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Nike CEO Hints at Continued Partnership With Apple to Develop Stylish Fitness Wearables

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Nike CEO Mark Parker sat down with Bloomberg's Stephanie Ruhle to discuss the company's brand and product strategy (via The Guardian). During the 13-minute-long "Market Makers" segment, Parker confirmed that he is bullish on Apple and the wearables market, hinting at a continued partnership between the two companies at the 9:45 mark.

Though Nike recently discontinued further development on its FuelBand fitness wearables, the sports and fitness company is not ready to abandon the wearables market, instead waiting for the market to mature beyond it current geeky status.
"I think it's going to be a big part of the future, absolutely," said Parker. "I think the form it takes is critical. You can go from the very geeky kind of wearables today - we've all seen some of those - to what I think you'll see in the future, things that are more stealth, more integrated, more stylish and more functional, yes."
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Echoing his earlier comments, Parker suggested Apple may be part of Nike's wearables strategy with the Nike CEO noting that the two companies that have a long history of working together can do things together they couldn't do alone.
"Technologically we can do things together that we couldn't do independently," Parker said. "So yeah, that's part of our plan, to expand the whole digital frontier in terms of wearables, and go from what we say is tens of millions of users - right now there's 25 million Nike+ users - to hundreds of millions."
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Parker wouldn't divulge details on any upcoming Apple-Nike collaborations, but the companies traditionally have worked together to promote each other's health and fitness technologies. Apple has sold the FuelBand fitness bracelet in its retail stores, while the Nike+ Move app was among the first to support the M7 motion co-processor in the iPhone 5s.

The fitness partnership between Apple and Nike actually extends back to 2006 with the launch of Nike+iPod products such as the "Sport Kit" that allowed users to embed sensors in Nike shoes to wirelessly communicate exercise information to the iPod nano. Parker also has a long-term relationship with the Apple's leadership, having worked closely with both Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, with Cook having served on Nike's Board of Directors since 2005.

Article Link: Nike CEO Hints at Continued Partnership With Apple to Develop Stylish Fitness Wearables
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/23/nike-apple-wearables/
Let's start with a better QC of the hardware, develop software that actually is user intuitive and cross platform and stop thinking you are Nike, it will be the best ever just because.
 
It WOULD be interesting if Nike's next FuelBand had many of the features of an Apple Watch, including iPhone connectivity, but in band-style. So, those who are not in favor of a watch form factor could use this form factor.
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
Why does Apple need Nike if they have the Apple Watch and will add more functions to it in the coming years?
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Cause the fuel band lasts a week, can be worn with another watch and does not need an iphone. Its actually a much better fitness accessory. If they can get GPS into the nike band, and a heart sensor, it would be awesome.
 
Where, pray, are the Nike+ FuelBand and Running app updates for iPhone 6 / iOS 8, Nike?
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
Why does Apple need Nike if they have the Apple Watch and will add more functions to it in the coming years?
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I'm using the Nike Sportwatch GPS with a chest strap for heartrate monitoring. Since the Apple Watch requires me to carry my iPhone 6+ while running I don't see it replacing my Nike Sportwatch anytime soon. Maybe in a couple years when Apple Watch gets GPS.

Also, Nike, update your app! :mad:
 
MH01 said:
Cause the fuel band lasts a week, can be worn with another watch and does not need an iphone. Its actually a much better fitness accessory. If they can get GPS into the nike band, and a heart sensor, it would be awesome.
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RosOne said:
I'm using the Nike Sportwatch GPS with a chest strap for heartrate monitoring. Since the Apple Watch requires me to carry my iPhone 6+ while running I don't see it replacing my Nike Sportwatch anytime soon. Maybe in a couple years when Apple Watch gets GPS.

Also, Nike, update your app! :mad:
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So only a temporary partnership until the :apple:Watch, which is still in its infancy just like the original iPhone, gains more features. They're most certainly not going to cripple the Sport version when they can add more functions to it in the future.
 
This was what I was hoping the Iwatch would resemble.

Truly different thinking would have looked more like the FUELBAND. IMHO.
Instead we got an old skool watch with some nano updating. Yeah, a year ago people thought I was already wearing an iwatch. I had slapped clipped the nano on a silicon watch strap. Thank you Jony Ive and Tim Cook for coasting on Steven Jobs laurels.

I had been hoping that the iwatch would take design cues from the fuel band.
I loved that one prototype that was floating about in the rumor mill. It featured the idea that you could roll images and functionality in a sultry strip. I don't remember who mocked it up, but it looked like a natural next level for the fuel band that Apple surely could have taken on, with some cool assed bendy glass type material allowing for a flexible screen.
 
Loved the FuelBand, but Nike all-but abandoned it and gave a big middle finger to customers when it came to quickly squashing major bugs like the data addition when going across U.S. time zones.

I don't really see what Nike has to offer other than their brand name. Their h/w is mediocre and their s/w is bottom of the barrel. There are just too many other good wearables now and forthcoming. Even Fitbits upcoming models look really great w/ the built in HR monitor even if they aren't compatible w/ Health app. Nike had a lead in the segment and relinquished it IMHO. No second bit of the Apple (no pun) in this market.

Apple hasn't really done much cross branding -- the failed RCKR phone and U2 iPod come to mind. Would Apple push out a Nike edition Apple Watch?

Also the bit about developing a stylish watch... what Nike watch or band is stylish?
 
RosOne said:
I'm using the Nike Sportwatch GPS with a chest strap for heartrate monitoring. Since the Apple Watch requires me to carry my iPhone 6+ while running I don't see it replacing my Nike Sportwatch anytime soon. Maybe in a couple years when Apple Watch gets GPS.

Also, Nike, update your app! :mad:
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If its got GPS, you're not getting battery the whole day for all the other functions. That's the whole point why the Apple watch is not getting GPS. If you think the Apple watch battery should last 6h, well take it up with the other people who think it should last 2 days...
 
Keirasplace said:
If its got GPS, you're not getting battery the whole day for all the other functions. That's the whole point why the Apple watch is not getting GPS. If you think the Apple watch battery should last 6h, well take it up with the other people who think it should last 2 days...
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No one is running the whole day. You use the GPS when you run :)
 
Just saying, Health app integration and iPhone 6+ support would really encourage me to use the fuel band and running apps again. It's not asking for too much.
 
bbeagle said:
It WOULD be interesting if Nike's next FuelBand had many of the features of an Apple Watch, including iPhone connectivity, but in band-style. So, those who are not in favor of a watch form factor could use this form factor.
Click to expand...

I just don't see Apple providing incentives not to get the :apple:Watch and get another company's product instead. Unless it's a temporary partnership to get additional features not currently available on the :apple:Watch.
 
RosOne said:
I'm using the Nike Sportwatch GPS with a chest strap for heartrate monitoring. Since the Apple Watch requires me to carry my iPhone 6+ while running I don't see it replacing my Nike Sportwatch anytime soon. Maybe in a couple years when Apple Watch gets GPS.

Also, Nike, update your app! :mad:
Click to expand...

You aren't required to carry your phone with you. That run info is downloaded to the phone at a later time from the watch.
 
Wearables 2.0 should be interesting – integrated sensors in clothing, shoes, etc. in the meantime where is Health and iOS 8 updates from Nike? Super late to the game, and frustrating for Nike Running users…
 
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