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Apple watch functionality (independent for running?) Also - HR monitor accuracy?

A

appledave3

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 22, 2014
3
0
Arizona
Does anyone know or want to speculate...

Will the Apple Watch function separately for certain tasks ?
Specifically:
I hate running with my iPhone 6 plus and it would be great if I could leave it behind, connect my blutooth headphones to my iWatch and start running. When I get back, have it sync health data to my iPhone (I understand no GPS or cell service during this time). It seems unclear whether or not this type of task would be possible with the iWatch.

Also, any word on the accuracy of the heart rate monitor during levels of high activity? I purchased a Basis band when it first came out and returned it only after a couple days because it failed to accurately measure HR when I went above 130 or so bpm (pointless, right?).
 
appledave3 said:
Does anyone know or want to speculate...

Will the Apple Watch function separately for certain tasks ?
Specifically:
I hate running with my iPhone 6 plus and it would be great if I could leave it behind, connect my blutooth headphones to my iWatch and start running. When I get back, have it sync health data to my iPhone (I understand no GPS or cell service during this time). It seems unclear whether or not this type of task would be possible with the iWatch.

Also, any word on the accuracy of the heart rate monitor during levels of high activity? I purchased a Basis band when it first came out and returned it only after a couple days because it failed to accurately measure HR when I went above 130 or so bpm (pointless, right?).
Click to expand...

Firstly there is no iWatch, but yes, when you get back your iPhone will most likely get the health data from the Watch when it syncs again.

I'm sure the heart rate sensor is probably at least 90% accurate. :)
 
troop231 said:
Firstly there is no iWatch, but yes, when you get back your iPhone will most likely get the health data from the Watch when it syncs again.

I'm sure the heart rate sensor is probably at least 90% accurate. :)
Click to expand...

lol damnit i know it's the Apple Watch! haha

Thanks for the reply.
 
To my knowledge, there has yet to be an accurate wrist worn optical heart rate monitor in a watch. They are pretty much universally consider more a novelty than accurate training device.

Also, hopefully the Health app gets a lot better in the next month. The data it keeps is useless from a workout tracking standpoint. The even larger problem is that it doesn't reliably sync with other apps, so even if it had decent data, you can't view it most the time.

At this point, I would not buy an :apple:Watch as a workout device. It just isn't there. I would say that the second or third generation will get there, but now that it seems clear Apple are trying to market this as a luxury fashion item, I am not confident the workout stuff will get any better.
 
Cashmonee said:
To my knowledge, there has yet to be an accurate wrist worn optical heart rate monitor in a watch. They are pretty much universally consider more a novelty than accurate training device.

Also, hopefully the Health app gets a lot better in the next month. The data it keeps is useless from a workout tracking standpoint. The even larger problem is that it doesn't reliably sync with other apps, so even if it had decent data, you can't view it most the time.

At this point, I would not buy an :apple:Watch as a workout device. It just isn't there. I would say that the second or third generation will get there, but now that it seems clear Apple are trying to market this as a luxury fashion item, I am not confident the workout stuff will get any better.
Click to expand...
Can you expand on the health problems you are seeing? From what I've seen, as a developer who has done some minor work with HealthKit, the data backend works fine and reliability issues are generally problems with the apps.
 
Runt888 said:
Can you expand on the health problems you are seeing? From what I've seen, as a developer who has done some minor work with HealthKit, the data backend works fine and reliability issues are generally problems with the apps.
Click to expand...


I agree about the HealthKit. Accurate every time I use it. More so than some popular fitness apps.

I do think Apple is still marketing the Watch fashion/health device.
You can bet the heart rate monitor will be put through the critics ringer when released.
Like the reviews of the Watch so far, some will praise it and others will hate it.
 
Runt888 said:
Can you expand on the health problems you are seeing? From what I've seen, as a developer who has done some minor work with HealthKit, the data backend works fine and reliability issues are generally problems with the apps.
Click to expand...

I have noticed in the past some issue syncing with Garmin Connect. It may be app specific, and it is probably fixed, as I have not really checked in a while. Looking at it now, apparently I have taken over 27,000 steps today. According to my fenix 3, I have taken 9700. I also did a 17.5 mile ride today, though Health says I have not cycled.

It is completely possible that I may be doing something wrong. I have not spent a ton of time trying to get it working correctly because I just see absolutely no use to the charts it shows. As far as I can tell it just accumulates totals, but doesn't show the data of single workouts. The number of miles I have run this week is really not that useful. It honestly feels like it is a feature for casual use.
 
I am also wondering about this. I understand the watch would probably sync with the iPhone once they are in range again, but, HR aside, will it be at least reasonably accurate in measuring distance without being paired with the phone? Also, any idea if it would be possible for 3rd party developers (such as spotify) to allow users to store some music on the device? Or is that 2GB solely reserved for iTunes tracks and such a scenario wouldn't be possible with the first generation  watch? Thanks!
 
Cashmonee said:
To my knowledge, there has yet to be an accurate wrist worn optical heart rate monitor in a watch. They are pretty much universally consider more a novelty than accurate training device.

Also, hopefully the Health app gets a lot better in the next month. The data it keeps is useless from a workout tracking standpoint. The even larger problem is that it doesn't reliably sync with other apps, so even if it had decent data, you can't view it most the time.

At this point, I would not buy an :apple:Watch as a workout device. It just isn't there. I would say that the second or third generation will get there, but now that it seems clear Apple are trying to market this as a luxury fashion item, I am not confident the workout stuff will get any better.
Click to expand...

I have tried other wrist HR monitors. The fitibit charge hr is not accurate for HR tracking. But the Mio Fuse wrist strap is accurate. So it is possible to have accurate HR on the wrist.

For anyone interested in workout wearable reviews. Checkout: http://www.dcrainmaker.com This guy has detailed reviews of about every wearable.

No one has reviewed the apple watch for it's workout functions yet so it is too early to say whether the first generation watch will be good for workout tracking or not.
 
BD1 said:
I have tried other wrist HR monitors. The fitibit charge hr is not accurate for HR tracking. But the Mio Fuse wrist strap is accurate. So it is possible to have accurate HR on the wrist.
Click to expand...

While I currently use a Garmin Fenix 2 w/ chest strap for serious HR monitoring during workouts (and when diving - I dive dry), I've also been wearing both a VivoFit (w/ chest strap HRM) and a FitBit Charge HR since it launched. They pretty much stay within 5%-10% of each other. Close enough for general fitness improvement if not optimal "training zone" management.

This is anecdotal of course, and no doubt it varies by individual.
 
Torq said:
While I currently use a Garmin Fenix 2 w/ chest strap for serious HR monitoring during workouts (and when diving - I dive dry), I've also been wearing both a VivoFit (w/ chest strap HRM) and a FitBit Charge HR since it launched. They pretty much stay within 5%-10% of each other. Close enough for general fitness improvement if not optimal "training zone" management.

This is anecdotal of course, and no doubt it varies by individual.
Click to expand...

200 BPM is hugely different from 180BPM (10%)
 
I run with an iPhone 6 and a GPS watch. If you hate running w/ your Phone then get a GPS watch. Apple Watch doesn't solve anything there.

I also run with a HRM chest strap. THAT I hate but it's the only way I've found so far to get a reasonably accurate HR reading. I've used other wrist based LED HRMs but they can't keep up when active. Apple hasn't really touted the HRM much and we all know how Apple loves to over-hyperbole the most minute detail as life changing. So I"m bracing myself for the real possibility that the Apple Watch's HRM might be as lousy as all the other LED ones. So again, a dedicated running watch with chest strap HRM might be your best option for what you want.

I have the Garmin 620. It's pretty good but not perfect despite a slew of firmware upgrade this past year. The new Fenix 3 looks amazing if you are looking for high end.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
Apple hasn't really touted the HRM much and we all know how Apple loves to over-hyperbole the most minute detail as life changing. So I"m bracing myself for the real possibility that the Apple Watch's HRM might be as lousy as all the other LED ones. So again, a dedicated running watch with chest strap HRM might be your best option for what you want.
Click to expand...

This is what I fear also....Apple is not really highlighting HR reading other than a quick check of current HR. Having an accurate HR during a workout is my primary interest in the watch.

Chupa, look at the Scosche Rhythm as an alternative to a chest band (I hate using these also). The Scosche is worn on your forearm and for me it is more comfortable than chest bands and just as accurate. Of course, if apple watch has accurate HR then that might be all we need.
 
Ries said:
200 BPM is hugely different from 180BPM (10%)
Click to expand...

Of course.

Like I said, I don't use it for actual training.

But as a general indication, and for tracking general progress over time, its more useful than a device that is either dead by lunch time (Mio) or that is just too big, ugly and uncomfortable to wear all the time (Garmin/any chest strap).
 
This has been discussed. From a previous post:

Apparently wrist based optical sensors can be very inaccurate at elevated heart rates. Read these:

Fitness Bands With Heart-Rate Tracking Are Missing a Beat - WSJ

Do wristband heart trackers actually work? - CNET

(The last one is interesting because I learned that while wrist based readings can be very unreliable, fingertip ones are accurate... as demonstrated by the Galaxy S5's dedicated fingertip heartrate sensor keeping nearly perfect track with the EKG.)

Rumors say that Apple wanted to use an EKG method, but they couldn't get a reliable electrical connection due to band looseness and wrist hair.
 
Was hoping to see some analytics or even comments on the HR monitor in the Christy Turlington Burns blog. But it is just PR vetted fluff for the first weeks post. Funny that it reads a lot like what she said on stage except for one BIGGIE. She doesn't call it a rubber band in her Apple blog post.:D
 
kdarling said:
This has been discussed. From a previous post:

Apparently wrist based optical sensors can be very inaccurate at elevated heart rates. Read these:

Fitness Bands With Heart-Rate Tracking Are Missing a Beat - WSJ

Do wristband heart trackers actually work? - CNET

(The last one is interesting because I learned that while wrist based readings can be very unreliable, fingertip ones are accurate... as demonstrated by the Galaxy S5's dedicated fingertip heartrate sensor keeping nearly perfect track with the EKG.)

Rumors say that Apple wanted to use an EKG method, but they couldn't get a reliable electrical connection due to band looseness and wrist hair.
Click to expand...
The answer seems to be obvious. Apple needs to provide a chest band option if they are want this to be a fitness tracker.
 
kdarling said:
This has been discussed. From a previous post:

Apparently wrist based optical sensors can be very inaccurate at elevated heart rates. Read these:

Fitness Bands With Heart-Rate Tracking Are Missing a Beat - WSJ

Do wristband heart trackers actually work? - CNET

(The last one is interesting because I learned that while wrist based readings can be very unreliable, fingertip ones are accurate... as demonstrated by the Galaxy S5's dedicated fingertip heartrate sensor keeping nearly perfect track with the EKG.)

Rumors say that Apple wanted to use an EKG method, but they couldn't get a reliable electrical connection due to band looseness and wrist hair.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing those articles!

I still holding out a tiny bit of hope that the :apple: watch will be more accurate.

So why haven't we seen a fingertip heartrate accessory yet?

I'm imagining a glove-like sleeve that fits over your index finger with a sensor at the end. :eek:
 
nebo1ss said:
The answer seems to be obvious. Apple needs to provide a chest band option if they are want this to be a fitness tracker.
Click to expand...

You may be able to pair one, we don't know for sure. If not on wOS 1.0 it could be added at any time by a simple update. Also you can use a strap with your iPhone but would probably need to use the Nike+ or Strava :apple:Watch Apps (I'm sure more will be available right after launch) if there native Fitness App doesn't support it.
 
TheBing1980 said:
Thanks for sharing those articles!

I still holding out a tiny bit of hope that the :apple: watch will be more accurate.

So why haven't we seen a fingertip heartrate accessory yet?

I'm imagining a glove-like sleeve that fits over your index finger with a sensor at the end. :eek:
Click to expand...

Anyone working out with an iphone uses a bluetooth HR belt.

There is a glove "fitness watch":
http://images.gizmag.com/hero/7610_120707122942.jpg
 
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