Apps Best app for running

[fitshaced]

I use iSmoothRun also, and no, it isn't native yet. But it seems even when the native app is available, it will still just be a display for the phone app with HR from the AW layered in. According to the developer, the app only runs when you raise your wrist, so it isn't possible for it to be a truly native app that does all of the timing, pace calculations, etc. on the watch.

It's a shame Apple has handicapped the watch in this way.

There should be an easy fix to this. If the workout app can record and store gps data and if other apps can read the workout/heart rate data from the health app, they can simply allow syncing after a run. But Apple need to make these changes, so maybe not that simple.

 

[Bob190]

Feeling a little more optimistic tonight. Got a beta invite to test the Strava WatchOS 2 app. Gave it a quick walk around the neighborhood and it worked pretty well. When finished was able to stop the activity on the watch, and voila, activity was on Strava including HR and map info.

Will give it a proper test on tomorrow's run .. but I am hopeful.

Unfortunately .. you still need to carry your phone on the run.

 

[fitshaced]

Feeling a little more optimistic tonight. Got a beta invite to test the Strava WatchOS 2 app. Gave it a quick walk around the neighborhood and it worked pretty well. When finished was able to stop the activity on the watch, and voila, activity was on Strava including HR and map info.

Will give it a proper test on tomorrow's run .. but I am hopeful.

Unfortunately .. you still need to carry your phone on the run.

Any indication on when it will be released?

 

[Bob190]

No, but the beta appears pretty buttoned up .. at least at first glance. So hopefully, it will be released soon. Will see how it goes on tomorrow's run.

 

[iLilo]

Feeling a little more optimistic tonight. Got a beta invite to test the Strava WatchOS 2 app. Gave it a quick walk around the neighborhood and it worked pretty well. When finished was able to stop the activity on the watch, and voila, activity was on Strava including HR and map info.

Will give it a proper test on tomorrow's run .. but I am hopeful.

Unfortunately .. you still need to carry your phone on the run.

Hello. I'm curious, how did you get the beta version for OS2 ? Just in case they are looking for some additional runners to test the app

 

[Bob190]

Hello. I'm curious, how did you get the beta version for OS2 ? Just in case they are looking for some additional runners to test the app

I believe they have closed the beta. They actually had a post on their forum a few weeks ago looking for testers. I think they said they have 750 or so beta testers now.

So far the app works well. It is still just a display for the phone app, with the HR data layered it, so it's a a little laggy getting data refreshes from the phone at times, but they apparently are working with Apple on that piece of it.

 

[iLilo]

I believe they have closed the beta. They actually had a post on their forum a few weeks ago looking for testers. I think they said they have 750 or so beta testers now.

So far the app works well. It is still just a display for the phone app, with the HR data layered it, so it's a a little laggy getting data refreshes from the phone at times, but they apparently are working with Apple on that piece of it.

THanks I'll wait then

 

[BarracksSi]

Unfortunately .. you still need to carry your phone on the run.

I'm wondering if most of these apps aren't fully native yet because they feel that their users want GPS mapping.

The best reason for a native app (IMO with the caveat that I'm not a developer) is the ability to run the app without the phone nearby. I'm happy to leave my phone behind when I go for a jog, and although I used to take my Garmin watch, my favorite result from the GPS was pace and distance, and not necessarily its mapping ability.

If the AW alone can't use GPS for mapping, and users of all these other services are so interested in seeing (and, often, sharing) a map of their runs, does it make a lot of sense for a developer to make a fully native AW app?

All these services -- Nike, Runtastic, Strava, MapMyRun, Wahoo, Garmin, Polar, Fitbit, Mio, and god knows who else -- are really competing for their piece of the fitness enthusiast pie, and I don't think they want to share. They'd rather use the AW to expand their own business, not to be subservient to it.

 

[musicpenguy]

RunKeeper is updated and works without the iPhone now!

 

[Bob190]

Wow .. great to see it will work without the phone. I have been beta testing the Strava WatchOS 2 app, but I will have to give Runkeeper a try.

 

[musicpenguy]

From the blog post - sounds like RunKeeper is excited to keep updating with adding new features to this base that is there now - heart rate tracking alone is going to be killer running both with and without the phone

 

[menace3]

RunKeeper is updated and works without the iPhone now!

Gonna try this. I tried Runtastic last night with all the updates and it still crashes on my phone. I did download Strava, but have yet to create an account. So will try Runkeeper again. Thanks for this.

 

[menace3]

And it still doe snot work for me. I do not understand why these apps just spin and spin and then bring me back to the home screen. I even powered off watch and turned it back on. Runkeeper is doing the very same thing that Runtastic is doing. Spins and then boots back to home screen. I have 4.3GB of memory. I just dont get this at all. Especially after I took the time to sign up and complete a profile. GRRRRR

 

[musicpenguy]

Hmm worked like a charm for me - interface was fast and responsive as was launching the app - maybe try an uninstall and reinstall - hope you don't need a watch restore - didn't try Runtsstic but heard horror stories about it

 

[menace3]

Hmm worked like a charm for me - interface was fast and responsive as was launching the app - maybe try an uninstall and reinstall - hope you don't need a watch restore - didn't try Runtsstic but heard horror stories about it

I just did the uninstall and reinstall and same thing. A Watch restore sounds horrible, but maybe that's what I need to do. I have a pushup app that works, but the abs does not (another Runtastic product), yoga works, and a few other apps do too. Runkeeper installed and opened on my watch before I signed up. Now that I signed up and did my profile in the app on my phone, now the watch app does not want to open. I'm wondering if it's passing data along and updating watch. I am on wifi network too.

 

[menace3]

Hmm worked like a charm for me - interface was fast and responsive as was launching the app - maybe try an uninstall and reinstall - hope you don't need a watch restore - didn't try Runtsstic but heard horror stories about it

So did a watch restore and nada. Sometimes I'll get the opening screen and I cannot change it from RUnning and I cannot press go. This is really annoying. I just dont get it.

 

[musicpenguy]

Yea I don't get it either - did you do whatever initial setup may be required on the iPhone app? I've used RunKeeper for a long time so I didn't have to go through that if there was any.

 

[menace3]

Yea I don't get it either - did you do whatever initial setup may be required on the iPhone app? I've used RunKeeper for a long time so I didn't have to go through that if there was any.

Yeah. What's weird is that I installed it and opened it and of course it said go setup on phone to use. So I actually signed up on the web, then signed in on my phone and all my data was there, and then install on watch. I feel like there's a hiccup in maybe the data transferring, but like i said, I've tried on wifi, bluetooth, and cellular