Android wear

[Tobsn]

Hello.



Using Orux for years I was really stoked, that with the new v.6.5.5 Android wear support was increased.

I use a Nexus 5X and Moto 360 Sport.

Especially the introduction of a map was a big step.

But after some days trying I'm a little disappointed.

I want share my experience and problems, hoping to improve the Android Wear support for the future.

Maybe some one even has a quick solution for one of my problems.





Data Watch Face:

1. When starting tracking with Orux (from the watch or phone) the data watch faces should present the actual data like speed, altitude, etc.. this works very inconsistent.

a) It works as intended. Data shown and updated ongoing, even in ambient mode.

b) Data is shown but not updated. When I tap on the watch it is updated but only for the moment, no ongoing update.

c) Tracking on the phone is running. Phone shows the actual data, Watch shows no data at all. Even when the tracking was started from the watch.

2.) When switching to a other application on the watch, Orux is closing on the watch and has to be started again (Tracking on the phone is still running). Apps like Ghost Racer, Strava or Moto Run are can be easily accessed by swiping up.

3.) Data on watch faces are not editable and the amount of data watch faces should be also editable

4.) The data watch faces fit very well to the round Moto 360 and are very good readable.



Map Watch Face:

1.) Only Google Maps, no offline OSM or other maps are displayed.

2.) When the watch goes into ambient mode the map freezes. The map should also be updated in ambient mode.

3.) Orientation is always north up, I would prefer moving direction up.

4.) The gesture for closing the map with a long touch is not working very well during exercise or movement. I would prefer the gesture like google maps where I can swipe the map away.



Does anyone know how the voice control using wear app works and what features are included?



Cheers



Tobias

[Tobsn]

I forgot one important point.



- While following a track, the track is not displayed on the map on the watch.

This is a very important point for me and i would be stoked if this would be added.

So far i have always to get the phone out of the pocket and if you have poles in the hand it is kind of inconvenience.

[Tobsn]

I think I also find out what is meant with "voice control". It is possible to make Orux the connected add when giving the command to start a run.

As long as Orux is not running as standalone on the watch, I will use the Moto app or Ghost Runner for that purpose.

As fare I like it like it is Orux on the phone with control an information over wear for big tours. For den evening run I relay on smaller app.

[orux]

I think I also find out what is meant with "voice control". It is possible to make Orux the connected add when giving the command to start a run.

As long as Orux is not running as standalone on the watch, I will use the Moto app or Ghost Runner for that purpose.

As fare I like it like it is Orux on the phone with control an information over wear for big tours. For den evening run I relay on smaller app.

Hello;



Thanks, I don't receive too much comments about the wear app, because of that I don't pay attention to it



Please, try with the last beta:

http://www.oruxmaps.com/foro/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3664">http://www.oruxmaps.com/foro/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3664



If you are following a route, the route must be displayed.



2.-voice commands:



using 'ok google' feature:

"OK Google, start cycling"

"OK Google, start my bike ride"

"OK Google, stop cycling"

"OK Google, track my run"

"OK Google, start running"

"OK Google, stop running"

"OK Google, start a workout"

"OK Google, track my workout"

"OK Google, stop workout"



using oruxmaps wear app. Long press over the dashboard controls, then (only in English, translations soon):

"new waypoint"

"new segment"

"start recording"

"stop recording"



orux

[Tobsn]

...If you are following a route, the route must be displayed...

With the new Beta it works.   Thanks.

That is a big improvement.

I use Orux a lot for ski touring and there it is very inconvenient always to get the phone out of the pocket. A quick log on the wrist to know if I'm still on track is much easier. Especially under severe weather conditions.



I will try the new Beta for some days and give you feed back.

[msev]

Orux I will receive soon my Android Wear watch so I'll be able to test.



Great the Route thing is awesome... Could you maybe make also please such a mode see picture here, sort of like compass direction arrow and range to waypoint -> https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aKnCJMeAwBDp_sHsmNFCcIJ582DK6EPxgR0XZc9CpypEP7xOAxoxW4-ArN0MiiZVaQ=h900">https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aKnCJ ... iZVaQ=h900">https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aKnCJMeAwBDp_sHsmNFCcIJ582DK6EPxgR0XZc9CpypEP7xOAxoxW4-ArN0MiiZVaQ=h900



Also I would +1 if there is a way to display offline openandromap also on the watch .



Sony Smartwatch 3 has internal gps, does it work with its internal gps too? Or must the gps on the phone be turned on. What about if phone dies..can the route be still displayed on the watch and location displayed throught the gps in my watch.

[Tobsn]

...Sony Smartwatch 3 has internal gps, does it work with its internal gps too? Or must the gps on the phone be turned on. What about if phone dies..can the route be still displayed on the watch and location displayed throught the gps in my watch.

Welcome, good to know not to be the only one who wants to use Orux with Android Wear.

The Sony is a good decision. You will love the transflective display.



Orux can use external GPS. I'm not sure which GPS is used by Orux while tracking.

I don't see a standalone version of Orux for Android Wear. I would prefer when the watch is just an extended screen and remote for the Orux app on the phone. Orux is a too powerful application that cannot be handled on the watch. And the watch dies long before the phone, yesterday started with 70% after 2.5 hours the watch was off, phone still tracking.

For the evening run there are enough standalone application for Android Wear. Try Ghost Race for your Sony 3.



By the way I made some month ago a small http://www.gpsies.com/viewTracks.do?fileId=idcjqjsxziongutz&fileId=sbjcmyayomlukmwz&fileId=iplvxoljmrttggam">comparison between my Moto360, Garmin 800 and Orux on Nexus5X. The Moto was on my wrist, the Garmin on my handlebar and the Nexus5X in my backpack. The differences were really marginal.

[Tobsn]

Here are some pictures from yesterday evening ride. I was running the beta 6.5.7.

It worked very well. The data pages where ongoing updated and the map shows the track.  

After 2.5 hours the watch died with 10% battery left, started with 70%. With display and bluetooth always on I would say you can run Orux for around 3 hours on the watch.

And like you see on the picture, the values on the Garmin are very close to Orux. But you also see, that when there is no internet connection, like so often in the woods or mountains there is no map. Please add offline Map to android Wear.



http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/img2016051118ilxhknps6d.jpg">



http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/img2016051118zfpko31w0g.jpg">

[msev]

I have the watch now for 1 day and I'm already enjoying it quite a lot. So you used always on screen, I wouldn't like to use too much light since I have a transreflective display on my SS3, so probably I'm looking at even more battery life?



So if I see correctly if internet data is not available it still shows the recorded route and relative position to the route? What about the heading that the watch (or the phone) is facing like if you are looking at the route or away from it. Such indicator would be really nice. Like the yellow one that shows the heading on the phone.



EDIT: now I tried it the beta. Its nice, here are my observations:



there is a basic heading indicator (the blue arrow besides the blue point), but it would be nice if it was bigger and more reactive. And does it use phones compass or watches compass?



Can the track be drawn when its being already logged? Since now it was drawn on the map only when I put it as route following. (for trip back)



The screen with the data values seems to turn on the light on my watch, so its turned on all the time. While i would preffer it to dim light to 0 since I have a transreflective display and can see data even if light is turned off..So I can conserve battery.

Since if light is constantly turned on it burns battery quicker.



Its good that even if data is turned off it still shows some more pixelated map which was loaded from before...So this is good, since mostly people just need an indication of the track



Also is it possible to customize which datafields one wants to have displayed on the watch?

[Tobsn]

Can the track be drawn when its being already logged? Since now it was drawn on the map only when I put it as route following. (for trip back)

I got the track only on the map when following.

Beside the track I'm following it should also show my actual track like on the phone app.

The screen with the data values seems to turn on the light on my watch, so its turned on all the time. While i would preffer it to dim light to 0 since I have a transreflective display and can see data even if light is turned off..So I can conserve battery.

Since if light is constantly turned on it burns battery quicker.

Yes, i observed that also. The watch is not going into ambient mode.

App like Moto-Body or Ghost Racer switch to ambient mode, which saves a lot of battery and is even more readable in daylight.  

The Sony and the Moto have both display which uses the surrounding light. In bright sun they are better readable than every phone or gps handheld.

Also is it possible to customize which datafields one wants to have displayed on the watch?

So fare I found no way, this would be great.

[Tobsn]

One point I really don't like is the navigation to open and close the map face.

It just not work.  :cry:

To open the map face I have to swipe from the data face left to get to the control face and then press the map icon. To press the map icon while running, hiking or cycling is quite challenging.

To close the map face I have to long press the map and then confirm. At home this works. But during activity I had to stop most of the time to close the map face. Even when cycling uphill on a paved road and the watch mounted on the bar it was not possible to close the watch face.  I had to stop.  :evil:

The Problem is, that if you not hold your finger on the watch completely still Orux things you want to move the map and instead of closing you just move the map.

I would prefer a navigation like on the garmin, where the map face is just like another data face and you swipe from one face to the other. To move the map during activity is not as important as to change the watch faces quick and easy. The map on the phone is just for a quick orientation, for real orientation I will use the bigger screen on the phone.

[msev]

For me it doesn't bother me since i use it mostly for hiking, so I can stop and long-press it hehe  .

Maybe its done that way so that it conserves battery power?



So I think first priority would be - get that "ambient mode" working in the datafield. Second get datafields configurable (I just bought that miband with heart rate sensors, would be nice to display that heartrate data). And then third other stuff, better heading indicator and if possible offline maps .

[Tobsn]

... (I just bought that miband with heart rate sensors, would be nice to display that heartrate data)...

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

This is exactly the one I wanna get rid off.

On my data face P0 heart rate is shown.

[Tobsn]

Data Face P0:

- Altitude

- Speed

- Heading direction

- Heart rate



http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/datafacep07l6y8u3pha.png">



Data Face P1:

- Distance

- Time

- Average speed

- Cumulative altitude meter



http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/datafacep16f2poq1v7e.png">



Data Face P2:

- Distance to goal

- End time

- true bearing to goal

- % finished



http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/datafacep2s25vcg8936.png">



Configuration Face:

- Start record

- New waypoint

- New segment

- Configuration (mapstyle)

- Enter map face



http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/configurationfaziulsrpybc.png">



Map Face:

Terrain



http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/mapfaceterrainybnw7gvt46.png">



Normal



http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/mapfacenormal5ur8vjmwt0.png">

[msev]

So you want to get rid of it because you already have a heart rate sensor in your watch right? Not because of some issues from miband?

... (I just bought that miband with heart rate sensors, would be nice to display that heartrate data)...

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

This is exactly the one I wanna get rid off.

On my data face P0 heart rate is shown.