The pedometer has long existed.  Back in the day, it was a merely a little, round plastic box with a physical counter for a display.   The whole setup was mechanical and merely provided your total accumulated daily steps, that’s assuming you reset it every 24 hours.  The evolution of technology has lead to far more advanced devices that track the very same measurement and much more.  These includes Garmin’s Forerunner devices, Jawbone’s Up and Fitbit’s Ultra Fitbit.  They all offer a slightly different feature set, but at the end of the day they aim to provide their users with insight to their daily activity and more importantly activity for the day.

Nike, who has long promoted a healthy lifestyle, albiet through the sale of their arguably overpriced products, has long existed on the fringes of this fitness trend with the launch of the Nike+ devices a number of years ago.  However, it hardly is a suitable everyday accompaniment to, well, an everyday person who doesn’t jog and instead walks, lift weights, hits the proverbial stairs and performs other activities that qualify as exercise.  As a result, the company today announced the Fuelband.

Aesthetically the device is drop dead attractive, yet ultra simple – at least from where we sit.  They’ve included insert links for those with oversized wrists, but the real joy of the Fuelband is the array of LED lights to indicate how far along you are in your goals and performance.  20 color LED lights keep you up to date on your daily goal progress, while 100 white LEDs will depict time, NikeFuel earned (some proprietary equation Nike has derived using their billions of dollars), calories burned and steps taken (this info is literally spelled out using the LEDs).  A single button sits just to the right of the LEDs and allows you cycle through the aforementioned info.  That said, you can link it to your smartphone via Bluetooth and view the data in actual numbers, and while we’re not sure if you can upload said data directly to Nike’s dedicated site, you can plug in the Nike Fuelband to your computer via USB to accomplish this feat.

So how does it work? The Nike Fuelband is able to collect data thanks to 3 axis accelerometers, which measures your daily motion.  There is also an ambient light sensor to measure environmental light, which we assume discounts any movement that might happen during sleep, but then again what happens if you exercise in the dark?  And for greater durability, just in case you were wondering, the Fuelband is water resistant, meaning it can stand up to some rain, a boat load of sweat but not a dip in the pool.  Battery life should be good for up to 4 days, but something tells us you’ll want to charge it nightly so you don’t get caught with a dead battery and a workout that goes unrecorded.

According to Nike’s website, the Fuelband is already available for $149 and is shipping now.

For a limited time iTunes if offer this Nike Training Club App for iPhone for Free!

If it’s free it’s for me, and apps are definitely no exception. Now iTunes is offering you a chance to grab this Nike Training App so you can put a whole new spin on your exorcise routine. It acts as your own personal trainer which allows you to choose between 60 custom and built-in workout routines and the ability to fine tune and tweak it to perfection to make you lean and muscular. It features full body workouts that time out to 30-45 minutes or more professional variety workouts for 15 minutes a piece. it’s functionality is simple and very easy to use, so you don’t need to be tech savvy to handle your workout setup and since its on your phone it integrates nicely to your music albums for background to your routine.

iTunes has this 500MB app for free!

TGIF! Just one more workday until you can enjoy your weekend. And to get you through the last couple of hours, here’s a roundup of the top tech videos and gadgets for the week!

8. Water Printer

The Osaka Station has a waterfall fixture, or water printer, that can create images from the falling water. A pretty unique thing that seems to fascinate onlookers.

7. iPhone 4 Illuminated Apple Logo Modification

An England-based modifier has created a cool modification that will illuminate the Apple logo on the back of your iPhone 4 handset when you receive a text or a call. It’s supposed to come out in October, but not for consumers. Too bad because it’s  a seriously cool concept!

6. Revolight Bike Lights

Here’s a neat bike gadget that will help with your night rides. The Revolight is an LED ring of lights that mount to the bike’s front and rear tire rims, which allow motorists to clearly see you coming and helps light your path. Right now it’s a Kickstarter project and you’ll need to pledge a minimum of $200 to have a pair. Not bad for those serious hardcore cyclists out there.

5. Levitatr Bluetooth Keyboard

The Levitatr is an iPad-compatible Bluetooth keyboard that with a push of a button, elevates its keys from the device’s glossy face and then retracts them back slowly into the body when not in use. This keeps the keys safe from crumbs, dirt and debris when stored away. Oh, and it also sports a sleek design. Right now it’s actually a Kickstarter project that asks for at least a $79 donation if you want one for yourself.

4. Video Game in a Box

If you enjoy playing “Super Mario Bros.” then you’ll definitely enjoy this “Video Game in a Box” video! Turns out some gamer mimicked the popular NES game and made his own video game using a box and a few other components including some LED lights. It even has its own sound effects! While it may not be as fun as the actual video game, if you think it’s still cool and want one for yourself, the parts are available via a Kickstarter project.

3. Nike Air Mag Sneakers

Based on Marty McFly’s sneakers in “Back to the Future 2,” Nike’s new and limited edition Air Mag Sneakers are the hottest commodity in footwear. With only 1,500 versions of the iconic sneaker being sold (via auction), the proceeds will go toward developing a cure for Parkinson’s disease since Michael J. Fox is part of the project. While it may not be the nicest looking sneaker around, it’s still pretty cool since it’s the first rechargeable sneaker from Nike (it has LED lights that turn on by pinching the “ear” of the high top). Good luck getting your hands on a pair because they’re selling for a pretty hefty chunk of change.

2. Sphero Robotic Ball Controlled by Your Phone

For those who have feline friends and an iPhone, the Sphero robotic ball will provide you with awesome footage to make your own funny cat video. To control the ball, all you need to do is download an app that’s available for Android/iPhone. From there, you either shake your phone to move the ball or use the screen controls an torture the hell out of your cat!

1. Paraswift: A Base Jumping Robot

A robot that can base jump? Yup, and it goes by the name Paraswift. It’s the first robot that can climb a vertical surface and then deploy a paraglider to make it safely back on the ground. Robots are getting more and more advanced, with Paraswift demonstrating how they are now becoming more versatile at moving around in human environments. Looks more like this is one step closer to a future robot takeover.

Marty McFly’s sneakers in “Back to the Future 2″ we’re almost as cool as his Hoverboard.  And while we’re still awaiting a commercially available version of the flying skateboard, the good news is that Nike has teamed up with Michael J. Fox to produce 1,500 versions of the iconic sneaker, officially called the Air Mag.

Unfortunately, they’re not self lacing as seen in the movie and a patent filed by Nike, but they do rock a set of glowing LEDs and an electroluminescent “Nike” in the strap that will both glow up to 5 hours per charge.  Nike is only producing 1500 pairs of these oh-so ugly, yet hot sneakers.  They’re being auctioned off and the proceeds are going towards developing a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

The auction began last week and will expire on September 18th.  Nike will auction off 150 shoes per day and if you want a pair expect to pay thousands of dollars (size 8s are fetching the least amount of money, while 10s are garnering the most). This should lead to some serious coin for Michael J. Foxes Parkinson’s foundation.  Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki will also match the proceeds up to $50 million through the end of 2012.

Apparently, the Air Mag Sneaker is the first rechargeable footwear from Nike.  The LED lights power on by pinching the “ear” of the high top.

When we think of Finish Line employees we think of retired high school athletes with no artistic prowess.  Boy, we couldn’t have been more wrong.

Gabriel Dishaw of Indianapolis created these Nike Airmax 2011 sneakers using “a motherboard, an old typewriter case, a USB port, chipsets, power connectors and even an oxygen mask from a 747 airplane”.

While we’re pretty sure the sneakers can’t be worn, they do serve a purpose.  What is it?  To exemplify reusing and recycling by leveraging an iconic brand that will surely draw attention and  hence this post.

On another note, this is Dishaw’s 50th sculpture and 19th junk art shoe – he started producing them when he was in 9th grade and is now 30.

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Looking to get a little more sole out of your music?

Sorry, but we couldn’t but help the pun.  These speakers are in fact a pair of Nike Air Force 1 sneakers that have been modded by custom sneaker maker Nashmoney for the Inspired Ingenuity creative competition.  They’ve been outfitted with all the fittings of a speaker system, including volume knob, inputs, an amp (that’s what it runs on), tweeters and drivers.

In terms of sound quality we’re gonna go ahead and assume they stink, but that’s a caveat we’re willing to except given the wow factor.

Via: Technabob

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I’ve never been one for Nike+, the previously iPod-specific application that tracks running and exercise statistics. That may be because I’m not a runner, never have been, and probably will never be. It could also be because I don’t really want to know how long or how far I actually ran. Sometimes it’s better not knowing.

Nike’s Just Do It motto completely disagrees, and thus the SportWatch GPS. It’s an atypical watch with a more sophisticated monochrome display than your typical $5 watch. No more than 3 buttons and a gesture sensor control the SportWatch, which are intended to scroll through the minimalist menus or activate the GPS.

I played around with the SportWatch, and as someone who gave up wearing watches years ago (I prefer pocket watches…but more reasonably use a cellphone), I can appreciate the design. It’s lightweight though with a large head. The backlight is enabled by taping on the front, one of the gestures. Navigating the menus is an absolute no-brainer. One button scrolls down, another up, and the last is colored green and selects the highlighted option.

Nike representatives assured me that, thanks to their collaboration with TomTom, who supplies the GPS data for the SportWatch, it’s accurate within several feet. That means no tricking it like the iPod’s pedometer. It also means more options for exercise, such as setting up timed laps for runs around specific paths and recording best times. The little things, like a congratulatory note when completing a run, are nice touches.

What I don’t like, but don’t see a realistic way around, is the need to connect the SportWatch to a computer. This is required for two reasons: first, to download the data off the watch to Nike’s website for your personalized data to be stored and viewable to you. Second, the SportWatch uses a small lithium-ion battery and must be recharged, depending on your usage, weekly. With zero running, I’m told that it’ll last up to two months, but that the GPS drains the battery and if you run three times a week, the battery should be charged once weekly. The USB connector is tucked safely away in the strap.

The SportWatch works with other Nike+ accessories, like the heart monitor and shoe sensors, but it also works fine as a standalone device. Nike expects to launch on April 1st, selling specifically through their online store, as well as TomTom’s. A larger retail release will start July 1st. There is no price set for the Nike SportWatch GPS yet.

What’s big and red all over?  Nike’s 22 person foosball table, located at their Nike Stadium Milan store in Italy.   It’s most certainly a head turner.  One problem though: the table is so damn big your action is gonna be minimal.  Thank you, but I’ll stick with my standard sized foosball table.

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Come July 15th, hard core runners will be able to get their wrists on Nike’s latest Nike+ Sportsband watch for $59.  This is the second iteration of the device and includes a new ‘white’ background that makes the screen even easier to read, a water tight body and a bunch of new colors, such as pink/gray, yellow/gray and red/gray.

The Nike+ Sportsband works in tandem with the Nike+ sensor and tracks calories burned, speed, distance and pace.  The watch is the cheap alternative to purchasing an iPod to track the same vitals.

Full release after the ‘leap’

BEAVERTON, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Today NIKE, Inc. (NYSE: NKE) introduced the new Nike+ SportBand, giving runners real-time performance feedback on their distance, pace, time and calories burned with just a glance at their wrist. Nike also redefined the online running experience by merging the successful site nikeplus.com and its close to 2 million members together with www.nikerunning.com.

Nike+ SportBand

The Nike+ SportBand features a new screen with a white background to enhance visibility and a welded seal to improve water resistance. It will be available in grey with an interior pink band, anthracite (dark grey) with a yellow interior band, and black with a red interior band. Runners who enjoy listening to music may continue to hear their run details through the Apple iPod nano, iTouch or iPhone systems. The Nike+ SportBand will be available in the U.S. on July 15, with a suggested retail price of $59 USD.

We’re giving runners a seamless, comprehensive, one-stop online destination for all their needs,? said Leslie Lane Global Vice President and General Manager for Nike Running. From finding the right gear, the latest event details, tracking progress and connecting to friends through Nike+, we’re helping runners hit a new stride.?

NikePlus.com

Nike has merged the popular nikeplus.com website and its close to 2 million members with www.nikerunning.com to give users a one-stop running destination online. In addition, nikeplus.com has added many new features and social media opportunities including:

Personalization ? The new navigational system includes a customizable homepage for members providing at-a-glance views of your training, progress in goals and challenges, and your Nike+ Mini. Now runners can personalize every run to illustrate their mood, weather, terrain, route and more.

Find Your Friends ? Runners will now be able to search for like-minded and similarly-skilled runners, accept new friend requests and initiate challenges in conjunction with their favorite social media platforms. And because no good run should go unpublished, runners can broadcast their own successes beyond Nike+, with automatic updates to Facebook status, Twitter feeds and much more.

Upgraded Challenges ? Once runners tap into their own personal running network, Nike+ will now recommend challenges from the gallery to help inspire a little healthy competition with other runners who have similar running styles or profiles.

New Shoe Finder ? This feature asks runners to answer a few simple questions in order to receive a customized shoe recommendation based on the latest shoe technology.

Improved Goals and Challenges ? In addition to helpful news, training tips, and event details, the newly redesigned site also features new professional coaching programs from some of Nike?s top running coaches and athletes. Runners can choose from a pre-set coaching program, or personalize their own routine and goals with more flexibility.

Lastly, Nike is launching a Nike+ iPhone mobile site to give users access to Nike+ data anywhere.

About Nike

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

I have yet to get around to it, but one day I’ll remove my normal door lock in favor of a fingerprint reader or some sort of keyless entry.  Until that time I’ll just suffer the burden of carrying around a set of keys.  Nate on the other hand isn’t so patient.  He’s managed to eliminate most keys from his life with the exception of his car key.  So what did he do?  Hacked together a Nike+iPod device and key fob, with an Arduino Pro Mini, to create what he calls the iFOB.  Now just walking within proximity of his car unlocks his doors.  Unfortunately, starting his car still requires a physical key.

[via Hackaday]

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I hardly think that the Nike Transformer sneakers are new, but since I can’t honestly remember I’m posting anyway.  I’m particularly fond of how the Transformers are also wearing Nike sneakers.  Yours for 120 smackers!

[via Toxel]

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By: Christen da Costa

A new patent filing from Apple indicates their willingness to make a much greater investment in Nike+ and its capabilities.  So what’s the next gen Nike+ capable of?  Just about everything workout related.  To start, the device will keep track of your shoes and other garments wear and tare, providing feed back to the user such that they can replace it before injury occurs.  It will also be capable of monitoring your where abouts via GPS and compare your physiological aptitude against a database of other runners in your age, height and weight range.  Additionally, the next gen Nike+ would be able to provide points of interest based on historical GPS data and perhaps even, one day, advertise to the user based on recorded database information.

Scary and cool all at the same time.  As depicted in many futuristic apocalyptic films, the advancement of technology, and more importantly data tracking, might be human kind’s greatest downfall.  Is Apple the next Terminator or am I just crazy!?  I’m stickin’ with crazy for now.

[Apple Insider]

Nike and Apple are super brands – no doubt about that.  Hence why they partnered up a few years ago, well, plus the iPod is synonymous with working out.  Here’s a screen shot of the upcoming Nike Plus app for the iPhone and Touch.

I wonder if it will work with previous Nike/iPod training devices?

[Ubergizmo]

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Buy it: Nike SHJ023 Lightweight Neckband Headphone – $15