Nike+ SportBand purchased early, unboxed for all to see

Nah, it's not April 10th just yet (in most of the world, at least), but one particular bloke managed to score one of Nike's new SportBands at a London marathon exhibition today. The going rate on that side of the pond was £40 ($78), but we wouldn't mind that dreadful exchange rate too much if you're curious about eventual US pricing. Nevertheless, feel free to tap the read link to peep the unit fresh out of its packaging, but be forewarned, there aren't any surprises.

[Thanks, Terry]

[phanbouy @ Apr 9th 2008 3:36PM]

wow.. Nike's into bondage. who knew?

cue Depeche Mode

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Apr 9th 2008 3:39PM]

Why is it so hard for companies to keep products not to release on other dates.

[jacres @ Apr 9th 2008 4:21PM]

Whaaaa?

[Neon Jebus @ Apr 9th 2008 3:40PM]

A heart monitoring feature would be nice but that would drive up the cost a lot. The style is much better than the C3 and other heart monitor / watch combos they offer.

[Jared @ Apr 9th 2008 3:48PM]

It seems that the wireless pedometer feature would be more costly than a heart-rate sensor built into the band, but I don't know how that tech works exactly. Those two watchband studs look perfect for sensor nodes.

[Jason @ Apr 10th 2008 9:04AM]

yeah i thought the same thing about the pokey things. I guess its not accurate while running/swimming. I mean, most chest strap HRM have to be sweaty and stay 100% contact with skin or else they screw up.

[gabe @ Apr 9th 2008 3:43PM]

sportsband on head.

[SL @ Apr 9th 2008 3:45PM]

Kinda weird that the sensor still has the Apple logo on it. I guess they didn't want to spend the money or time to make a separate style sensor.

[Fred @ Apr 9th 2008 3:47PM]

Apple probably has some patents on the software someplace.

[captainpease @ Apr 9th 2008 3:57PM]

or they wanted to make sure Apple would carry the product in their stores

[Seth A @ Apr 9th 2008 5:00PM]

From what I understand, the sensor is the same, so if you have the sensor, you could just buy the band. I'm not sure. Maybe Apple still produces the sensor, the Nike guy said it wasn't a "competitor" it was designed to supplement it, for those people who at times didn't need the full functions of an iPod and jsut needed the band. I wouldn't be surprised to hear Apple helped them develop the band.

[Fred @ Apr 9th 2008 3:46PM]

Am I the only one that thinks this thing looks like ass on toast?

[Andrew @ Apr 9th 2008 6:03PM]

It would appear that you are.

[Fred @ Apr 9th 2008 11:32PM]

Quite.

[dizilbdog @ Apr 9th 2008 4:01PM]

I wonder if this will make just a good watch. I mean if you go for a walk with the receiver in or on your shoes you can always see how far you are going without your ipod

[Terry @ Apr 9th 2008 4:09PM]

Its not really that bad, the display and 2 button operation are a bit limiting but its discreet and does what its made to do. Now ive just gotta wait for the software to become avaliable, the link in the packaging is dead at the min :(

[jeff @ Apr 9th 2008 6:32PM]

From the pictures on nikeplus.com, it looks like it was meant to be worn on the inside of your wrist, so when you turn your arm so your wrist is pointing up, the display is in the correct orientation

[Matt @ Apr 9th 2008 6:48PM]

Didn't think about that, probably because it breaks a huge convention.

I think they smartly made some watches with angled text, because parallel to the arm is also kind of difficult to read (requires either moving the head, or lifting the entire arm). Now, they've basically overcorrected. Putting the display on the interior of the arm a) breaks convention and b) requires either head angling or lower arm movement.

[Matt @ Apr 9th 2008 4:32PM]

The biggest problem is the orientation of the display. With the display perpendicular to the arm, it's pretty much impossible to read it comfortably.

A few of these were handed out at a running event and the other complaint was calibration.

[jeff @ Apr 9th 2008 6:32PM]

I don't see why not. If I remember the whole University of Washington tracking sensors thing they did, they're transmit only devices which means there would be nothing stopping you from doing a workout with both. I'm sure the nikeplus web page will prevent you from uploading both though :)

[theboywil @ Apr 9th 2008 4:48PM]

Does anyone know whether you can use this at the same time as you use the ipod link? (ie can both the ipod and the band linked to the same sensor?)...

I like listening to music and I like the voice telling me how far I have gone at the mile intervals, but I would also like something on my wrist to tell me my pace and to allow me to check my current distance without fishing the ipod out of my pockets...

[monke @ Apr 9th 2008 6:46PM]

I believe Nike has some watches that will connect to your iPod and Nike+ Sensor that can tell you everything AND still control your iPod.

IMO, I'd rather have the iPod Nano setup then that SportBand.

[Liam @ Apr 9th 2008 4:49PM]

Just came back from a trip to California. Due to that 'dreadful' exchange rate, I shopped lots.

[El Taco @ Apr 9th 2008 5:30PM]

um...niice to know?

[solarpos @ Apr 9th 2008 8:37PM]

Um, excuse me, the Apple logo is their because of the relationship between the iPod Nano and the sensor. naybe you've been in a cave. It's ok, cave's are interesting too.

[Fred @ Apr 9th 2008 11:34PM]

Strangely this item is iPod free and therefore the Apple logo seems out of place. But hey NAYBE that's just me.