently bought an Apple Watch, but she's becoming extremely discouraged with it because the watch won't track steps in real time or allow her to set step goals. I know those aren't metrics the OS thinks are important, but they are to my wife. Is there a solution? Or, is there an App she can purchase? If not, she's going to be forced to go back to a Fitbit, which is a shame since the Apple Watch is a much nicer product otherwise.
Apple Watch, watchOS 2.2
Thanks for the reply. We understand she can track steps in the Activity App. The problem is they are not counted in real time. Unlike a Fitbit or a pedometer, there seems to be a significant delay between steps taken and when they register. When counting steps is important, the delay can be a real nuisance. Is there a solution to this? Thanks!
It isn't as simple as you think and since it is not what the Watch is built around it becomes even more so. If you calibrate the Watch it counts steps as accurately as anything else but without the iPhone (therefore GPS) it doesn't display it quite as quickly (I'm not sure how watching the steps in real time benefits anything) or quite as accurately. Since steps are 3rd priority they get less processor time. It wasn't designed to be a Swiss Army Knife and it was an intentional strategy to downplay "Steps" (do a Google search to see how 10,000 steps became a norm...it wasn't from the medical community). But that is why there are different tools for different people out there. For your wife's needs the Apple Watch is not the proper tool. For triathletes the Watch is not the proper tool, etc.
That's too bad. Counting & displaying steps in real time is a simple technology. It's hard to understand why the Apple Watch won't do this. I've had my Apple Watch for over a year now & have been very happy with it. There is a lot to like about it & I know she would come to love it too, but this omission could be a deal-breaker for my wife.
She can track her steps at any time on the activity app but she cannot set a goal. Tap the activity app, on the move goal red ring slide her finger up and it will show the steps she has taken.
You might look into the app store to see if there is an app she can run for this.
If the iPhone is with her the number of steps will be closer to real time but the Apple Watch uses steps as a tertiary measure. The delay has never concerned me but I'm much more interested in move calories and distance rather than steps. If you bought the Watch less than 14 days ago I would return it and get your money back, it will never be suitable for your wife.
Real Time Step Counter?
