Apps Pedometer++ Steps Inconsistent

[Koshkaboo]

I recently bought an Apple Watch 4. I have installed Pedometer++. In each of the 3 days I've been using it there are differences in the step count between the Pedometer++ count and that in Activity. On one of the days, Pedometer++ was about 10% more steps than in Activity. That was a day that I spent about 10 hours in a car as a passenger. I suspect Pedometer was counting steps when I was riding in the car. For example on that day, Pedometer gave me 3454 steps. Apple Health gave me 3152. Activity gave me 3069.

Another day was almost equal. Pedometer was slightly higher than Apple Health and slightly less than Activity (why Activity is more than Health I can't understand).

For today, Pedometer++ was showing fewer steps than Activity and Health (about 100 fewer) until I exercised (weight lifting). After that Pedometer++ was a bit higher.

Any idea why the inconsistency? I would have thought that steps would measure the same in both apps?

I am inclined to delete Pedometer++ unless I have good reason to think it is likely to be more accurate.

Also, is there any pedometer that will show a graph of steps showing when you took steps?

 

[rtrueman]

I recently bought an Apple Watch 4. I have installed Pedometer++. In each of the 3 days I've been using it there are differences in the step count between the Pedometer++ count and that in Activity. On one of the days, Pedometer++ was about 10% more steps than in Activity. That was a day that I spent about 10 hours in a car as a passenger. I suspect Pedometer was counting steps when I was riding in the car. For example on that day, Pedometer gave me 3454 steps. Apple Health gave me 3152. Activity gave me 3069.

Another day was almost equal. Pedometer was slightly higher than Apple Health and slightly less than Activity (why Activity is more than Health I can't understand).

For today, Pedometer++ was showing fewer steps than Activity and Health (about 100 fewer) until I exercised (weight lifting). After that Pedometer++ was a bit higher.

Any idea why the inconsistency? I would have thought that steps would measure the same in both apps?

I am inclined to delete Pedometer++ unless I have good reason to think it is likely to be more accurate.

Also, is there any pedometer that will show a graph of steps showing when you took steps?

Same situation here. Yesterday, I had more than 1,200 extra steps in pedometer++ (great for my office "steps" challenge, but would like to see everything equal). I'm also confused about the difference between Activity and Health. This is my first Apple Watch (S4), so maybe this is all "normal" and I'm a noob.

Rob

 

[oeagleo]

In the settings in Pedometer++, there's an option to "Merge Apple Watch Data". This prevents the app from counting steps from both the watch and the phone if you're carrying it. I had the same problem, getting way different steps, as I tend to carry my phone when I'm walking the mall, and after changing that toggle, the steps seem more in line with reality.

 

[Koshkaboo]

In the settings in Pedometer++, there's an option to "Merge Apple Watch Data". This prevents the app from counting steps from both the watch and the phone if you're carrying it. I had the same problem, getting way different steps, as I tend to carry my phone when I'm walking the mall, and after changing that toggle, the steps seem more in line with reality.

I tried this but it didn't help. Pedometer++ is still about 10% more steps than Apple steps. I tried a few other apps and they were all off as well.

Does anyone know any steps app that basically lines up with either the Activity app on the watch or (even better) the total shown on Apple health. I know it is in the Activity app but I want something that more easily shows up and you don't have to dive into the Activity app.

 

[RedlegsFan]

I’d love to know the resolution for this as well...

 

[Koshkaboo]

I still haven't found anything more on this. It is a real mystery to me....

 

[CobraPA]

It really depends on how the developer counts steps from Apple's sources. Some of the more advanced apps use some intelligence to combine steps from phone and watch, which they should tell you about in their descriptions so you know what they are doing. Apple does some of that as well and I don't think they publish the actual rules for combined steps on the phone.

In Marcher, we display watch steps only on the watch, using the Apple Pedometer functionality. Unfortunately, on the watch you have to be careful, as complication updating has been somewhat unreliable, so if you want to get current steps, the best number should be when you run the Apple Watch app for whichever app you are using. This number should be close to the iPhone activity steps for the Apple Watch, if you combine them manually.

 

[Koshkaboo]

In Marcher, we display watch steps only on the watch, using the Apple Pedometer functionality. Unfortunately, on the watch you have to be careful, as complication updating has been somewhat unreliable, so if you want to get current steps, the best number should be when you run the Apple Watch app for whichever app you are using.

I want to make sure I understand this. On the Marcher app, the app shows only the steps that have been registered by the watch is that correct? It doesn't combine other non-watch steps from the phone? If so, that is OK. I don't mind the number of steps shown on the watch being a little low. What I don't want is the steps being too high.

Unfortunately there is no way to trial Marcher without paying for it. But, I assume that you can't use the complication with the new Infographic watch face.

 

[billchase2]

I remember reading somewhere a while back that they use slightly different algorithms for their step tracking, which causes the difference. Can't seem to locate the text at the moment, though.

 

[CobraPA]

I want to make sure I understand this. On the Marcher app, the app shows only the steps that have been registered by the watch is that correct? It doesn't combine other non-watch steps from the phone? If so, that is OK. I don't mind the number of steps shown on the watch being a little low. What I don't want is the steps being too high.

Yes, by the Apple pedometer.

Unfortunately there is no way to trial Marcher without paying for it. But, I assume that you can't use the complication with the new Infographic watch face.

Well, people who don't want to pay for apps should develop their own.

But, you are aware that any app you buy can be refunded if it does not work the way you want? The App store has done that for quite a while now. It is built in to the App store.

You assume incorrectly, as Marcher supports several of the new complication types.

On the down side, there seems to be some breakage in WatchOS 5.1.1, causing complication update issues, so you may want to wait and see if that is resolved by Apple or App developers.

 

[Harveybeck]

I'm running into the same problem — but at a much bigger delta! I just started to use an under desk treadmill. Pedometer++ registered today as 27,575 steps (yay!) but Apple Health only shows 11,1777.

I do have the switch in Pedometer set to blend watch and phone data. Could it be that when I'm walking, I have my phone in my pocket but my hand is stable on my desktop … and Apple Health doesn't know how to merge the data, so it uses my watch???