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Heart rate monitor -- be honest!
- Thread starter profmjh
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Did I read it right that the HRM only updates every 10 minutes? If it does, I can't see how that can give you an accurate reading during a workout, especially when doing splits/sprint training etc.
And it kinda sucks that you have to have your phone tethered to you for tracking distance. I currently have my iphone 6 on a bike mount for long distance cycling but at least now I guess I can put that in a bag/pocket instead risk it coming off the bars (which it did when I crashed one time!).
And it kinda sucks that you have to have your phone tethered to you for tracking distance. I currently have my iphone 6 on a bike mount for long distance cycling but at least now I guess I can put that in a bag/pocket instead risk it coming off the bars (which it did when I crashed one time!).
I will and I use the health app a lot.
Be good to see my heart rate during my gym, walks and mountain bike sessions.
Be good to see my heart rate during my gym, walks and mountain bike sessions.
It updates every 10 minutes no matter what you do. If you're using the workout app it's always tracking your HR.
Ah ok, that's good to know. Was worried that the workout app wasn't tracking in real time. That would just be silly!
hopefully someone can design a "i just died" app. When it reads your heart has stopped, kindly message the sad news to spouse, forward to the attorney, etc.
lmao.
Did you see me say that, or are you just being argumentative?
I said I wouldn't use it much, and I wondered whether other people were the same. One reviewer suggested Apple has produced a confused product and it might have been a better idea to have different models offering different features.
I'm well aware what those things on the underside are. Self-evidently they take up space. I suspect quite a lot of space. Without them the watch would be smaller.
Clearly some people are keen to use the heart rate monitor regularly. Equally there may be many who won't.
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If the HRM is the only reason you're buying it, you might want to wait until there were more reviews of that feature, as current reviews swing both ways.
One review said the expected thing for wrist based monitors, which is that it was wildly inaccurate at higher rates.
Another said it was pretty close to a chest monitor, but that makes me suspicious. Either it should be exactly the same (within a beat or two) or it makes me think that it might be estimating elevated HR using other input such as wrist motion.
Wrist accuracy can also depend on your complexion, band tightness and position, amount of hair, and how much you sweat.
Just because I don't go to a gym doesn't make me a slug
I didn't realise that the users of the MacRumors forums are all such fitness enthusiasts!
When Tim Cook tells you to stand, you stand
I agree, the Watch isn't a good idea just for its HR monitoring capabilities. I look forward to DCRainmaker reviewing the fitness capabilities, as that is authority on fitness gadgets -- he has reviewed wrist based HR straps favorably, like the Mio Link.
When Tim Cook tells you to stand, you stand
Oh, of course! I'll definitely be doing that. Besides, I'm getting the Tim Cook Special watch
I hope we can turn that off, no reason to know that that often.
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Right on. Seriously who needs to know exactly how fast your working? You're exercising our you're not. Stop taking battery life away from it to tell me I'm sitting still. I'll exercise when I need to.waste of space in my opinion to add that bulk and battery use.Just because I don't go to a gym doesn't make me a slug
I didn't realise that the users of the MacRumors forums are all such fitness enthusiasts!
I intend to use the Activity app more or less continuously and permanently, and to my understanding, (the data reflected on) the Move ring depends fairly heavily on the heart-rate monitor. I'm not certain, but the Exercise ring might, as well.
So I'd say yes, I will use it very regularly. As will anyone who plans to keep trying to fill those rings.
Hopefully someone can design a "I just died" app. When it reads your heart has stopped, kindly message the sad news to spouse, forward to the attorney, etc.
That has a particularly similar sound to the "I Am Rich" app. Idea: a large group of apps that all have names that are three-word declaratory sentences beginning with "I." Questionable usefulness potential, but high hilarity potential.
I agree, I want to see independent, detailed reviews of the HR monitor. The reviews from yesterday don't really give useful details about any of the complicating factors you mentioned. None of them reported the instructions (if any) Apple provides for getting a good HR measurement, or how closely the tester followed the instructions.
One of the reviews that said the Watch HR monitor worked well also mentioned problems with a chest strap HR monitor. My own experience with chest straps matches what the reviewer wrote. My monitor is almost always finicky for the first few minutes after I put it on. It also goes nuts occasionally, probably because it slips a little too far from its ideal position. I'm 100% sure I don't randomly hit 230 beats/minute on the treadmill, without any physical symptoms. (The likely symptoms being collapse followed by painful twitching death.)
Without some evidence to back it up, I don't assume any random consumer-grade chest strap HR monitor is particularly accurate. If I wear a chest strap and an Apple Watch, and they disagree, I won't automatically assume the chest strap is more correct.
If I eventually go to a store to try on an Apple Watch, I'll probably wear my HR monitor and try to compare them. Just for curiosity's sake.
I agree
Worthless.
It one of those borderline useless features they throw in and hype up because they can.
It would be much better if they didn't hype worthless features. Just mention them.
Then again, some people monitor their hearts so it's useful. I'm not sure how many people do this.
Now Blood pressure would be incredibly useful, (along with a humidity monitor). Then the heart rate monitor would make much more sense.
One can dream
Worthless.
It one of those borderline useless features they throw in and hype up because they can.
It would be much better if they didn't hype worthless features. Just mention them.
Then again, some people monitor their hearts so it's useful. I'm not sure how many people do this.
Now Blood pressure would be incredibly useful, (along with a humidity monitor). Then the heart rate monitor would make much more sense.
One can dream
I agree
Worthless.
It one of those borderline useless features they throw in and hype up because they can.
It would be much better if they didn't hype worthless features. Just mention them.
Then again, some people monitor their hearts so it's useful. I'm not sure how many people do this.
Now Blood pressure would be incredibly useful, (along with a humidity monitor). Then the heart rate monitor would make much more sense.
One can dream
A lot of people here say it's not worthless, myself included. I work out four times per week, and will likely start running more when I can monitor my heart rate.
I don't run unless something is chasing me, but I'm interested in the HR monitor. I suffer from bouts of cardiac arrhythmia and I'd like to start keeping track of that, assuming the sensors can pick it up.
And I do walk and I do ride a mountain bike hybrid. Not in any meaningful way but as my tail is starting to expand as I head into 50 I'd like to start getting it all together. I'll never run a marathon but I'd like to look fit in a two piece swimsuit again as I'm not that far gone yet. Speaking of which, I also swim but damn...the Apple Watch is not able to follow me into the pool. No use there yet...but someday. Anyway, anything that makes me more cognizant of my activity is a good thing. I'm glad it's there and I'll use it.
My husband is big into monitoring his heart rate. A lot of the men in his family died of heart attacks and his brother has had two of them. Hubby just got told by the doctor he seems to have escaped that genetic time bomb and took after his dad's side of the family. But all people our age should be health conscious if we want to enjoy our retirement in good health. My 99 year old grandma had told me never get sedentary because once you get off your feet it's hard to get back on them.
And I do walk and I do ride a mountain bike hybrid. Not in any meaningful way but as my tail is starting to expand as I head into 50 I'd like to start getting it all together. I'll never run a marathon but I'd like to look fit in a two piece swimsuit again as I'm not that far gone yet. Speaking of which, I also swim but damn...the Apple Watch is not able to follow me into the pool. No use there yet...but someday. Anyway, anything that makes me more cognizant of my activity is a good thing. I'm glad it's there and I'll use it.
My husband is big into monitoring his heart rate. A lot of the men in his family died of heart attacks and his brother has had two of them. Hubby just got told by the doctor he seems to have escaped that genetic time bomb and took after his dad's side of the family. But all people our age should be health conscious if we want to enjoy our retirement in good health. My 99 year old grandma had told me never get sedentary because once you get off your feet it's hard to get back on them.