One of the biggest setbacks of the Apple Watch is while it records tons of health data, Watch wearers only get to see a fraction of it. We're finally seeing a wave of apps hit the App Store that promise to unlock that data so you can make use of it as you wish. That's why we're checking out one such app:
Heart Analyzer.
Heart Analyzer aims to show you all that hidden data that the Apple Watch keeps tabs on, so you can make sense of it however you need to. Sure, it's not something that is designed to diagnose or treat any sort of heart disorder, but it's still data that you can use to establish a baseline and chart any changes, which is great.
As far as using the app, it's pretty easy. Install it, allow it to access your iHealth data, and then go from there. Inside the app you'll find a calendar of data that has been recorded, and clicking on an individual day allows you to check out a helpful graph that shows just how your heart rate fluctuated throughout the day. You're also able to view workout data, which is great for those of us who are trying to keep track of our workouts without manually recording everything. You're also able to export data as a .CSV if you want, as well, which is a neat feature for those who are interested in using their data points on their own.
Of course, it's not perfect. The app only shows you data for nine days unless you purchase a $2 IAP unlock. It also seems to sometimes get "stuck" on data points if you take your Watch off at times, leading to extremely skewed data. For example, we took our Watch off after working out to shower and left it on our charging dock, so the Watch assumed that we had a heart rate of 120 for several hours before we put it back on later. This may not be a problem with Heart Analyzer, but a problem with the Apple Watch, though it still greatly effects the accuracy of the data.
One of the biggest issues we have with Heart Analyzer is that it expects you to wear your Watch absolutely every waking moment so the Watch can accurately gather enough data to give you the "most correct" picture of your heart health. We typically do not wear the Watch every waking moment, though, and thus are often reminded by the app that because we don't, there are things that we're missing out on. Supposedly, if you wear the Watch while sleeping, it will establish a baseline and be able to accurately graph your sleep cycle. You can turn this option off in the settings, though, if you're not keen on sleeping with your Watch on.
Overall, it's a neat app, but it's not perfect. We don't think there's a perfect app out there yet, and we're not sure if there is ever going to be one. However, it's better than nothing, and we do think this is a nice app at its core. If you're interested, you can snag
Heart Analyzer for the iPhone and iPad (and the companion Watch app) for free, but you'll have to pay for that data unlock if you want access to up to three months of your data.
Who could benefit from Heart Analyzer:
If you're just curious about what sort of data the Apple Watch has collected in regards to your heart rate, this is a cool way to look at the data in easy to read charts.
Who may not need Heart Analyzer:
This is definitely not a replacement for medical care, hospital visits, or regular checkups -- this is not an app for someone who has a medical condition and must keep a close and accurate eye on it.
-Amber Neely (
@SurferAmber)
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