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.
Joined:
... Wow! ... Cool? ...
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)