I get the fact that AW does not have GPS internally. However, it does have access to the GPS within the phone - correct? So, what you are saying is that the AW Workout app only "kind of" uses the GPS functions of the phone for calculating pace and distance (which means it needs to learn how to "simulate" accuracy). However, apps like MapMyRun are completely using the GPS for calculating pace and distance.
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3 Runs, 3 incorrect distances
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I get the fact that AW does not have GPS internally. However, it does have access to the GPS within the phone - correct? So, what you are saying is that the AW Workout app only "kind of" uses the GPS functions of the phone for calculating pace and distance (which means it needs to learn how to "simulate" accuracy). However, apps like MapMyRun are completely using the GPS for calculating pace and distance.
I'm saying those apps are apps on your phone and require the phone as their GPS receiver. Similarly pedometer apps rely on the comotion processor to get step data. But no phone, no app. The watch is meant to be independent of the phone if desired for activities but it can leverage the GPS in the phone to make its onboard sensors more accurate. This way when you run /walk/cycle you can still get to data without the need for the phone. The workflow decision is to rely solely on accelerometer data since the assumption is probably you will not want to be tethered to phone for workouts. Not opining on whether this is a good decision but for v 1.0 this is how they did it. Personally I wished they allowed you to use GPS as well to get map data.
This. It should be offered as an option. I always have my phone whilst running anyway so let me use the GPS constantly and have the map and accuracy benefits that provides.
I have noticed with Endomondo that if you use the watch all alone you can start a workout but it doesn't seem to pick up the iPhone gps WITHOUT opening the app on the phone itself. If you open the app on the phone, watch finds it quickly.
Joe
Joe
I use my Garmin 620 plus HRM run with all my running. It's the most accurate for me and now it's partner with Nike so now all my runs show up on my Nike site. I also like all the features the 620 offer to help me train for races from 5ks to a Full marathon
I used my apple watch for Bloomsday(a 12k in spokane washington that attracts 45,000 +) and it was accurate down to within 100 feet
it was already on my phone, and I manually selected it to install on the watch. I just check in the app store (from the Apple Watch app on the iPhone) and MapMyRun and MapMyRun+ are both listed.
Love its wifi. Stop my run. Tap save. Walk into the house (sometimes it seems to upload automatically). Tap wifi sync. My run's data (maps, cadence, heart rate, speed, elevation, ... goes everywhere - my phone, cloud, computer, tablet. BOOM!
I've been experimenting with both Runtastic and Endomondo. Both seem to be very accurate distance wise.
I noticed the same thing - the GPS was off in the watch app, if the app on the phone wasn't on. However, when I started the workout on the watch (with the app not active on the phone), I noticed that the GPS location indicator on the phone turned on to indicate that the "something" was using the GPS location services. On the watch, Endomondo now had the GPS+ indication. So I am assuming it turns on the phone GPS when you start the workout on the watch (the watch app must simply be a remote for the phone app). Runtastic appears to work the same.
More experimenting, but I can only do so many runs per day to test the apps
I used Endomondo this morning on my 8 mile run. My observations on Endomondo:
Distance was very accurate.
Pace was all over the place, but the pace announced at each split is accurate (pretty simple math and hard to mess up).
my watch battery only went down 3% during the 8 mile run. I assume this is because the Endomondo watch app isn't actually doing anything except acting as a remote display.
I agree with you 100% when I'm traing my focus is what im traing for. Some of these wear the AW while playing basketball so they can check their heart rate.
I've been going on my "walk around the neighborhood" with the Apple Watch on and my iPhone in my pocket, and it tells me the mile mark at the EXACT same spot every time, and always gives me the EXACT same distance when I get home. I've done it I think 3 times now with the same result. I think next time I'll try without having the iPhone with me.
Runtastic can be setup to show either or both. Press and hold on the Avg. Pace, a list should show up on the bottom of the screen where you can select what to show in the 'selected window'. Select Pace and you are all set.