As we speak in Apple historical past: Nike+iPod Sport Equipment places health monitoring in your pocket – Uplaza

July 13, 2006: Apple releases its first exercise tracker, the Nike+iPod Sport Equipment, which mixes Cupertino’s fashionable music participant with a wise pedometer.

The product marks Apple’s first step towards the sort of cellular health-tracking initiatives it is going to pursue within the following decade — most notably via its iOS Well being app and the Apple Watch.

Nike+iPod Sport Equipment: The rise of well being monitoring

The launch of Nike+iPod Sport Equipment coincided with a broad push towards health-oriented units throughout the tech trade. Later that 12 months, the Nintendo Wii would be part of the pattern with motion-tracking video games like Wii Sports activities.

Whereas the Nike+iPod Sport Equipment didn’t promote near these numbers, it was really a fairly good machine in its personal proper. It boasted a miniature sensor that match underneath the insole of a Nike+ shoe. A equally sized receiver plugged into an iPod nano to trace exercises.

Nike+iPod Sport Equipment: Greater than only a health tracker

The software program went past monitoring steps. It additionally allowed customers to verify statistics from previous exercises and set health targets. Plus, they may hear (by way of a computerized voice that preceded Siri by 5 years) how far they’d run, how briskly their tempo was and the way far they had been from their vacation spot.

“We’re working with Nike to take music and sport to a new level,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs mentioned in a press release on the time. “The result is like having a personal coach or training partner motivating you every step of your workout.”

The Nike+iPod Sport Equipment prefigured one other shift in Apple insurance policies, too. Within the aftermath of the product’s launch, a report by College of Washington researchers highlighted a safety flaw within the RFID-powered machine that opened up the potential of letting undesirable third events monitor customers with out their data.

As we speak, person privateness stands as considered one of Apple’s core issues. Whereas the Nike+iPod didn’t result in this shift, the pre-iPhone cellular machine highlighted one of many large safety points that may outline the subsequent decade.

Did you personal a Nike+iPod Sport Equipment? Go away your feedback and recollections beneath.