« PAPA | Main | Future iPod Expectations »
December 05, 2006
Ipod for Runners, duh, but wait, there's more!
So I am a runner, have been for about 8 years, and probably will be until I'm too old and decrepit to move from my firm position in front of "Murder She Wrote." But anyway, not to get sidetracked, I've been hearing rumours for a little while now about the new Nike+ipod Sport Kit. After getting a chance to check it out, I find that once again, Apple has succeeded in impressing me, not only with the sheer innovation of its ideas, but with its ability to make great partnerships with other companies.
To give you some background, since its inception, the ipod has become the preferred music companion for all of those fanatic runners out there on their frequent lonely jogs. To capitalize on this use of the ipod, Apple has teamed up with Nike to offer the "Nike+iPod Sport Kit"- a small shoe sensor and a wireless receiver that work together to enhance the runner's workout. Basically, the receiver fits inside a small cavity in the left shoe of any pair of Nikes with the "+" symbol (meaning they are sport kit compatible).
When you are ready to set off, you can scroll down the settings and choose the appropriate distance measurement (kilometres or miles), enter your weight, choose a voice among several options for the audio feedback, and select a power song (a default song that you can select to play when you most need the added energy). You can also choose from several different workout options, including distance, time, calories-burned, or open-ended.
Once the run begins, the screen of the ipod will change to reflect a clearly readable timer, the distance travelled, and the pace and name of the song being played. If you want an update on progress without having to look at your ipod (i.e. if you want to know how you are doing, but... you don't really want to run into a pole or get hit by a car) you can press the middle button of the ipod and the pre-selected audio voice will let you know how far you've run, how long you've run, and how many calories you have burned.
At the end of the run, you can come home and hook up the ipod to your computer. Once connected, itunes will prompt you to send the information to the Nike+ipod website. There, you can see a breakdown of your run in graph format (i.e. pace level over the specific time span). You can then save the data in your account, and use it as a basis of comparison for future runs. Users at the website can also invite up to 50 people to compete, or to work towards a common goal.
I think this is a great product for runners. Although I loathe running indoors (something about all those people crammed into one room, peering over one another's shoulders to see how many calories their neighbor has burned), I do occasionally enjoy seeing my exact distance/time per mile and calories burned. For me, this would be an awesome way to combine running outdoors with a more regimented workout. I could finally figure out the distance for my favorite routes, and using the website, I could keep track of my progress over time. This may be disheartening, as I like to think that I run an average of 4 miles each time at a rate of 8 miles/minute (my general distance and pace in high school), but I have a feeling that those numbers may be a bit optimistic. Regardless, the Nike+ipod Sportkit would be a great way to monitor my running, and push myself further (just what I need as a b-school kid).
The one drawback of the sport-kit is that it only works for the ipod Nano since the technology is compatible with its Flash memory (as opposed to the hard-drive based regular-size ipod). Although, I have been thinking about buying a Bono-pod (which is a Nano), and this would be the perfect excuse. Christmas List, here I come.
See...
Nike Reaches Deeper into New Media to Find Young Buyers
Posted by tawr at December 5, 2006 05:36 PM