CIRCLE WITH A DOT

@simonharper it’s on the todo list. I had one too recently where I ended up with a 30 mile run averaging 60mph ‍️

Related. I was curious how much actual field testing I’ve done for Pedometer++ over the years. So I put together a little app to summarize the stats for it (and it’s related test apps).

I’ve spent 1,727hrs (72 days) walking, running or hiking with it, covering 3,221 miles.

You’ve probably heard of Unit Testing, Integration Testing and maybe even Field Testing…but let me recommend Celebration Testing.

I couldn’t think of a better way for me to celebrate the lovely reception to Pedometer++ v8’s launch than to head to my favorite trails in the English Lakes and put it to some good use.

@Firewire I'm so glad you liked it, that sort of thing has been on my todo list for ages. Now that I’ve sorted out maps properly I hope to be able to be getting to more and more of that kind of feature.

@marcoarment ️

@andymcmillan , that's lovely. So glad you like it!

@josh I actually have a whole blog post planned for tomorrow talking about that side of the process. I've been trying to get good maps on the Apple Watch for 5 years.

@matcha06 ️ Thank you, that's so lovely to hear.

@yertle Really just two options. You can remove it from the watch ( in the Watch app) and re-install, or just wait. I don't know why but sometimes it just gets stuck and won't update them both.

@martinbuckler I've thought about it, similarly with having a Mac app. It has just never gotten to the top of the list.

@sense Thanks, so glad to hear you like it!

@WTL Yup, if you give it Health permissions. The workouts will show up in Activity and Health.

@gedeonm ️, so glad you like it!

Overall the app just feels "right" now. Previously there was always a part of the app which I knew was a bit of a compromise, but now I'm just plain happy with it. I worked with @rafa on the design side, which really helped me to sure up all the UX rough edges which have lingered in prior releases.

It feels both native and novel to me, and a great example of what years of steady work can accomplish.

Give it a try: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pedometer/id712286167

I also built a new "Expedition Mode" workout system for this update. This allows for up to 40% better battery life. While most of the time the battery life on an Apple Watch is good enough for a typical outing, especially on older devices this can really extend how far you can go. All while still having the navigation/mapping features still there.

Building this was a lot of fun...as it required taking dozens of extremely long hikes/runs over the last two years while I worked on it.

I've spent the last five years working towards having the best possible mapping experience on the wrist possible. This has involved building a completely custom mapping engine which runs natively on the watch and working with a cartographer to create a highly legible dark mode map.

I use it for all the navigation on my longer walks and once you have a map on your wrist it is hard to go back.

I'm delighted to be able to show off Pedometer++ v8. It is a top-to-bottom redesign of the watchOS app. Pedometer++ has been on the watch since the very beginning. This feels like the culmination of more than a decade of both UX, design and low level technical learnings over those years.

To start with the home screen has been clarified to be more legible at a glance. With some incredibly fun (to use and to make) animations to celebrate when you reach your goal.

The day before any big launch (Pedometer++ v8 tomorrow ) I always have such mixed up feelings. Almost universally I feel pretty rubbish and that what I'm about to ship isn't any good (even when feedback has been very positive).

I've had this feeling enough times that while I wouldn't say it is an old friend, it is perhaps an expected intruder.

I mention this just as a reminder to myself (and everyone) that it is totally normal, to be expected and doesn't actually reflect on the work itself.

@dlx ️, this is one of those updates which I’ve been chipping away at for a _very_ long time, but things kept coming up which pushed it out. But I finally had the time to get it over the line. Which I gotta say feels great.

@jayfm yup, that’s my plan. I have a bunch of posts either written or outlined about how and why I built it the way I did