Patent suggests additional Nike+ functions
Posted Apr 25th 2008 2:00PM by Dave Caolo
Filed under: Accessories, iPod Family
Apple and Nike have sold millions of those
tiny little transmitters that fit inside running shoes, as well as the receivers that attach to iPod nanos. Casual runners and former couch potatoes enjoyed them (yours truly included), but more serious runners lamented the lack of certain features, most notably a heart monitor.
According to iPodNN, a patent has been filed which hints at a slew of additional Nike+ functionality, like EKG, heartrate, body temperature and even hydration, through new equipment mounted "on or in" articles of clothing.
It definitely sounds cool, and could help convince more serious athletes to
join the Apple cult buy these cool products.
Tags: ipod, nike, nike plus, NikePlus
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-25-2008 @ 2:47PM
Chris Murphy said...
I can't for the life of me figure out why they don't make the + Nike system compatible with ALL iPods. Would it be so hard to make this thing compatible with iPod Touch and Classics, etc.?
Reply
4-25-2008 @ 3:03PM
mingistech said...
The Classic iPod has a moving hard disk. Disks like these are't immune to shock damage from being jared. There is no way that Apple is going to promote the use of the iPod in situations like that. They would be begging for another class action lawsuit.
If they're smart they'll add support to the rest of their solid state devices. From the looks of previous storied it looks like they are already planning this.
4-25-2008 @ 3:09PM
Chris Murphy said...
That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that.
4-25-2008 @ 3:30PM
spike said...
I'm surprised you guys never picked up on AppleInsider's article on Apple patents re: fitness stuff; some of it looks amazing and hints at iPhone/iPod Touch compatibility.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/03/27/apple_developing_full_fledge_digital_lifestyle_fitness_companion.html
Absolutely amazing!
Reply
4-25-2008 @ 4:19PM
Andrew said...
Ahh, this is excellent news. I have been waiting for Apple/Nike to integrate a heart rate monitor into their Nike+ system for a long, long while.
Reply
4-25-2008 @ 4:20PM
akatsuki said...
I wish they would use Ant+Sport, which is an open standard for this sort of thing.
Reply
5-13-2008 @ 1:43PM
ThomP said...
Haha, good one Akatsuki - "Apple" and "open standard" in the same sentence. You could possibly be looking at a lawsuit for that;-)
Anyway, a heart rate monitor would be great news!
Reply