Two iPhone applications - What is the difference?

[RGOLD]

Apple app store shows two Specialized applications, Mission Control (Red icon) and Specialized (Black icon). What is the difference and which one should I use for my Vado 3.0?

 

[Ben J]

They do almost exactly the same thing. Assuming the Apple colors match the Android ones, the black icon is the new version. There's a thread about it: https://forums.electricbikereview.com/threads/new-spec-app.53670/

Overall I like the new app better except for the fact that it doesn't record heartrate from my ANT+ HR sensor, which the old one did.

There's actually a less e-bike specific app from Specialized called "ride" which I keep on my phone because I prefer it for looking at saved rides. The other two apps upload to the same cloud, so you can record with either of them and then pull up the activity in ride and get a nice summary.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

At this moment, Specialized encourages all users to only use the Specialized App (black icon).

There is a new feature in the Specialized App: making it a companion application. Once that's done, the other apps stop recognizing Specialized e-bikes.

 

[leifg]

Mission control can auto start a ride and allows you to connect Bluetooth HRM (probably same feature loss like ANT+ @Benj mentioned)... specialized app won't do either. But specialized app will auto unlock bike without even opening the app which is quite nice.

Overall, Specialized app is getting there...but is not quite there.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Mission control can auto start a ride

specialized app won't do

Not that I actually use the Specialized app very much but could see a lot of improvement with the latest update.

Have you used the version that becomes your e-bike's Companion App?

 

[Bavi]

Mission control can auto start a ride ...

Yep it's a bit of a bummer that the new app doesn't do that yet.... but you can click start in the new app before you go to you bike (I keep my phone in my rucksack) and it will automatically connect and start the ride when you power the bike on, it'll even stop and restart when you power the bike off and on at the cafe, shops etc. you just have to click finish when your ride is done

 

[Fender]

The new app doesn't display firmware versions
It would be great if the new app added capabilities and i/o to the shorcuts apps in iOS to allow automations based on connection state (the bluetooth pairing mode doesn't allow to use it as a shortcut condition at the moment) and allowing ride start on specific conditions (including connection to the bike) etc.

 

[RGOLD]

Since it is not possible to use both, which one you like more?

 

[Fender]

The automatic unlocking even when the app is not in use is a major feature of the new one

 

[Ben J]

I use the new one because I like the integrated map/stats page and I don't really have a long-term use for heartrate data. But I wish it would start recording that again just to satisfy my inner nerd.

 

[leifg]

@Bavi suggestions was a great one -- I've been starting ride in advance with the new app, and app will auto-unlock and effectively auto-start ride.

My bike is in attached garage. So one annoying thing with new app's auto connect feature is that I keep getting app pop ups saying "connecting" when bike is charging in charge-only mode. I'd much prefer bike doesn't try to connect unless the user presses the power key.

 

[Bavi]

I just checked mine in the app (as it's currently charging in my garage) and I see what you mean! You can just click the 3 dots in the top right corner of the app and hit disconnect (or whatever it's called) but Ideally you shouldn't have to do that I agree.