The app itself works perfectly. As a longtime 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]

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]

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 ass 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]

[Digibarn via MAKE]

The Price: $29.99

The Verdict: We're quite happy after a week of use with the Sport Armband Plus. Constructed of a high quality, wet suitesque material, the band sticks well to your skin—but absolutely perfectly after a few minutes of working out. The cord capsule looked like a complete pain in the ass, but a unique rubber case design allows you to flip the entire capsule open, wrap your cord, and flip it back within moments. Sure you get some glare on the screen and the Nano has a propensity to fit just off its center, but the Belkin is comfortable, functional and, need I say, fashionable? (Check it, along with sweet farmer tan).
The Catch(es): The case doesn't make room for the Nike+iPod sports kit. So users need to stick their iPod in upside down and leave a chunk sticking out. This is actually not that big of a deal since it leaves the iPod right side up for a runner's viewing (you need to wear the iPod upside down to read it on your arm, why this isn't Belkin's default positioning is beyond us). Confused? Exactly. You shouldn't have to think this hard. That's why you pay $30.

Given that many people interested in this product are also using the Nike add-on, we wish Belkin would release a Nike-compatible version.

The Verdict Part II: Pending the buyer is prepared for the above caveats, we'd recommend the Sport Armband Plus.

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]

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 point? If there is even the slightest chance that you may have a very geeky stalker, you may want to avoid running at night because these Nike + iPod kits are easily hackable, as it seems. – Travis Hudson

Nike+iPod raises RFID privacy concerns [News.com]

"A loom helps sew the wires and fabric together. Then sensors embedded in the fabric measure the speed, rotation and flexibility of the pants with every movement. Wireless signals are sent from the pants to a computer to display the activity."

Smart Pants [Advanced Imaging Pro]

There are over 3,000 iPod accessories. They had a picture of the iCarta toilet device!

70% of the cars sold now have some kind of iPod connection.

The Nike + iPod sports kit was also launched recently. Sold 450,000 Nike + iPod in just 90 days.

The iPod Video is now 60% brighter and up to 4.5 hours of battery life up from 2.0 hours.

Gapless playback is now in for all iPods. Instant searching so you can input letters with the wheel. And a letter display as you're scrolling past the songs/artists.

Games. All designed for the wheel. Bejeweled, Cubis, Bahjong, Mini Golf, Pac man, Tetris, Texas Hold'em, Vortex, Zuma. Showing off the bejeweld gameplay now. These games will work on all 5G iPods. You can buy them off the iPod store. $4.99 each.

60% brighter display, 75% longer battery life, gapless playback, games, new headphones.

Lowered price to $249 for the 30GB version and a new 80GB. Both white and black. $349 for the 80GB.

Product Page [Marware, via CrunchGear]

iLounge snagged a Nike+ iPod Sport Kit and took it out of the box, giving us a good first look at how the system fits together. First we get a peek at the small red-and-white wireless 802.11 sensor/transmitter that fits into a pocket within the insole of those Nike shoes. A surprising revelation is that you don't necessarily need the Nike shoes to use the sensor. It looks like it could just be slipped into any shoe, but the reviewer says it's easier to deal with the little transmitter if you're wearing the special Nike+ shoes created specifically for the system.

The report shows a few shots of those rather plain-looking shoes, and the reviewer also comments about how tiny the receiver is, which looks to be about three quarters of the width of the nano itself. We also get a first look at the Nike+ website where you ingest all your exercise data, and the whole system from shoe to screen looks user-friendly so far. No word on how well it works yet, but the site promises more photos and information shortly, so we'll be on the lookout for that. – Charlie White

Apple Computer Nike + iPod Sport Kit [iLounge]

Apple sent out emails today to users advising them that you can now head to stores to pick up the Nike+ shoes at Nike stores today, July 13th. In case you forgot how it works, here's the video.

According to iProng, NIKETOWN stores are going to have live product demonstrations and a chance for you to try the system for yourself. Pre-orders shipped yesterday and people should be getting theirs soon.

Click on the image for a bigger version. – Jason Chen

Nike to launch Nike+iPod at retail stores today [iProng]