Apple is touting the Apple Watch using three principal arguments . The first is that it keeps fourth dimension , and is precise to within 50 millisecond . ( I ’m so relieved by the fact that a watch in 2015 can be precise , are n’t you ? ) The 2nd is the “ fun , spontaneous ways ” you’re able to communicate with “ your favourite citizenry . ” And the third is probably the beneficial merchandising gunpoint , given the way people have used wearables up until now : it proffer “ a smart manner to look at physical fitness . ”
The lookout ’s Activity app has a capital design . wellness on the iPhone , not so much .
I have to agree with that . The tricircular interface on the Apple Watch ’s Activity app , which shows how much you move , exercise , and stand , is a brilliant design .
However , much of the Apple Watch ’s data will be piped through to the Health app on your iPhone , and the port of that app is sorely in pauperization of a redesign , even if we do geta separate companion Activity app for iPhonetoo .
There is a huge disconnect between the simple , intuitive interface of the Apple Watch and the dry , archaic look of the Health app . With nothing but straight graphs lack easy - to - spot divider , the Health app expose information in ways that will put off even the most solemn of gymnastic apparatus .
Here is the weekly gradation graph from the Health app . The Y axis has arbitrary numbers , and the center phone line is likely the average , but it is n’t label .
In addition , while it ’s not as obvious in this screenshot , it ’s very hard to read the above number on an iPhone because the thin , white-hot font does n’t offer much contrast . depend on which type of metrical you select , the Health app chooses colors for the dashboard card . You ca n’t opt for a more readable color , and the fonts are all white , against a salmagundi of light - colorful backgrounds .
Other apps make reading datum much sluttish . Using Fitbit ’s app , I can see at a glance , in large , readable numbers , what my activity level is , with step counts , aloofness , small calorie burned and more . And if I tip on the Step counting , I see a hebdomadal view that is still more informative than Apple ’s .
Here ’s what the Fitbit iOS app video display . First , the splasher , with the current day ’s numbers . Second , when you tapdance step , you may see your step count for retiring day . ( Click to enlarge . )
The Fitbit app also permit you set goals , something that is so far absent from the Health app . you’re able to fix daily goals , and the coloring in the splashboard reflect whether or not you ’ve meet them . ( The Apple Watch site mentions everyday goals ; presumptively these will be roll into the Health app in an update when the Apple Watch ships . )
The Health app also has an odd style of exhibit raw data . For some metric , this might work — think blood glucose levels , rakehell press , and free weight for example . But for steps , it ’s but incongruous . Look below at the way you view step data for a given day :
stair data in the Health app is not very practical .
It would make sense for this to be aggroup by , say , 15 - minute intervals . I ca n’t imagine that , for most multitude , seeing the identification number of footmark per minute would be very utile . Compare the above with the way the Withings iOS app record day-after-day step counts :
The Withings Io app picture far more information , in a more understandable way .
you’re able to see your activity in half - hour fade , see how it measures up to your daily destination , and also see space , calories burn , and more .
In the absence of a operable dashboard in the Health app , you may want to go for a third - party cock . The $ 2FitPortpulls in data from the Health app and expose it in a more readable personal manner . you could set up day-by-day goals for each of the prosody it displays , and circle will show you how tightlipped you are to those goals . FitPort also give you much well views of data from retiring days than the Health app does .
FitPort is the splashboard that the Health app should have .
Apple ’s Health app records a lot of information , but present it is the wrong way . Different data sources could profit from different display , and , at a lower limit , they could offer more than just straight line graphs . In addition , the choice of white fonts on often light colored backgrounds make it backbreaking to read , and the lack of daily goal limits its use . I hope that Apple can procreate the attractive user interface on the Apple Watch in a new version of the Health app for the iPhone .
