Based on the renderings, you can display a rear view camera on the screen (technically impossible) or use the iPod like a Nike+ device to track your bike workout (might also be impossible). Still, very cool if you're using this on rides that aren't through traffic. [Cannondale Community via Cannondale via Trend Hunter]

What's even better for people who live in cold places or don't like to run outside (me) is that there are sensors for talking to exercise machines to fetch data. The only downside? Nike's slow-ass development cycle means you're not going to see this for another year or two. Seriously. Some of these leaked Nike products back from January 2007 still haven't been released. [iPodNN]

First, StuffTV went to Nike's HQ in Oregon and got "official" word on Nike+ iPhone from the winged footwear maker. The fully exploit the graphic capabilities of the iPhone, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity to provide Nike+ applications to go, including the Nike+ Coach feature. No surprises here, as previous strings found in the code of the iPhone 1.2.0 beta firmware talked about Nike+. According to Greek iPhone site "IPhone Hellas," however, those strings are gone from the latest version. They, on the other side, found the following:

• There is as string that says "HeadphonesBT"—as opposed to the current "HeadsetBT"— as well as "RoleA2DP" which could indicate Bluetooth stereo headphones support in this release.
• There's a string called "RoleGPS" which may indicate GPS support.
• New "RoleRemote" string may indicate... using the iPhone as a remote for a computer or the AppleTV via Wi-Fi? Who knows.
• There's a mention to Printer in the Library directory.
• There's also a string that says

'BRICKED_AND_SIM_LOCKED_STRING BrickedDevice Ignoring request to unlock because we're blocked or bricked '

Which seems to indicate that Apple is readying their software to battle the usual suspects after so many different unlock successes. [StuffTV, iPhone Hellas via New Launches]

p.s. Here's another Friday bonus secret:

Many serious runners don't listen to music. In many cases, they can't, because they train in groups or because their favorite marathon outlaws it. One major running association just put out a blanket ban on music during races—which sucks for Apple (but apparently now, not for Nike). Obviously, you might just own an iPod classic or some other non-compatible iPod, or maybe even a non-Apple product (yes, seriously).

Either way, the non-iPod kit costs $59, on sale April 10. When you jog, it delivers rudimentary workout info via a monochrome display. When docked, the SportBand is compatible with all the same community-oriented tracking and training software as the earlier Nike+ system, including the new upgraded Nike+ Coach online personal trainer shown and described below.

New Nike+ SportBand Expands the Nike+ Experience to Make Running Even Easier

The Next Innovation in Nike+ Offers a New Way to Connect to the World's Largest Running Club and Lets You Track Your Results to Train for Better Performance in Any Situation
BEAVERTON, Ore. —(Business Wire)— Apr. 2, 2008 This spring brings the next evolution of the Nike+ experience with a new option to help runners run and train. Available April 10th, Nike (NYSE:NKE) launches Nike+ SportBand, allowing runners to get real-time performance feedback during a run, while linking them to the world's largest running club. In addition this spring, http://www.nikeplus.com introduces Nike+ Coach, a new personal coaching tool to help runners go the extra mile and engage like never before in the Nike+ global online running community.

A New Way to Run with Nike+

Nike+ SportBand allows runners to see their distance, pace, time and calories burned when they run, in addition to gaining access to all of the features and tools on nikeplus.com. Designed for runners who choose not to run with music and for those times when you can't use music, the Nike+ SportBand provides all the benefits of Nike+ technology, but opens up the Nike+ experience to a broader audience of runners. Runners who enjoy that extra motivation, or who are music fans, can continue to hear their run details through an iPod nano system.

"Nike+ is all about improving your running experience," said Trevor Edwards, Nike's Vice President of Global Brand and Category Management. "Nike + iPod revolutionized running. Now the Nike+ SportBand gives more choice and allows Nike+ to cover any running situation. It tracks your distance, calories burned and other performance information while providing a simple link to the world's largest running club, when you choose not to or can't run with music."

In the same manner that the Nike + iPod Sport Kit allows shoes to send information to a nano, the Nike+ SportBand is a wristwatch that also monitors a runner's steps. But now a runner can check time, pace, distance and calories burned at a glance of the wrist. The Nike+ SportBand watch face is a detachable LINK that captures all the run data from a sensor located in the runner's Nike+ ready footwear. Once a run is completed, the LINK conveniently plugs into a computer like a USB drive, so data can then be sent to nikeplus.com where a runner's progress is tracked.

By offering runners a second way to track run data and progress, the Nike+ SportBand opens the Nike+ experience to runners across a variety of situations. It gives runners who are part of clubs or running groups a chance to keep track of their run information while on a social run. In competitive situations where minimal equipment is needed, the Nike+ SportBand provides athletes with a simple way of seeing nuances in their performance in real time. The Nike+ SportBand provides a new way to connect to the Nike+ community and reap the benefits of Nike+ technology, when runners choose to run without music.

A Personal Coach For Everyone

Running is only the first part of the Nike+ experience. By using Nike+, runners get an easy, accessible way to connect to the global Nike+ Community at nikeplus.com where they can track their workouts individually or alongside other runners from around the world. The Nike+ website helps runners monitor their running experience with dynamic graphs that compare distance and time between single sessions, as well as weekly and monthly totals.

On April 10th, all Nike+ runners can get access to their own personal online trainer with Nike+ Coach. Nike+ Coach takes online coaching to the next level by empowering runners of all levels with the information and motivation needed to build their own training programs. With Nike+ Coach, beginning and intermediate runners can access existing programs to train for a 5k, 10k, half-marathon or full marathon. For advanced runners, Nike+ Coach will help users build and edit their own training programs. No matter what personal coaching program users choose, runners can also automatically track and share their results.

With Nike+ Coach, every level of runner is accounted for, beginning with walk-to-run programs and progressing to advanced marathons and beyond. Whatever the goal, Nike+ members can join at any pace.

In coming months, teams will be integrated into the Nike+ Coach tool, allowing members to train together as a group, supporting one another and accepting challenges from other teams.

Additional community features at nikeplus.com include the "Challenges" section, one of the site's most popular destinations. Here, runners can push themselves further by initiating or participating in competitions with friends—or complete strangers—to see who can reach the virtual finish line first.

Other newly launched features include motivational tools like a leaderboard that shows how members run in comparison to other runners across the globe, a Google mapping tool that illustrates individual running routes, which can be shared with others, and a runner's blog called "The Forum."

About Nike+

With Nike+, runners never have to train alone again. Nike+ enables footwear to talk to an iPod nano or Nike+ SportBand, giving instant performance information and real-time feedback during a run. Like a personal coach or training partner, Nike+ puts this information at runners' fingertips, in the process creating a Nike+ revolution. As of February, 2008, Nike+ members have run over 50,000,000 miles, logged over 14,000,000 runs and issued over 450,000 challenges. Nike+ has also created the world's largest running club at nikeplus.com, a global running community where Nike+ members can log their run data, track their progress, utilize training tools, and connect with other members all over the world.

I can understand why Apple made the decision to make the Nike+ Sport Kit not work with the iPhone (providing a reason to buy an iPod Nano, preventing possible damage to a $399 device, differentiating products, whatever), but iPhone users still want this thing to work with their phones. After all, the phone's flash-based, relatively small and light (if you use an armband), and should work perfectly with the kit—in theory.

Is making the kit work with the iPhone possible? Can you access the 30-pin accessory port with the iPhone? If you can, is it possible to interface with this thing using the iPod nano as reference? Is this a pipe dream, or could this possibly be done?

If enough people get behind this idea, there could even be a bounty set up to reward the hacker(s) that enable this. Let's see where we can take this.

The design of the unit is slick and clean; constructed of a single, tapering strip of flexible rubber it has a watch-like clasp on the underside. On the wrist, it appears more as a bracelet than a watch, mostly black with a hint of red creeping up around the edges. The buttons are well-integrated and virtually disappear into the surface of the unit. The only bit that stands out from the flat black finish is the silver Nike swoosh above the LED's which, to Nike's credit, is pretty unobtrusive.

All we need now is an iPod nano, the Nike+iPod kit, some running shoes, and the desire to work out. [Joshspear]

In the 2nd-gen version, Nike's cut a hole so you can see what the hell's going on with your workout, but it still keeps the same fabric and still holds the Nike+iPod receiver. It's $29.95, and you can grab one over at the Apple store. Too bad Nike didn't fix the problem we had, which was the instantaneous crushing of the iPod when we put this on our biceps because our muscles were too huge. Ha, ha. Just kidding. We have no muscles. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Apple via iLounge]

This is especially nice to hear given that the average Nike running shoe can cost as low as $50 or so while the Nike+ compatible shoes push the $100 price tag. Fifty more bones just for a little hole cut in the sole? Yeah, I'll just create my own way to attach the adapter. (Hit the jump to see how I did it.)

So it may not look as snazzy as the other shoes, but I saved $50 buying these running shoes, rather than the Nike+ compatible shoes, and it took me a whole five minutes to attach the sensor to the shoelaces. –Travis Hudson

Nike promises more iPod-enabled kit [Pocket-Lint]

Nike+ Without The iPod? New Product Info Leaked [Podophile]

The RunAway is available in five colors to match even the orangest of sneakers. Get your training groove on this way for $30. It is an investment that'll reap rewards in more runs and a new-found appreciation for leggings. – Matt Schneiderman

Product Page [Switcheasy via iLounge]