Auto-Detect of Exercise on Ionic

[IndiansFan12]

Greetings. I assumed that when I started running, my on Ionic would simply recognize that am running and start tracking me. (I do have that option turned on for running.)

However, here is what actually happened: 

About 4 minutes after I started running, the Ionic vibrated and told me that it was going to turn on the running app. A green arrow (">") appeared in the bottom right corner of the screen. I assumed that the arrow was there for me to "press" thus giving the device the go ahead to enter the running app. When I pressed the arrow,  the watch went blank and was unresponsive for 20 to 30 seconds. I think it "crashed". 

So I started running again, and sure enough in about 4 minutes, the entire process described above repeated itself. Finally, after the third episode, I just decided to ignore it. In other words, I decided NOT to press the green arrow. This decision DID result in the iconic not vibrating at me again. However, when I got home, it did not download any exercise data to my phone. In other words, it never knew I went for a run. 

My current solution is simply not to depend on auto detect. I simply start the running app when I leave the house. Eventually though, I would like to figure out what is going on with the auto-detect. Any thoughts are welcome. 

Thanks!

[Haz11]

From what I understand, the smartrack feature will only work after a min period of 10 mins activity detection. So, for example, it will only activate when it detects a continuous period of 10 mins running. This can be problematic, say, if you are doing a 20 min time trial run which means it wont be recordinganything for the first 10 mins.....I would just stick to the manual option where you select the running option at the start of your run. 

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@IndiansFan12 wrote:

Greetings. I assumed that when I started running, my on Ionic would simply recognize that am running and start tracking me. (I do have that option turned on for running.)

However, here is what actually happened: 

About 4 minutes after I started running, the Ionic vibrated and told me that it was going to turn on the running app. A green arrow (">") appeared in the bottom right corner of the screen. I assumed that the arrow was there for me to "press" thus giving the device the go ahead to enter the running app. When I pressed the arrow,  the watch went blank and was unresponsive for 20 to 30 seconds. I think it "crashed". 

So I started running again, and sure enough in about 4 minutes, the entire process described above repeated itself. Finally, after the third episode, I just decided to ignore it. In other words, I decided NOT to press the green arrow. This decision DID result in the iconic not vibrating at me again. However, when I got home, it did not download any exercise data to my phone. In other words, it never knew I went for a run. 

My current solution is simply not to depend on auto detect. I simply start the running app when I leave the house. Eventually though, I would like to figure out what is going on with the auto-detect. Any thoughts are welcome. 

Thanks!

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[Julia_G]

@Haz11, I do not have the new Ionic, but I am pretty sure that what you say is incorrect.  In the first place the Ionic has a specific auto detect run program, described by @IndiansFan12, which is different and separate from the SmartTrack feature you refer to.

Also, although, as you say, SmartTrack does not kick in until 10 minutes of activity, it then "back dates" (times) the activity to when you started (ten minutes earlier) so you do NOT lose the first 10 minutes.

It sounds like the Ionic feature @IndiansFan12 was using did not work as expected on this occasion -- hopefully someone who owns an Ionic and has tried this feature could comment and provide some help.

[Haz11]

Thanks for correcting me.

Sent from my iPhone

[dannyb2100]

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@IndiansFan12 wrote:

Greetings. I assumed that when I started running, my on Ionic would simply recognize that am running and start tracking me. (I do have that option turned on for running.)

However, here is what actually happened: 

About 4 minutes after I started running, the Ionic vibrated and told me that it was going to turn on the running app. A green arrow (">") appeared in the bottom right corner of the screen. I assumed that the arrow was there for me to "press" thus giving the device the go ahead to enter the running app. When I pressed the arrow,  the watch went blank and was unresponsive for 20 to 30 seconds. I think it "crashed". 

So I started running again, and sure enough in about 4 minutes, the entire process described above repeated itself. Finally, after the third episode, I just decided to ignore it. In other words, I decided NOT to press the green arrow. This decision DID result in the iconic not vibrating at me again. However, when I got home, it did not download any exercise data to my phone. In other words, it never knew I went for a run. 

My current solution is simply not to depend on auto detect. I simply start the running app when I leave the house. Eventually though, I would like to figure out what is going on with the auto-detect. Any thoughts are welcome. 

Thanks!

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Hey,

The auto track feature did work for me the other day when I tested it. I even stopped it, and sure enough a few minutes later, it popped up again. 
When I got home and checked, sure enough there it was. GPS tracked and accurate. 
But from memory, the screen didn't go black, it just went to the active workout screen showing pace, heart rate etc? 

[IndiansFan12]

Thanks Danny, 

Sounds like it may be something specific to my device. 

Ted

[Pd1972]

Must be on mine too- I set it and then ran for a few minutes but nothing happened - started the run manually in the end. I'm not sure auto-run is a deal breaker for me though, just a nice to have but I am starting to feel that most of the 'nice to haves' are in fact not working which is frustrating.

[IndiansFan12]

Yup.Work in progress. 

[Jim_R]

I resisted clicking the arrow until the end of my 45 minute run and still had exactly the same experience as you - a 15-20 blackout followed by the erasure of the entire effort. Oh I got credit for the steps and active minutes so not a total loss. Next time I’ll resist the arrow entirely and see what happens. I guess it’s for canceling auto detect. Really needs a label. 

[IndiansFan12]

Yup. Hope they fix this. 

[TomDuke]

I am new to wearable tech too and this is my first tracker.  Wasn't even aware there was an auto tracking function until a few days ago it popped up after a 40 min elliptical session.  First and only time it's ever done it though I use the elliptical 3x/week.  Doesn't seem to recognize running on a treadmill automatically though (and it's off by about a mile in tracking my distance after 30 min).  Hope it gets better with more firmware updates.

[Hotwire1]

Not true on the start at 10. He is right it auto detects in 4mins and asks u to commence the exercise tracking to which you need to select the green arrow. Mine was doing this and now stopped. I used to love that it auto recognized my run in 3mins or so but now it doesnt not for run or swim. Every update just makes it worse . And if I tell fitbit support of this they tell me it's impossible that it recognizes the run in 3mins. Bs!