GC identifies the sport type from a couple of binary values in the FIT file header. Generally, the device firmwares only support a subset of these, and the only way to create an activity with the correct values for a sport outside that set is to use a Connect IQ app (where the programmer will have set appropriate values, which aren't limited to those in the standard set of sports in the device firmware).
Bizarre. I would have thought they would allow you to start with a standard profile like Running, to get the appropriate data fields, then select the type of activity from a list.
Or, if I name the profile Walking, they should set that sport type in GC.
It's nice to be able to do it using Connect IQ, but then you can't customize data fields, GPS type, etc using the standard activity settings interface.
It would be nice to have the app make 'Walking' (or Hiking or Kayaking or whatever) appear as an activity without having to go through the IQ Apps menu and then scrolling to it. I would also be nice if the app could create a dedicated widget that would quickly give you the specs of your last walk. But I presume that these ideas are not workable options within the parameters of Garmin's operating system.
I think the problem, as much as anything, is that the infrastructure for GC and the design philosophy of the devices was never intended to handle users creating new types of activity, so it's not optimal. That said, it's still more flexible than anything the competition are offering (in terms of Suunto and Polar). There's a thread here which goes into a bit more depth about the headers and how they can be used.
It would be nice to have the app make 'Walking' (or Hiking or Kayaking or whatever) appear as an activity without having to go through the IQ Apps menu and then scrolling to it. I would also be nice if the app could create a dedicated widget that would quickly give you the specs of your last walk. But I presume that these ideas are not workable options within the parameters of Garmin's operating system.
Although I like and use the Hike2 app, there is another way that does allow you to have a 'Walking' activity show up as a widget that is quickly available as an activity, without doing the extra steps of going through the IQ Apps menu.
Settings, Activity Profiles, + Add New, Hike, choose color, Custom, name the activity 'Walking' (or choose whatever name you want).
The activity will show up on Garmin Connect website as 'Hiking' and the icon shows a hiker with a backpack and walking stick, but it calculates the calories and distance exactly the same as the Hike2 app when it is set for 'walk' instead of 'hike'. It will show up in Android Garmin Connect under Activity Stats, Walking or All Activities.
How is it more flexible than Suunto? With Suunto you can CHOOSE which sport modes are on your watch. For example, on the Ambit series you can put up to 10 sport modes on your watch of your choosing from a huge list available in Movescount. Takes 2 seconds to open up the IOS app, and pick/choose. You can name them whatever you want and have them identify as whatever sport you want.
I know how it works, thanks. I have an Ambit 2 sapphire (still need to use the website for that, of course).
I don't know if you've tried programming for either Suunto or Garmin, but the Garmin environment is way ahead of what Suunto provide, and that's what I was referring to. The old Suunto environment won't work for the upcoming Spartan watch; remains to be seen what, if anything, is coming for that.
