Endomondo Review (Ep. #145 Fat 2 Fit Radio)

Running App Review for Endomondo, Episode #145 (3.18.13)

by Helana Brigman

PROS:

1 – “Highest rated app of its kind for Android” (not iPhone) with a 4.6 average star rating in the Google App store and about the same in the iTunes store (just short of 3,100 reviews on Apple iTunes) – reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

2 – Syncs with Facebook, no need to set up a separate account (most of the running apps are doing this now, which I love)

3 – Syncs with MyFitness Pal (see article here)

“What sets Endomondo apart from other fitness apps is the live audio coaching and motivation feedback it provides as you workout. This feature also allows you to add a social aspect your routine. One example is the beat-a-friend feature – when competing with a friend, the Endomondo audio coach will provide up-to-date feedback on how you’re performing against them.”

There are a couple of listeners who’ve added me on Facebook and we’ve talked about the show.  Now, I can run and see how they’re running, and if I were to feel extremely competitive, I could compete against their speeds, distances, times, etc.

4 – Tracks more than just runs, but also cycling, walking, aerobics, handball, pilates…basically, you can have the app on whenever you’re doing a specific kind of fitness class or exercise! So, the next time I do kickboxing or a dance class, I’ll see how it does (note: no kickboxing feature on here? But they do have fencing, steping, and running on a treadmill which is very different than running outside.)

AND: WEIGHT TRAINING option! I’m going to turn this on as I lift Weds and see what the results are!

5 – Excellent GPS feature that shows not only my route, but also my speed at each step of the route.  GPS is broken down into miles, so, for a 3.50 mile run, you get the images I’ve uploaded below.

6 – Shows everything you could imagine with your run! Calories burned, loss of hydration, distance, duration, max speed, average speed, levels of ascent and descent (especially important since there are two huge hills in my last run), and the weather conditions.

Note: BPM can also be added, but I still haven’t acquired the BPM bit that hooks up to Endomondo and like apps….

Pictured: Left: Top of Data (Screen Shot); Right: Bottom of Data (Notice the ads? Yeah, and I’ve already paid something like $6…ok, $5.96)

7 – Finally, I don’t have to “upload to the website”; instead, the app does this for me.  By simply saving my workout, it’s online for me to check later.  With LogYourRun, I’d have to manually upload each workout and couldn’t find half of the information I needed later.

CONS:

1 – These bells and whistles aren’t free, and you’ll need to pay for some (if not all) of them:

Tracker Pro is $4.99;

Time & Calorie Goals are both $0.99;

Audio Settings are $1.99;

“Beat Yourself” is also $1.99.  

(Note: Many apps will tell you where you are in distance or time based on the presets you enter into your settings (say ½- or 1-mile or 10-minute intervals as with LogYourRun).  These apps are free, but sometimes, they’re inaccurate.

2 – I’m pretty sure I bought all of these without realizing that the “Tracker Pro” offered each at a bundled rate…sly marketers with their pop-up ads! The app literally suggests you add each 1.99- or 99-cent feature at the end of every logged exercise, so you get caught up in the, “I need that!” moment of your post-workout glory without realizing the full range of options.  When you hit “no” or dismiss the ad, it’ll offer you another one.

3 – Plus, no matter how you “upgrade” your account, there always seems to be some ad somewhere on the screen–”go premium!” for $2.99 / month or $19.99 / year.  All this is is showing you your weather hour by hour (there are free apps for this that come with our phones).  Although I love the great output, I can’t stand these nonstop ads! Maybe listeners will have some suggestions for how to get the ads to go away, but I’m afraid the answer will be – “you have to buy the biggest package…”

4 – Because it syncs so easily with Facebook, you have to be careful you don’t “authorize” it during the set up to post constantly on your behalf.

However, cons being said, I think you get what you pay for when it comes to certain products.  Endomondo definitely offers more than any other running app I’ve used whether it’s the fact that I can turn it on to track lifting weights or doing yoga, and the social element aspect is pretty incredible.  There’s now a place where I can “run” with my old running buddy from college or compete with a listener.

Next show: Nike+

–Helana

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Endomondo Review (Ep. #145 Fat 2 Fit Radio), 5.0 out of 5 based on 2 ratings Google+