Activity App updated by Health App?

[canyonblue737]

It seems the Activity App only displays data gathered by the Apple Watch itself, and is NOT updated by Apple's Health App. This is frustrating because the Health App takes data from the AW, iPhones, and even 3rd party Apps (Runkeeper, Strava etc.) and 3rd party hardware (Garmin watches etc.) and combines it all and usually does a good job of NOT creating a doubling of records. (ie. Watch data during a given time will override less accurate iPhone movement data if both recorded, or a Garmin cycling computer workout will overwrite inaccurate calorie and movement data from the Watch etc.)

The problem here lies with "goal setting." Since the Activity app only shows Active Calories, Movement, Standing etc. gathered by the watch, if you should take it off for your bike ride with a Garmin computer, or a marathon with your Garmin Watch etc. even though Health App is well aware of your activity the AW Activity Monitor will show you did nothing. I really wish the Activity monitor showed (or at least had an option to show) my Activity based on the HEALTH app data which contains not only the Watch data but my whole fitness life, no matter the source.

 

[exxxviii]

This is all a hot mess. The watch has three apps (if you count HR) for managing and viewing fitness stuff. And the iPhone has 2 apps. There should be one app on the watch and one app on the phone and a web UI app. And the data integration should be bi-directional. As it is, it is very difficult to understand your activities and how they all relate.

 

[BlueMoon63]

This is all a hot mess. The watch has three apps (if you count HR) for managing and viewing fitness stuff. And the iPhone has 2 apps. There should be one app on the watch and one app on the phone and a web UI app. And the data integration should be bi-directional. As it is, it is very difficult to understand your activities and how they all relate.

Agreed and I spent way too much time yesterday trying to figure out some of the "bugs". You can't even use the apple watch as a data source for several health app features. It does the activity one correctly but it is all broken down into fraction of calories. Seems excessive.

I did find one nugget that was somewhat helpful. If you have multiple sources for the same data and it takes the source that is on top.

I wonder if the beta 3 for o/s 2.0 addresses the concerns?

 

[gsmornot]

It seems the Activity App only displays data gathered by the Apple Watch itself, and is NOT updated by Apple's Health App. This is frustrating because the Health App takes data from the AW, iPhones, and even 3rd party Apps (Runkeeper, Strava etc.) and 3rd party hardware (Garmin watches etc.) and combines it all and usually does a good job of NOT creating a doubling of records. (ie. Watch data during a given time will override less accurate iPhone movement data if both recorded, or a Garmin cycling computer workout will overwrite inaccurate calorie and movement data from the Watch etc.)

The problem here lies with "goal setting." Since the Activity app only shows Active Calories, Movement, Standing etc. gathered by the watch, if you should take it off for your bike ride with a Garmin computer, or a marathon with your Garmin Watch etc. even though Health App is well aware of your activity the AW Activity Monitor will show you did nothing. I really wish the Activity monitor showed (or at least had an option to show) my Activity based on the HEALTH app data which contains not only the Watch data but my whole fitness life, no matter the source.

I would like some of this too but the fact is the Activity App is not an activity reporter or recorder but instead is a companion application to the watch. It gives you a larger format screen to see what the watch has recorded throughout the day. Health will take this data and add it to your other sources. I wish Activity would look at everything I do but I don't think it ever will if we keep in mind its meant to go with the watch. If you had a Fitbit or something similar it would be the same case. The fact that Apple makes the watch has me thinking more share options but I just don't think so. I still collect data with my Garmin on rides but I don't feed that data into my health app any longer. I just use what the watch collects since I wear that on my rides too. The data has been close (not exact but close) so its good enough for me at the moment. I get what you're saying though.

 

[exxxviii]

I wish Activity would look at everything I do but I don't think it ever will if we keep in mind its meant to go with the watch. If you had a Fitbit or something similar it would be the same case.

All this works seamlessly in the Fitbit environment. I have their cheapest product- the Zip. It only displays steps, calories, and distance. When I run or swim with my Garmin watch, those data sync into the Fitbit web app. Then that pushes down to the Fitbit Zip. It is freaking awesome. Within a minute of my Garmin watch sync, my $50 zip will show the steps, calories, and miles recorded by an external device. I want Apple to achieve this level of seamless vertical and horizontal integration with the AW activity tracking.

As it is, when I swim or run with a Garmin and not my AW, the activity rings on the watch have no clue that I had an awesome workout day. That sucks. I could live with manual workout entry that would flow into Activity, but even that is impossible with the AW.

 

[gsmornot]

All this works seamlessly in the Fitbit environment. I have their cheapest product- the Zip. It only displays steps, calories, and distance. When I run or swim with my Garmin watch, those data sync into the Fitbit web app. Then that pushes down to the Fitbit Zip. It is freaking awesome. Within a minute of my Garmin watch sync, my $50 zip will show the steps, calories, and miles recorded by an external device. I want Apple to achieve this level of seamless vertical and horizontal integration with the AW activity tracking.

As it is, when I swim or run with a Garmin and not my AW, the activity rings on the watch have no clue that I had an awesome workout day. That sucks. I could live with manual workout entry that would flow into Activity, but even that is impossible with the AW.

I hear ya but I still say it's not going to happen is my guess. The activity app is just a companion for the watch data making it easier to read. Health is where this data is going to be collected from each of those devices.

I hope I'm wrong and Apple calls you for ideas. I would love to have all my activity show on the watch. I too use Garmin in addition to my watch.

 

[exxxviii]

I am hopeful, because the activity tracker products have been doing bi-directional data management for a long time. This capability is table stakes. So, Apple is vulnerable in that space until they match most of the core features. Otherwise, the AW will come to be seen as a great smart watch, but just a toy compared to Fitbit for activity tracking.

 

[midloman]

Maybe what we need is a Web UI for the Health App / Healthkit. Someplace where everything that's shared/pulled in can be seen/analyzed more easily. Like Fitbit or Garmin Connect.