The Pacer

Issue date: 2/6/07 Section: Technology

Last week, Technophile Editor Matt Cook talked about the "cure for the common resolution," and I just happen to have a spoonful of sugar to take with it.

You've read all about Apple's hot new iPhone and Apple TV, but neither of those products sound like they would be the least bit helpful with the common New Year's resolution of losing weight. However, one of Apple's products that is currently dwelling in the shadow of their other new gadgets is the perfect tool for a little weight loss.

All the motivation you need to get rid of those extra thousands of calories consumed over the holidays could be a pair of Nike+ shoes, an iPod nano, and a Nike + iPod sport kit.

Last year, Apple teamed up with Nike to create Nike+, a revolutionary product that allows runners' shoes to communicate with their iPods, connect to their computers, and compete with other runners from all over the world.

Nike+ shoes have a built-in pocket under the insole that houses a sensor which uses a sensitive accelerometer to measure activity. The sensor wirelessly streams the data to a receiver that plugs right into the iPod nano dock connector, constantly monitoring pace and distance and providing feedback.

After a run, runners can connect the iPod to a computer and sync their workout data to iTunes and nikeplus.com just as easily as syncing music. Nikeplus.com saves statistics so that they can be analyzed later - checking speed, distance and calories burned by day, week or month.
Nikeplus.com can then be used to challenge any member anywhere to a competition, syncing and comparing results when they log on.

And of course, the iTunes Music Store offers countless mixes developed especially for workouts, Nike-created content and "PowerSongs" to invigorate runners through the final stretch.

The only drawback to this resolution solution is the price: an average pair of Nike+ shoes runs around $100. Many people already own an iPod nano, and the accompanying Nike + iPod Sport Kit is a fairly reasonable $29.

So for serious runners, serious resolution keepers and those who don't mind dishing out at least $150, Nike+ is a good investment and a great way to stay motivated while running. But for everyone else … well, New Year's resolutions aren't really supposed to last a whole year … are they?

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