Nike+iPod - Season in Review
As an aside from my post on iTunes on Monday, I wanted to write about another iTunes related item - Nike+iPod. As the snow really starts to melt around these parts, more people get out for some running. I thought it would be a good time to look back on my first season of running with Nike+.
When Apple first announced this product in conjunction with Nike, my immediate feeling was that this is something that would never appeal to me. Like the Apple and Starbucks pairing, I felt like this was more about hype than solid design. A trial into a new market, like a testing of the waters. More Apple TV and less iPhone.
But then I came across this post by Cabel Sasser and my interest was piqued slightly. Early in 2007 I started running more. Suddenly the concept of this product started to make sense to me.
It has now been just under one year since I purchased my kit. Overall I’ve been impressed - like most Apple products, the Nike+iPod pairing is intuitive and just works. There were a few kinks, but after one year I’m happy to say I my initial reaction was wrong. This is another good product from Apple.
How It Works
For those who haven’t read much about the kit, it includes a receiver that connects to your iPod Nano and a sensor that sits in your shoe and sends your running stats wirelessly to the receiver. The sensor is a piezoelectric accelerometer that is accurate to about 90-95% (that number was given to me by the salesperson at the running store I was at - my results have fit into that range).
As you begin your walk or run, you choose the type of workout and what music you are going to listen. Then the device starts keeping your statistics. The next time you sync your iPod to your computer, your workout data is transferred. In addition, you can have your workout data automatically transmitted to the Nike+ website. You can read more details on Wikipedia.
Shoes and the Sensor
Unfortunately, Nike shoes do not fit my feet. At first I didn’t even think I could use this product since I didn’t want to cripple my arches running in shoes that were too narrow. The Nike+ sensor is designed to be inserted into a pocket built into the sole of a Nike+ shoe. No Nike+ shoe, no sensor-sized pocket.
But after some looking around the intertubes, I discovered plenty of shoe hacks. People all over were using the Nike+iPod kit with non-Nike shoes. Some purchased shoe ‘wallets’, others tucked the sensor in their socks and I even saw some photos of people cutting their own sensor-sized holes in the sole of their shoe.
I chose the wallet approach. This worked and I have been able to use the kit. But it’s also been the cause of any issues I have had with the device. The ideal setup is to have Nike shaped feet and purchase Nike+ shoes.
The issues I had were in fact not complicated - the fact is that the sensor simply needs to be really secured in whatever method you are using to hold it to your foot. If the sensor moves at all during a run then your stats can be severely skewed. The best example I can give is that after completing a 20 km run my Nano would say I had run around 13 km (editors note: 20 km is not the author’s average running distance). It took some playing around with the sensor in the wallet, but I finally stuffed in enough Kleenex to keep it secure. It has been great ever since.
iTunes and the iPod
The Apple components that are affected by your kit are your Nano and iTunes itself. The updates are simple - both interfaces now have some additional options. Here is a screen of iTunes (focused on the Nike + iPod tab):
The change here is simple. It basically shows a summary of your workout history. To get better information, you need to log on to the Nike+ web site. As well, the interface on your iPod is simple and easy to use - it consists of an extra menu option with various sub-options.
Nike+.com
This is where I was really surprised about this product - the fun really starts at the Nike website. Setting goals and issuing challenges to others really helped me to keep running more. And made it more enjoyable.
Nike has done a great job in the design and configuration of the Nike+ website (or whoever they hired to design and build the site). It is also intuitive and easy to navigate. And if you are a graphical person, you have to love the way your historical data is displayed:
Runs
Challenges
The one complaint with the design is that is almost entirely flash based and can be slow at times. But it’s not enough of an issue that it makes me stop using the site.
Issues
Overall, issues with the product were minimal. As mentioned, correctly securing the device caused me some early problems. As well, I had a couple of instances where I had troubles powering the sensor back on. But these problems were fairly minor and easily solved with a little research.
As with any Apple product, I think this is an item that your average Joe consumer could purchase and use on the same day without any fuss.
Looking Forward to Another Year
The overall package succeeds because of the Nike+ website. I thought that if this product were to fail, it would be because of Nike, not Apple. Apple excels in product design - we should all be able to agree on that by now. But Nike has done a great job of making running fun, and the website is where that fun begins (running itself is only so much ‘fun’, yes?).
So as the sun comes out and the desire to get out increases, I’m looking forward to another year of running. And there is no doubt that the desire would not be as strong if I didn’t have Nike+.
