RSS Feeds
Gadgets
Review: Nike + iPod Touch Workout App
Posted by Jason Chen at 11:00 PM on September 14, 2008
Despite looking forward to the iPod Touch/iPhone integration of the Nike+ running dongle for over a year now, we can't help but feel slightly disappointed at the way this app is executed on the latest iPod Touch. The Nike + iPod software itself looks great—the red and white UI design matches up perfectly with nike's own workout site—but there's just something missing. First, where's the grandfathered support for iPhone, iPhone 3G and first-gen iPod Touch? More importantly, where are the expanded features that makes great use of the Touch's accelerometer, touch screen or internet connection? Nowhere.
The app itself works perfectly. As a long time sporadic Nike + iPod user on the old iPod Nano, we can say that all those features we expect to be there are ported over with the right amount of care for the larger screen. But there's nothing really all that revolutionary. Custom workouts, where you can pre-set options for time, distance or playlist are a nice addition, and it's nice to look at your workout history in a clearer fashion, but how come we couldn't get charts and graphs like on the Nike site? Something like the chart below, fetched from our own online history, would have been an easy addition to the feature set. And where, my fit readers, is the communication between your iPod touch and your online Nike account?
Our other complaint is that you're forced to buy the 2nd generation iPod Touch in order to take advantage of the app. Plugging in the dongle to your iPhone, iPhone 3G or 1st generation Touch isn't even an option. Even with firmware 2.1, you still get the "This accessory is not supported by iPhone" error. Why? The dongle solution works fine on iPod nanos, why couldn't Apple copy over the Nike + app and make use of the transmitter?
Despite our gripes about the lack of device support and lack of new features, we still love the app. It's much prettier and readable when running than the version on even the iPod nano 4G (which have the equivalent red and white larger icons), and if you're already a serious Nike + iPod user, the touch is a slightly better way to do what you're already doing. It's not quite good enough for you to upgrade from your current device, but think of it as an added bonus if you were thinking about getting an iPod touch for yourself so you can pass off your old iPod nano to your spouse so he or she can get into shape too. [Amazon]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
seamustry
Posted 11:06 PM 14/9/08
There are plenty of things that Apple could've done with the iPod/iPhone but they didn't. Go figure...
seamustry
Sanjo
Posted 12:06 AM 15/9/08
I don't actually know what this whole Nike+ thing is about. Can anyone direct me somewhere where I can learn? ;o
Sanjo
davezatz
Posted 11:47 PM 14/9/08
Cut the crap - bloggers don't work out!
davezatz
xbigman15x
Posted 12:30 AM 15/9/08
To be fair, i don't care if it employs tons of cool new features the devices are capable of doing and that is because i will be running. I could care less about whether the UI is good or whether it does anything cool because i assure you i am not going to be looking at it while i am running. I was excited about it being on the iPhone 3G, but sadly it isnt though i am not devastated. When you think about it, running with a touch or iphone is kind of absurd since they are so large.
xbigman15x
BiZarRroBALlmeR
Posted 12:26 AM 15/9/08
Is this fairly accurate in measuring your distance when running? Don't you have to measure your stride and generally enter your stride distance into the program and it estimates your total running distance by measuring the number of steps taken?
What if you alter your stride when running? Ha anyone compared it with a measurement from a GPS system for accuracy?
BiZarRroBALlmeR
dingus
Posted 12:25 AM 15/9/08
@Sanjo: Sorry for thinking you were a troll. Next time, you might wanna try that handy search bar at the top of the page before consulting the Pedia.
dingus
Sanjo
Posted 12:25 AM 15/9/08
@dingus: Uh? *lost*
Sanjo
dingus
Posted 12:23 AM 15/9/08
@Sanjo: The only thing, I repeat, ONLY thing that Giz should have that That Other Site has is a flag for disemvowling button.
On topic, I'd like more info on how the supposedly Bluetooth chip on the Touch2 does its magic, and if it's technically portable to the 1G Touch and iPhones. Nike+ on Nanos always seemed to be a hokey feature, but with an internet and GPS enabled iPod it seems pretty useful, supplanting standalone GPS exercise monitors.
dingus
Sanjo
Posted 12:22 AM 15/9/08
@Galley: Thankyou. I was checking it out on Wikipedia, but it didn't really tell me -what- it did, only -how- it does it. ._.
It seems interesting. I want in. ;]
Sanjo
Galley
Posted 12:19 AM 15/9/08
@Sanjo:
[www.apple.com]
Galley
rkoz24
Posted 1:01 AM 15/9/08
@ BiZarRroBALlmeR
GPS, come on...I know its gizmodo but every solution doesnt need to be tech based. I did compare my Nike+ to running around a quarter mile track a couple of times and it was quite accurate even without any calibration.
rkoz24
Sanjo
Posted 1:00 AM 15/9/08
@dingus: Mhmm.
It's okay. I found out what I wanted to know. ;]
It seems pretty good, and (strangely) cheap?
Sanjo
NIN10DO_FANBOI
Posted 1:44 AM 15/9/08
I'm still pretty upset that 1st gen iTouch users are not able to use the doggle. I'm not upgrading just for that it's not worth it.
NIN10DO_FANBOI
General Halfshaftery
Posted 1:49 AM 15/9/08
The last thing I want to carry with me (with the possible exception of a large watermelon) when I run is my iPod touch, there's just too much size and weight for me to be comfortable. I use my Sony NWZ-S618 for the task instead, so I find myself not wanton for this at all.
General Halfshaftery
evolutionvintage
Posted 3:31 AM 15/9/08
i love everything about it, but the lack of backdating to the iphone/iphone 3G/ipod touch gen. 1 is a DEALBREAKER for me.
seriously.
evolutionvintage
OMG! Apple Stinks!
Posted 4:39 AM 15/9/08
For setting it up for calibration, the treadmill is your best bet. It's fairly accurate for distance.
Apple really underwhelmed me with the iPod announcement. Nike+ should be built into the new nano. The 2G nano is one of the best workout accessories out there with the perfect size and weight and durability. I simply do not trust using an iPod touch on the gym floor.
Apple also underperformed when it comes to biking. It's an untapped market and both Apple and Nike could tap into it.
OMG! Apple Stinks!
OMG! Apple Stinks!
Posted 4:34 AM 15/9/08
@Milo.Stone: You can half-ass it. There are Instructables on it.
The way the receiver works is that the Nike+ shoe has a little well underneath the insole of one of the shoes. The little transmitter goes in the well. It's a little piezoelectric doodad and if you use your Nike+ shoes as regular walking shoes without removing it, you'll wear down the non-replaceable battery.
If Nike and Apple had their way, you'd need to pay $19 a month to prevent your shoes from falling apart,
OMG! Apple Stinks!
Milo.Stone
Posted 4:26 AM 15/9/08
Let me see if I understand. I need to buy an 2nd Gen iPod Touch, the Nike + iPod receiver AND a special pair of Nike + iPod shoes? Can I use my regular running shoes with it?
Also, does anyone know if there are any gyms with the special iPod + Nike connector? Cause that looks badass.
Milo.Stone
Milo.Stone
Posted 5:13 AM 15/9/08
@OMG! Apple Stinks!: Thanks. That's more useful. Do I need the Nike+ kit if I'm just using my ipod at the gym?
Milo.Stone
mruler360
Posted 5:08 AM 15/9/08
Why can't they put Nike+ on iPhones/ 1st gen iPod touches? Sometimes people do stupid things. Like develop an exclusive game for the PS3. Unless they plan to add it in later on, Apple just cut off a major part of the potential users for this product. I can understand why it wouldn't be avalible for the 1st gen touch; it lacks the bluetooth chipset that is probably being used in the 2nd gen version to connect to the Nike+ nub that you put in your shoe.
mruler360
thechansen
Posted 5:32 AM 15/9/08
The thing about the iPhone and even more so the 3G: you don't really even need the effin Nike+ kit. Location services should be able to give you a fairly accurate reading on it's own. If you set the accuracy of core location to be high enough and you should get as equally as inaccurate results as the standard nike + nano setup. I more of a cyclist than runner but I use Nike+ and it's alright but I switched to just using itrail on my iPhone 3g because I can cover runs and cycling. I would kill for a proper iPhone cyclingputer though. Because I have to stop and jot down my average cadence and speed every few miles because I am anal like that. Which is kinda what I am working on with my arduino, a wifi connection and my iPhone. Arduino measures cadence and acts as a wifi server to iPhone pumping in the info while iPhone tracks location and speed with the gps.
thechansen
mykalt45
Posted 7:09 AM 15/9/08
@mruler360:
Way to jab the PS3. Was that even necessary?
mykalt45
OzymandiasII
Posted 2:05 AM 15/9/08
running with the touch doesn't seem like it would be that comfortable. I use nike+ everyday and the best ipod to run with is the last generation nano. If apple integrated nike+ into the phone at least you would be able to make calls while you run. Despite touches interface, the nano is still a better choice
OzymandiasII
gotcheeze5793
Posted 8:16 AM 15/9/08
@mykalt45: Agreed. Unnecessary.
gotcheeze5793
OMG! Apple Stinks!
Posted 9:12 AM 15/9/08
@Milo.Stone: Yes. The Nike+ iPod kit comes with the transceiver and the dongle to plug into your iPod. It was originally sized to fit the 2G nano. When you plug the dongle in, a workout entry appears.
When you sync the iPod, it uploads it to the Nike servers. It's pretty well put together. Which is what makes the new nano so irksome. Obviously, putting an accelerometer into the nano takes space in the nano. I'd rather they give built in Nike+ support than Shake N' Shuffle. The former is genuinely useful; the latter is a party trick.
Realistically, I understand that the former means that people won't spend an extra $39 on accessories. It could have been done but it wasn't for, what I suspect, were purely financial reasons.
OMG! Apple Stinks!
mferrari
Posted 9:25 AM 15/9/08
I just ordered the new touch, but I can't see myself using this. I don't own Nike shoes (I'm pretty sure they're not even made in my size). And, high school gym is more than enough bullshit exercise for me.
mferrari
BB7
Posted 11:45 AM 15/9/08
Hey Nike, how bout a Nike + website that's not flash and takes forever to load?! Or just slap together an iPhone optimized or mobile website for all of us!? So frustrating sometimes.
You're already working with Apple on all this, put the website out too. I have Nike + and use the sportband with it. I like it, but would love to see my progress and analytics on the iPhone when I'm not running.
Of course Apple and Adobe could also just freakn kiss and make up and get flash out ALREADY!!!
BB7
VakeroRokero
Posted 11:37 AM 15/9/08
@xbigman15x: The pont is not how pretty it is, but how it's a barebones app. it must have sold pretty well to be included inside the ipod, that's why people are expecting a lot more features, not the same thing as 2004...
VakeroRokero
The Magnificen7
Posted 1:20 PM 15/9/08
@mferrari: Well put, my pudgy comrade. Ha ha.
The Magnificen7
altus
Posted 6:02 PM 15/9/08
Hey Nike, how about using the accelerometer in the iPhone instead of requiring a special pair of shoes.... And now there is an accelerometer in the Nano. What are you waiting for? Are you afraid of not selling enough shoes? Puma, Adidas are you reading this?
altus
bungee
Posted 9:39 PM 15/9/08
Speaking of not making use of the iPod Touch's internet connection, I'd assume one would still need to connect to iTunes to send transmit the workout to the nikeplus website? Seriously, how hard is that to build something like that into the firmware?
What a let down for Nike+ fans. It's just like the Nano, but with a larger screen and prettier UI. The size of the Touch actually makes it less desirable for serious runners. Apple should get Nike+ support into the iPhone 3G and make use of the GPS as well.
bungee
LastUserNameAvailable
Posted 10:33 PM 15/9/08
Most software designers wrongly use inch and feet marks to indicate quotation marks and apostrophes. Apple, always different, uses apostrophes and quotation marks to indicate inch and feet marks.
LastUserNameAvailable
arkitect75
Posted 2:00 AM 16/9/08
@OMG! Apple Stinks!: You use the Nike+ on a treadmill? I've been told (from other users in the Nike+ forums) that the treadmill isn't a good option due to the accuracy of the run data. I like the Nike+ b/c it gives me that ability to run outside and get that data.
arkitect75
selianth
Posted 3:48 AM 16/9/08
Using Nike+ on a treadmill works just fine, but you might have to recalibrate it for indoor vs. outdoor workouts, which can be a pain. I find my stride is different on a treadmill than on the road (something to do with the face that I'm just lifting my feet up and letting the 'road' move underneath me instead of actually propelling myself along.)
selianth