I know, I meant the possibility of direct sharing from the activities app, without the interference of other apps like Rungap/HealthFit/...
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Apps Best running app...Strava or Activities or?
- Thread starter mattwolfmatt
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I suspect the main reason that Apple don't support direct export of data to other platforms is that they don't want to support a hundred different authentication methods.
Nike is a direct partner with Apple and they're always changing their stuff and breaking it for the users. Imagine the uproar when the Workout app is "broken" because a 3rd party changed their authentication. It's a mess and I imagine Apple doesn't want to deal with it.
Another example (Nike is involved ... shocker), the Nike+iPod system was working great for years. You could export your stats (runs and walks) to the Nike servers using iTunes. It worked OK, but was a little flaky. With the help of the community, we all figured out it's quirks.
Then Nike killed the Nike Active website (aka permanently Under Construction) and we could no longer upload our walking data to Nike's servers. Apple had to scramble and change all of their webpages on the iPod to remove references to tracking walking on Nike.
Then later, Nike killed the running portion of Nike+iPod. But at least you could still manually enter your running data on Nike's website ... until they killed the website all together. Now the Nike+iPod system is pretty much dead. You need an iOS or Android to manually enter data.
So if a trusted partner like Nike could give Apple headaches like this, multiply this by the dozens of other fitness platforms. Apple don't want this hassle. Leave it to app developers like RunGap and HealthFit.
Apple is removing direct integration in iOS of social platforms like Facebook, twitter, flickr and other third party companies (like ordering photo printing).
It's highly unlikely to imagine them adding integrations with strava or other companies.
They also don't integrate very well with Nike which is a major partner.
It's highly unlikely to imagine them adding integrations with strava or other companies.
They also don't integrate very well with Nike which is a major partner.
An understandable vision. That aside, isn’t it surprising that no sports company has tried to buy Strava?
iSmoothRun is the best app to use if you care about ease of exporting your data (including keeping copies of the TCX files on for backup). It also gives you cadence, and you can even use crown & button press to get start/pause or lap.
I have been doing it so that I use the workout app on my watch and then Nike run Club app(for plan) on my phone with my headphones paired to phone. My workout data comes in to Healthkit via native workout app rather than Nike Run Club. I have found that their NRC watch app is very laggy and sucks but seems to be fine on the phone.
Does mean that I have to start both apps when I do a workout but not really that big of a hassle. I can see my history easily in the NRC app but I get consistent tracking via the watch.
Would also like to try Workoutdoors at some point for the watch but hard to see what it adds via the Workout app.
Does mean that I have to start both apps when I do a workout but not really that big of a hassle. I can see my history easily in the NRC app but I get consistent tracking via the watch.
Would also like to try Workoutdoors at some point for the watch but hard to see what it adds via the Workout app.
Yes, but it's not a direct export. You'll need RunGap (with the GrabBag in-app purchase $2/3 months, the app itself is free). You may be able to do this with HealthFit as well, but I'm not sure.
You'll also need to sign up for a free Garmin Connect account.
Then, in the NRC app, connect your Garmin account to your Nike account.
Then run.
1. Run using the stock workout app.
2. After your run, open RunGap and download your run into RunGap (you'll need to authorize RunGap to access your Health info).
3. Export your run from RunGap to Garmin Connect (you'll need to authorize RunGap to access your Garmin account).
4. There is no step 4.
After Garmin gets the run, it should automatically send it over to Nike.
If HealthFit (another app that a lot like RunGap) supports exporting to Garmin, then just do the above steps with HealthFit instead of RunGap.
Personally, I wouldn't use the NRC app at all. It's a hot mess. If I didn't have years and years of data on the Nike servers, I would drop Nike in a heartbeat. I have serious issues with their NRC app, in terms of performance and features, but that's just me.
Apple's built-in app is OK, but it's very limited in what you can see without exporting the data to another service (I suggest using SmashRun.com (free for a basic account) as a repository for all of your data).
If it's a choice between just these two apps and you need to have your data uploaded to NRC, then I would just use NRC and hope that it doesn't crash or glitch.
But if you're open to other apps, here's my set-up.
1. I use iSmoothRun ($4 one time purchase) to record my run. It packs a lot of features and is pretty customizable. Works great with the AW.
2. After the run, iSmoothRun allows for direct export to SmashRun.com and Garmin Connect.
3. Garmin and Nike do their thing, so I can see my runs in Nike and continue to get my mileage.
4. I use SmashRun to look at my data on a web browser.
5. I also use RunGap because it has a cool feature to show "similar runs" in a group. I pay the $2/3 month deal only when I need to, which is seldom.
My stress level when running has gone down tremendously since I stopped using Nike.
WorkOutDoors has several advantages over the Workout app:
Swipe between multiple data screens, each with configurable layout, text size and data content;
Each screen can be fully configured using a pool of over 180 metrics, graphs and buttons;
Fully functional vector map that can be stored on the watch for offline use;
Compass and route breadcrumbs shown on map (which also auto-rotates);
Limit alerts (heart rate, pace, cadence etc);
Interval notifications (time, steps, ascent, calories etc as well as distance);
Export workout as a GPX file, or directly upload it to Strava;
See GPS signal strength before starting a workout (to wait for a lock);
Upload and display GPX routes on watch map to aid navigation;
Define a target speed and see metrics showing performance against it;
See target speed as a moving icon on the map for visual comparison;
Multiple configurable rolling pace and speed metrics;
Many heart rate zone metrics, based on user-configurable zones;
Very powerful analysis in WorkOutDoors iPhone app;
Loads of other stuff...
www.workoutdoors.net
Full disclosure: as the developer I am very biased!
WorkOutDoors has several advantages over the Workout app:
Swipe between multiple data screens, each with configurable layout, text size and data content;
Each screen can be fully configured using a pool of over 180 metrics, graphs and buttons;
Fully functional vector map that can be stored on the watch for offline use;
Compass and route breadcrumbs shown on map (which also auto-rotates);
Limit alerts (heart rate, pace, cadence etc);
Interval notifications (time, steps, ascent, calories etc as well as distance);
Export workout as a GPX file, or directly upload it to Strava;
See GPS signal strength before starting a workout (to wait for a lock);
Upload and display GPX routes on watch map to aid navigation;
Define a target speed and see metrics showing performance against it;
See target speed as a moving icon on the map for visual comparison;
Multiple configurable rolling pace and speed metrics;
Many heart rate zone metrics, based on user-configurable zones;
Very powerful analysis in WorkOutDoors iPhone app;
Loads of other stuff...
www.workoutdoors.net
Full disclosure: as the developer I am very biased!
I have used the Nike app for 2-3 yrs, and then Strava for 2-3 yrs, and I have recently moved to WorkOutDoors...
I really like it for my watch-only runs. My favorite thing about WorkOutDoors is the customizable screens,
something the others cannot provide.
I don't care so much about my past history I have on the other platforms, what really matters is what I am doing
now...at the end of my life, I won't, and neither with any one else, care about all the miles and time I compiled over
the years anyway.
WorkOutDoors has several advantages over the Workout app:
Swipe between multiple data screens, each with configurable layout, text size and data content;
Each screen can be fully configured using a pool of over 180 metrics, graphs and buttons;
Fully functional vector map that can be stored on the watch for offline use;
Compass and route breadcrumbs shown on map (which also auto-rotates);
Limit alerts (heart rate, pace, cadence etc);
Interval notifications (time, steps, ascent, calories etc as well as distance);
Export workout as a GPX file, or directly upload it to Strava;
See GPS signal strength before starting a workout (to wait for a lock);
Upload and display GPX routes on watch map to aid navigation;
Define a target speed and see metrics showing performance against it;
See target speed as a moving icon on the map for visual comparison;
Multiple configurable rolling pace and speed metrics;
Many heart rate zone metrics, based on user-configurable zones;
Very powerful analysis in WorkOutDoors iPhone app;
Loads of other stuff...
www.workoutdoors.net
Full disclosure: as the developer I am very biased!
Yeah I finally downloaded it yesterday and got it all set up for runs/biking/and walking. I love the customization of it. Haven't used it yet on a run but will tomorrow morning. I set my target pace up and will see how it goes. Looks really well done though and am very encouraged on the ability to display what I want to see.
WorkOutdoors definitely is best. I used it today on watch in conjunction with NRC on phone and really liked seeing how far in front I was of my target pace in both seconds and distance. Seeing the yellow circle behind me on the map when I was ahead of the pace was good. Makes me feel like I was in a race.
All the customization choices were great. Didn't even see I could have a pause/resume button on the layout til after my workout and that is even better. Just so many options of how you want to look at it.
The analytics were great as well. Being able to scrub through the workout and see your steps/calories/pace all that at any point in the workout history is something I haven't had before. Major kudos to the developer on this app.
All the customization choices were great. Didn't even see I could have a pause/resume button on the layout til after my workout and that is even better. Just so many options of how you want to look at it.
The analytics were great as well. Being able to scrub through the workout and see your steps/calories/pace all that at any point in the workout history is something I haven't had before. Major kudos to the developer on this app.
As @rbart says intervals are not available in the current version. However I am coding them now so they will be in the next version.
Is there any way to share our workout data for free? you can upload to Rungab but without "Swang Bag" is impossible to export data.
Apple should let us check out and save our workout data to iclould.com under Health icon.
Apple should let us check out and save our workout data to iclould.com under Health icon.
