Cell phone running app + a Treadmill - I'm confused here

[QueBert]

Downloaded the Nike+ Running app on my EVO 4G. I went to the gym tonight to test it out, I enabled the indoor (treadmill) mode. As soon as I put the phone in the holder on the treadmill I noticed it said on the screen the phone needed to be in my hand for the app to work, and it completely stopped tracking. I googled accelerometer's and was a bit confused. Can they also function as a pedometer? I mean I guess they have to be able to because when I grabbed my phone it started tracking again. I don't particularly want to run on the treadmill with a phone in my hand, but it seems like a pretty cool app and I do use Nike+ with my Nike GPS watch. I like the Android app because it can integrate with my playlist so I can have music.

What I'm confused about is I understand how the Nike+ shoe pod can track how far I've ran. But if the pod isn't in my shoe it doesn't work at all. And even in my shoe I had to calibrate it on a 1/4 mile run for it be accurate, without that it was dogpoo when it came to accuracy. So how exactly is my phones accelerometer able to function on a treadmill simply by me holding my phone in my hand?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

If you're gonna bring your cell phone along, is there any way you can utilize its GPS to track the distance run, speed, etc?

 

[QueBert]

I do that when I jog outdoors, but I hit the gym and jog on the treadmill most of the time. Used a bunch of running apps and for indoor running they all had me enter my distance/pace/time manually after the run. I was unaware that an Acceleremeter worked when you stationary. I always thought you had to actually be moving forward.

 

[thomsbrain]

The accelerometer likely works by counting your strides based on your hand moving back and forth as you run.

 

[Neesnu]

I am pretty sure your comparing two different things.
Nike+ shoe pod I am sure just registers pressure on the sensor, which is why calibration is required.

Using acceleration I am pretty sure you can track distance from that. As that is what we used to do in high school calc.

 

[Childs]

If you're gonna bring your cell phone along, is there any way you can utilize its GPS to track the distance run, speed, etc?

I have an app called Accuterra that does that. I use it when hiking, and it just uses gps.

 

[sygyzy]

I am confused OP. Are you confused about how pedometers work?

 

[QueBert]

I am confused OP. Are you confused about how pedometers work?

No I know how they work, but according to Google my phone doesn't have one of those. And even if it did have one, I wouldn't have to the phone in my hand for it to work. If I put my phone in my pocket it doesn't do anything for tracking distance. I have to be physically holding it in my hand for it to work.

 

[RagingBITCH]

I think I'm totally confused as well. Why are you trying to accomplish exactly with the Nike+ on your EVO, when you have the stats right there on the treadmill? Just data recording?

On the pocket vs arm - you have a larger distance covered from your arm moving than your pocket. Pocket = lower hip/upper leg...it really doesn't cover much distance.

 

[QueBert]

I think I'm totally confused as well. Why are you trying to accomplish exactly with the Nike+ on your EVO, when you have the stats right there on the treadmill? Just data recording?

On the pocket vs arm - you have a larger distance covered from your arm moving than your pocket. Pocket = lower hip/upper leg...it really doesn't cover much distance.

yeah stats, I have timed achievements set up on the Nike+ site and since I run about 50/50 treadmill/outdoor I would probably not finish any of them in time if I didn't log my treadmill runs. The Adidas Micoach app lets you manually enter your treadmill info, too bad this Nike one doesn't.

 

[Bateluer]

I think I'm totally confused as well. Why are you trying to accomplish exactly with the Nike+ on your EVO, when you have the stats right there on the treadmill? Just data recording?

Some of the fancier treadmills I've seen have features like WiFi and Bluetooth to sync to a phone or upload through your WiFi. They aren't cheap models though.