Access, share, and export data from Activity app

Question

Level 1

14 points

Access, share, and export data from Activity app

One of the major uses I want in a smartwatch is to track my runs. My needs for running are a watch that does not require tethering to another device, such as a phone, and that allows display and sharing of the results of my runs. I want to be able to view them on any device, including on a computer via a Web site, and also share them on Facebook. I want to be able to view all of the data, including the map of where I have run. For years I have used various Garmin fitness watches, and I appreciated the ease by which I could capture my run, display its data and map online, and share to Facebook and other digital places.

My biggest complaint revolves around the export and display of data. While the watch’s Workout app is simple and easy to use, and the Activity app on my iPhone easy to use and display results, I am disappointed that the data cannot be exported to other apps. I am also disappointed that the Activity app only runs on the iPhone, and therefore cannot be accessed by other hardware, including the iPad or a computer accessing a Web site.

I also dislike the sharing capabilities of the Activity app. When one tries to share the entire exercise activity to Facebook, all that is uploaded is an image from the app, and not the details of distance run, time, map, etc. One can share the map of the Activity, but that is not uploaded with any other data about the run, e.g., distance, time, etc.

Another disappointment is that other fitness apps do not (yet) allow capture of the watch GPS data. For example, while RunKeeper has a Watch app, it is not able to capture the watch’s GPS data when not tethered to the phone (where it presumably accesses the phone’s GPS data). I assume that updates to these non-Apple apps will eventually allow access, and this might also solve the previous problem of data not being exportable.

So let me ask: Has anyone else used Apple's Activity app and been able to (a) view the data on a device other than an iPhone, (b) export the data to another app, or (c) share the full data for a run to a place like Facebook (like RunKeeper or Garmin can)?

Watch Series 2(Alum) 38MM (2nd gen), watchOS 3

Posted on Sep 27, 2016 4:28 AM

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Answer 1

miki73e

Level 1

17 points

Jan 5, 2017 7:42 AM in response to Maverickster

Hi, I use Rungap. it can import and export from/to different source, also apple activity.

Only issue is that apple doesn't record the gps coordinate in standard format so when you export to other platform you loose the map 😟

At the moment, I track my run with Nike app and after export to Runtastic, Strava,........ with rungap.

It's a shame because apple track data each 2 seconds, Nike 10sec!!!!!!

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Answer 2

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,021 points

Sep 27, 2016 4:35 AM in response to billhersh

Hi

If you would like to send feedback or suggestions to Apple in respect of the built-in Activity app and Workout app, you can do so here:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/watch.html

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Answer 3

Oct 2, 2016 7:06 PM in response to billhersh

100% agree with this question. I downloaded SpectaRun Workouts to try to come up with the intermediate solution for this (until, as you note, RunKeeper eventually solves it by improving the Apple Watch app and incorporating the watch's GPS and hopefully routes). It looked promising since it allows you to export Workouts in TCX, but evidently they're not compatible with RunKeeper (or, at least, I couldn't get RunKeeper to import it).

Anyway, subscribed.

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Answer 4

Oct 2, 2016 7:28 PM in response to billhersh

P.S. The RunGap app will export an Apple Workout directly to RunKeeper (you have to buy the "Swag Bag" in-app purchase, but it does work). It doesn't, however, seem to import export the map or the splits, but you can add those later, I guess. This is the easiest way I've found so far. I just hope RunKeeper updates the Watch app sooner rather than later.

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