3G iPod nano not playing nice with Nike+iPod kit?

Word on the street -- or on the Apple discussion boards, rather -- is that quite a few 3G iPod nanos aren't exactly acting as they should when interfacing with the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. Users are reporting that after updating to software v1.0.2, mileage is being displayed in kilometers instead of miles, even though the internal voice still quotes the latter. Additionally, recorded information uploaded to the Nike+ website is correctly shown (in miles), while the "Your Last Workout" section in iTunes makes you wonder if you're still living in America. Apple is apparently aware of the issue and is working towards a fix, but for now, it looks like you can turn lemons into lemonade by practicing your distance conversions on-the-run.

[Iimage courtesy of jfab, thanks Gerry]

[Gadgie @ Nov 16th 2007 12:49PM]

psh, the 3G nano is hideous and difficult to use to begin with, why bother?

[SteveJ @ Nov 16th 2007 12:58PM]

Difficult to use?

[Gadgie @ Nov 16th 2007 1:47PM]

Yes, I find the scroll wheel is too low on the player, so its hard to hold comfortably and scroll with one hand. I found scrolling to be second-nature with the old nano and current classic form factors. Further, the width of the area that is touch sensitive seems to be smaller than any other iPod I've ever used, and I find it to be uncomfortable. At least in my opinion, the 3rd gen nano is the first bad iPod that I always warn my friends from getting.

[Penguin Warlord @ Nov 16th 2007 5:18PM]

Well yeah it's hard to scroll but that's because you're not using a metric thumb.

[Luis @ Nov 16th 2007 12:52PM]

Nike forum boards are also flooded with complaints of this bug. Not only that, but if you own a 3rd gen Nano and you have your Nike+ profile set for public, your powersong will not be uploaded to your profile. In addition, many 3rd gen Nano users are reporting that when you select a playlist to start a workout, no music plays. All these issues have been mentioned pretty much since the update came out.

[Cagrino @ Nov 16th 2007 1:02PM]

Agree. The miles/km issue is the most annoying thing for me.

Surprised Engadget is just now reporting this. I guess you can't find everything. :-)

[Adam @ Nov 16th 2007 12:59PM]

This software update for the nano also affects the new Amp+ watch. With a 3g nano, the AMP+ would corrupt data when stopped by the watch itself. If you stopped the workout on the nano, you are fine. Also the powersong button would not work correctly.

It was very annoying and I ended up sending the Amp+ back to Nike for a refund. Great idea for a product, but poor implementation and testing.

[Jeff @ Nov 16th 2007 1:41PM]

It's not really the AMP+ corrupting the data. It's the software apple is responsible for on the nano's themselves. Nothing Nike can do about it. Their product works fine. It's apple screwing the pooch.

[Adam @ Nov 16th 2007 1:45PM]

@Jeff

Agreed. But the Amp+ was specifically made to interact with Nike+ and the nano. Some amount of testing should have gone on before they released it.

[Jeff @ Nov 16th 2007 3:13PM]

@Adam

I think the problem came that the AMP+ got released around the same time as the nano 3g. My guess is some assumptions were made on Nike's side that Apple would have their software working. I've worked with Apple some in the past and I wouldn't be surprised if Nike wasn't even allowed to get their hands on a 3g nano early enough to test with.

[Mike @ Nov 16th 2007 1:04PM]

Apples way of telling us we should be using metric...

[Jason @ Nov 16th 2007 1:12PM]

metric is better 10 times out of 10.

[willy the impeached @ Nov 16th 2007 1:26PM]

But english units are better 12 times out of 10. So there you Euro-lovin-weasel!

[Cagrino @ Nov 16th 2007 1:57PM]

English...
Metric...
What's a little NASA disaster among friends?

[wrabbit @ Nov 16th 2007 1:14PM]

You yanks should start using metric already. It's the 21st century for crying out loud - why do you still use limbs to measure distance?! :)

Also, what happened with the "Down with British and up with our independent selves!" - shouldn't you be going against the monarchy and using the measurement system of the new world?

[Andrew @ Nov 16th 2007 1:43PM]

Canada is using metric even though we still consider the Queen our head of state. How many more space probes need to die needlessly until US converts too?

[Glancing Aft @ Nov 16th 2007 1:20PM]

I haven't had any problems at all with it.

[remslie @ Nov 16th 2007 1:55PM]

I'd switch to the metric system but I'd never be able to get used to those 10-hour clocks.

[Balam Herrera @ Nov 16th 2007 2:04PM]

Whats the problem? metric system is way better. Thats a great update!

[Joel @ Nov 16th 2007 2:04PM]

I'm still pissed that I can't use my Nike+ kit with my iPhone. One of the main reasons I switched to the iPhone was that when I was out and running I could be reached for work emergencies.

[Matias Korhonen @ Nov 16th 2007 2:20PM]

Go Metric, Go.

[Simon @ Nov 16th 2007 3:24PM]

It just works.

[Cale @ Nov 16th 2007 3:38PM]

So THAT'S why it said I ran 10 miles two nights ago. I just thought it wasn't calibrated. Oh well.

[ventivent @ Nov 16th 2007 5:49PM]

This is a really annoying bug. I noticed it when I upgraded from my 1G nano to my 3G nano. The voice continues to tell you the accurate time and distance, but the display shows the kilometric numueric value, but with miles as units. I'm training to run a marathon in 2 weeks...get this fixed now.