New Version of ErgData

[steve-waters]

ErgZone is streaks ahead as far app design and usability is concerned...I am playing with ErgData for beta testing...

It's kind of odd in that all they did was take the PM5 functionality and put it in an app...which is ok but feels like a missed opportunity...

ErgZone is great at workout creation in advance...it also groups your efforts under the workout so you can see progress...it's a nice touch...ErgData has an odd flow to create and save a workout in advance...it still has the user experience of sit in front of the app make a workout on the spot then row...it works it's just odd...even just needing to pick the type to workout your creating is just PM5 in an app...it works but could be so much better...not being able to set number of intervals when doing "constant intervals" is naff...

[Carl Watts]

The missed opportunity was putting most of that into the PM5 firmware and releasing it as a "Pro version".

The PM5 has plenty of grunt and can easily handle it. I was waiting for just a simple total stroke counter for what felt like 10 years.

I really only use ErgData for the ease of Sync the workout and the fact it has a total stroke counter and your drag factor to the C2 online logbook.

With a Bluetooth USB dongle in my PC I could have probably just hit a SYNC button on the PM5 and it would have uploaded the memory of the PM5 after the row and I would not even need a separate device or just use the separate device for the likes of RowedBiker for Zwift.

Because of all the clunky software I have to run two PM5's on my Model D rower to get the connectivity I need.

I never setup interval specific rows, its just a mess in the results. All we do is say do a 5000m and do 500m on then 500m off and repeat and watch the red crossing lines come up on screen using RowPro. Its pretty obvious when you need to sprint and then recover, you are not even watching the PM5.

[Dangerscouse]

ErgZone is streaks ahead as far app design and usability is concerned...I am playing with ErgData for beta testing...

It's kind of odd in that all they did was take the PM5 functionality and put it in an app...which is ok but feels like a missed opportunity...

ErgZone is great at workout creation in advance...it also groups your efforts under the workout so you can see progress...it's a nice touch...ErgData has an odd flow to create and save a workout in advance...it still has the user experience of sit in front of the app make a workout on the spot then row...it works it's just odd...even just needing to pick the type to workout your creating is just PM5 in an app...it works but could be so much better...not being able to set number of intervals when doing "constant intervals" is naff...

Yep, totally agree.

[steve-waters]

The missed opportunity was putting most of that into the PM5 firmware and releasing it as a "Pro version".

The PM5 has plenty of grunt and can easily handle it. I was waiting for just a simple total stroke counter for what felt like 10 years.

I really only use ErgData for the ease of Sync the workout and the fact it has a total stroke counter and your drag factor to the C2 online logbook.

With a Bluetooth USB dongle in my PC I could have probably just hit a SYNC button on the PM5 and it would have uploaded the memory of the PM5 after the row and I would not even need a separate device or just use the separate device for the likes of RowedBiker for Zwift.

Because of all the clunky software I have to run two PM5's on my Model D rower to get the connectivity I need.

I never setup interval specific rows, its just a mess in the results. All we do is say do a 5000m and do 500m on then 500m off and repeat and watch the red crossing lines come up on screen using RowPro. Its pretty obvious when you need to sprint and then recover, you are not even watching the PM5.

That's a lot to quote just to agree with "PM5 has plenty of grunt"...they way they built the app it's almost like the next step is to make the PM5 have no display and just be the powerful brain that it is...with users picking their desired UI to display all the goodness...

I am at a loss to work out the problem they were trying to solve or the value trying to with the new app...maybe they thought they needed one cause that's what you do these days...

[JaapvanE]

That's a lot to quote just to agree with "PM5 has plenty of grunt"...they way they built the app it's almost like the next step is to make the PM5 have no display and just be the powerful brain that it is...with users picking their desired UI to display all the goodness...

I think there are plenty of scenario's, including gyms, where a stand-alone device is needed. I just wished they started recording more data (for exaple like PainSled does), as the PM5 is calculating them and the PM5 broadcasts them through the Bluetooth and USB interfaces.

I am at a loss to work out the problem they were trying to solve or the value trying to with the new app...maybe they thought they needed one cause that's what you do these days...

It could be necessary from a development perspective as Google or Apple abandon parts of their API's. Given the age of ErgData, that wouldn't be surprising.

[JaapvanE]

ErgZone is great at workout creation in advance...it also groups your efforts under the workout so you can see progress...it's a nice touch...ErgData has an odd flow to create and save a workout in advance...it still has the user experience of sit in front of the app make a workout on the spot then row...it works it's just odd...even just needing to pick the type to workout your creating is just PM5 in an app...it works but could be so much better...not being able to set number of intervals when doing "constant intervals" is naff...

Please report them as improvement, I think some people need their feedback to get where they need to be.

I also reported a bug: they are still truncating data when uploading to the logbook (when you are using download xls). The bluetooth spec indicates more precission, and ErgZone does deliver on that through that route, so why can't C2?

[steve-waters]

Already done...well before I posted here...

[JaapvanE]

I found one neat trick: when you select the PM5 and open the info, you can select it as a favourite so it will autoconnect.

[warnie]

Had three short rows using the new beta app, I really like the look of it. It crashed in the middle of my second workout mind!!

I'm just about to start the Pete Plan and although you can save a workout in ErgData i.e. set up a 5k, with a certain stroke rate etc - am I missing something? Does it add the workout to the PM5 like Ergzone does? I couldn't get it to work if that is a new function!

I've set up a few of the Pete Plan workouts in ErgZone so ready to go tomorrow!

[JaapvanE]

Once the row is completed, i hit the hamburger manu (top left) and tap "Save...and go to logbook" to save it.

[SchuCru]

Pays to stay on the general release and not switch to a Beta version in a hurry.

If its not broken don't try and fix it.

I guess the next major progression is to roll ErgData and ErgRace into one App.

Can't agree with the "not broken don't fix it" philosophy enough. The new version is not as user friendly:
- when synched to the PM5 it regularly disconnects when trying to input workout from the PM5
- once synched it want user to input workout from the app even if the workout has already been selected from the PM5
- once synched to PM5 no option to go straight back to your workout screen
- "synchs" with logbook are automatic vice selective (I refer the option of choosing what I don't want to upload)
- new displays are less able to be tailored to user preference

Anyone know how I can revert to the old app? The new one sucks.

[JaapvanE]

Can't agree with the "not broken don't fix it" philosophy enough.

If we all thougut that, we'd still be living in trees.....

Anyone know how I can revert to the old app? The new one sucks.

The old app is still in slthe store under another name, as it is needed to connect to the PM3 and PM4

[Tsnor]

Anyone know how I can revert to the old app? The new one sucks.

Look for ERGDATA for PM3 or PM4 on either apple app store or google play. IF you install that and it's *NOT* exactly the old version please report it here.

You can get the older ergdata APK files (install files) on one of the software mirror sites. Goggle to find them.

Set your phone/tablet app options to MANUALLY update applications so you can choose when to go forward to new versions/levels so this type of change does bite you in the future. If you load the older version via APK files to ERGDATA, then ERGDATA might keep getting updated to the new version without this setting.

You may need to reset your ERGDATA files if you revert. Sometimes on one-way migrations software developers choose to reformat your data in a way that is easier for the new version, but can't be used by the old program (bad habit IMO, same as requiring a new firmware version and pulling support for the older version - makes for failed migrations). If you do revert and old ergdata can't read your data please post here. Make sure your C2 log was current before reverting ErgData just in case.

(Sometimes if you use the new one for a month or so before moving back you discover you actaully like the new one better. GL)

[HowardF]

Any clue how you can change the HR zones ?

Ok found it myself. Just go to edit profile in settings. Then set your max BPM.

[sailortodd]

- new displays are less able to be tailored to user preference

Strictly on this point, the display is infinitely more tailorable in the new version. You can pick from multiple displays with varying numbers of fields. You can pick the data to display for almost all of the fields in question, and there are more metrics to choose from, so it's a broader range of data you can display. In comparison, the old ErgData app was clunky and rigid, with fewer data fields you are able to display.

I'm not a fan of the new app because it is still being plagued by glitches - it dropped sync on me during an interval workout and then didn't save it. I would have totally lost it if I hadn't had a thumb drive plugged in that captured at least the most important stats from my workout. But the display is great. Or at least better than it was.