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iPhone and Nike+ ...where is it?

t0mat0 said:
That's the strange thing - couldn't the 3G do this via it's BT anyway?
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hell, screw the bluetooth - let's just have a nike+ app that uses the GPS and doesn't require a foot pod at all. Of course, nike wouldn't like that very much as it would completely cut their hardware out of the equation... but isn't there something a little ridiculous about having an iphone, which has GPS, rely on a wildly inaccurate external accessory to measure your run distance?
 
QCassidy352 said:
hell, screw the bluetooth - let's just have a nike+ app that uses the GPS and doesn't require a foot pod at all. Of course, nike wouldn't like that very much as it would completely cut their hardware out of the equation... but isn't there something a little ridiculous about having an iphone, which has GPS, rely on a wildly inaccurate external accessory to measure your run distance?
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The Nike thing is probably more accurate than GPS if you keep your iPhone in your pocket while running or are running in an urban environment surrounded by tall buildings.
 
yg17 said:
The Nike thing is probably more accurate than GPS if you keep your iPhone in your pocket while running or are running in an urban environment surrounded by tall buildings.
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I've never had an iphone with GPS (will soon tho ;)), so I don't know how inaccurate it is, but I kinda doubt that. The nike+ system is wildly inaccurate if you run more than a little bit off the pace that you calibrated it at. This means that in races, workouts, slow jogs, etc. it's not even going to be close. I've had 5ks (3.1 miles) reported as about 2.75 miles. That's not even good enough for fun let alone use as a serious training tool. Surely the iphone's GPS couldn't do worse than that.
 
QCassidy352 said:
I've never had an iphone with GPS (will soon tho ;)), so I don't know how inaccurate it is, but I kinda doubt that. The nike+ system is wildly inaccurate if you run more than a little bit off the pace that you calibrated it at. This means that in races, workouts, slow jogs, etc. it's not even going to be close. I've had 5ks (3.1 miles) reported as about 2.75 miles. That's not even good enough for fun let alone use as a serious training tool. Surely the iphone's GPS couldn't do worse than that.
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If it were able to get a signal, GPS would be more accurate than that, but that's the problem, getting a signal. If it couldn't get a reliable signal, you wouldn't get any data. I'm not a runner so I'm not sure what's worse, inaccurate data or no data.
 
yg17 said:
If it were able to get a signal, GPS would be more accurate than that, but that's the problem, getting a signal. If it couldn't get a reliable signal, you wouldn't get any data. I'm not a runner so I'm not sure what's worse, inaccurate data or no data.
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How much of a problem does the iphone 3G have getting a signal?? Would being in a pocket really cause a problem? If so, that's one darn small receiver. The tall buildings I'll give you, but except for people who live in manhattan, how many folks can't find someplace not surrounded by skyscrapers to run anyway? I mean, I live in Boston, which isn't a small town, and decent GPS receivers have no problem.

On average-paced runs, the nike+ data isn't perfect, but it's pretty good and better than nothing. On dramatically faster runs (workout or race), it's so inaccurate that it's effectively the same as nothing.
 
iSimon said:
Have you considered trying runkeeper? That offers pretty much the same functionality as Nike+ and doesn't require mucking about with extra accessories as it just uses the built in GPS. There is even a free version of it that is just supported by ads but retains almost all the functionality of the full ad-free version (the only bit it doesn't have is the voice prompts telling you how far and how fast you're running).
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Runkeeper also doesn't track your runs on a treadmill. For those of us in winter climates, it's nice to track your runs regardless of whether they are outside or on a treadmill...

Nike+ does...
 
eme jota ce said:
Runkeeper also doesn't track your runs on a treadmill. For those of us in winter climates, it's nice to track your runs regardless of whether they are outside or on a treadmill...

Nike+ does...
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Yet - what's to stop them coming up with a foot pod equivalent? There's confirmation on another thread that an bike accessory manufacturer is looking to do HR monitor links to an app, so I don't see why RunKeeper won't get busy with accessories - it's the way the market will move.
 
Just to bring this thread up again - I'm thinking the Social Networking that TBG might be pointing to subtly/cryptically might be to do with the Nike/other integration in iTunes 8.3, coming on September 8th or so.

Anyone think this might be right?
 
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/26/pedal-brain/

Pedal Brain has the iPhone connecting via ANT+
i.e. There's a distinct possibility we'll see some iTunes, Nike+ and HR monitor action by March 2010.

Pedal Brain’s iPhone/iPod accessory, which has already been approved by Apple, will be available through local bike shops this spring. The company is targeting a March release date and plans to sell the device for between $130 and $190. The online service will be subscription based, though users will be able to get a limited version for free (you won’t be able to track your data for longer than a couple weeks).
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It's here - Appleinsider has the Nike+ Heart Rate monitor coming in around June.

Will it be accessible to other apps? We'll find out. Hope so. Maybe the new Touch/iPhone will have more access to it, we'll see - but for now, the iPhone 3GS and current iPod Touch can do Nike+ at the very least.
 
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