Gadgets
Apple Patents Nike + iPod on Steroids: It Wants to Pump You Up
Posted by Matt Buchanan at 2:50 AM on March 28, 2008
The standard rule of Apple patents applies: Just because it's on file, doesn't mean they're going to put it out. But I hope they do, America's fat arse needs this. It's an advanced fitness suite, like Nike + iPod cranked up to 1100. There's hardware that keeps tabs on your heart rate and other vitals, a rewards tracker, and a component for syncing up groups. All of it's connected by an iTunes-like app that tracks your current fitness level, goals, schedule and a whole mess of other stats—it'll even make a workout for you—which it syncs to your iPod or iPhone to follow at the gym.
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When you fire it up for the first time, it interviews you to get a sense of your health, even asking about your financial and social status (if they suck, you're stressed, and that does impact health). Then it spits out a regiment, based on how unhealthy you are and how healthy you wanna get. Then you just follow the routine on your iPod at the gym, with the hardware sensors providing real-time feedback on how hard you're getting your arse kicked.
Apple definitely has an interest in fitness gear, and with Nike branching out, this might just happen. Oh, and first person to make a horrible iBod pun gets banned. [AppleInsider]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
BBPress
Posted May 5, 2008 12:40 PM
There's an awesome fitness app FitSync that you can use on iPhone and iPod Touch, online OR offline, OR on PDA (Pocket PC or Palm) OR Java phone! I've been using the PPC version for a while but started using the iPhone version when I got my sweet baby! It's great that you don't have to be totally dependent on the phone network 'cause when I'm inside the gym, sometimes the signal just isn't very strong. Check out fitsync.com
G3ttin-H3r-D0n3
Posted 8:33 AM 28/3/08
@SeattkeTed
Your a jackass dude. You want America to get even fatter? I think its a great idea. And if you dont like the fat people move gyms. OR buy ur own treadmill. By the way im not fat, just though it need to be said.
G3ttin-H3r-D0n3
SeattleTed
Posted 6:57 AM 28/3/08
No america doesn't need this. It will only lead to more fatties WALKING on my running treadmill while sipping that useless vitamin water at the gym -and worse it will make them feel good for doing it. I think we should deploy cupcake vending machines to the entrances of all health clubs to distract and redirect them to walk it out elsewhere
+ Watch video
SeattleTed
TheSonOfKrypton
Posted 6:35 AM 28/3/08
@itchytooth: I guess you're right dude. One with enough know how could turn all the functionality in Gyminee into a native iPhone program. Thankfully, it's a really light data web app so it loads for me fine at my YMCA thru the EDGE network. I'm still pushing my YMCA to get Wifi set up, but even without that it works fine.
TheSonOfKrypton
dcmidnight
Posted 6:08 AM 28/3/08
Unless it includes GPS it will be a piece of shit just like Nike+. Nike+ is completely inaccurate and gets all screwed up if you slow down or speed up on long runs. If Apple were serious about this they would look at getting into something like the Garmin ForeRunner 305 model, a watch based GPS system that synchs to a variety of desktop programs. Who wants to run a marathon with this thing strapped to them?
dcmidnight
itchytooth
Posted 5:51 AM 28/3/08
@TheSonOfKrypton: Thanks for the info. You're right, I didn't know about those sites. I'm currently looking into Gyminee. But I'm sure a few other clueless people will agree with me when I say: WEB APPS ARE A PAIN IN MY ASS. Congratulations though, on being so well informed.
itchytooth
baltwade
Posted 5:45 AM 28/3/08
I'm shocked, just shocked at how many people like/want this. When I'm in the gym the less distractions or things I have to keep up with the better. The only thing I bring with me is a small mp3 player and I only use it if the gym is playing something I just can't stand. By looking at the pics and this isn't aimed at me anyway. I can curl for than 10 lbs. I guess Apple did some research and that's what the average iPhone/Touch user does if they're ever in a gym.
baltwade
TheSonOfKrypton
Posted 5:33 AM 28/3/08
No more will I read this. I just read THREE SEPERATE COMMENTS ABOUT HOW APPLE NEEDS TO IMPLEMENT THIS NOW. LISTEN UP: THIS IS ALREADY OUT THERE ON iPod TOUCHES AND iPHONES. www.gyminee.com or www.fitreach.com . Sign up on any one of theme and view them from your Apple mobile device. I've been using gyminee.com on my iPhone since friggin January, keeping track of my sets, my reps, how long I've run, how much weight I've listed excetera. Jesus Christ you people need to get clued in to all the iPhone can do and stop with all this "BRING THIS TO MARKET APPLE AND I WILL BUY". Half the shit you are waiting for functionality wise on the iPhone, someone has already implemented. You just have to find it.
TheSonOfKrypton
bspence
Posted 5:13 AM 28/3/08
I have been dying for Apple to make Nike+ compatible with the iPhone. I have an old nano, and now I want to get rid of it since I have the iPhone. CAN'T! SUCKS!
bspence
benson304
Posted 5:09 AM 28/3/08
I would buy this so fast it's not even funny. I work out like 5-6 days a week and it would be GREAT to consolidate everything like this. Music, stats, exercise list.
I would need it to be able to be modified with exercises I wanted to do as well. But so far I'm already ready to buy it.
benson304
itchytooth
Posted 5:04 AM 28/3/08
The last image at AppleInsider shows a wireless headphone attatchment.
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How does one embed images here?
itchytooth
cdawson2000
Posted 4:59 AM 28/3/08
Apple is in the driver's seat here. With the iPhone and iTouch plus variations on their ground breaking hardware, not to mention the SDK, the stream of innovation we will see coming out of Cupertino will be impressive.
Something else I like.
cdawson2000
itchytooth
Posted 4:53 AM 28/3/08
Damn, I wish you hadn't posted it. Now I'm going to be seriously disappointed if it doesn't happen.
itchytooth
itchytooth
Posted 4:49 AM 28/3/08
Add me to the WANT list. I just hope they make it fairly flexible - for instance, being able to name your exercises whatever you want, track two people at once and change up exercises on the fly.
itchytooth
ftw5000
Posted 4:25 AM 28/3/08
heh..ibod...
seriously..i could use somethin like this
ftw5000
reality.check
Posted 4:17 AM 28/3/08
@Marty_MacFly:
well the iphone is certainly no jogging device, but for people who carry around notebooks/pencils to log with, this would certainly be easier and more fun to carry around.
iPhone nano would be sick though for those who only want a phone and ipod packaged together. Because in reality my kid sister, who has an iphone, really only uses it for those things. She doesn't use mail, maps, internet, youtube, stocks, weather cause that's what her computer and non-existent financial adviser is for.
reality.check
RemmingtonShowdown
Posted 4:10 AM 28/3/08
I'm a cyclist and I use software from trainingpeaks.com and I can say for sure that there are many folk who have been talking about integrating some sort of fitness software into the iPhone.
Now, add a system where by completed workouts and goals earn you rewards (credits to the iTunes store, gift cards at Starbucks [yeah, I get the irony] etc...) and I can easily see this becoming a huge success.
RemmingtonShowdown
twalker920
Posted 4:04 AM 28/3/08
"...and how healthy you wanna get." You mean, "...how healthy Apple wants you to get so they can assimilate your body along with your brain they already have."
There, fixed.
Still, easier workout tracking is always a good thing. Bow to your new mind/body overlords!
twalker920
ronnsprocket
Posted 4:03 AM 28/3/08
is it just me, or does this look incredibly legit?
ronnsprocket
Marty_MacFly
Posted 3:59 AM 28/3/08
I've tried working out with my iPhone and it's too cumbersome. I'm sure plenty others enjoy it but it's likely too big for the masses.
Maybe the device pictured is a sign of things to come. A touchscreen iPod nano? The iTouch mini? iPhone nano? Something to bridge the gap between the iPod nano and it's larger, touch sensitive brothers.
It should be made available for iPhone/iPod touch users regardless.
Marty_MacFly
reality.check
Posted 3:55 AM 28/3/08
if the f'ing sdk let you mess with the ipod app we could create this ourselves
reality.check
MrBlahBlah
Posted 3:37 AM 28/3/08
I would get this only to smack it in the face and be like, fuck you, i'm only running one mile, not three. I don't like being told what to do. yeah.
MrBlahBlah
uberfu
Posted 3:28 AM 28/3/08
@SneakerFiend: Those aren't keys if you look closely it's part of the screen area_ The bevel goes farther down and all the way across - smae width as the bevel on the side_
So basiclly the same form factor as the iPod Touch or iPhone but with no physical buttons and either a longerr screen or the total dimesnions are shorter and they chopped off the excess non-screen area_
I don't know_ Looks interesting tho_
If it's a dedicated device -might be pretty cool_ But then they'd have to have the ability to play some tunes on it - that just makes sense many folks listen to music while they work out_ Helps me with my pace_ But based on that - it would make more sense to add the software into the iPod Touch or iPhone at that point_
Interesting_
uberfu
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Posted 3:27 AM 28/3/08
This would be the first real reason for me to want to get an iPod Touch/iPhone, seeing as how I'm in the gym 1-3 hours at a time and keeping track of my workout on top of other recorded stats would make things would be helpful. Having to keep track of these things while working out frys my brain. Also, walking around the gym with pen and paper on top of a towel, water bottle, gloves (when not worn), mp3 player and sometimes phone is a pain in the ass.
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Marty_MacFly
Posted 3:21 AM 28/3/08
This is why iPod competitors can't catch up.
Marty_MacFly
Mayor McRib
Posted 3:17 AM 28/3/08
I would absolutely buy this...only to slack off and add Apple to the list of failed motivaters.
Mayor McRib
justinpe
Posted 3:15 AM 28/3/08
I think it would be sweet to just have a bar code scanning app to get more product info when shopping. It could pull up the price, nutrion facts, coupons, etc.
justinpe
workingonyourinvoice
Posted 3:12 AM 28/3/08
@JustEaton: Damn thing is too big for me to workout with. About to my switch to shuffle when working out.
workingonyourinvoice
JustEaton
Posted 3:10 AM 28/3/08
If this came for the iPhone, I would buy it instantly. I've been waiting for Nike+ to work on the iPhone. Having your music and workout information on the same device. Brilliant.
JustEaton
SneakerFiend
Posted 3:10 AM 28/3/08
LMAO! i like the end when you made the first person to make a horrible pun gets banned.
This is good though but it looks like it's more of a touchscreen type device. It doesnt have any visible keys besides the two on the bottom and i'd hate to have to nav. around the menu's using only those two keys.
SneakerFiend
workingonyourinvoice
Posted 3:08 AM 28/3/08
What hardware is that?
workingonyourinvoice
N@tedog
Posted 3:05 AM 28/3/08
I would buy this in two seconds... No more stupid Mead notebook to lug around and I bring my iPod to listen to when I workout anyway. Put it on the iTouch and Apple just made $500 off of me.
N@tedog
SeattleTed
Posted 4:26 AM 29/3/08
@G3ttin-H3r-D0n3:
1) There is an L in Seattle (it's a small city north of the Mason Dixon line so no worries, tis a common misspelling)
2) How do I "move gyms"
3) Interesting that you felt it necessary to inform us that you aren't fat.
4) I was pointing out the gimmickry with fitness today. Anyone waiting for an iphone program for motivation to workout shouldn't bother, hence the bit about vitamin water -this was clearly lost on you.
5) You need to buy some vowels for your name.
6) Usually I'm called a smartass but I'll take jackass too. It's always better than a dumbass which clearly you aren't either.
SeattleTed