martin55

Q: Wish list for Apple Watch Fitness tracking

Why cannot the apple watch "workout App" simply track my steps and "know" that I am on an outdoor (or indoor) walk/run? My iPhone is always nearby so GPS can tell if I am moving or not. The watch is measuring my heartbeat and it is increasing over the resting heart rate. It really takes too long to enter the Workout App (sometimes 5 or 6 times pressing the App button) then selecting Outdoor Walk, then selecting Calorie goal! Then waiting (which I never do) for 3, 2 , 1 ....Start! Then I have to remember to end the run/walk and Save the data! I am really beginning to envy my wife's new Fitbit. Please Apple make this App easier to use....in fact make it automatic for walking and running. Stair Stepper etc I understand they have to be chosen.

Apple Watch, iOS 9.3.2

Posted on May 24, 2016 8:04 AM

Close

Q: Wish list for Apple Watch Fitness tracking

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie May 24, 2016 8:09 AM in response to martin55
    Level 10 (105,523 points)
    iLife
    May 24, 2016 8:09 AM in response to martin55

    That are really good points. But it would be better to send this wish list directly to Apple:

    You can use this feedback form:

     

      Apple - Apple Watch - Feedback

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie May 26, 2016 5:22 PM in response to martin55
    Level 9 (54,414 points)
    May 26, 2016 5:22 PM in response to martin55

    The Watch does know that you are moving and even without starting the activity program it will credit you with exercise time if your heart rate meets a certain threshold, move calories, steps etc. The activity program is merely to capture exercise sessions for historical purposes.

  • by Jonathan UK,Helpful

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK May 27, 2016 7:24 AM in response to martin55
    Level 7 (30,168 points)
    Apple Watch
    May 27, 2016 7:24 AM in response to martin55

    deggie wrote:

     

    The Watch does know that you are moving and even without starting the activity program it will credit you with exercise time if your heart rate meets a certain threshold, move calories, steps etc. The activity program is merely to capture exercise sessions for historical purposes.

     

    Hi Martin

     

    As you may be aware, some of this information is inaccurate.

     

    Firstly: the app that runs continuously in the background is the Activity app, whereas the app for recording workouts is the Workout app.

     

    Secondly: during general daily wear, Exercise credit is not awarded based on heart rate data. The Activity app awards Exercise credit for each full minute during which arm motion (measured by the accelerometer) indicates movement that is at least equal to the intensity of a brisk walk.

     

    More information:

    Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

    Use the Workout app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie May 27, 2016 12:37 AM in response to deggie
    Level 10 (105,523 points)
    iLife
    May 27, 2016 12:37 AM in response to deggie

    deggie wrote:

     

    The Watch does know that you are moving and even without starting the activity program it will credit you with exercise time if your heart rate meets a certain threshold, move calories, steps etc. The activity program is merely to capture exercise sessions for historical purposes.

    But to see the type of exercise filed correctly as a bike ride or a run, we have to start a workout. The Activity app does not file the Activity for the correct workout type. We will not see how much activity has been running or biking. That is the tedious part - having to start the correct workout app manually, because the Activity app cannot classify the workout type automatically. Particularly on a cold day in the rain I would like not to have to uncover the watch, take off the gloves to be able to start and stop the workout. I tried to use Siri to start the watch for a bike workout, but it does not work with too much traffic noise.

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie May 27, 2016 8:11 AM in response to léonie
    Level 9 (54,414 points)
    May 27, 2016 8:11 AM in response to léonie

    Sorry to both you and Johnathan I incorrectly labeled the Workout app the Activity app.

     

    But now that I have the names correct my statements still stand and even in my first post I said the Workout app was to do exactly as you said, to have a log of your workout (which is activity) by type. And I agree it is a bit tedious but if you are about to do a 5 mile run I would think that would be more tedious. And speaking of that...I have started workouts where I forgot to start a workout and I was credited in both move calories and the exercise ring but as you said not the type of activity. And I was pretty much expecting that to happen. But on another occasion I helped someone "neaten up" their shop which actually meant moving very heavy machinery, tools, boxes, lumber etc. There wasn't a lot of steps or swinging of the arms so I was surprised when 3 hours later I had competed two of my rings. While the "book" that Johnathan quotes may say it doesn't use heart rate apparently Apple's programmers were smart and if a heart rate increase is noted it starts tracking it. I repeated this with a weight workout (shorter) just to see if it repeated. It did. When you think about it the Watch would be supremely inferior to other devices if it didn't.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie May 27, 2016 8:20 AM in response to deggie
    Level 10 (105,523 points)
    iLife
    May 27, 2016 8:20 AM in response to deggie
    There wasn't a lot of steps or swinging of the arms so I was surprised when 3 hours later I had competed two of my rings.

    I also noticed that I get exercise credit during an outdoor bike ride, if I do not start a bike  workout. The Activity app is registering a part of the bike ride, even if I keep both hands on the handle bars most of the time. So not much swinging the left arm freely is possible.

    It really looks like the hear rate sensor can trigger the exercise detection.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK May 27, 2016 11:11 AM in response to martin55
    Level 7 (30,168 points)
    Apple Watch
    May 27, 2016 11:11 AM in response to martin55

    deggie wrote:

     

    .. The activity program [Workout app] is merely to capture exercise sessions for historical purposes.

     

    .. now that I have the names correct my statements still stand and even in my first post I said the Workout app was to do exactly as you said, to have a log of your workout (which is activity) by type. ..

     

    I'm afraid this is incorrect.

     

    The Workout app offers more than merely the option to capture exercise sessions for historical purposes, categorised by activity type. It also:

     

    • Enables Apple Watch to more accurately estimate the results of activities that are recorded as workouts (compared with the Activity app):
      • The chosen activity type determines which sensors and data sources are used when estimating results:
        • For example: if Outdoor Walk or Outdoor Run are chosen, the watch can use the accelerometer, heart rate sensor and - if the iPhone is also taken along - GPS data from the iPhone.
      • Heart rate is measured continuously throughout workouts, resulting in more accurate calorie burn estimations.
      • For some activity types, calorie estimations employ tailored calculations.
    • Provides goal functionality including:
      • The option to set a goal for each workout;
      • Quick access to the last and best workouts for any given activity, for optional selection as goals for a new workout.
      • Delivering updates on progress towards a chosen goal;
      • The option to view progress towards a goal numerically or as a goal ring.
    • Provides customisable information during the course of a workout via time and primary metrics:
      • Available metrics vary by activity, but can include, for example: speed, pace, elapsed time, active calories, total calories, distance, heart rate.
    • Enables workouts to be paused and resumed.

     

    More information:

    Use the Workout app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

    Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie May 27, 2016 11:34 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 9 (54,414 points)
    May 27, 2016 11:34 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    All of those are still functions of logging your activity. I'm just not as verbose as you. I stand by my statements.