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Analysis of Apple Watch running data

applewatchrunner.substack.com

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Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#111

Post by jupp0r »

sebasvisser wrote: post #101
jupp0r wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding sleep: the most important reason why these devices suck for tracking sleep is that you have to recharge them every 24h. That's either not being able to use them during the day for some period or do overnight charging.

It might be hard to imagine, but your charging habits will change. I wear my watch 23/7. It charges in the morning when I’m in the shower. Only after an extra sporty day with a lot of sports tracking will I need to let it charge an extra 30 minutes or so extra during that day.

I tried for years, didn't work for me (Apple Watch 2). I mow have a Garmin Fenix 7 which lasts 18 days without recharge, buy has much more limited features (which is fine for me).

Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#112

Post by jeffbee »

jerlam wrote: post #60
fuzzy2 wrote: post #15

I wonder if cycling is also affected. Theoretically, the watch should be in an almost ideal position on flat handlebars, if less so on drop bars.

You move a lot faster cycling, so GPS errors are less significant because there is a longer distance between readings. But also, cyclists are less concerned about specific speeds.

Cycling computers blend calibrated wheel sensors with GPS data to give the most accurate distance, too. I believe Apple Watch refuses to use bike wheel and crank rotation sensors, but Garmin does use them.

Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#113

Post by qwertox »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #16

> After about a kilometer I have to cross a busy street, I need to pause there regularly. Pausing always fixes erratic mode. Given that the “erratic mode” only impacts the beginning of the run and disappears suddenly at known locations, this sounds like an issue of delayed GPS lock. And given that the problem didn’t exist in the past, it could be a software issue due to upgrades. Or it could be a hardware issue that…

Couldn't the watch request the list of satellites locked to the phone and pretend to be locked to them as well, instead of building the list by itself?

Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#114

Post by mpweiher »

8ytecoder wrote: post #45
stefan_ wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought this was a well known issue with the Apple watches? They only start looking for a GPS fix once you start the workout, which is the worst time since, well, you already started the workout and are running, making getting that fix that much harder. I think the Ultra watches now have an option to wait for a fix before starting (which is what always happens on the Garmin's).

Apple Watch uses the iPhone’s gps when the phone is close by.

The point of the watch is not needing to bring you phone...

Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#115

Post by ValentineC »

icebergonfire wrote: post #68
kodisha wrote: post #58

Semi related iWatch Rant - if you think running data is bad, try tracking your sleep. It just doesn't work. - Sleep for 3h - wake up for 1, sleep for 5 more: records 3h only. - (being a parent of a small baby) do not sleep at all during the night, sleep 4+3 hours during the day: 0 hours recorded - sleep trough the night but wake up every 90-100 minutes (baby again): 0 hours recorded Damn, this is a $500+ device, and…

As someone who went through the same process, including using a Huawei watch previously, I encourage you to try Autosleep. It has much better sleep detection magic and exposes a few knobs that enable you to fine-tune the autodetection and also manually correct the sleep records in sensible ways. It integrates with Health, so it has the bonus of tidying up the sleep data all across the board. Not related to the develo…

+1 for AutoSleep.

I've been using it since before WatchOS 7 introduced sleep tracking, and it's scarily accurate even at tracking when I doze off for a short while in bed.

Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#116

Post by xani_ »

Reminds me how Sports Tracker (and really most apps) got wonky every time my phone battery got below 15% and got into aggressive power savings (and no amount of convincing would convince Android to fuck off).

Kinda smells like something similar, some aggressive power savings cutting on GPS accuracy or how much app is allowed to run in background.

Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#117

Post by mmh0000 »

kodisha wrote: post #58

Semi related iWatch Rant - if you think running data is bad, try tracking your sleep. It just doesn't work. - Sleep for 3h - wake up for 1, sleep for 5 more: records 3h only. - (being a parent of a small baby) do not sleep at all during the night, sleep 4+3 hours during the day: 0 hours recorded - sleep trough the night but wake up every 90-100 minutes (baby again): 0 hours recorded Damn, this is a $500+ device, and…

As the other poster suggested, AutoSleep is amazing.

I've found if my watch is too loose it won't record sleep well.

It's also a known problem that Apple watches "backup" bugs (which I've experienced twice now). If the problem still continues, I'd recommend you fully unpair/reset your watch and setup it up as a new watch (do not restore from backup).

Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#118

Post by xani_ »

Clent wrote: post #12
kadoban wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I would guess that it’s software, with the author, if for no other reason than I’d be surprised if Garmin were all that much better at putting GPS in a tiny housing than Apple. After "you're holding it wrong", anything seems possible. But yeah that does seem more likely to be software, it's a surprisingly difficult and fuzzily-defined problem.

Weird hill to die on with Apple. That's a 10 year old issue with an iPhone 4, said by a CEO that is long dead. They gave everyone free bumpers, because sweaty fingers would close the antenna gaps. The statement was true, the gaps were placed where they were expected to least affect the grip. What exactly would you expect in this case? The messaging worked. If your iPhone 4 was having signal issue, consider readjustin…

Ah yes, the issue only Apple had somehow couldn't be avoided, and yet fanboys like you defend

> What exactly would you expect in this case?

Not pretending it's the user's fault they built the phone wrong. That's just extreme arrogance on their side.

Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#119

Post by xani_ »

jalla wrote: post #42

The watch needs updated GPS ephemeris data to accurately calculate the position, received by an aGPS (Assisted GPS) server (over IP) or by satellite. This takes at least 30 seconds by satellite. Solution: Tether with IPhone before leaving until fix is achieved, otherwise keep watch outside or near a window for 10-15 minutes before running so that it can update its almanac from overhead satellites and get a fix. There…

Why it would need such common updates tho ?

And why it couldn't load that data for say month ahead ?

Re: Analysis of Apple Watch running data

#120

Post by zx10rse »

kodisha wrote: post #58

Semi related iWatch Rant - if you think running data is bad, try tracking your sleep. It just doesn't work. - Sleep for 3h - wake up for 1, sleep for 5 more: records 3h only. - (being a parent of a small baby) do not sleep at all during the night, sleep 4+3 hours during the day: 0 hours recorded - sleep trough the night but wake up every 90-100 minutes (baby again): 0 hours recorded Damn, this is a $500+ device, and…

For anyone interested in heart rate accuracy and sleep tracking accuracy I will recommend to check The Quantified Scientist reviews.

From his latest reviews of the new apple watches, heart rate is pretty much on par with chest strap and sleep tracking is also far better than anything he tested.

Apple Watch : Scientific Sleep Test - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPqtfC70QTU

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