Filed under: Hardware, iPod Family, Hacks, Odds and ends
iPod + Nike Dissected
The guys at Spark Fun Electronics just can't leave well enough alone. They have to go taking things apart that should not be taken apart. Now they've got their hands on the iPod+Nike kit, and they have a rather extensive write-up over on their site. Perhaps the most interesting thing is their finding that the kit does not contain an accelerometer as just about everybody thought. Rather, the shoe sensor merely contains a switch (apparently piezoelectric) that sends a signal back to the receiver on each footstep. That's considerably less sophisticated than I would have expected from Apple, but if it works, so what. If you're the type that likes close-up pictures of circuit boards and can read schematics, check it out.Thanks Roberto!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ten_eighteen said 3:41PM on 1-15-2007
I can't comment much on the actual electronic components of the iPod + Nike kit, but the construction is terrific. You can see from the pictures that they couldn't cleanly snap off the top panel, which proves that the seal is really good.
I just wanted to comment on that, because I've accidentaly put mine through the washer and dryer, and it still works fine without any problems. So yeah, maybe it's simple, and there's no accelerometer, but it's definitely durable!
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Marko said 4:03PM on 1-15-2007
Anyone found a great way to use the Nike + iPod kit without the Nike shoes?
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Paul said 4:10PM on 1-15-2007
http://www.switcheasy.com/index.htm has a great clip on for your shoe. The best I have seen so far
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Mat Lu said 4:15PM on 1-15-2007
Marware has another one, the Sportsuit Sensor+
http://tinyurl.com/yeesqy
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Callum said 4:37PM on 1-15-2007
First off, the Apple FAQ on Nike+ tells you how it all works, it names the sensor as piezoelectric : http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303934 one thing we still don't have is comparative evidence between the official Nike+ kit and shoes, and the hacks (most of which include 'attaching' the Nike+ Sensor, which I think is all wrong). Does this technology not Require pressure? I can't see the nike+ pouches doing the same thing as Nike+'s embedded idea. I'd love to see proof.
Marko, yes there are alternatives- embed it in the sole, as I have done- here's my little how-to: http://www.metacomment.com/blog/2007/01/06/diy-nike-plus-hack/
hope that helps. why don't Nike expand the online side of things.
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Marko said 5:15PM on 1-15-2007
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think i'm going to try to retrofit a space for it in the sole of my old running shoes however for the new pair I think i'll try an attachment on the outside and see how that works.
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Ian said 5:23PM on 1-15-2007
I made one that is exactly like the marware version but i spent a whole $0.00 on mine. The instructions are here http://www.instructables.com/id/E1UQY2DB4XES9J4DU3/
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joe said 5:48PM on 1-15-2007
Marko -
I have some New Balance shoes that I use it with. I pulled the insole out and just went to town right in the arch with an exacto. Just cut a border about the size of the transmitter, then hack away with an exacto and pliers. I got about 1/8" indention inside the shoe before it started getting pretty hard to cut. I put the transmitter in, and the top surface of it, right around the red line, stuck above the surface of the sole. I thought this might be a problem, but I put the insole back in and tried it out, and I can't feel it at all - literally, feels exactly the same. My father-in-law did the same to his Adidas shoes and had the same results.
I've heard bad reviews about the external, clip-on pouches.
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Marko said 6:03PM on 1-15-2007
Since I posted my first message earlier, I went to town on my old Adidas running shoes. It went so well that I managed to do it with the new pair as well.
The first time I used an exacto knife and cutting pliers however the 2nd time I went with the Dremmel approach and it turned out really clean (who cares anyways as who's going to see it). Doesn't seem to bother me at all, the shoes feel the same.
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Greenline said 7:36PM on 1-15-2007
..."This means there is potential Apple programmed in some transmit features! It's possible that two of these units can be used to form a short-range link between iPods! I haven't a clue if Apple added this feature or not, but the hardware is there."...
Ok someone needs to get on this right away!
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Paul Puglisi said 8:28PM on 1-15-2007
No there is no pressure needed. I have been using it for the past two weeks and after calibration it comes to within about.1 miles of exact. And i have it tucked in my laces on top of my foot
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Ron said 12:56AM on 1-16-2007
Do a searh for ipod nike and marware. They have a naice adaptor. I got it for my gf and she loves it. Works with any shoe.
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Jonathan said 2:48AM on 1-16-2007
Does that mean it only counts your steps, regardles of the actual distance?
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CascadeHush said 6:13AM on 1-16-2007
Actually it makes sense it's just a switch.
If it actually did contain an accelerometer, you could just stick it in your sock or something. Using a switch makes it necessary for the special hole in the Nike's sole, or the abovementioned hacks for your own shoe.
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Peter Dutton said 11:59AM on 1-24-2007
does anybody know if the attatchment to the ipod nano can be adapted to work with any other ipod as i've got a 40gig ipod and would like to use it while i'm running
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Mary said 2:50PM on 4-03-2007
Has anyone found any good support info on what to do if the device consistenly gives inaccurate data? I have a friend who loved his device in the beginning. But the last 3 runs the device has measured time correctly, but not the distance. He travels a lot, not sure if that impacts the way it works? Any advice?
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dpk said 11:20AM on 4-07-2007
Er, if it doesn't contain an accelerometer, then Apple is lying on their website. It seems unlikely they'd do that for such a high profile product. Are you *sure* it doesn't have one?
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