Getting Started – Quickstart Guide to Fitdigits iOS apps

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Christopher Means

Thank you for your interest in Fitdigits health, fitness, activity tracking and heart rate training apps, iCardio, iRunner, iWalker and iBiker. We hope the following short video will help you get up and running (pardon the pun) in no time! Each of our apps offers a distinct experience, but they all share a similar Fitdigits account and general functionality, based around activity and heart rate tracking and training, creating a fun and engaging tool that can help you stay healthy and hit your goals.

We hope you enjoy the video above and it helps you get started, as getting started is the most important part!

After the basics, you might want to take a deeper dive into the app settings, where you can set options by Activity Type, including Audio and Voice Feedback, Laps, Dashboards, your Chart and Map Metrics, Heart Rate Zones and Pace Zones. You can also learn more about overall App Settings like Zone Alerts and Prompts, customizing your home screen, customizing heart rate zones, or Auto Pause, or managing Heart Rate Monitors (HRM) and other sensors.

You can also learn more about managing your activities and history by editing workouts, deleting workouts, change a workout type after a workout was recorded, entering a manual workout, or customizing your own Other workout type.

Fitdigits Discontinues ANT+ Support on iOS 8

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Brandon Keller

On September 17th, Apple released iOS 8, “the biggest iOS release ever”. For months now, Fitdigits has been hard at work to deliver an app that is optimized for iOS 8 and the new Apple HealthKit.

During development we ran into a roadblock with ANT+ sensor support, a platform that less than 2% of all Fitdigits users are currently using and which continues to decrease daily.

The good news for ANT+ users is Apple has limited iOS 8 to newer iPads, the iPhone 4S, 5, 5S and the new 6 series. Of those, only the 4S supports both the 30-pin connector (which the ANT+ transceiver plugs into) and will also support iOS 8. However, running iOS 8 on an iPhone 4S makes everything very sluggish and many would not recommend the upgrade. Even Apple has recognized the issue and is allowing users to re-install iOS 7 even after upgrading to iOS 8.

If you don’t intend on upgrading to iOS 8, or have an iPhone 4, you don’t have to worry. iOS 7 or below, will work just fine.

For those of you brave enough to upgrade to iOS 8 who still are using ANT+, Fitdigits will no longer be a useable option, and for this you have our sincere apologies. Currently less than 2% of our users (and dropping quickly due to hardware upgrades) are still using ANT+, and between the effort to maintain technology and the rapidly declining usage, we have made the tough decision.

ANT+

ANT+ is one of the initial platforms Fitdigits used to connect with heart rate monitors and other sensors, using an ANT+ Adapter plugged in to the 30-pin adapter on the bottom of an iPhone to receive real time stats. ANT+ was the best technology available at the time, and Fitdigits was excited to use this technology to allow users to track heart rate right on their iPhone.

Introduction of Bluetooth Low Energy

However, technology moves fast. What was viewed as innovative and groundbreaking just a few short years ago can quickly become an outdated fossil of the past. This was the case for ANT+ in October of 2011, when the iPhone 4s was released.

The iPhone 4s featured Bluetooth Low Energy technology built right into the device, allowing for easy pairing of Bluetooth Low Energy health and fitness sensors such as the Polar H7. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a far superior platform to ANT+, for three main reasons:

ANT+ has a range of only 8-12 feet from your iPhone, while BLE has a range of over 100 ft
BLE does not require an adapter plugged into the bottom of your iPhone
A more consistent and reliable signal, with less dropouts and variability

So naturally, with Bluetooth Low Energy now standard in all new phones, developers left the ANT+ platform behind and focused on developing sensors that use BLE. This was amplified when the iPhone 5 was released in September of 2012 with the new lightning port, making the 30-pin ANT+ Adapter more or less obsolete and ANT+ connection burdensome.

The writing was on the wall for ANT+ on the iPhone.

The End of ANT+ on iPhones

Fast forward 2 years to iOS 8 and the iPhone 6. During our initial testing of the iOS 8 beta, we found that ANT+ connection was no longer working at all. As each beta version of the new operating system was released we hoped something would be altered to make our handling of ANT+ still functional, but no such change ever came.

After some digging by our development team, it was determined that it would take a considerable amount of time to get ANT+ working in Fitdigits on iOS 8 devices, so it was time to look at our user base and determine what we should do next.

Since iOS 8 is only available for iPhone 4s and above, and the iPhone 5 has the lightning port, we determined that only iPhone 4s users that use ANT+ would be impacted. All told, less then 2% of all users, and less than 3% of all workouts recorded by Fitdigits users each month have an ANT+ sensor active. That number continues to fall, even on iOS 7.

With this in mind, we have decided to no longer offer ANT+ sensor compatibility in the upcoming iOS 8 versions of Fitdigits. This decision comes with a heavy heart, as our ANT+ users constitute some of our oldest and most dedicated customers. We value these users and all they have done to support Fitdigits throughout the years, but it is time to move on from ANT+ and look to the future.

Upgrade to Bluetooth Low Energy

Fitdigits is compatible with a variety of other BLE sensors.

Working with Audio – iOS Apps

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Brandon Keller

(View for Android)

Working with Audio – iCardio, iRunner, iBiker (iOS)

One of the biggest perks of exercising with your phone, besides tracking your workouts with a Fitdigits app, is using all of the awesome audio functionality that the mini-computer we now call smart phones have to offer. Be it jamming to your favorite iTunes playlist, exploring new music on Spotify, or being enthralled by an intriguing podcast, your phone offers you a myriad of options to entertain yourself while working out.

On top of that, Fitdigits apps have some unique audio functionality of its own. Voice feedback gives you a verbal summary of your workout thus far at pre-defined intervals, allowing you to adjust your workout as necessary to meet your goals.

Workout Voice Feedback

Fitdigits, using shrink ray technology perfected in “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”, has inserted a built in personal trainer right into your phone! Voice feedback gives your real time stats on your workout, based on pre-defined intervals. First things first, let’s turn voice feedback on.

Workout Stats & Progress Updates

Select your activity type you want to change settings on, then go to the Gear > Options > Audio & Voice.

Accessing Audio – Workout Feedback

From here you can choose the type of the voice and whether and what it will announce when you transition between Heart Rate Zones. Next are the Triggers. This is your chosen interval for when you will hear voice feedback. You can choose to have voice feedback come in when you you reach a certain amount of calories, elapsed time, and/or distance. For this example, I have chosen to have voice feedback triggered when I travel 1/4 of a kilometer.

The final option is what you want spoken when you reach the trigger. I have left all options turned on- I will get my current heart rate, calories burned, distance, time and pace. If you have music or other audio playing, when voice feedback occurs it will dim so you can hear the stats over your music or other audio.

Advanced Audio Settings

When you choose Advanced Audio Settings, you open up more options by using the devices built in voice, which you can also customize to be a variety of voice types and accents, as well as additional features such as Workout Totals @ Finish, extra Personalization, and more. See this post on Advanced Audio for more.

In-Workout Settings

You also have the ability to make some small adjustments to voice feedback once you have started a workout. If you find yourself in a gym without headphones and want to turn voice feedback off, merely tap the gear icon in the lower right, and switch “Voice Feedback” to OFF.

You will also see an “Audio” volume slider. This is the volume of the voice feedback, and will not change the volume of the rest of your phone. If you feel you are being yelled at, turn the volume down here. You may also want to check the volume settings in the iOS device (slide up from bottom of any screen) or iTunes music, as the level there can also affect the workout feedback volume.

Working with Music, Podcasts & Other Audio

In iOS, the easiest way to quickly change the music or skip a song, is to use the Control Center, a pull down/up menu. The Control Center allows users to change songs, pause music, and more without leaving the app.

Another option to change songs, podcasts, audio books and more is to leave the app entirely. Fitdigits apps will work in the background as you browse through your other apps.

Pairing your Older Scosche myTrek or Rhythm Heart Rate Monitor with Fitdigits Apps

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Brandon Keller

******NOTE: SUPPORT FOR OLDER SCOSCHE myTrek and the original Rhythm is being discontinued in July, 2016 ******

Pairing the older versions of Scosche Rhythm / myTrek

If you are using an old-school Scosche Rhythm / myTrek using traditional bluetooth, Scosche stopped supporting them a while ago. Since the bluetooth classic monitors have been discontinued by Scosche, the SDK has not been updated in order for the monitors to work on iOS 9 and Android OS 5. This meant we could no longer support Scosche’s MyTrek and Rhythm Pulse monitor. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and please see below for options on Android and iOS devices.

Upgrade your monitor (it is worth it!)

Android

However, you can download and install older versions of the Android app – iRunner or iCardio. The last version with support was v3.31 and here are the links below:

iCardio:
http://www.fitdigits.com/downloads/Android/3.31/iCardio_3.31(69).apk

iRunner:
http://www.fitdigits.com/downloads/Android/3.31/iRunner_3.31(69).apk

Once you have the file, you can uninstall the newer version of the app from your device, and copy the older APK file you found to the phone or tablet. If you tap on the links above on the device, it should install automatically.

If not, copy the file to either a new folder, or the existing Download folder. Then, you’ll need to find the file on your Android device (with a File Explorer app or similar), at which point you can tap on it and install it. Note that you will need to tick the box somewhere in your device’s settings menu to allow the installation of apps from “unknown sources”. Most but not all Android devices have this option.

iOS

For iOS users, there is only a limited time left to download a compatible app – as soon and the next release goes live in Apple iTunes it will no longer have support for these older heart rate monitors. iCardio no longer supports them, so you would have to download iRunner or iBiker, which are older versions. But remember not to allow automatic upgrades or the next update to those apps will no longer support the old app!

Turn off automatic updates:
http://www.gottabemobile.com/2016/01/26/how-to-turn-off-automatic-app-updates-in-ios-9/

Download iRunner:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/irunner-runners-walkers-fitness/id304074554?mt=8

For all compatibility, please view here:
http://www.fitdigits.com/compatibility.html

We hope that helps!

*************

Pairing your Android with the Scosche Rhythm or myTrek:

The beginning of every great story has an introduction. Well Android users, prepare to be introduced to the device that will change your life, the Scosche Rhythm. Learn how to Pair your Scosche myTREK or Rhythm with Fitdigits on the Android, and re-write your life story to include a happier and healthier you!

First, put on your Scosche sensor. Make sure your alignment is correct:

Next, turn on the Bluetooth settings in the iPhone and pair the Scosche sensor.

1. Go to your Android Settings
2. Tap Wireless & Network

Choose Wireless & Network

3. Tap Bluetooth Settings

Tap Bluetooth settings

4. Make Sure Bluetooth is ON. If ON, tap Scan Devices
5. Your Heart Rate Belt should appear as “Scosche myTREK” below “Bluetooth devices”. Tap to pair

Tap Scosche to pair

6. Your Scosche will now be paired. To delete a pairing, tap and and hold the Scosche sensor, and choose to unpair
7. Open your Fitdigits app and go to Settings -> My Sensors, and tap Heart so the check is orange
8. Choose Scosche from the menu that comes up

Tap Scosche myTREK

9. You will be taken back to the “Bluetooth devices” screen. Tap on Scosche and you are paired.

Start a workout, and you are ready to take this relationship to a whole new level!

Fitdigits Support

Get Active. Stay Healthy.

Tag Archives: iOS