Fitness app improved but needs more

[msackey]

The fitness app for runners with Apple Watch has definitely improved, now showing more details than before. But there is one area it really still needs improvement.

All the images and graphs are static and not interactive. For years and decades now, other programs and apps have had the ability where you can put your finger (or cursor) on a spot on the run or on a graph and drag it left or right, which would simultaneously bring up on the other graphs and maps a dot to show you the corresponding spot. This makes looking at how you run in certain areas of the run very useful.

I think I’ll post this as a feedback for Apple, but it’s crazy that we’re deep into the development of the Fitness app but this very basic ability is missing.

[Edited for typos/clarity]

 

[kylew1212]

It would additionally be very nice to track gear. I am hopeful that with the renewed focus on sports that maybe watchOS 10 or 11 will add external sensors other than HR.

It might be possible to drill into the data you need using the health app.

 

[msackey]

It would additionally be very nice to track gear. I am hopeful that with the renewed focus on sports that maybe watchOS 10 or 11 will add external sensors other than HR.

It might be possible to drill into the data you need using the health app.

Regarding tracking gear: absolutely!!

For runners (the sports I know the most) it can be really helpful to track the mileage of various running shoes that one uses. Surprisingly (or not), when in the past my legs started feeling more tired than they should from running, the culprit typically is a result of shoes too worn out for running (but still fine for walking and other everyday activities).

 

[msackey]

Also, why is it still impossible to view a tracked run on the Apple Watch? Eons ago now, Garmin Forerunner could display the recorded GPS track. Even though this was a static display, it is really helpful to see the image when reviewing workouts on the fly or even when immediately after a run.

There have been times when after a run I’d look at the recorded tracks to determine if I made a wrong turn when running outdoors on trails. Typically I review this not because I’m lost but because I’m wondering why either my pace felt a little different or why the run felt a little longer or shorter than usual. (I don’t have the best directional sense when running on certain trails that kinda look alike).

Apple Watch can certainly do better. What’s really surprising is that none of these improvements I’m talking about are difficult and nor do they seem processor intensive for the Watch (and definitely not the iPhone). Why don’t we already have these common basic features.

 

[kylew1212]

Also, why is it still impossible to view a tracked run on the Apple Watch? Eons ago now, Garmin Forerunner could display the recorded GPS track. Even though this was a static display, it is really helpful to see the image when reviewing workouts on the fly or even when immediately after a run.

There have been times when after a run I’d look at the recorded tracks to determine if I made a wrong turn when running outdoors on trails. Typically I review this not because I’m lost but because I’m wondering why either my pace felt a little different or why the run felt a little longer or shorter than usual. (I don’t have the best directional sense when running on certain trails that kinda look alike).

Apple Watch can certainly do better. What’s really surprising is that none of these improvements I’m talking about are difficult and nor do they seem processor intensive for the Watch (and definitely not the iPhone). Why don’t we already have these common basic features.

Do you mean viewing the workout track actually on the Apple Watch or in general? I sometimes view the workout on my iPhone.. granted my screenshot is biking not running it would be the same concept.

 

[msackey]

Do you mean viewing the workout track actually on the Apple Watch or in general? I sometimes view the workout on my iPhone.. granted my screenshot is biking not running it would be the same concept.

Yes, I mean viewing the workout track on the Apple Watch, a capability that existed on the Garmin Forerunner 205 (I think this was Garmin’s 2nd running watch made around 2007 or so?).

The Apple Watch definitely has the processing power to do that kind of processing. Essentially all it would be, I imagine, is being able to render a track from the collected GPS points. It would be a static (non-interactive) image, at minimum.

 

[kylew1212]

Yes, I mean viewing the workout track on the Apple Watch, a capability that existed on the Garmin Forerunner 205 (I think this was Garmin’s 2nd running watch made around 2007 or so?).

The Apple Watch definitely has the processing power to do that kind of processing. Essentially all it would be, I imagine, is being able to render a track from the collected GPS points. It would be a static (non-interactive) image, at minimum.

I can see where that would be really nice. I love my AW but I also feel that apple has primarily targeted general users and I’m hoping that with the ultra there is a renewed focus on athletes or wannabes like me.

 

[msackey]

I can see where that would be really nice. I love my AW but I also feel that apple has primarily targeted general users and I’m hoping that with the ultra there is a renewed focus on athletes or wannabes like me.

Yes, I agree with you on that.

I certainly hope they are NOT going to only offer these fairly typical sports features only on the Ultra, because the price of the Ultra is really high and very difficult to justify for many athletes — whether weekend warriors, somewhat regular athletes, to competitive but not 'ultra' athletes. I'm not sure that in my competition days I'd buy an $800 watch. I think the price of the regular Apple Watch with cellular is about the range that I considered back in my days.

Besides, there's really nothing 'ultra' about those features I described in previous posts, wouldn't you say? They're pretty ho-hum everyday mill kind of features that any reputable GPS watch has these days.