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I left my phone in my car and went for a walk, had my Bluetooth off and it worked well. I'm not very tech savvy but it appeared to work fine.

It will record distance and pace using the accelerometer in your watch currently, but will not provide a map of your route. Runkeeper has worked without using your phone for a while, just doesn't use GPS. There are no apps other than the native Workout app that use the integrated GPS in the Series 2 currently.

Did you get a map of your route in the Runkeeper app?
 
It will record distance and pace using the accelerometer in your watch currently, but will not provide a map of your route. Runkeeper has worked without using your phone for a while, just doesn't use GPS. There are no apps other than the native Workout app that use the integrated GPS in the Series 2 currently.

Did you get a map of your route in the Runkeeper app?
No, no map. My apologies, assumed that it was using GPS. Odd to me, because MapMyRun will not work at all on the AW unless I have my phone with me, so when RunKeeper worked, I figured it was that app that had the GPS.

Now, in using an app such as RunKeeper without my phone, I'm assuming it will be saving me Data on my phone?
 
I am a bit disappointed at this situation too, having bought the Series 2 with the idea that I would start running :) and would like to use a more full featured app than the workout app.
I actually have no experience with Runtastic or Runkeeper, I am new at all of this, but see the new watch as a great way to get into running.
I am an iOS/watchOS developer myself; although I am sure those apps will be updated soon to take advantage of the new features, I don't want to take the risk of waiting 3 months for this to happen, so I'll work on building a workout app this weekend, specifically for the Series 2.

For those of you that are experienced with those other apps, what features do you like about them that is not present in the Apple Workout app?

I am trying to define the minimal sets of functionality to have a useful Series 2 running app that I could build in a short amount of time; and if the project gets successful, then I would obviously update it with more functionality over time.
 
I am a bit disappointed at this situation too, having bought the Series 2 with the idea that I would start running :) and would like to use a more full featured app than the workout app.
I actually have no experience with Runtastic or Runkeeper, I am new at all of this, but see the new watch as a great way to get into running.
I am an iOS/watchOS developer myself; although I am sure those apps will be updated soon to take advantage of the new features, I don't want to take the risk of waiting 3 months for this to happen, so I'll work on building a workout app this weekend, specifically for the Series 2.

For those of you that are experienced with those other apps, what features do you like about them that is not present in the Apple Workout app?

I am trying to define the minimal sets of functionality to have a useful Series 2 running app that I could build in a short amount of time; and if the project gets successful, then I would obviously update it with more functionality over time.

For me, these are the critical must haves..

- works without phone, uses Series 2 GPS, Heart Rate
- phone app allows export of workout data, including map data to a common format like .tcx so that it can be uploaded to Strava, Garmin Connect, etc.
- watch app should display workout time, avg pace, heart rate, distance, cadence
- has an auto-pause function
- needs to functional, not flashy
- stats screen should be readable at a glance, large fonts

Those are off the top of my head .. good luck.
 
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iSmoothrun was updated yesterday and in the update notes he specifically mentions that native GPS functionality will be coming 'later this year.'

Good to know that it's coming. Surprised that it's going to take that long for Apple to make it available to developers.
 
Good to know that it's coming. Surprised that it's going to take that long for Apple to make it available to developers.

As far as I know it is already available to developers in the development tools. I think the timelines are relative to the developers time to get the app built, tested, and rolled out. Sounds like no work had begun on it until after the watch was released a few weeks ago.
 
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As far as I know it is already available to developers in the development tools. I think the timelines are relative to the developers time to get the app built, tested, and rolled out.

To me it's interesting that he chose to say later this year. That to me is a pretty wide-open timeline. Perhaps it's available in the development tools but won't be accessible in a public iOS release for some time yet?
 
To me it's interesting that he chose to say later this year. That to me is a pretty wide-open timeline. Perhaps it's available in the development tools but won't be accessible in a public iOS release for some time yet?

Maybe some exclusivity to the Nike version of the Apple Watch? That has crossed my mind. Although the blog post on Runkeeper said a version that uses the Series 2 GPS would be available in a few weeks, and that was a few weeks ago.
 
I want to confirm that those tools are already available to the developers, I started building my app last night, and was able to record a GPS track with my phone turned off.
I'll keep working on this over the next few days and see if I can release a version 1 next week, stay tuned.
 
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I want to confirm that those tools are already available to the developers, I started building my app last night, and was able to record a GPS track with my phone turned off.
I'll keep working on this over the next few days and see if I can release a version 1 next week, stay tuned.

Does that mean developers can release a working version with the iOS releases we have available right now?

As to what to look for in a running app, look at what iSmoothRun is doing. They are the only app on the market right now that really focuses on the more serious runners and gives maximum flexibility. Most of the issues that app has are limitations imposed by Apple so it's hard for me to see what another app can offer in the marketplace. You have Apple's own workout app for the most simplistic users, virtually every online platform has their own app that ties you to their service, with a minimum of flexibility. It would be good to have more options for the power users though.
 
I want at least a heart rate, distance, splits, pace,export possibility and cadence.
If there are more calculations posible this would be great.
 
This is really the key piece for me...

- phone app allows export of workout data, including map data to a common format like .tcx so that it can be uploaded to Strava, Garmin Connect, etc.

Personally, I think the native Workout app is pretty good. It has the advantage of being built into the OS, so it is quick to respond, always up to date, very readable and never crashes unlike some of the 3rd party running apps.

It's fatal flaw is that it holds your data captive on your phone.
 
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Ditto to the export or sync with strava/runkeeper. As mentioned I like the built in app... it just needs export or sync capability rather than leaving stuff trapped in Apple Health. I can't believe there aren't runners who work at Apple that don't want the same thing. If Apple had released a Strava branded watch rather than a Nike one, they would have sold like hotcakes. Apple watch developer, looking forward to your app, would be happy to test if you need testers when it gets there!
 
That's insane. I couldn't believe it, but it's actually true, no 3rd party GPS yet. Ran today with my new Watch 2 and the Nike app (w/o iPhone) and the pace displayed was WAY off, about 2-3x slower than I actually ran. In the end, distance accuracy was okay, but during runs, the app is unusable. So I can either stick to the Nike app, forego GPS data and pace info during runs, or use the Workout app to get all data + information, but no uploads to the Nike platform, where all my past runs are. What the f...?

As a workaround, I'll use the Workout app and add my runs on Nike manually (via iPhone app). This way, only distance + pace will show up in my Nike activity history, but hey ...

I have found if I run with AW2 and use the workout app, when I finish and am back in range of the phone the data gets transferred into Nike Run Club (minus map).
 
I like to listen to music when I run, the best feature in the apps (like runkeeper) that speak your distance , time , speed etc every few minutes from your head phones - saves trying to look at Watch/iphone whilst running.

I really hope when runkeeper update their app to use gps from the watch it also keeps this and other features that are available on the iphone app
 
I have found if I run with AW2 and use the workout app, when I finish and am back in range of the phone the data gets transferred into Nike Run Club (minus map).
It looks like the Pear Sports app supports GPS on the watch only now. And saves a map to the phone. Shares to Strava too. Doesn't appear to be a great implementation, but it's a start.
 
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I didn't see mentioned where Pear supports the Series 2 GPS. I think like a lot of other apps, it just uses the watches accelerometer to calculate distance and pace when you run without the phone. I haven't tried it, so I could be wrong.
 
I just tried the Pear sports app. Definitely records GPS without phone. As dallison13 mentions it's not the ideal implementation, but it syncs to Strava. You get a 30 day free trial and it's not clear if it'll stop working completely when the trial ends, but hopefully in thirty days we'll have more options to choose from. Everyone else should definitely give it a go.

EDIT oh and yes it recorded Elevation! There was a Verge Article which said the AW2 didn't do Elevation with it's GPS, but I definitely got Elevation in the walk I did this morning.
 
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I just tried the Pear sports app. Definitely records GPS without phone. As dallison13 mentions it's not the ideal implementation, but it syncs to Strava. You get a 30 day free trial and it's not clear if it'll stop working completely when the trial ends, but hopefully in thirty days we'll have more options to choose from. Everyone else should definitely give it a go.

Well, there was always the risk that somebody built it before I did :(
I made progress tonight on my app, I am able to record a run with the Watch GPS only, transfer it to the iPhone, and from there export it as a GPX file to import into other apps.

What do you find not ideal with the Pear sports app?
 
Just ran with Pear tonight and it uploaded to Strava. To my delight, the elevation was there too. Not sure how thats working but that's sweet! As far as the Pear App, I'm simply not interested in their workout services which they are clearly pushing. The running activity appears to be the very minimum that they want you to do. But hey, they appear to be the first to market!

Also, no force touch to stop, or side buttons to stop/pause; not options to pause a run while stopped, etc. Appears they did just enough to get to market fast.

I'm certainly appreciative though. This made me NOT use my Garmin tonight.
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I didn't see mentioned where Pear supports the Series 2 GPS. I think like a lot of other apps, it just uses the watches accelerometer to calculate distance and pace when you run without the phone. I haven't tried it, so I could be wrong.

Definitely using the GPS.
 
Well, there was always the risk that somebody built it before I did :(
I made progress tonight on my app, I am able to record a run with the Watch GPS only, transfer it to the iPhone, and from there export it as a GPX file to import into other apps.

What do you find not ideal with the Pear sports app?

The fact that you have to sign up for a service with your email. That's a non starter for many, including me. If you app is truly standalone .. doesn't require you to create an account .. it would be far preferable to me.

I don't mind paying for an app up front, but not a fan of the monthly payment BS.
 
Just downloaded pear to test it out glad at least something works. I would love an app that allowed me to upload to strava with all the data. Heart rate, GPS, elevation, etc. I also don't need or want to pay for the services pear seems to offer so something more streamlined even if there's an upfront cost. I am currently not running as much as normal at 31 weeks pregnant(though still running) but will hopefully be back in full training mode (this time with a jogging stroller) after the baby is born and have a marathon I plan to run in the spring so I'll have lots of miles to test out then.
 
It looks like the Pear Sports app supports GPS on the watch only now. And saves a map to the phone. Shares to Strava too. Doesn't appear to be a great implementation, but it's a start.

Yep .. you're correct .. definitely using GPS.

Gave it a quick run around the block this AM and it worked fine. Really surprised the audio feedback worked when running without the phone. Strava sync worked fine also .. did notice that my GPS track was a bit squirrelly but I may not have given it time to lock on the satellites.

Will use it for now until something better comes along. Definitely a good first effort.
 
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I want to confirm that those tools are already available to the developers, I started building my app last night, and was able to record a GPS track with my phone turned off.
I'll keep working on this over the next few days and see if I can release a version 1 next week, stay tuned.

Quick question -- as a dev, do you have the ability to specify how often your watch app polls the GPS for its location? I went for a run with the Apple workout app last week, and some of the routing was strange and I think it's because it's not tracking GPS location every second (it is reminiscent to my older Garmin watches that would poll every 2-5 seconds, where the problem was fixed with changing the setting to every 1 second).
 
I have used Runmeter for the last few years on my iPhone and have just bought a S2 watch. I contacted Runmeter to ask if they are going to implement the GPS on the watch feature - they refused to say if they are or not!
 
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