Exercise setting on background

[SunsetRunner]

Exercise setting running on background

When I do weightlifting I start the corresponding weightlifting exercise setting, however I would like to be able to access the main menu without having to stop the exercise setting. The issue is that, I would like to track my workout but at the same time I would like to set up a timer, so I can control my resting time between sets. Is this (or anything similar) feasible? I found very disappointing that the weightlifting exercise screen is the same as the running one but without gps…

Thank you so much!

[Venkats]

There is really no point in tracking Weightlifting or is there. Any time you introduce weight, most of the energy comes from local cells through anaerobic pathway. Although some aerobic energy is expended the heart rate monitor is incapable of determining if the rate of change is due to thoracic pressure change or due to activity itself. For example, I don't choose weights and let it track exercise zones automatically if I have to use timer and I wear two watches (one of them not defined to my profile) and that gives me the flexibility to have multiple intervals however I wish. This may not be what you want but you can get a workaround.   

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks Venkats!

I guess what you are saying make sense, however I'd appreciate a way of going back to the main menu without quitting exercesi settint (mainly to see the calories burner count and continuos hearth rate).

[Julia_G]

Hi, @SunsetRunner, if you click on the gear on your weightlifting screen you can set which stats you see top, bottom and middle.  For the middle stat you can swipe left to scroll through all your chosen stats.

So you should be able to set it up so that you can see time elapsed (which will allow you to monitor your rests between sets), calorie burn, and heartrate.

I hope this helps.  Welcome to the forums!

[Venkats]

That is not what he had in his mind. Once you choose an activity on the tracker tracker and enter that mode, there is no way to use timer functions. The other way is true too. Once you are in timer mode there is no way to choose an activity. Some of us do exercise routines that are time sensitive. Weight lifters would like to be able to set variable timer between sets. There is no apparent ability to setup multi tasking. As an example I frequently do routines where every minute on top of the minute I will do 8 pullups. It isn't possible to access timers once you have chosen "weights" as activity. I circumvent with an additional watch set to countdown mode. It is not pretty to sight with two watches. 

[WavyDavey]

Multi-tasking, does not appear to me to be currently supported. I'm not sure how it would page between apps if it did. The hardware buttons and swipes all seem assigned?

@Julia_G's suggestion does give the OP part of what they want--to check different stats while in exercise mode. @SunsetRunner, you can also see stats by tapping the screen during exercise. It will page through the available stats on the exercise screen.

I find in the gym, it's easy enough to just watch the time elapsed and use that to figure rest periods. Depending on the lift and intensity, my rest periods vary too much for a simple countdown rest timer to be of much use.

This sounds like an app waiting to happen. I could see a simple countdown timer that could be added as a stat on a customized layout.

Full on multi-tasking? I suspect that it's a much more complicated subject.

[bbarrera]

Lack of multi-tasking was perhaps the biggest surprise for me, it stopped me from picking up Ionic to give it a chance (along with no support for my credit cards).

From other posts, it means that if I start a GPS walk and go to the grocery store or Starbucks, I need to stop the workout to pay because only one app can run at a time. The one app a time rule was confirmed by a Fitbit developer on the SDK forum. Suspect this might be related to current bug where notifications kill workout. I haven't seen any info being shared on any level of multi-tasking, suspect something will happen but we are all left in the dark for time being. If this was the "fruit vendor," the wrath of the Internet would come crashing down in articles and reviews. I haven't even seen this limitation in the 10+ reviews I've read. 

[WavyDavey]

There must be some kind of multi-tasking. For instance, the Ionic allows you to listen to music while exercising. I haven't seen anyone report they needed to stop an exercise mode to control the music?

[SunsetRunner]

@bbarrera you can access de card from the exercise mode... I have done that, you can also access the music (expected ), but yes the lack of multi-tasking is surprising. Moreover, so far notifications haven't killed my workout, I can receive notifications correctly and then go back to the workout menu. That's why it surprised me that I cannot go back to set timers or check the weather if I want to, and then resume my workout. 

I am also missing the Microsoft band 2 thing exercise building. Microsoft allow you to build your own workouts, setting the rest time between sets, the number of sets, number of reps and the type of exercise (squat, bench pres... ). This feature was awesome for Hits, so you set your sprint time and then the watch vibrates to let you know when your sprint starts and when it ends. Hope some of these features are added in the near future. 

Thanks everyone for replying! 

[bbarrera]

@WavyDavey and @SunsetRunner thanks for confirming some level of multi-tasking, I forgot about music working and had only seen one post about having to quit Exercise mode to run Starbucks app. Assuming the Fitbit dev was accurate about one app at a time, I suspect launching Starbucks app requires quitting Exercise mode, but that paying with credit card (NFC) is working.

[jannolii]

No need to be disappointed. Ionic is not yet what you could call a smart watch. If you know other sport watches (like Garmin), then you know that there too you aren't able to "exit" workout app to run some other app. The problem is that Ionic feels like a smart watch (build and software interface)... so people tend to expect more from this device than it's capable (yet). In reality it's a bit smarter fitness tracker.

[bbarrera]

For comparison I only have older Fitbit devices (retired), an Apple Watch, and a Garmin Bike Computer. And my day job involves getting Linux/Android running on embedded devices - medical monitors, entertainment systems, gas meters, pool controllers, scientific instruments, you name it. So I know more than the average techie about what is possible.

The bike computer supports 3rd party apps, and they do take over the device. However Garmin devices also support "app-lets" that are data fields or widgets. These allow you to embed a new data field into the native Garmin exercise tracker, in my case doing useful stuff like calculating my threshold power in real-time during a hard effort. Or providing another way to visualize data like HR or zones or elevation. And in the background the bike computer is (via the phone) sending out live tracking updates, fetching weather updates, and displaying a limited number of notifications. That is the level of multi-tasking I'm expecting from Fitbit, but with a watch twist.

Looking over the SDK info (docs and forum), the CPU in Ionic is pretty basic and has limited RAM and filesystem resources for apps. Apps get whatever is leftover, after OS has what it needs to do its job. So, yeah, I get it, given the limited resources of the hardware its going to be difficult to make the Ionic a real smartwatch.

The problem here is that Fitbit CEO launched it as Fitbit's smart watch, setting pretty high expectations. I agree with you, its simply a Fitbit tracker that can run somewhat limited apps. Its not really a smart watch, I've got one of those and won't begin trying to draw comparisons.

[SunsetRunner]

Totally agree with you that the hardware is limited. Although I am not fully aware of the specs, the Ionic allows me to go back to the menu and do different stuff while I have a counter or a timer or a counter and a timer. I believe it is not that difficult to allow the user to roam around other apps while exercise mode runs in the background. How does Ionic work with Pandora? I guess (European user here) that allows the user to pass pandora songs while they are tracking their workout. 

When I have the time i will take a look to the SDK. I believe it can be a great watch if they have people building apps for them. The main problem with nowadays wearables is that everyone is using now their own OS (instead of for example using android) so compatibility of apps between different manufactures is difficult.

[jannolii]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

...

The main problem with nowadays wearables is that everyone is using now their own OS (instead of for example using android) so compatibility of apps between different manufactures is difficult.

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I personally find it to be good that there are still companies like Fitbit (or like Pebble was) who make their own operating system. It encourages them and other similar companies to explore and experiment taking possibly different paths along the way. Yes, there are ecosystem problems but finally you end up with a setting which works for you. I myself made a decision that fitness watch isn't enough for me. I want to get more in terms of training planning for running and I'm back using Garmin for training and iPhone for music and calls. Like to see where Fitbit is taking Ionic though 😉

[bbarrera]

ha ha, you have no idea how many companies still make their own real-time operating system (RTOS), or use open-source ones like FreeRTOS. Indeed, I wrote my own on first job out of college for a dial-up modem chip we designed at Panasonic America.

Like you I made a decision to focus on structured training and planning, which for me on the device side is all about the bike computer, power meter, and trusty chest strap. And then a few tools like TrainingPeaks and I'm good to go. Surge/Blaze/Ionic don't play well in that world. But I'm looking at doing my first sprint triathlon next year, so giving the Ionic a good look and will end up buying one and giving it a try once the firmware is solid.

[runner20]

I would also find this useful.  Hopefully there will be an app coming out. 

[Melissap12]

How did you get to your music during exercise? My headphones stopped on my run today, and I was not able to get back to music to restart it without stopping my workout.

thank you!!