A couple of questions/concerns before purchasing an Apple Watch

[jon08]

I'm leaning toward the purchase of my first smart watch (after owning a G-Shock and a couple of mechanical watch - my current Citizen watch included), primarily for its fitness (esp. heart rate) tracking abilities. I have a couple of questions, though:

1a. Heart rate: will the watch measure it by itself throughout the day? Or do I have to turn something on in order for the watch to track it whenever it's on my wrist?

1b. Since part of my route to work includes a 10-15 min walk, will the watch detect is as 'Activity'? Or would I have to open the 'Activity' app on each time?

2. Considering the watch's screen is black, would it get really hot under the sun in the summer?

3a. One thing I'm disappointed Apple currently doesn't implement is the 'always on' option. If they were to add this with Series 4, do you think it would be available exclusively on the 4th gen, or is there a possibility this would come as a software fix, so it would be available on watches supporting eg. watchOS 5?

3b. Do you think there's a chance Apple would let users choose different types of clock hands in the future? (I.e. with a pointed tip rather than round tips as currently offered).

 

[ftaok]

1a. HR is measured automatically, unless you choose to turn it off. Also note that HR measurement is not continuous, unless you select a workout. The watch takes readings about every 5 to 10 minutes.

1b. If you want to track the map and see continuous HR, you would select a workout. If you don’t, you’ll still get move and excercise ring credit, but you won’t get the othe workout stuff like map and speed.

2. No. I never noticed any problems.

3a. I doubt they’ll ever implement always on until the battery tech or screen tech is ready. If they do, I would bet money that only the latest gen would have it and older models won’t. In other words, it’s a hardware problem, not software.

3b. I think the faces are what they are. If the my don’t have hands like you like, I think you’re sol.

 

[jon08]

Thanks for your reply.

Another question: if I were to go jogging with a non-LTE version watch and not take my phone with me, would the location readings and whatnot with the GPS-only watch be less accurate than running with my iPhone (with GPS + cellular)?

 

[KrisLord]

Thanks for your reply.

Another question: if I were to go jogging with a non-LTE version watch and not take my phone with me, would the location readings and whatnot with the GPS-only watch be less accurate than running with my iPhone (with GPS + cellular)?

They should be identical.

The watch will record the GPS locations and then pass that to your phone when they’re connected.

 

[Otflyer]

I believe the watch has the latest Glonass gps chip in it. Should be as accurate as the iPhone gps.

 

[ftaok]

Some folks have indicated that the AW alone is more accurate than the AW+iPhone due to how the GPS waypoints are "smoothed" out.

In any event, I think it's more due to how the individual running apps handle the GPS data and how much smoothing goes on.

Also, keep in mind that the iPhone's GPS will likely pick up a GPS signal quicker than the nonLTE-AW due to the availability of the cellular radio (assisted GPS). So at the beginning of a run, the AW may not have locked on to a GPS satellite and the app will have to rely on the accelerometer to estimate distance until a GPS signal is received.

All of this ends of with an ultimate answer of "it depends".

 

[jon08]

I see, thanks.

Another question: I'd be wearing my AW every day to get comprehensive info regarding my activity, heart rate etc. As AW3 now also calculates your heart rate recovery after the activity and whatnot, would I have to use Apple's build-in apps exclusively to get all this info, or will the watch utilize all the data from any apps I'd use on my AW?

Also: how would I use AW in the gym? As there are so many different workouts, how does one record all of them? Do I simply hit the Activity app and let it run while I do all the exercises? Let's say I'd do a short run on the elliptical first - I know there is an option for that on AW, so I'd first turn that on, but what about after the exercise? Is there a way of telling the watch that elliptical is only a part of the whole exercise, or would I have to record each type of exercise as a separate activity?

 

[ftaok]

Another question: I'd be wearing my AW every day to get comprehensive info regarding my activity, heart rate etc. As AW3 now also calculates your heart rate recovery after the activity and whatnot, would I have to use Apple's build-in apps exclusively to get all this info, or will the watch utilize all the data from any apps I'd use on my AW?

I've had varying experience with this. First thing to make sure is that the app you're using is enabled to write "workout" to the Health app on iPhone. Most apps do this by default. In my experience (iSmoothRun and NikeRunClub), the recovery HR is hit or miss, I think due to the way the app handles the HR sensor. In theory, it should just work.

For instance, back when I was using NRC, the HR sensor would turn off as soon as I ended the workout, thus negating the recovery HR feature. So what I would do at the end of my run was pause the run and leave it paused for 3 minutes. NRC keeps the HR sensor on when paused. Then when the AW/iPhone had enough data to make the Recovery graph, I would end the run.

On iSmoothRun, the app is smart enough to keep the HR sensor on for 3 minutes after ending the run, however, iSR is a little flaky when it comes to the HR sensor at the beginning and end of a run, so many times, I would open a HR app on the AW to turn on the sensor manually, for about 3 minutes.

Also: how would I use AW in the gym? As there are so many different workouts, how does one record all of them? Do I simply hit the Activity app and let it run while I do all the exercises? Let's say I'd do a short run on the elliptical first - I know there is an option for that on AW, so I'd first turn that on, but what about after the exercise? Is there a way of telling the watch that elliptical is only a part of the whole exercise, or would I have to record each type of exercise as a separate activity?

The way I do it is if the exercise is listed in the AW workout app, I use that. When I'm finished with the exercise, I end it. The next exercise starts a new workout. For instance, I do elliptical, bike, and run. That's 3 separate workouts, 2 with the built in app, and 1 with iSR.

If I do something that isn't listed, I use "other".

 

[jon08]

What about apps like Gymtastic or Gymatic? Are those more accurate for gym exercises?

 

[Newtons Apple]

What about apps like Gymtastic or Gymatic? Are those more accurate for gym exercises?

People get mixed results using these apps, your accuracy could vary.

 

[Apple Fritter]

I may not be able to answer all of your questions, but I like to keep an eye on my heart rate for health reasons and found that HeartWatch is a great app for that.

I'm just a satisfied user and not connected to the developer in any way, financially or otherwise.

 

[jon08]

I may not be able to answer all of your questions, but I like to keep an eye on my heart rate for health reasons and found that HeartWatch is a great app for that.

I'm just a satisfied user and not connected to the developer in any way, financially or otherwise.

Thanks. In what way is HeartWatch better than the default app(s)?

 

[Apple Fritter]

I think HeartWatch gives me a great sort of overview but it's also easy to drill down into the details if needed. You might want to check out the reviews in the AppStore. It's also the app that was in the news recently for saving a guy from a heart attack if that rings a bell.

 

[Plett]

I think HeartWatch gives me a great sort of overview but it's also easy to drill down into the details if needed. You might want to check out the reviews in the AppStore. It's also the app that was in the news recently for saving a guy from a heart attack if that rings a bell.

Heartwatch is badass if you like pedantic detail. I enjoy that sort of thing sometimes. I also sometimes want a simple look at my history and the regular apps are fine for that.

Regarding accuracy I look at it like this.
If I am building a road a want to know how many miles the road is "exactly" to determine my costs, and materials. It is very important that my measuring device be spot on.

If I am measuring my run, it is more important to me that my measuring device be "consistent" than precise. For example if I were not using "device" to track my run, I may use laps at the local HS track. The idea is I want to run x miles today. At the track I just do laps until I reach my planned mileage. When using a "device" for this purpose the idea is to ensure that my mile is consistent with each run so I can measure my performance against that standard. Increasing my speed/distance as an improvement or setback are achieved with any GPSr device within the last 10 years. The limitations of the GPS technology itself is the limiting factor. Buildings, trees, radio interference, to get a Truly accurate result one would need to do a proper survey which requires much more time and patience and better equipment, which is needed to build my road, not work on continuous improvement.

 

[BarracksSi]

Also: how would I use AW in the gym? As there are so many different workouts, how does one record all of them? Do I simply hit the Activity app and let it run while I do all the exercises? Let's say I'd do a short run on the elliptical first - I know there is an option for that on AW, so I'd first turn that on, but what about after the exercise? Is there a way of telling the watch that elliptical is only a part of the whole exercise, or would I have to record each type of exercise as a separate activity?

As of watchOS 4, you can string multiple workout types together without leaving the Workout app.

Swipe right, and you get End, Pause, Screen Lock, and Plus. Tap the Plus button to finish the current routine and choose the next routine.

This morning, for example, I did an hour of "Dance" (under Other -> Dance), then hit Plus and chose Other to do a yoga workout. When I was done, I hit End, and then the watch gave me a Summary screen, which showed Dance and Other. I tapped this button marked Other and chose the Name Workout option; tapped that, scrolled to Yoga, and selected it. The final result is that I have one workout about an hour and a half long with two segments labeled Dance and Yoga.

It's a lot simpler to do than it looks when typed out.

Also, you can create timed segments in any given workout by double-tapping the screen. Say that you want to time each lap around a track, or you want to mark when you switch from upper-body lifting to working your legs -- double-tap and it'll save the time you spent as a new Segment.

Also-also -- I haven't used other workout apps since I just don't care about all that data anymore. I've heard that Gymaholic is good for, say, creating and following a weightlifting routine on your wrist, but I haven't had the patience to create such routines in the first place.

 

[ManicMarc]

1a. Heart rate: will the watch measure it by itself throughout the day? Or do I have to turn something on in order for the watch to track it whenever it's on my wrist?

It's automatic, you don't need to do anything. The only time you need to manually start something is when you are doing a workout that you want recorded with additional statistics, e.g. constant HR monitoring, start/end point, map of your route etc.

1b. Since part of my route to work includes a 10-15 min walk, will the watch detect is as 'Activity'? Or would I have to open the 'Activity' app on each time?

It will detect it, as long as your arms move as you walk. If you are pushing a pushchair (I think Americans call these "Strollers"), a shopping trolley or something like holding a bag, then it won't pick it up. You can always start a walk workout manually to ensure that no matter your arm movements, it detects your movement via GPS. (either using your phone if you go for a S1, or GPS on the watch if you go for a S3)

2. Considering the watch's screen is black, would it get really hot under the sun in the summer?

Keeping the internal temperature consistent is something watch designers have to put a lot of thought into, to ensure that the quartz crystals oscillate at the correct rate. I've certainly never felt it getting hot. I imagine the fact our arms are constantly moving and thus coming into contact with the air helps with this. I wouldn't recommend sunbathing while wearing it though, if anything just to avoid it leaving a tan mark

3a. One thing I'm disappointed Apple currently doesn't implement is the 'always on' option. If they were to add this with Series 4, do you think it would be available exclusively on the 4th gen, or is there a possibility this would come as a software fix, so it would be available on watches supporting eg. watchOS 5?

Who knows, but I imagine it would require a hardware upgrade. It's clearly hardware that's stopping us from having this feature name (namely the energy demands). I can't see how that could be solved in software alone.

 

[jon08]

Thanks for the great input guys.

There is something else I’ve been wondering: when you do an activity such as running or cycling with AW3 but also carry an iPhone with you, under what circumstances will the watch use the iPhone’s GPS?

As far as I know iPhone doesn’t have the “Activity” app that’s on the AW, so I’d imagine the AW would only use the iPhone’s GPS when using third party apps for the activities?

Edit: oh, I see there is “activity” section inside the Health app on iPhone though.

 

[ftaok]

With the AW workout app, if you have the iPhone with you and it’s paired with the AW, it will use the phone’s gps.

 

[BarracksSi]

\There is something else I’ve been wondering: when you do an activity such as running or cycling with AW3 but also carry an iPhone with you, under what circumstances will the watch use the iPhone’s GPS?

With the AW workout app, if you have the iPhone with you and it’s paired with the AW, it will use the phone’s gps.

What ftaok said ^^^^

To clarify further, it'll use GPS when you've chosen a GPS-worthy workout, like Outdoor Run, Outdoor Walk, Open Water Swim, etc.

And if you have your phone with you, it'll offload the GPS duties to the phone because of the phone's much larger battery (and, especially for the non-LTE watches, extra location-finding abilities via cell tower triangulation and whatnot).

 

[farleysmaster]

Thanks for the great input guys.

There is something else I’ve been wondering: when you do an activity such as running or cycling with AW3 but also carry an iPhone with you, under what circumstances will the watch use the iPhone’s GPS?

As far as I know iPhone doesn’t have the “Activity” app that’s on the AW, so I’d imagine the AW would only use the iPhone’s GPS when using third party apps for the activities?

Edit: oh, I see there is “activity” section inside the Health app on iPhone though.

There is an activity app on the iPhone, as well.