Apple Watch v.s. Vivoactive

[applebro]

I've always used a Garmin for my running and fitness tracking. It's quite nice as it shows a lot of great information in a wonderful format

1. Is there a way to display this same data in a similar way with Apple watch?

2. How do I use the heart rate monitor? I heard it takes an average because of some FDA regulation thing.

3. Can I integrate MyFitness pal into Apple Watch like I can with Vivoactive so it automatically counts the calories I input in the MFP app for the energy balance?

 

[Julien]

I've always used a Garmin for my running and fitness tracking. It's quite nice as it shows a lot of great information in a wonderful format


1. Is there a way to display this same data in a similar way with Apple watch?

2. How do I use the heart rate monitor? I heard it takes an average because of some FDA regulation thing.

3. Can I integrate MyFitness pal into Apple Watch like I can with Vivoactive so it automatically counts the calories I input in the MFP app for the energy balance?

1) *No, Watch/Workout app doesn't offer GPS mapping or TXC file format data.

2) The FDA does NOT regulate consumer HR monitors.

3) *No, but you can indirectly integrate by linking MyFitnessPal to the Health App.

EDIT: *When wOS2 is released 3ed party Apps like RunKeeper, Strava and Nike+ will be able to run natively and write to the Activity App plus output TXC files.

 

[applebro]

1) *No, Watch/Workout app doesn't offer GPS mapping or TXC file format data.

2) The FDA does NOT regulate consumer HR monitors.

3) *No, but you can indirectly integrate by linking MyFitnessPal to the Health App.

EDIT: *When wOS2 is released 3ed party Apps like RunKeeper, Strava and Nike+ will be able to run natively and write to the Activity App plus output TXC files.

Ah ok thanks

 

[Newtons Apple]

Ah ok thanks

Just looking at your post makes me remember how nice my Surge kept track of my activities.

I hope Apple is working on their fitness app along with OS2.

Sigh.......

 

[applebro]

Just looking at your post makes me remember how nice my Surge kept track of my activities.

I hope Apple is working on their fitness app along with OS2.

Sigh.......

This has me excited

https://www.macrumors.com/2013/07/05/apple-patent-details-flexible-battery-shape-for-future-devices/

 

[BarracksSi]

There's at least one app that digs up all the HR data collected by the Watch and presents it as a graph. Check the Apps subforum.

 

[claretok]

I've always used a Garmin for my running and fitness tracking. It's quite nice as it shows a lot of great information in a wonderful format

1. Is there a way to display this same data in a similar way with Apple watch?

2. How do I use the heart rate monitor? I heard it takes an average because of some FDA regulation thing.

3. Can I integrate MyFitness pal into Apple Watch like I can with Vivoactive so it automatically counts the calories I input in the MFP app for the energy balance?

Which Garmin do you use?

 

[maflynn]

Which Garmin do you use?

Its in the title - Vivoactive

1. Is there a way to display this same data in a similar way with Apple watch?

RunKeeper has similar metics, but you'll need to run with the phone, i.e., use the phone's GPS. At that point you have to ask yourself why bother with the watch.

3. Can I integrate MyFitness pal into Apple Watch like I can with Vivoactive so it automatically counts the calories I input in the MFP app for the energy balance?

I'm not sure what options do you see with MyFitness pal? I would assume it may might either now or in the future but that's just a guess.

 

[sumsingwong]

I use Exercise Pulse app to view my HR for my power walks.

 

[srshaw]

I don't think this generation of Apple watch will replace my Garmins for sports. Even if Apple sort out presenting data collected by the watch, the lack of proper waterproofing and GPS are issues that can't be sorted. (Actually I wonder if a GPS module could be incorporared into a band?).

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I hope Apple is working on their fitness app along with OS2.

Oh they are working on it. It's called "native 3rd party apps".

The more I think about it, the more I realize that is Apple's strategy. Why spend significant time and effort to build out an app when it would be better to let developers battle it out. Let Apple focus on core OS enhancements rather than onsie/twosie apps. The developer brain-trust will do a much better job, especially considering so many peoples unique needs for fitness (the casual, the hardcore runner, the hardcore biker, etc)

 

[Newtons Apple]

Oh they are working on it. It's called "native 3rd party apps".

The more I think about it, the more I realize that is Apple's strategy. Why spend significant time and effort to build out an app when it would be better to let developers battle it out. Let Apple focus on core OS enhancements rather than onsie/twosie apps. The developer brain-trust will do a much better job, especially considering so many peoples unique needs for fitness (the casual, the hardcore runner, the hardcore biker, etc)

I fear you are right and Apple may not do anything for it's fitness app. I can see me straying again.

 

[Julien]

I fear you are right and Apple may not do anything for it's fitness app. I can see me straying again.

Once 3ed party apps are updated to write to Activity, as well as run natively, there will be no need (of me) to use Workout for running or biking activities. Will still use Workout for weight training (Other) and indoor cardio machines.

 

[Rogifan]

I fear you are right and Apple may not do anything for it's fitness app. I can see me straying again.

So what are all these health and fitness people Apple hired doing? Is that former Nike guy going to leave once watchOS 2 ships?

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I fear you are right and Apple may not do anything for it's fitness app. I can see me straying again.

I'm sure Apple will provide moderate app updates over time... but I wouldn't expect a huge overhaul. Why do you even care? Why would this cause you to stray? Just because the default fitness app isn't robust doesn't mean that there won't be a thousands of robust fitness apps that you can download. There is nothing* Apple would be able to do with their fitness app that all the other 3rd party apps wouldn't be able to do.

*This actually brings up a question of mine that I asked a couple months ago, but never got a response. Does anyone know if native 3rd party apps will be able to override the watch face (like fitness and maps does now) when running? I know the workaround would be to set the display default to show "last used app" instead of "watch face" but I wouldn't want this in all cases, only fitness/gps apps (well maybe music/podcast/audiobook).

 

[Newtons Apple]

I'm sure Apple will provide moderate app updates over time... but I wouldn't expect a huge overhaul. Why do you even care? Why would this cause you to stray? Just because the default fitness app isn't robust doesn't mean that there won't be a thousands of robust fitness apps that you can download. There is nothing* Apple would be able to do with their fitness app that all the other 3rd party apps wouldn't be able to do.

*This actually brings up a question of mine that I asked a couple months ago, but never got a response. Does anyone know if native 3rd party apps will be able to override the watch face (like fitness and maps does now) when running? I know the workaround would be to set the display default to show "last used app" instead of "watch face" but I wouldn't want this in all cases, only fitness/gps apps (well maybe music/podcast/audiobook).

I would expect Apple to upgrade it enough to reach some of the expectations of the buyer when the watch was announced. I was most interested in the Heart rate tracking, but had to settle for what it is. But like you, and others, I am betting that Apple relies on the 3rd parties to fluff out the fitness aspects. I am no fitness nut but would rather depend on Apple to enhance it's own fitness app. Third parties will jump in here, no doubt about that.

My Fitbit Surge still goes on my other wrist and does what I need during runs or walks.

 

[Night Spring]

I am no fitness nut but would rather depend on Apple to enhance it's own fitness app.

Why do you prefer an Apple app over third party apps? To date, none of the stock Apple apps are the best in their class. They are mostly "good enough." For instance, I use the stock Notes app because my note-taking needs aren't extensive, but Evernote provides way more robust features. I've given up on Apple's Remonder app and use Dues instead. I do use the stock calendar, but again, an app like fantastical is probably better for people with more complex schedules. Etc, etc...

Why should it be any different with fitness apps?

 

[Julien]

Why do you prefer an Apple app over third party apps? To date, none of the stock Apple apps are the best in their class. They are mostly "good enough." For instance, I use the stock Notes app because my note-taking needs aren't extensive, but Evernote provides way more robust features. I've given up on Apple's Remonder app and use Dues instead. I do use the stock calendar, but again, an app like fantastical is probably better for people with more complex schedules. Etc, etc...

Why should it be any different with fitness apps?

I would (or will) agree with your argument if post wOS2. However you can't get Activity updated by 3ed party apps until we get wOS2. I know it is only a few weeks away but it's not today.

 

[exxxviii]

Why do you prefer an Apple app over third party apps? To date, none of the stock Apple apps are the best in their class. They are mostly "good enough."

For core features, it seems like I remember Apple getting its apps at or near best in class. For example, imagine if the phone's browser, email, contacts, and music apps were incomplete. Those are all considered core functions by most people, and the quality and completeness of the apps reflect it. (Stuff like weather, stocks, calculator, etc. are nice to have but not core capabilities.) By contrast, activity tracking and fitness tracking are marketed as core capabilities of the AW; yet Apple's supporting apps are horrible relative to the state of the market.

 

[BarracksSi]

Fwiw, I still just use all the stock Mac OS and iOS apps.

 

[Night Spring]

I would (or will) agree with your argument if post wOS2. However you can't get Activity updated by 3ed party apps until we get wOS2. I know it is only a few weeks away but it's not today.

But Newton's Apple was hoping Apple would enhance the watch's fitness functions *in the future*, and I was asking why does Apple need to do that, why not just leave that up to 3rd party apps.

 

[Night Spring]

For core features, it seems like I remember Apple getting its apps at or near best in class. For example, imagine if the phone's browser, email, contacts, and music apps were incomplete. Those are all considered core functions by most people, and the quality and completeness of the apps reflect it. (Stuff like weather, stocks, calculator, etc. are nice to have but not core capabilities.) By contrast, activity tracking and fitness tracking are marketed as core capabilities of the AW; yet Apple's supporting apps are horrible relative to the state of the market.

I have to confess, I've never used other fitness trackers, and only sporadically used any fitness apps, so have no idea what is state of art in terms of fitness/activity tracking. I just know that for me and my mom, who are both total newbies at activity tracking, Apple watch and the Activity app have worked very well, and we don't feel like there are a lot of functions missing that we want/need. The tracking itself (like what activity counts as exercise) could be improved, but the app seems fine to us as it is.

In my opinion, Apple built Activity / Workout apps that are geared toward the novice user, and for the more advanced users, there are third party apps to suit more specialized needs. Like mapping walks/runs sound like fun, but when I tried Runkeeper, I found that I actually used that app very little because I go on so few structured walks. Activity app just keeps track of my steps every time I walk around, and I don't have to start and stop an app for it to do that. Sure, it'd be nice if it also showed a map of where I walked, but do I *need* it to do that in order to be better motivated to be more active? Not really.

 

[exxxviii]

I have to confess, I've never used other fitness trackers, and only sporadically used any fitness apps, so have no idea what is state of art in terms of fitness/activity tracking.

If you used Fitbit, you would see how far behind AW is. In Fitbit, everything syncs magically vertically and horizontally... if you left your device off, or the device does not support an activity, you can manually enter it on the phone app or web app and it will sync across all devices. Fitbit actually has a web app for better presentation and analysis. Fibbit's phone app is way easier to use than Activity or Health. Fitbit has a social network that keeps people engaged. Fitbit lets you manage calorie consumption against activity. Fitbit calculates daily calorie burn far more accurately than AW does. It is lots of little things.

The really funny thing about Fitbit is that you can sign up for a free Fitbit account, and link the phone app to the iPhone 6 mobility chip and use your iPhone as your Fitbit tracker. And that massively smokes Apple's equivalent offering. Fitbit totally supports freely giving its core platform away to Apple phone users.

I like my watch, but it is really, really horrible as an activity tracker.

I cut the AW a little more slack in the fitness tracking tools. I never thought it could replace a Garmin. But I am surprised that Apple missed the mark so much, compared to all of the mature phone apps that have been around for years.

 

[Night Spring]

The really funny thing about Fitbit is that you can sign up for a free Fitbit account, and link the phone app to the iPhone 6 mobility chip and use your iPhone as your Fitbit tracker. And that massively smokes Apple's equivalent offering. Fitbit totally supports freely giving its core platform away to Apple phone users.

I like my watch, but it is really, really horrible as an activity tracker.

That is interesting to know. I might try that. Do you know how Fitbit App + iPhone 6 compares to the Apple watch as an activity tracker? Is the watch still horrible compared to the iPhone?

EDIT: Just downloaded the Fitbit app, and I have to say, on first impression, that Fitbit app is "easier to use" is subjective. I'm finding it a bit more confusing than Activity app. With Activity app, it's clear that the metric we are focusing is on calories. You can also get step count and distance traveled, but those are supplementary info. With Fitbit, it lists three goals -- distance, step count, and calorie, and I'm like, wait which one am I supposed to do? All of them? If I do one, do I also automatically hit the other ones?

And I see that I downloaded this way back when, used it for a day or two, then stopped using it. Maybe it works great in conjunction with Fitbit hardware, but as a stand-alone app, it's having problems drawing me in to use it.

 

[exxxviii]

My "horrible" comment really applies to all of the app support that surrounds the actual activity tracking device. Counting steps is not rocket science, and the AW does that as well as anything. Then, the tracking device has the option to present activity to the wearer-- the AW is OK in that regard. The rings are a strength, but most other devices are easier to get at the relevant tracking data, so it is a bit of a wash. Where AW gets its F is its associated phone app and web app. (Actually, it gets its F on the phone app and a 0 on the web interface.)

The tracker is just a commodity pawn in the larger game of activity tracking. It's all about the apps.

The iPhone 6 step counter is pretty close to the AW. So far today, I have 2,295 steps measured by my phone in FB compared to 2,563 steps counted on the AW. But, that is probably because I walked around a few times without my phone. My FB has me at 1.05 miles while the AW is 1.22 miles, which are reasonably close in speps/mile.

AW fail: AW has me at 2,112 calories so far today while FB has me at 1,399 calories. I have been very sedentary and only walking between meetings, so no way I have exceeded 2,000 calories.