Nike, Apple debut Nike+iPod products
updated 12:20 pm EDT, Tue May 23, 2006
Nike+iPod partnership
Nike and Apple today announced a partnership to bring "the worlds of sports and music together like never before with the launch of innovative Nike+iPod products. "The first product developed through this partnership is the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, a wireless system that allows Nike+ footwear to talk with your iPod nano to connect users to the "ultimate personal running and workout experience," allowing atheletes to record valuable workout information. Nike CEO Mark Parker and Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled Nike+iPod at an event in New York attended by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe. "We're working with Nike to take music and sport to a new level," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The result is like having a personal coach or training partner motivating you every step of your workout." [corrected]
"Nike+iPod is a partnership between two iconic, global brands with a shared passion for creating meaningful consumer product experiences through design and innovation," Parker said. "This is the first result, and Nike+iPod will change the way people run. Nike+iPod creates a better running experience. We see many more such Nike+ innovations in the future."
The new Nike+ Air Zoom Moire is the first footwear designed to talk to iPod. Nike says it plans to make many of its leading footwear styles Nike+ ready, connecting millions of consumers to the Nike+iPod experience.
With the Nike+ footwear connected to iPod nano through the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, information on time, distance, calories burned and pace is stored on iPod and displayed on the screen; real-time audible feedback also is provided through headphones. The kit includes an in-shoe sensor and a receiver that attaches to iPod. A new Nike Sport Music section on the iTunes Music Store and a new Nike+ personal service site to help maximize the Nike+iPod experience.
Armstrong, who is preparing for his first NY Marathon, said, "If you can incorporate time, distance and calories burned together and make it function for both the fitness runner and the high level athlete, it will take working out to a whole other level."
Specially designed Nike apparel, including jackets, tops, shorts and an iPod nano armband, bring together the Nike+iPod experience with waterproof pockets that accommodate iPod nano and are designed to make it easy to operate while staying tuned to music during an active workout.
The Nike+iPod Sport Kit is expected to be available within 60 days for a suggested retail price of $30 through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores, Apple Authorized Resellers as well as Nike.com, Niketown, NikeWomen stores and select retail stores in the US. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit requires a Nike+ shoe and a iPod nano with Mac with a USB 2.0 and Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later and iTunes 6.0.5; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional (SP2) and iTunes 6.0.5.
... Wow! ... Cool? ...
05/23, 01:05pm reply delete
What will they think of next?
Just goes to show you that innovation with the iPod is far from over. Serious runners rejoyce (if there was a bike company as big as Nike, I'm sure we'd have that too).
Sure, it's a niche application, but it WILL sell iPods and shoes (in addition to bringing yet more positive press).
Those jealous SanDisk iCantBelieveTheyDedicatedAnEntireFlamerWebsiteToTheirProductWithoutGivingSpecs folk must be running for the hills (but they don't know how fast they're going, or how far they've already gone)
bondidave
Joined:
$3...really? Apple?
05/23, 01:32pm reply
Somehow, I don't believe that.
GORDYmac
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Dec 1999
$3 would be cool
05/23, 01:52pm reply
And it looks to integrate into most Nike running shoes.
My guess is it's $39.
itguy05
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Trek?
05/23, 01:55pm reply
I guess Trek or Specialized would work for the bike world. Or K2 to get several sports (skiing (K2, Volkl, Pre), snowboarding, biking).
This is a really cool idea.
bfalchuk
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2003
sweat shops
05/23, 01:58pm reply
Isn't Nike still using sweatshop labor in service of their stockholders?
http://www.google.com/search?q=nike+sweatshop
Does this deal indicate that they've remedied this ethical problem, or does it mean that Apple as a company just doesn't care?
slur
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999
no heart rate?
05/23, 02:02pm reply
too bad. i had the nike watch (kit) that tracked speed, distance and pulse and synced with software to keep track of your distance, speed, heart rate at different segments, etc. really cool, especially since it had mac software. too bad it got lost in hurricane katrina last year. and too bad this doesn't have heart rate monitoring built in too.
and does it really only work with nano? hopefully it works with my 30gig ipod also.
anyway, this is really cool stuff, especially for only $29!
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000
that's innovation
05/23, 02:20pm reply
hmm, creative, iriver, samsung, et al the other mp3 competitors and the ipod haters all say, "the ipod sucks, it doesn't have FM radio, it doesn't have a voice recorder, it doesn't do this, or that".
then apple shuts them all up and shows off a cool thing like this, something from left field which philips already kinda did with nike but never looked as cool as this.
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000
At least...
05/23, 02:32pm reply
...it's a way to motivate lazy people to get some exercise. Or is it just for the power dudes out there ?
:)
stefbystef
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2001
good move
05/23, 02:32pm reply delete
I think it's great. Let's them have a chance to work together with two great companies and sell two great products. I think they'll work well together.
Trin86
Joined:
Crazy Stupid Nike
05/23, 02:54pm reply delete
As a reasonably serious runner, I don't agree with bondidave - this doesn't appeal. Why? Because running shoes are a very involved & personal purchase - I've had times where I've tried on 10+ different pairs of shoes before choosing. So being forced to use Nike shoes to use this is _idiotic_. I suppose it looks great to the marketroids, but I personally don't wear Nike shoes - they're not comfortable for me. & I'm sure I'm not alone.
So I won't buy this. Evar.
lhorrocks
Joined: