Nike Plus revalation - Samsung Gear S

Avid runner frustrated with Gear S (been deliberating s health vs Nike)- s health gives inaccurate splits, and poor map color coding in stats afterwards while Nike plus stats are unreadable while running (red ticker tape at bottom) AND sometimes gps kicks in at 0.25 miles in run. Well I think I have found a work around.
Lotta steps but really easy.
1) will be using nike plus app for run
2) make sure watch fully charged
3) disconnect phone and watch from each other using gear app (watch in standalone)
4) on watch turn off gear network-ie set to always off- (this auto turns off mobile network)
5) (revelation)- go to accessibility under settings on watch and turn on "invert colors" this makes Nike app stats (formerly dark red) HIGHLY visible during run-watc will be flaming white colors
6) turn off all motions (ie so when you lift up watch nothing happens)
7) allow at least 15 second auto screen off time or even 30 seconds - 10s (default) is too short while running to see scrolling stats.
Because of 6 above, I press button to turn on watch and take a peak while running, and then hit button again to turn off - this saves battery as well because with motion activated to turn on watch, I believe watch is often being triggered on and you don't know it.
8) connect Bluetooth headset if you wish
9) first turn on s health and pause pedometer...(battery saver)
10) then go to "run"on s health and start a run! This will activate and lock GPS (takes about 1 minute)....once run starts GPS is locked....immediately end the run. Now, clear all active apps. Start your music through Samsung music player (as Nike doesn't shuffle).
10) now open Nike app and start run...click "no" to music (already playing)..because you did the fake run with s health, you'll notice gos turns green 2 seconds into run (otherwise takes a minute into run).
Getting good battery life. Should be adequate for half marathon/2 hours

Tnx for the tips...only thing that bothers me is turning of mobile network. Is it just for saving battery or is it for another reason? I like the idea to be reachable in case of emergency, or if something happens to me while running...
Maybe a suggestion regarding the gps kicking in too late with nike+. Haven't tried it yet myself, but when starting the run, can't you immediately press pause and wait for a minute or so and then resume the run? So allowing the gps to get a lock? Will try it next time I go for a run....

Glen, yes, you can leave gear net on to be reached. Should have specified these tips are to max out batter for 2hr plus run.
Try the accessibility tip. Makes seeing the red row at bottom much easier. Couldn't see it on my watch at max bright while running in sun.

Update. Really sunny day. Tried it again. Ran for 45 mins with h above formula. Battery down 30% - not bad.
But still couldn't follow small text scrolling while running. What a bummer.
I think turning off pedometer/mobile network/makes Nike app last for 2+ hours for long race. But - a) hard to track pace and time b) very touchy to accidentally pause run while trying to hit button on bottom of gear s or to change music.
S health with hr off (unless you need it) will only drain batter 20% in 45 mins and you can flip up watch with motion on and see time and distance (do math in head) and know how your doing. But stats after are garbage. (No real splits) -broken and basic in app

Thanks Jeff and all for good info of how to improve the Gear S for running using Nike+
Unfortunately I can not find the tip:
5) (revelation)- go to accessibility under settings on watch and turn on "invert colors" this makes Nike app stats (formerly dark red) HIGHLY visible during run-watc will be flaming white colors.
- I have searched but I do not have any "accessibility" in the settings menue on watch and have not found "invert colours" anywhere in any menues.
My experience so far of the Gear S for exercising:
-My intention when buying the Gear S was purely for exercising, to be able to leave the phone at home and just use the Gear S with a bluetooth headset while running. The thought of a stand alone feature device where I could utilize Endomondo, Runkeeper, etc. was very much wanted, but after have using the Gear S for a month or so now I have to say that I am very disappointed of the lack of stand-alone function. Almost all exercise apps are intended to run on the phone and the Gear will just be a remote display, so based on this I could have bought any other smart watch.
The main feature with Gear S to be a fully stand-alone unit is unfortunately not at all being utilized by anyone.
All the available apps that can be used partly as stand-alone (S health and Nike+) but both are lacking so many features that I feel almost that I have been just as good using my Polar training watch as a simple timer and heart rate logger.
What I would love that both S health and Nike+ would add as feature is voice feedback (pace, time, heart rate, distance) during exercise. Also to be able to coach during exercise like Endomondo or Runkeeper when having a training plan. The S health app has some limited functions but after using it a couple of times I realized it was rather useless.
I probably are going to end up bringing my phone while running to be able to use real training functions, which means that I have no use for the Gear S and will leave it at home.
You probably realize I am rather disappointed but would love to find out if there are any apps or possibilities to get the true potential out of the great Gear S.
Best regards,

ronron_s said:
Thanks Jeff and all for good info of how to improve the Gear S for running using Nike+
Unfortunately I can not find the tip:
5) (revelation)- go to accessibility under settings on watch and turn on "invert colors" this makes Nike app stats (formerly dark red) HIGHLY visible during run-watc will be flaming white colors.
- I have searched but I do not have any "accessibility" in the settings menue on watch and have not found "invert colours" anywhere in any menues.
My experience so far of the Gear S for exercising:
-My intention when buying the Gear S was purely for exercising, to be able to leave the phone at home and just use the Gear S with a bluetooth headset while running. The thought of a stand alone feature device where I could utilize Endomondo, Runkeeper, etc. was very much wanted, but after have using the Gear S for a month or so now I have to say that I am very disappointed of the lack of stand-alone function. Almost all exercise apps are intended to run on the phone and the Gear will just be a remote display, so based on this I could have bought any other smart watch.
The main feature with Gear S to be a fully stand-alone unit is unfortunately not at all being utilized by anyone.
All the available apps that can be used partly as stand-alone (S health and Nike+) but both are lacking so many features that I feel almost that I have been just as good using my Polar training watch as a simple timer and heart rate logger.
What I would love that both S health and Nike+ would add as feature is voice feedback (pace, time, heart rate, distance) during exercise. Also to be able to coach during exercise like Endomondo or Runkeeper when having a training plan. The S health app has some limited functions but after using it a couple of times I realized it was rather useless.
I probably are going to end up bringing my phone while running to be able to use real training functions, which means that I have no use for the Gear S and will leave it at home.
You probably realize I am rather disappointed but would love to find out if there are any apps or possibilities to get the true potential out of the great Gear S.
Best regards,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I felt the same way as you. The hardware is fantastic, but the software is not... i really liked the fact having a little phone on my wrist in case of emergency or something, but there are just no decent running apps. And the fact that I can't pair a ble heart rate belt (built in sensor is not accurate enough) made me decide to sell the gear s. I will miss it, there were a few cool apps for it, but I really needed a decent sports watch. So I bought a garmin fenix 3 with the money I got from the gear...really happy now, and it does basic notifications too! Battery lasts weeks instead of hours. ...

Hey at least you gave it a try. Where I run and workout, I have needed to make a call for an emergency. Don't care how accurate my heart rate is when I'm looking for something to stop the bleeding, while calling for help.
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Trail runner here. I bought the Gear S so I could leave my Note 2 in the car. I need a phone in case of emergency, and wanted to still be able to track my runs in stand-alone mode.
I started off with SHealth and got super frustrated by how long the GPS took to lock in on my location, especially since I got the Gear S in November, and standing around in the freezing cold is not my kind of fun.
I have since switched to Nike + in stand-alone mode. Bummer that Nike + does not measure elevation and HR, which is quite a let-down, but it is more important to me that I can hit start and the GPS starts tracking. I do this in stand-alone mode - no connection to phone at all:
1) Turn off Airplane mode (I always have it in aiplane mode when not running, mobile network is on when running, I feel it helps with tracking)
2) Turn on location tracking
3) Turn on Nike +
3) Start run
The tracking is instantaneous, and battery is down to about 60% after 2 hours, not too shabby, eh?
I have hand gesture wake disabled and 15 min screen dim. Once I am done with my run, I swipe left, then up to synch the latest run, since I always get the message that the latest run could not be synched automatically. Also, did you guys know if you swipe left during your run, you can see a map of your run? Accidental discoveries on my end.
I read that the latest update combines Nike + and SHealth and slowed down the GPS in the nike+ app. Can you guys confim this?
All in all I agree with you all: it's a great watch phone with shoddy software, meager apps in the app store, and the ones they have are mostly not stand-alone.
I'm glad i dicscovered Nike +, though I can't stand Nike shoes (Altra Zero all the way) and wish Nike would update this app to auto-pause and take advantage of the altimeter and HR sensors on the Gear S.
Maybe their app for the next Gear, the Oris, will do it.

I had high hopes for using Gear S for running. Unfortunately, the runner has to put more energy in setting up and controlling the watch than into the running itself. It is all too cumbersome and unreliable. The black-on-red quickly scrolling metrics on Nike+ are beyond stupid: impossible to read while running. It may be the 1st stopwatch/running application that doesn't show the running time.
What's next? A revolutionary wrist watch that doesn't show the time?!
S

Related

[Q] Gear S and Nike+ ... no Heartbeat

Hi,
when I use the nike+ app for running with my gear s the gear won´t store the heart beat.
When I start the app on the watch i get asked for "Play Music", "and the Facebook question". Then the countdown start ....
It should be there a question about measure the heart beat to store the heart beat and see it synced on the Webpage. But this question did not appear on my watch.
Did anyone have the same Problem or a solution how to activate it?
(activated the watch with a S3, using the nike+ app "stand alone" without the phone, using no sim in the Watch, )
Just use the built-in S Health. The Nike+ app is very basic and missing a lot of features.
The Problem with the S Healt Training app is that it take extreme Long to fix the gps (minutes in my case) and the most important one: I can´t Export the data to a Website (nike+ have a very nice WebInterface) and I do not have a Samsung Smartphone. So Nike+ should be the choise. And the heart rate should work but it didn´t in my case...
For an initial release, Nike+ on the Gear S is terrific — but yeah, support for the built-in heart beat monitor would be swell. And since we're in wish list mode, here's my Top 5, ranked by priority, after a month of Nike+ runs:
I want the ability to set the key display metric. Right now it's distance, with a tiny little text crawl underneath for other metrics that's completely illegible while running. I usually run on time and would like that to be my chief display, others I know run on speed, or calories burned, etc.
For other settings, let me set it and forget it - don't make me have to say no to music and no to Facebook every single time. (Off topic rant: the moment someone starts cluttering their FB feed with robo-broadcast stats is the moment I cut my losses. I don't care about your daily run distance or how many toothbrush strokes you achieved or the two-point-five star rating you just gave to a pair of toenail clippers you bought last week.)
If I could choose a playlist, or even if there were an option for shuffle, then I would start saying yes to letting Nike+ play DJ for me. But listening to the same tunes in the same order every day is enough to send a guy running straight into the path of the first oncoming bus.
I'm almost always in a great mood after I run, at least until Nike+ forces me to rate my mood after I run. Please, stop with all the questions so I can hit the shower and make it to work on time.
That heart monitor thing — see above.
But I will say it again, because it bear repeating: Nike+ is off to a great start. Relatively minor grumbles aside, they're light years ahead of their current crop of competitors, all of which force you to run with both your watch and your phone. The whole reason I bought the Gear S was to ditch the phone whenever humanly possible.
jerome.carney said:
For an initial release, Nike+ on the Gear S is terrific — but yeah, support for the built-in heart beat monitor would be swell. And since we're in wish list mode, here's my Top 5, ranked by priority, after a month of Nike+ runs:
I want the ability to set the key display metric. Right now it's distance, with a tiny little text crawl underneath for other metrics that's completely illegible while running. I usually run on time and would like that to be my chief display, others I know run on speed, or calories burned, etc.
For other settings, let me set it and forget it - don't make me have to say no to music and no to Facebook every single time. (Off topic rant: the moment someone starts cluttering their FB feed with robo-broadcast stats is the moment I cut my losses. I don't care about your daily run distance or how many toothbrush strokes you achieved or the two-point-five star rating you just gave to a pair of toenail clippers you bought last week.)
If I could choose a playlist, or even if there were an option for shuffle, then I would start saying yes to letting Nike+ play DJ for me. But listening to the same tunes in the same order every day is enough to send a guy running straight into the path of the first oncoming bus.
I'm almost always in a great mood after I run, at least until Nike+ forces me to rate my mood after I run. Please, stop with all the questions so I can hit the shower and make it to work on time.
That heart monitor thing — see above.
But I will say it again, because it bear repeating: Nike+ is off to a great start. Relatively minor grumbles aside, they're light years ahead of their current crop of competitors, all of which force you to run with both your watch and your phone. The whole reason I bought the Gear S was to ditch the phone whenever humanly possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your list is exactly the same as my list after my first few runs with Nike+ and the Gear S. How do we get this info to Nike so they can fix things and continue to make improvements?
I think it's a big deal !!!! do not respond to comments on google play. Do not respond to the email sent to Nike + and even those on the main site nike.
This is my review without any response:
Too bad we did not !!!! the application has potential, it lacks the Italian (serious) you can customize the information on Gear S (serious). Black lettering on a red background on the move with the light of day is impossible to read them. ........ maybe I have to stop and put his glasses? or I have to run in the dark? But who program an application tries to use it ?? or proof in the office running between the desks? Forgot ...... not see replies to comments, then you do not care to improve the product?
sabuccia said:
I think it's a big deal !!!! do not respond to comments on google play. Do not respond to the email sent to Nike + and even those on the main site nike.
This is my review without any response:
Too bad we did not !!!! the application has potential, it lacks the Italian (serious) you can customize the information on Gear S (serious). Black lettering on a red background on the move with the light of day is impossible to read them. ........ maybe I have to stop and put his glasses? or I have to run in the dark? But who program an application tries to use it ?? or proof in the office running between the desks? Forgot ...... not see replies to comments, then you do not care to improve the product?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of what you wrote above is hard to read/understand from an english language perspective. I would expect that is why you didn't get a response from Nike. I have posted a question on their facebook page about the ability to add elevation tracking to the Gear S and almost got an instant response saying it would be forwarded to the development team.

Will gear s Nike plus and or s health ever get updated?

Is it possible? Would it have to be in a gear s firm wear update?
Both are good but have major issues.
Nike - can't turn off hr sensor (which doesn't transfer to app anyway) for preservation of battery for long runs. Also can't see red "scrolling" data while running
S health - imports to app and can turn off hr. Also can see well. But mile splits on new s health are way inaccurate.
And both give no audio input to progress ie pace
Agree that it would be really nice to see some updates to these core fitness apps. I tried MapMyRun and quickly realized that it was draining my battery because the display was on through my entire run. I've been trying out Endomondo and like some of its features. I suspect that Under Armour will eventually revamp all the fitness apps they recently acquired and consolidate them into a single app.
Nike+ has high potentials, but currently fatal shortcoming elements rendering it useless.
The screen showing only 1 readable, non-configurable number with tiny little useless info scrolling underneath.
The hr should be able to run for many hours.... my mio-alpha does that so with a little power-tweaking and on/off switching a lot is still to be gained there. Currently the hr is very error-prone and thus unreliable.
Even when Gear-s does record the hr..... it is not uploaded to the nike+ app, and no graph is shown on android.
(Notice that the Gear-S DOES show a graph before upload, and Nike+ does show graphs (hr and speed) on iPhone!)
To me.... it is a matter of getting a proper update, with 'working in the field' actual function.

Trackwatch

Finally a good standalone application to run, unfortunately a fee but it seems better than s-health and nike running
Now free version...
No heartrate? Would be nice if crappy optical heart rate sensor was supported. Would be much nicer if bluetooth heart rate belts were supported! I wonder if its even possible for developers to support heart rate belts, because none of the existings apps support it yet...
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download
gmuglia said:
Finally a good standalone application to run, unfortunately a fee but it seems better than s-health and nike running
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, finally... Where Can I download It. Most beautiful news of the week. Thanks!
hi, I downloaded from Samsung apps gear through gear manager ... it is located in the health and fitness
I would be happy to pay for this as long as some functions are added.
For Android wear there is a "killer app" called Ghost Racer that turns the Sony Smartwatch 3 into a runners favorite.
If this is going to be a "killer app" for runners on the Tizen platform and the Samsung Gear S (1 and 2) especially, some essential things are missing.
First of all - the running results must be able to be uploaded/exported to a popular running service such as runkeeper, strava etc.
More measurements needs to be added such as heart rate (internal or external bluetooth heart rate sensors), cadence and more.
Also - you need to be able to personalize your own running screen for what information you want to see (preferably several screens)
All these things work with Ghost Racer on Android Wear (on Sony Smartwatch 3)
If some of these things are added, this could be a really nice app that I would be glad to pay for it.
Is there an official website for the app or how can we get in contact with the developer?
Ooops - posted this first in the wrong Thread!
I've purchased the Paid App and an trying to figure out if the saved recorded files can be exported. Is anyone here rooted that could tell me whether there are any unique files that are saved to a Data folder? (No data is saved to the internal user storage folders)
While a standalone app that uses the watch's GPS is useful, this is really more of a Beta with very limited functionality. All it can really tell you is time, distance and pace. (And I don't yet know how accurate the watch GPS is going to be on distance). Plus the app turns the screen off immediate on the start of a recording, and only turns back on to displace pace etc. every mile - so pace data is not going to be too helpful. I can see my track on a (Google) map screen, but the track did not appear on my Google map history so there’s no export potential there.
A watch based app that uses the onboard GPS and records time, distance, pace (with configurable updates and audible output), and heart rate and that has exportable data in tcx or txt format is still needed.
But it seems that Nike+ running will work stand alone... so may meet most needs...

[APP] Standalone navigation app for Wear OS!

I made a standalone navigation app for Wear OS! Here's the link to the app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.onibaku.standalonewearmap
Here's the full description on the app so you can get a glance at the features:
Users can type in a location, or long press on the map to input a destination. They can choose to travel via walking, cycling or car.
The app will navigate the user from their current location to the destination using turn-by-turn navigation. Each step is highlighted on the path, with text to show you what action to take, and how long until you reach that step. The map rotates along with the device, so will follow the forward-facing direction of the watch.
The app only needs an internet connection for the initial retrieval of the directions. After that, it solely relies on GPS until the user arrives at the destination.
This (obviously) only works on watches that have GPS.
If you have any suggestions at all, I'd love to know them.
The next feature I plan to implement is importing a GPX file in from Google Drive, so you can navigate a more unorthodox/scenic route, which would suits cyclists. I initially developed this for when I go cycling, as we don't usually want to take the fastest route somewhere.
Let me know if there any burning features that are needed in this, and I'll do my best to deliver. This is a small side-project, so I don't have too much time to work on it, but I find it quite useful personally, and I hope others will, too.
Someone suggested I release a demo version so people can try it and see if they wish to buy it. I have released one here
It only has the dropped pin functionality, and only allows walking as a navigation mode. The zoom is also locked.
Gentatsu said:
I made a standalone navigation app for Wear OS! Here's the link to the app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.onibaku.standalonewearmap
Here's the full description on the app so you can get a glance at the features:
Users can type in a location, or long press on the map to input a destination. They can choose to travel via walking, cycling or car.
The app will navigate the user from their current location to the destination using turn-by-turn navigation. Each step is highlighted on the path, with text to show you what action to take, and how long until you reach that step. The map rotates along with the device, so will follow the forward-facing direction of the watch.
The app only needs an internet connection for the initial retrieval of the directions. After that, it solely relies on GPS until the user arrives at the destination.
This (obviously) only works on watches that have GPS.
If you have any suggestions at all, I'd love to know them.
The next feature I plan to implement is importing a GPX file in from Google Drive, so you can navigate a more unorthodox/scenic route, which would suits cyclists. I initially developed this for when I go cycling, as we don't usually want to take the fastest route somewhere.
Let me know if there any burning features that are needed in this, and I'll do my best to deliver. This is a small side-project, so I don't have too much time to work on it, but I find it quite useful personally, and I hope others will, too.
Someone suggested I release a demo version so people can try it and see if they wish to buy it. I have released one here
It only has the dropped pin functionality, and only allows walking as a navigation mode. The zoom is also locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is looking really good. I want true standalone navigation on my Huawei Watch 2 4G. It has a sim so loads the route standalone and seems to be able to do everything expected...i'm trying the demo version now.
One question though...unless i'm missing something..how do you exit the app? I'm currently having to force close it.
(And as a side note have you checked out the Wear OS app Ghostracer? You can import a gpx file and follow your progress on a map on the watch. Maps are downloadable to the watch, although ive never tried that. My watch has a sim so updates the map as im riding using the watches data. Heavy on the battery though.)
ruggs1234 said:
This is looking really good. I want true standalone navigation on my Huawei Watch 2 4G. It has a sim so loads the route standalone and seems to be able to do everything expected...i'm trying the demo version now.
One question though...unless i'm missing something..how do you exit the app? I'm currently having to force close it.
(And as a side note have you checked out the Wear OS app Ghostracer? You can import a gpx file and follow your progress on a map on the watch. Maps are downloadable to the watch, although ive never tried that. My watch has a sim so updates the map as im riding using the watches data. Heavy on the battery though.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had not realised that the app does not cease to use GPS whilst it is in sleep mode, so I have added a button to exit the app properly when you drag down. I've just released it now.
I have had a look at it, but it doesn't seem to work unless you have an android phone. I am currently looking into offline maps and importing GPX files. Do you know if it does that via the android app, and how it imports it? I was looking to use Google drive, as that seems to be the only viable storage solution supported on Wear atm.
Gentatsu said:
I had not realised that the app does not cease to use GPS whilst it is in sleep mode, so I have added a button to exit the app properly when you drag down. I've just released it now.
I have had a look at it, but it doesn't seem to work unless you have an android phone. I am currently looking into offline maps and importing GPX files. Do you know if it does that via the android app, and how it imports it? I was looking to use Google drive, as that seems to be the only viable storage solution supported on Wear atm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thankyou for the exit button, works great. Having tested the demo app i'm happy, and I will purchase. One further comment, the battery drain is heavy, as expected. Any chance of an ambient mode while the map is running to save battery? I may be pushing my luck, but I can only ask!
Ghostracer does indeed need a companion Android app on the phone. The gpx file is loaded into the app on the phone (using a file manager) then passed to the Ghostracer app on the watch. Maps are treated the same, but I just use the data from my sim in the watch to load maps as I ride when needed. You can follow a gpx route standalone on the watch in a similar way to following the route on your app. I am not connected to Ghostracer in any way, I just think its a wonderful app for cyclists and runners (within the watches battery limitations). And the free version allows you to test all its features. It might not be right for you, but it was worth a mention based on what you said earlier. (And the map screen has an ambient mode.... )
ruggs1234 said:
Thankyou for the exit button, works great. Having tested the demo app i'm happy, and I will purchase. One further comment, the battery drain is heavy, as expected. Any chance of an ambient mode while the map is running to save battery? I may be pushing my luck, but I can only ask!
Ghostracer does indeed need a companion Android app on the phone. The gpx file is loaded into the app on the phone (using a file manager) then passed to the Ghostracer app on the watch. Maps are treated the same, but I just use the data from my sim in the watch to load maps as I ride when needed. You can follow a gpx route standalone on the watch in a similar way to following the route on your app. I am not connected to Ghostracer in any way, I just think its a wonderful app for cyclists and runners (within the watches battery limitations). And the free version allows you to test all its features. It might not be right for you, but it was worth a mention based on what you said earlier. (And the map screen has an ambient mode.... )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great . I did play around with the ambient mode, but it was just the same as the standard google maps ambient mode. It takes away the turn-by-turn, location, and path. If I could persist these, and set the GPS to update every 30 secs - 1 minute, I'd probably keep it, but I'm not sure how. I'd like to stick in options to set the GPS update frequency, or have the screen turn back on only for upcoming turns.
That's really cool! That's essentially what I would have liked on my watch but standalone. I really don't like the idea that you HAVE to use a companion app, especially when it's not available for iOS. I know they're competing watches, but I love the price point of android watches compared to Apple's, and their features shouldn't pale in comparison by way of hardware.
How does their ambient map work, if you don't mind me asking? I'd like to look into it. What does their paid version allow you to do? I only had a paid version before someone mentioned to put the free one on, just to give people a flavour of it. I tried to emphasise the main bit, which was the turn-by-turn navigation. The search and other transportation modes were secondary.
Cheers for the feedback and suggestions, though! I really do appreciate it! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like.
Gentatsu said:
Great . I did play around with the ambient mode, but it was just the same as the standard google maps ambient mode. It takes away the turn-by-turn, location, and path. If I could persist these, and set the GPS to update every 30 secs - 1 minute, I'd probably keep it, but I'm not sure how. I'd like to stick in options to set the GPS update frequency, or have the screen turn back on only for upcoming turns.
That's really cool! That's essentially what I would have liked on my watch but standalone. I really don't like the idea that you HAVE to use a companion app, especially when it's not available for iOS. I know they're competing watches, but I love the price point of android watches compared to Apple's, and their features shouldn't pale in comparison by way of hardware.
How does their ambient map work, if you don't mind me asking? I'd like to look into it. What does their paid version allow you to do? I only had a paid version before someone mentioned to put the free one on, just to give people a flavour of it. I tried to emphasise the main bit, which was the turn-by-turn navigation. The search and other transportation modes were secondary.
Cheers for the feedback and suggestions, though! I really do appreciate it! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ghostracers ambient map is black background with white markings until you lift your wrist...but that might not work when using your app while driving (watch off the wrist?).
I've now purchased your app (Google made that hard work!)...all still good. One question...when I zoom the map in the map un-zooms straight back. Any way to make the zoom stick?
ruggs1234 said:
Ghostracers ambient map is black background with white markings until you lift your wrist...but that might not work when using your app while driving (watch off the wrist?).
I've now purchased your app (Google made that hard work!)...all still good. One question...when I zoom the map in the map un-zooms straight back. Any way to make the zoom stick?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do the markings include the path/trail? I've used the black background one before, and the building outlines are (kinda) white. Yeah, I do have my watch affixed to my handlebars on my bicycle.
Great - Thanks! It's much appreciated! How come it was hard work, if you don't mind me asking? Ah, yep. That was one of the first things I forgot to change! I completely forgot about it! I've made it so that if you zoom/pan, it'll stick unless you press the "my location" button again.
Huawei watch 2 built-in GPS not working anymore
ruggs1234 said:
Thankyou for the exit button, works great. Having tested the demo app i'm happy, and I will purchase. One further comment, the battery drain is heavy, as expected. Any chance of an ambient mode while the map is running to save battery? I may be pushing my luck, but I can only ask!
Ghostracer does indeed need a companion Android app on the phone. The gpx file is loaded into the app on the phone (using a file manager) then passed to the Ghostracer app on the watch. Maps are treated the same, but I just use the data from my sim in the watch to load maps as I ride when needed. You can follow a gpx route standalone on the watch in a similar way to following the route on your app. I am not connected to Ghostracer in any way, I just think its a wonderful app for cyclists and runners (within the watches battery limitations). And the free version allows you to test all its features. It might not be right for you, but it was worth a mention based on what you said earlier. (And the map screen has an ambient mode.... )
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Hi ruggs1234, it was a long time since you wrote your experience with this app. I downloaded the demo today and I tested it. Looks like since last Google's update, the huawei watch 2 doesn't use its built-in standalone GPS. Please, would you mind to check whether you are having this problem now? The only way I got it work was by connecting the watch to a phone through Bluetooth.
Kind regards, Angel
angelrc96 said:
Hi ruggs1234, it was a long time since you wrote your experience with this app. I downloaded the demo today and I tested it. Looks like since last Google's update, the huawei watch 2 doesn't use its built-in standalone GPS. Please, would you mind to check whether you are having this problem now? The only way I got it work was by connecting the watch to a phone through Bluetooth.
Kind regards, Angel
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Click to collapse
Hello Angel,
The app still works ok on my watch, I tested it yesterday.
With my phone switched OFF I use my watches inbuilt sim to start the route (the app needs data to download the initial route, it can use the connected mobile but mine was switched off). I then switch off the sim in my watch and follow the route using only the gps in the watch. The app worked as it always has.
HOWEVER, my watch isn't running the latest version of Wear OS (it's running Wear OS 2.0, Home app 2.16). I never update anything Google if i'm not forced too, their updates often break more things than they fix. Everything I use on the watch works great and i'd like it to stay that way....
Hi,
well, I gave it a test (full paid version) - TicWatch 3 Pro 4g/LTE (all up to date). It doesn't work. All tested in standalone mode (no phone involved).
- app crashes when there is no GPS fix (GPS is on, but no fix yet)
- when I set an route to navigate (pin or search) it just endlessly shows progress circle and nothing else happens (GPS on with fix, LTE on and working)
So...
BR, Doman.
I installed the Demo version on my ticwatch 3 pro gps (updated everything to current versions and no modifications (yet))
App is starting, map is not showing, just the gps location button on the left and a white/grey screen. I can pin a location on the white screen and its actually getting a location next to me and tries to route there - but without any map showing.
Any app for Gear S3 ?

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ DO NOT UPDATE!

Do not update your fossil watches to wear OS 3! I didn't think much of doing updates but it has ruined my watch. If you want a fit bit then do the update, otherwise stay well clear!
Here's the tale:
I recently got the latest Fitbit, after 24 hrs of use (and at work) I realised how completely useless it was for me. I like the idea of seeing my steps and heart rate, but ultimately it's a fitness tracker and had very limited Google support imho. I need to access Google assistant, music control, and reading my messages. It couldn't even control the volume Very little more. So I get the fossil gen 6 in replacement.
Within 2 hours I knew this watch was x1000 better for me. I was even impressed that the assistant wasn't just a basic version, it had access to my smart home. Loved it.
So carelessly I let it do it's updates, thinking little of it.
Here what I lost and gained:
No Google Assistant Alexa only.
custom quick launch sucks, limited apps, lost top button to none existent assistant. [Edit]
Music controls do not seem to work correctly.
Certain watch faces have been removed like facer... Or at least it won't work for me...
The reading of notifications has changed more clumsy
Quick settings have more there but now is more fiddly.
With no assistant I can't set reminders, calendar events, control the smart home, can't access music or torch with 1 touch. Battery also seems to be draining FAST!
And a pet hate... The app interface won't change to dark mode.
what did I gain?
Slightly better looking interface.
Can access more watch settings on the phone via fossil app.
Much better presentation of health stats in the fossil app. Comparable to the fit bit. I can imagine it's much better as a fitness tracker. That's not what I wanted tho.... This does seem to come at a cost to battery.
So please heed my warning! If you don't want a Fitbit, don't update.

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