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Nike+iPod Sport Kit Brings Nano Compatibility to Footwear

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 at 1:55 PM - by

Nike and Apple on Tuesday introduced the US$29 Nike+iPod Sport Kit, a receiver/sensor combination that works with compatible Nike footwear to deliver real-time audible feedback to an iPod nano while the user exercises. Time, distance, calories burned, and pace are stored on the iPod and displayed on its screen, as well as spoken through the headphones.

After working out, users connect the MP3 player to their computer and automatically sync and store data in a customized log on the Nike Web site. When setting up their playlists, users can select a Power Song that will be activated when they press the iPod nano's center button. The idea is that the Power Song will give them the extra boost they need to complete their workout.

Nike's new $100 Air Zoom Moire shoes are the first ones to work with the Sport Kit, which was unveiled today at a New York City press event attended by Nike CEO Mark Parker, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe. The new products will be available in stores July 13.

"We're working with Nike to take music and sport to a new level," Mr. Jobs said in a press release. "The result is like having a personal coach or training partner motivating you every step of your workout."

Nike has launched a new Web site, nikeplus.com, to promote the products, and the iTunes Music Store is offering a Nike Sport Music section. In addition to an iPod nano and compatible footwear, the Sport Kit requires a Mac or Windows computer with a USB 2.0 port and iTunes 6.0.5. Mac OS X v10.3.9 or Windows 2000, XP Home, or XP Professional is also required.

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geoduck said:

member since 30 Dec 2003 with 1922 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue May 23, 2006 2:19 pm

This is really cool. Here I thought it was just going to be a Nike jacket with a pouch for the iPod and they come out with something really different.

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davebarnes said:

member since 12 Jan 2005 with 130 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue May 23, 2006 2:30 pm

Just "one more thing" to crush Creative, SANdisk and Sony in the "portable digital music player" market (aka, the iPod market).

OK, it is a niche market. But, it provides increased cachet for each brand. I just looked at all the promo material on both websites. A complete integrated package to "enhance your lifestyle". This is brillinat marketing.

,dave

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mrmgraphics said:

member since 05 Sep 2003 with 825 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue May 23, 2006 2:49 pm

+

Any idea why it's only for the nano? I've got the 5G "video" iPod, as do many, and I have to wonder why that potential customer base would be left out. (Concerns over the HD, perhaps?)

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A guest said: (hide)

Tue May 23, 2006 3:22 pm

Before everyone gets too excited notice that the battery in the sensor is NOT replaceable. When it dies we're supposed to buy a new Nike+ sport kit?

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geoduck said:

member since 30 Dec 2003 with 1922 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue May 23, 2006 3:45 pm

That does change things. If it is a 5 year Lithium Battery than it might be OK. If you can get replacement sensors at a reasonable price then it might be OK. If they want you to replace the whole thing say yearly, then it it would not be OK. Sure, it's only $29 but some of that is the receiver and software. And it's the principle of the thing.

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A guest said: (hide)

Tue May 23, 2006 11:31 pm

I suspect that because the Nano is a Flash based player it is better suited for running. The iPod is a hard drive based player, which means it has fragile moving parts that get bounced all around when one runs. I suspect my running with my regular iPod is why it had a short life.

mrmgraphics wrote:
+

Any idea why it's only for the nano? I've got the 5G "video" iPod, as do many, and I have to wonder why that potential customer base would be left out. (Concerns over the HD, perhaps?)

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boodle said:

member since 13 Jun 2004 with 42 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue May 23, 2006 11:58 pm

Remember when Steve Jobs said he wanted to emulate Sony's marketing successes? Well, here it is, a product for every niche. The iPod is the perfect "mole" technology. Potentially it can plug in to enrich media "user experience," anywhere, any niche. Finally, it seems, Steve has found his "Cube." Or, so one can hope.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed May 24, 2006 1:17 am

are we sure it's only for the nano? that little receiver will easily plug in on the bottom of my 5g ipod and my fiance's blue mini... she already runs with hers all the time (even has the 'sport' armband for it, so i doubt they are really that concerned about the harddrive)... i aint buying a new ipod (with FAR too little storage) just to have nike tell me stuff while I run... if it plugs into my current ipod then i'm game.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed May 24, 2006 10:06 am

geoduck wrote:
That does change things. If it is a 5 year Lithium Battery than it might be OK. If you can get replacement sensors at a reasonable price then it might be OK. If they want you to replace the whole thing say yearly, then it it would not be OK. Sure, it's only $29 but some of that is the receiver and software. And it's the principle of the thing.

you're an idiot.

it's a $29 pproduct that goes in a running shoe. How often do you replce those $150 running shoes? How often do you replace those $10 pairs of socks. There is no principle here being violated. Except that any idiot can post to a web thread.

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geoduck said:

member since 30 Dec 2003 with 1922 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed May 24, 2006 10:11 am

Decaf dude.

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu May 25, 2006 11:09 am

It sounds like this is just a pedometer. In other words, it just counts your steps, and you program in how long your steps are. From this, it calculates all the other information it gives you. My stride changes too much for this to be accurate. Besides, I already have a running watch that hits the gps satelites. It always knows exactly where I am. I have laps set on it to one mile, so that at the end of each mile, it will tell me how fast I ran the last mile. Then when I am done, and can download my run onto my computer and show it on a map. I can also show and elevation chart, heart rate chart, speed chart, etc. Buying anything for a nice digital player like the ipod that really does nothing but count my steps seems pretty useless.

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu May 25, 2006 1:41 pm

For the shape of my feet, Saucony running shoes fit me like a glove. I try on other shoes every once in a while, but always end up buying Saucony.

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu May 25, 2006 1:51 pm

But if you run in Nike shoes, and have an ipod, and are just the casual walker/jogger, $29 is a cheap way to get some cool functionality out of your ipod. Pesonally I'll stick with my Garmin 301. But when they came out, they retailed for $300! Now the retail is still $250, but you can get one online for around $165. It sounds like the watch mentioned above.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon May 29, 2006 9:58 am

can't wait for Bekin to release the iPod shoe pouch that attatches through the laces of your existing running shoes so you can use the sensor without having to wear Nike shoes which aren't the best.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Jun 21, 2006 2:53 pm

Good news on the Bekin product. Long distance runners who could really benefit from this technology are fiercely loyal to their shoes. Despite it's dominant brand name, you don't see too many Nike's at races. Great idea only if it could be used on better running shoes.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:36 pm

It is not a pedometer. Ever here of phsyics or calculus? Well these tools can be used to calculated speed.

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:55 pm

Guest wrote:
geoduck wrote:
That does change things. If it is a 5 year Lithium Battery than it might be OK. If you can get replacement sensors at a reasonable price then it might be OK. If they want you to replace the whole thing say yearly, then it it would not be OK. Sure, it's only $29 but some of that is the receiver and software. And it's the principle of the thing.

you're an idiot.

it's a $29 pproduct that goes in a running shoe. How often do you replce those $150 running shoes? How often do you replace those $10 pairs of socks. There is no principle here being violated. Except that any idiot can post to a web thread.

Quote this post ↓

A guest said: (hide)

Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:58 pm

Guest wrote:
geoduck wrote:
That does change things. If it is a 5 year Lithium Battery than it might be OK. If you can get replacement sensors at a reasonable price then it might be OK. If they want you to replace the whole thing say yearly, then it it would not be OK. Sure, it's only $29 but some of that is the receiver and software. And it's the principle of the thing.

you're an idiot.

it's a $29 pproduct that goes in a running shoe. How often do you replce those $150 running shoes? How often do you replace those $10 pairs of socks. There is no principle here being violated. Except that any idiot can post to a web thread.

Those who can not spell should never call one an idiot.

Quote this post ↓

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