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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Running with a Smartphone (iPhone and Android)}} Most smartphones have a GPS built in and support various applications that allow them to function as sports wat..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Running with a Smartphone (iPhone and Android)}}
Most smartphones have a GPS built in and support various applications that allow them to function as sports watches. There are quite a number of advantages and disadvantages to using a smartphone compared with a dedicated watch, some of which can be alleviated with a companion SmartWatch (see below).
=Smartphone Pros=
* If you already have a smartphone, this is the cheapest option.
* The [[GPS Accuracy]] of Smartphones is generally better than a dedicated running watch. (See below for details and caveats.)
* Carrying a phone allows you to [[Running Safety| call for help]]. You can also use apps like [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-friends/id466122094?mt=8 find my friends] to allow people to track your location for safety.
* You may be able to use the smartphone as an MP3 player. (I still prefer a dedicated [[Best Running MP3 Player| MP3 player]].)
* A smartphone means you always have a camera, which can be handy.
* It is possible to use a [[Heart Rate Monitor]] and a [[Footpod]] with a smartphone.
=Smartphone Cons=
* A smartphone is heavy, bulky and has to be mounted on your upper arm, making it hard to see the display (a SmartWatch helps solve this).
* A smartphone mounted on your arm makes you a potential target for theft, reducing your [[Running Safety| safety]].
* Most touchscreens do not work well with gloves, in the rain, or with sweaty hands.
* Few smartphones are waterproof, so a specialist case will be required to protect it. (See caveats below regarding cases and GPS Accuracy.)
=Heart Rate Monitors for Smartphones=
There are a number of options for adding heart rate monitoring to a smartphone.
* The [http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bluetooth-Smart-Heart-Sensor/dp/B007S088F4 Polar H7 heart rate monitor] is [http://www.polar.com/us-en/support/compatibility_of_polar_h6_h7_heart_rate_sensor compatible] with iPhone 4S/5 and many Android phones, and it's my recommended approach for getting the best and heart rate monitoring. It supports many apps, including [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoothrun-pro-gps-pedometer/id410965399?mt=8 iSmoothRun], [[Runkeeper]], [[Mapmyrun]](+), EndoMondo (Pro), Runmeter, and others. It also works nicely with [[Heart Rate Variability]] apps. (<jfs id="B007S088F4" noreferb="true"/>.)
* For optical heart rate monitoring, the [http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-Rhythm-Heart-Monitor-Armband/dp/B00JQHTJS2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411506758&sr=8-1&keywords=Scosche+RHYTHM%2B Scosche RHYTHM+] goes around your upper arm and is less intrusive than a chest strap. However, this device requires recharging periodically as it only has seven hours of battery life, and optical heart rate monitoring is not as accurate as a chest strap. In particular, it will not provide [[Heart Rate Variability]] data.
* The [http://www.amazon.com/Wahoo-Fitness-WFFisica01-Key-iPhone/dp/B0042WGO3Y Wahoo Key] is a $55 dongle that adds Ant+ support to an iPhone 4S/4/3GS. This allows you to use the {{Garmin HRM}}, {{Garmin Footpod}} and other Ant+ accessories. It works with most apps including RunKeeper, MapMyRun(+), EndoMondo (Pro), Runmeter. Note that the dongle may cause problems finding a waterproof case.
* The [http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adapter-iPhone-Monitor-Cadence/dp/B005ZSYEOK Garmin Ant+ Adapter] is similar to the [http://www.amazon.com/Wahoo-Fitness-WFFisica01-Key-iPhone/dp/B0042WGO3Y Wahoo Key] but it has limited app support.
* The [http://www.amazon.com/Zephyr-HxM-Delivers-BlackBerry-Smartphones/dp/B002PL33AQ Zepher HxM] is a $79 (+shipping) heart rate monitor that works with Android and Blackberry phones.
* Some [https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId=%7bf3027e90-f8de-11e0-73d0-000000000000%7d Sony Ericsson android phones] have Ant+ support built in.
=Android or iPhone?=
I have run extensively with both android and iPhone SmartWatches, and have noted these possible advantages for each. Both platforms can perform admirably, with great GPS accuracy possible.
==Android Advantages==
* There are a much wider variety of android phones to choose from, so it's easier to find a form factor that you like. Generally speaking, a smaller phone is easier to run with. (The iPhone 6 does come in two sizes now, but nothing alike the variety of android phones.)
* The physical ergonomics of most android phones is better than the iPhone. The iPhone tends to be slippery where you need to grip it, and has hard edges that are a little uncomfortable to hold while running.
==iPhone Advantages==
* The running apps seem to be better on the iPhone than on android.
* iOS is far more secure than Android, with [http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/03/24/report-97-of-mobile-malware-is-on-android-this-is-the-easy-way-you-stay-safe/ 97% Of Mobile Malware On Android] and the remaining 3% on Nokia 's defunct Symbian. None are reported on iOS or Windows Phone.
What about Windows Phone? I like the Windows Phone operating system a lot, but I've not had the opportunity to test one account. I suspect that the selection of a running apps will be more restricted than the other platforms however.
=SmartWatches=
Some of the problems of using a Smartphone can be alleviated with a SmartWatch. With the phone mounted on your upper arm, it's hard to see the display or control the app, but the SmartWatch can act as a remote display and remote control. A SmartWatch also allows you to turn off the display on your phone, which greatly prolongs battery life. My favorite iPhone app, [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoothrun-pro-gps-pedometer/id410965399?mt=8 iSmoothRun], supports several smart watches including the Pebble and the Magellan Echo.
* [http://www.amazon.com/Pebble-Smartwatch-iPhone-Android-Black/dp/B00BKEQBI0 Pebble]. This is a small, lightweight SmartWatch that uses e-ink technology to provide long battery life, though not as good as the Echo. It works with a number of smartphone running apps, though the support is better on iPhone than android. The pebble also functions as a general purpose SmartWatch for receiving text notifications end of the like. (<jfs id="B00BKEQBI0" noreferb="true"/>).
* [http://www.amazon.com/Magellan-Echo-Smart-Sports-Watch/dp/B00FZHUNSC Magellan Echo]. The Echo is designed as a sports focused SmartWatch, rather than the general purpose pebble. One of the coolest features of the Echo is that it uses a standard watch battery to give 6 to 12 months of battery life, so there's no need to recharge it. The Echo works with iPhone and [http://magellanfitness.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/echo-android-update/ a limited number of android phones], and a new version called the [http://www.magellangps.com/lp/echofit/index.html Echo Fit has just been announced] that adds daily activity monitoring. (<jfs id="B00FZHUNSC" noreferb="true"/>.) You can get the Echo with a heart rate monitor bundled, but I'd strongly recommend getting the [http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bluetooth-Smart-Heart-Sensor/dp/B007S088F4 Polar H7] instead.
* Adidas Fit Smart. The Adidas adds optical heart rate monitoring to the SmartWatch equation, but unfortunately it only works with Adidas' own smartphone app. This product has [http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/09/adidas-micoach-fit-smart/ only just been announced] (July 2014), but it's a product to keep an eye on. I think that having a SmartWatch that provides optical heart rate monitoring combined with a good smartphone would be a really nice combination for many people.
=Recommended Running Apps=
My favorite iPhone app is the [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoothrun-pro-gps-pedometer/id410965399?mt=8 iSmoothRun], which offers great functionality and ease of use. It exports to many social networks, plus Dropbox, supports smart watches, and has great configurability. I've tried a number of Android running apps, but I never found anything I liked as much as iSmoothRun on the iPhone. To use an Android phone with the Pebble smart watch I used Pebble Runner, which was rather basic, but worked.
=Optimizing GPS Accuracy =
There are several things you may need to do to achieve the levels of [[GPS Accuracy]] that I have obtained.
* The choice of case is a critical. I've found that a cheap case works far better than a thicker case, especially if the thicker neoprene becomes soaked in sweat. I had to restart my testing of the iPhone 5s as a thicker case was destroying the accuracy when it got soaked with sweat.
* The phone needs a good view of the sky, so holding it in your hand, or strapping it to your upper arm works well. Clipping it to a waistband can reduce GPS accuracy.
* Close all other applications other than the running application. This does not appear to be a major problem, but it may help slightly.
Most smartphones have a GPS built in and support various applications that allow them to function as sports watches. There are quite a number of advantages and disadvantages to using a smartphone compared with a dedicated watch, some of which can be alleviated with a companion SmartWatch (see below).
=Smartphone Pros=
* If you already have a smartphone, this is the cheapest option.
* The [[GPS Accuracy]] of Smartphones is generally better than a dedicated running watch. (See below for details and caveats.)
* Carrying a phone allows you to [[Running Safety| call for help]]. You can also use apps like [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-friends/id466122094?mt=8 find my friends] to allow people to track your location for safety.
* You may be able to use the smartphone as an MP3 player. (I still prefer a dedicated [[Best Running MP3 Player| MP3 player]].)
* A smartphone means you always have a camera, which can be handy.
* It is possible to use a [[Heart Rate Monitor]] and a [[Footpod]] with a smartphone.
=Smartphone Cons=
* A smartphone is heavy, bulky and has to be mounted on your upper arm, making it hard to see the display (a SmartWatch helps solve this).
* A smartphone mounted on your arm makes you a potential target for theft, reducing your [[Running Safety| safety]].
* Most touchscreens do not work well with gloves, in the rain, or with sweaty hands.
* Few smartphones are waterproof, so a specialist case will be required to protect it. (See caveats below regarding cases and GPS Accuracy.)
=Heart Rate Monitors for Smartphones=
There are a number of options for adding heart rate monitoring to a smartphone.
* The [http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bluetooth-Smart-Heart-Sensor/dp/B007S088F4 Polar H7 heart rate monitor] is [http://www.polar.com/us-en/support/compatibility_of_polar_h6_h7_heart_rate_sensor compatible] with iPhone 4S/5 and many Android phones, and it's my recommended approach for getting the best and heart rate monitoring. It supports many apps, including [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoothrun-pro-gps-pedometer/id410965399?mt=8 iSmoothRun], [[Runkeeper]], [[Mapmyrun]](+), EndoMondo (Pro), Runmeter, and others. It also works nicely with [[Heart Rate Variability]] apps. (<jfs id="B007S088F4" noreferb="true"/>.)
* For optical heart rate monitoring, the [http://www.amazon.com/Scosche-Rhythm-Heart-Monitor-Armband/dp/B00JQHTJS2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411506758&sr=8-1&keywords=Scosche+RHYTHM%2B Scosche RHYTHM+] goes around your upper arm and is less intrusive than a chest strap. However, this device requires recharging periodically as it only has seven hours of battery life, and optical heart rate monitoring is not as accurate as a chest strap. In particular, it will not provide [[Heart Rate Variability]] data.
* The [http://www.amazon.com/Wahoo-Fitness-WFFisica01-Key-iPhone/dp/B0042WGO3Y Wahoo Key] is a $55 dongle that adds Ant+ support to an iPhone 4S/4/3GS. This allows you to use the {{Garmin HRM}}, {{Garmin Footpod}} and other Ant+ accessories. It works with most apps including RunKeeper, MapMyRun(+), EndoMondo (Pro), Runmeter. Note that the dongle may cause problems finding a waterproof case.
* The [http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adapter-iPhone-Monitor-Cadence/dp/B005ZSYEOK Garmin Ant+ Adapter] is similar to the [http://www.amazon.com/Wahoo-Fitness-WFFisica01-Key-iPhone/dp/B0042WGO3Y Wahoo Key] but it has limited app support.
* The [http://www.amazon.com/Zephyr-HxM-Delivers-BlackBerry-Smartphones/dp/B002PL33AQ Zepher HxM] is a $79 (+shipping) heart rate monitor that works with Android and Blackberry phones.
* Some [https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId=%7bf3027e90-f8de-11e0-73d0-000000000000%7d Sony Ericsson android phones] have Ant+ support built in.
=Android or iPhone?=
I have run extensively with both android and iPhone SmartWatches, and have noted these possible advantages for each. Both platforms can perform admirably, with great GPS accuracy possible.
==Android Advantages==
* There are a much wider variety of android phones to choose from, so it's easier to find a form factor that you like. Generally speaking, a smaller phone is easier to run with. (The iPhone 6 does come in two sizes now, but nothing alike the variety of android phones.)
* The physical ergonomics of most android phones is better than the iPhone. The iPhone tends to be slippery where you need to grip it, and has hard edges that are a little uncomfortable to hold while running.
==iPhone Advantages==
* The running apps seem to be better on the iPhone than on android.
* iOS is far more secure than Android, with [http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/03/24/report-97-of-mobile-malware-is-on-android-this-is-the-easy-way-you-stay-safe/ 97% Of Mobile Malware On Android] and the remaining 3% on Nokia 's defunct Symbian. None are reported on iOS or Windows Phone.
What about Windows Phone? I like the Windows Phone operating system a lot, but I've not had the opportunity to test one account. I suspect that the selection of a running apps will be more restricted than the other platforms however.
=SmartWatches=
Some of the problems of using a Smartphone can be alleviated with a SmartWatch. With the phone mounted on your upper arm, it's hard to see the display or control the app, but the SmartWatch can act as a remote display and remote control. A SmartWatch also allows you to turn off the display on your phone, which greatly prolongs battery life. My favorite iPhone app, [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoothrun-pro-gps-pedometer/id410965399?mt=8 iSmoothRun], supports several smart watches including the Pebble and the Magellan Echo.
* [http://www.amazon.com/Pebble-Smartwatch-iPhone-Android-Black/dp/B00BKEQBI0 Pebble]. This is a small, lightweight SmartWatch that uses e-ink technology to provide long battery life, though not as good as the Echo. It works with a number of smartphone running apps, though the support is better on iPhone than android. The pebble also functions as a general purpose SmartWatch for receiving text notifications end of the like. (<jfs id="B00BKEQBI0" noreferb="true"/>).
* [http://www.amazon.com/Magellan-Echo-Smart-Sports-Watch/dp/B00FZHUNSC Magellan Echo]. The Echo is designed as a sports focused SmartWatch, rather than the general purpose pebble. One of the coolest features of the Echo is that it uses a standard watch battery to give 6 to 12 months of battery life, so there's no need to recharge it. The Echo works with iPhone and [http://magellanfitness.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/echo-android-update/ a limited number of android phones], and a new version called the [http://www.magellangps.com/lp/echofit/index.html Echo Fit has just been announced] that adds daily activity monitoring. (<jfs id="B00FZHUNSC" noreferb="true"/>.) You can get the Echo with a heart rate monitor bundled, but I'd strongly recommend getting the [http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bluetooth-Smart-Heart-Sensor/dp/B007S088F4 Polar H7] instead.
* Adidas Fit Smart. The Adidas adds optical heart rate monitoring to the SmartWatch equation, but unfortunately it only works with Adidas' own smartphone app. This product has [http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/09/adidas-micoach-fit-smart/ only just been announced] (July 2014), but it's a product to keep an eye on. I think that having a SmartWatch that provides optical heart rate monitoring combined with a good smartphone would be a really nice combination for many people.
=Recommended Running Apps=
My favorite iPhone app is the [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoothrun-pro-gps-pedometer/id410965399?mt=8 iSmoothRun], which offers great functionality and ease of use. It exports to many social networks, plus Dropbox, supports smart watches, and has great configurability. I've tried a number of Android running apps, but I never found anything I liked as much as iSmoothRun on the iPhone. To use an Android phone with the Pebble smart watch I used Pebble Runner, which was rather basic, but worked.
=Optimizing GPS Accuracy =
There are several things you may need to do to achieve the levels of [[GPS Accuracy]] that I have obtained.
* The choice of case is a critical. I've found that a cheap case works far better than a thicker case, especially if the thicker neoprene becomes soaked in sweat. I had to restart my testing of the iPhone 5s as a thicker case was destroying the accuracy when it got soaked with sweat.
* The phone needs a good view of the sky, so holding it in your hand, or strapping it to your upper arm works well. Clipping it to a waistband can reduce GPS accuracy.
* Close all other applications other than the running application. This does not appear to be a major problem, but it may help slightly.
