Nike HTM Flyknit

Normally, I have a hard time getting excited about a running shoe before it comes out, but the details behind the new shoe covers by Nike has got my attention. A weight of 160 grams? The idea that a shoe will have both a form (more pliable and flexible) and function (less weight) is something that any runner from the 5K to Ultra Marathoner would love. If this shoe holds up for 3-6 months of training and can cut its previous model’s weight in half, Nike will be selling these like Apple sells iPhones.

I understand that many of our USA’s Athletes are already training in the Nike prototypes. The rest of us have to wait until July to get our hands on the models for running so that Nike can sell these with their sponsorship of the Olympic Games.

For more information, check the attached link:
http://bit.ly/y8IK7Y

New, or should I say, old iPod Nano Update?

I am trying to figure out how Apple is making money on their latest iPod Nano updates. Yes I know they dropped the price on the seventh-generation Nano [that would be the 2011 version – meaning the one that came out last week] to $129 for 8GB of storage or $149 for 16GB, compared to $149 or $179, respectively, last year. But if you own the sixth-generation Nano like I do, there is no reason to go out and buy the new Nano. If you are in the same situation as me, you’ve already got a sixth-generation iPod Nano; I’ve got great news for you. All you need to do is a simple software update, available when syncing your Nano with iTunes, and you now have a 7th generation Nano.

As I reported earlier in the summer, the software version 1.1 was a great improvement with the ability to hold down the on/off switch to make sure that the Nano would be put to sleep, thereby saving your battery from being runned down by an inadvertent Nano not being paused correctly. Here’s a quick rundown on what’s new in version 1.2 of the software.
-The Nano now displays only a single, much larger icon at a time. Before with Nano software versions 1.0 and 1.1, you had 17 different app-like icons: Playlists, Now Playing, Artists, Genius Mixes, Radio, Podcasts, Photos, Settings, Songs, Albums, Genres, Composers, Fitness, Clock, Audiobooks, iTunes U and Voice Memos. With the new Nano software 1.2, you have 11 or fewer: Now Playing, Music, Radio, Fitness, Clock, Photos, Audiobooks, Podcasts, iTunes U, Voice Memos, and Settings. You now access the Genius Mixes, Playlists, Artists, Albums, Songs, Genres, and Composers and Compilations.
(You still have the option of using the smaller icon faces on your Nano; you can access this feature in the settings function.)
-New wallpaper and watch faces if you want to use the Nano as a watch in your non-running mode. There are 18 different clock faces: nine analog, four digital, one analog/digital, two Disney analog (Mickey and Minnie Mouse), and two Muppets analog (Kermit and Animal). Most clock faces also display the current date.
-No need for the shoe sensor and white plug-in for your Nano. With the new software, the Nano can now has a built-in accelerometer for the Nike+iPod sensor so you don’t even need a Nike+iPod sensor in your shoe. In other words, you can now use Nike+iPod with any shoe brand and without having to spend more money for the sensor and dongle. Wonder how they got Nike to sign off on that?
All-in-all, to say that I’m extremely pleased with what Apple did with this software update is an understatement. I know they took a lot of grief about not making a structural design change with the new iPhone 4S, but in the case of the Nano, I can’t criticize them in the fact that they didn’t make a design change to force their customers to buy a Nano for the new features. I feel that this is a big reward for being a customer of an Apple product and I cheer their willingness to give us this freebee.

Review of running with an IPhone 4 vs. iPod Touch

Yes, I was one of the lucky ones that picked up the first Verizon iPhones. I am glad that I didn't get there any earlier than 6:30 for a 7 am opening. There was a guy I talked to that had been there since 4 am. Standing in -13 temps for 30 minutes was bad enough, can't imagine being there for 3 hours....

I've been asked about using the iPhone 4 in regards to running and keeping track of distance. There are probably more running apps that you can purchased than I can survey in the 8 months since the iPhone 4 has come out. So I will focus on using it with two of the more popular ones, RunKeeper and Nike Plus.

Both apps work great for running. I like the integration of the iPhone with Nike [playing from your music playlists]. Yet the RunKeeper has the same functionality. Run Keeper also keeps more accurate track of your mileage [yes, I'm aware of the Nike Plus now has a GPS function but my results with that has varied - run-to-run]. RunKeeper also allows you to upload your data without a computer hook up. You maintain your own website that you can easily share with others.

Cons to both: Nike Plus sometimes misses uploading my runs. Not all the time but enough to make me question it as a life long partner to your training. Also, I was surprised that Nike allowed heart rate monitoring with a new Polar Belt with the iPod Nano but didn't with the iPhone. Don't know what the thought process was there but they should had that functionality with all iPod products. As I stated on an earlier blog, I also didn't like that I have a Radio with the Nano but not with the iPod Touch or iPhone 4.

RunKeeper is number one in my evaluation. The app developers are constantly updating the app and are even [as I write this] developing heart rate monitor capabilities with the latest update. They show a lot of dedication to keeping up with all the phones also. I switched to a Droid X in October and found the Droid app very similar to the Apple app. It's nice to have that flexibility and not worry about losing the app. As you already know, I've just left the Droid X for the iPhone 4, but again, the app seemed to work fantastic on both phones.

But I would like to point out my overall view of running with any phone [I will be following up with a review of the Droid X]. Given my choice, I would think that if you are serious about running, the iPod Touch would be a better option for a couple of reasons. One, weight and size. The iPod Touch is lighter and doesn't take up much space.

So if size and weight matter to you, I would suggest the iPod Touch. If you are struggling between the iPod Nano vs. iPod Touch, get the iPod Touch. It's additional functionality pays for itself in the long run.

If its accuracy you are going for, then I would recommend the RunKeeper app with any smart phone that accepts apps. It's fun, accurate, and dependable for keeping track of all your runs throughout the year.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Apple Nano, Nike Plus, and bumps in the road

A couple of comments I wanted to respond to on runners that have said that they have problems with the Nike Plus App on their Nano, iPod Touch or iPhone (are any of you using it on an iPad? I'm waiting to see that at the club next...)

The main complaint I hear is that a runner will be running with the Nano and then, all of a sudden they hear the spoken feedback say: "Workout Paused" or "Workout Resumed" or the dreaded "Workout Ended". There are variations of this problem, such as the music they are listening to has the song keep restarting or the skipping to the next song.

So normally, a runner has to slow down or stop to try to correct the problem. But backing out of Nike Plus or doing a hard reboot of the Apple device seems to have no effect. Even if later on that day, you delete the app and reinstall it, within the next couple of days the problem is back. What's worse, is that the problem continues if you start using your iPhone/iPod instead of your Nano.

About now, you are ready to quit Nike Plus altogether. It must be a bad app, right? Well, I'm thinking that's not the case.

If you are one of these runners, I have good news, I know what's causing your problem. It's not your Nano, it's your earbuds.

I found this out the hard way. Trips to the Genius Bar even had them stumped. Replacing my Nano didn't help. Okay, initally for a few days the problem went away, but sooner of later it would come back.

What I noticed about the earphones is that I was using the Apple stereo earbuds. I loved using them because they allowed you to skip a song, pause the music, change volume, etc. But I have a theory [that I prove in practice] that if you generate a charge through the earbuds, by something as simple as your running shoes on the moving treadmill belt, it causes your Nano and any other device to read the earbuds as if they are sending a pause, stop, or advance order. I even experienced this when I had a Timex iPod watch.

I've noticed that this also happens if you use a Nike or Apple device, such as a wrist band remote, or any other type of remote. That static electricity will do wonders for your frustration level.

The simple answer is to change your earbuds. I now only wear ones that do not allow for advancing, pausing or resuming the songs.

Hope that helps many of you that are having this problem. And if you gave up on the Nike Plus app, hopefully this will give you incentive to try it again.

iPod Nano V6 (6th Generation)

After 3 months of use of the new (for 2010) Version 6 (V6) Nano, I think I have enough experience to give you my two cents.

Pros

-My favorite new feature of the Nano is the Radio Live Pause feature. I'm sure that most runners that would like an option to their iPod that allows them to pause while listening to a radio station. More important than the V5 (Version 5), you can pause what you are listening to for up to 15 minutes if you meet someone at the health club or out on your run. The radio on the V6 Nano allows just that. Like the V5, when you are running in a health club, the radio channels listed under the TV screens are available on your iPod.

I was so impressed with this feature I figured that my new iPod iTouch would have this. But in case you are wondering, it doesn't… go figure.

-Weight – an item that allows high on the list for runners is the weight of what they are carrying, especially for long runs/distances. Yes, this is lighter than version 5. But seriously, any of the Nanos that have come out in the past 6 years have met this requirement. Okay, it's lighter, but I can't believe anyone would notice the difference from any of its former predecessors.

-Touchscreen. If you are an owner of an iPod iTouch or iPhone, you will understand the advantage of the Touchscreen vs. the scroll wheel. But this can also be a disadvantage (see below). Because it is so small, there is so getting used to it, especially those folk with large thumbs, but I found it easy to assimilate to.

-Clip – don't know why they waited so long to add this feature but it was a good add. Instead of needing to buy an accessory to hold you Nano when you run, you now have that built in to your device. I find that I use this all the time, but it wasn't as if I had to have it. As a marathoner, I own shorts with multiple pockets for gels, etc. and the smallest pocket can easily fit the new Nano. I have to believe is that the accessory dealers aren't crazy about adding the clip, but for the rest of us it a good add.

-Heart Rate Monitor – in case you didn't know this, you can buy a Polar Heart Rate monitor that works with your Nano V5 or V6. This one syncs easily and it shows the beats on the bottom of the screen which I find cool.

Cons

-My first one is a big one, no external speaker. One thing that I loved about the V5 Nano is the external speaker. I don't know if everyone ran into this problem with past Nanos but I would religiously pick up the Nano and find that I had no battery life left. That's because I forget to turn it off! When the V5 came along, as soon as I pulled out the ear buds from it, I could music playing and it would tell me that it was still running. That alone made the V5 worth the price, no more not-so-smart battery draining. It also was nice to know you could listen to music if you didn't bring along your ear buds. For the life of me, don't know why they got rid of that.

-Removal of Video. I know I should be upset that I'm losing this feature while having to pay the same price, but I'm not. I didn't watch many movies or MTV videos with my Nano in the past, and the screen is so small why would anyone? I can count the number of times on one hand that I took videos with the Nano. To me, it was a nice feature but far from a necessary feature. But I can understand if someone only had the Nano as their lone iPod device.

-Glitchy with Nike Plus system. I am currently on my second V6 Nano. The first one I had has the same problem that my second one has. When I run an extended period of time, say over 1 hour, it starts to skip, and say "Workout Paused", then skips to next song, "Workout Resumed", skip again, "Workout Paused" very annoying to say the least. I can't figure out if it's using the remote stereo Apple ear buds, the Nike Plus app or what, but it takes away from using the Nike Plus to have this happening. Because I am on my second V6 Nano, I know it wasn't just one bad unit; it must be something in the iOS.

So my overall rating of the new Nano? I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars. (My rating on the V5 was 4 out of 5). If you've never had a Nano, I'd say get it. Or course I would recommend a V5 Nano if you can pick one up, but if not, the V6 has enough of the bells and whistles to make it worth the money. If you are looking to upgrade, I'd say wait. I think there are some bug fixes that they need to deal with. Also, as I stated above, I really miss the external speakers on the last Nano. That alone was reason to just keep a version 5 instead of going to version 6. I actually wish I wouldn't have sold mine to a friend so quickly. But I couldn't have justified keeping two Nanos. Overall, I say wait until the next version to have them fix the bugs and get the external speaker added to the next version.