Purported iPhone Nike+ screenshots found to be fake

And to think, we actually believed that Nike and Apple were this close to delivering the long-awaited running application for the iPhone. While it was widely reported that these shots were indeed the real deal, AppleInsider is pointing out a chink in the armor: Cupertino doesn't offer iPhone developers a programming interface for accessing one's music, yet this mysterious program clearly showed someone listening to Chris Martin and friends (an unreleased song, evidently) while attempting to make it to 0.02km. The take away? It's still pretty likely that the two outfits are working to create a fitness program for the App Store, but those screenshots ain't it.

[Thanks, Michael]

[gad get @ Aug 21st 2008 8:00AM]

"Cupertino doesn't offer iPhone developers a programming interface for accessing one's music"

Ah, phooey! Why not?

[Galley @ Aug 21st 2008 8:59AM]

Double-clicking the home button will bring up a music controller.

[Mark @ Aug 22nd 2008 1:18PM]

because it's just not quite as good as the zune(which does)

[slarity @ Aug 21st 2008 8:02AM]

Well, if Apple works with Nike dont you think they would POTENTIALLY help with something like that? Seems like music would be a great addition to a running app.

[Grant @ Aug 21st 2008 11:56AM]

that's what i was thinking, nikes not just another dev making an app, they have a partnership with them and make a really popular accessory.

[Liam Starling @ Aug 21st 2008 8:03AM]

has to be fake as well

the song by coldplay has been incorectly spelled - should be 'Violet Hill' not 'Violent Hill'
the person who made this didnt even check their spelling ^^

[gad get @ Aug 21st 2008 8:04AM]

D'oh!

[anon @ Aug 21st 2008 9:18AM]

And the bigger mistake -- who the heck listens to Coldplay when running? Maybe power walking. Maybe.

[Dave @ Aug 21st 2008 8:04AM]

Another clue to it being fake: there isn't a Coldplay song called 'VIOLENT' Hill....

[TS @ Aug 21st 2008 8:10AM]

Excellent catch....VIOLET Hill it is indeed.

[stealth658 @ Aug 21st 2008 8:04AM]

If it was legit, I don't think the song title would be 'Violent Hill'.

[Jay6464 @ Aug 21st 2008 8:31AM]

Oh I don't know, I've lost many friends on hiking trips to Voilent Hills... Dangerous Natural Phenomenon...

[matt @ Aug 21st 2008 8:08AM]

if apple are developing it, they dont abide to the rules of the SDK... think about it!!!

[L8on @ Aug 21st 2008 9:37AM]

you ARE absolutely correct.

[chris @ Aug 21st 2008 11:37AM]

That's exactly what i thought. Perhaps this is fake but the argument made here for it definitely being fake because the sdk lacks programming interface for accessing one's music is naive. The SDK agreement also does not allow live turn by turn directions using the gps. But do we really think this will never happen? Of course apple makes exceptions and of course a partner like Nike has special privileges that small time developers would not.

[zargon @ Aug 21st 2008 8:49AM]

Coldplay is still around and people still listen to them?

[Josh @ Aug 21st 2008 8:52AM]

Apple could make an exception.. exactly like the iPod nano and Nike Plus...

Think about it.

[Mustaine @ Aug 21st 2008 9:14AM]

Nike+Coldplay? Think I'll stick to my Mark Nason Resonance+Metal

[Daniel Bentley @ Aug 21st 2008 9:50AM]

I need to get fit.

[djbentley @ Aug 21st 2008 9:56AM]

im having trouble with my comments showing up

[Ohmi @ Aug 21st 2008 10:18AM]

It's perfectly possible for an app to play any music it wants, so long as it is provided by the app itself.

[Dennis Jenders @ Aug 21st 2008 10:25AM]

It's possible these are just mockups of the app and that would explain the misspelling. And since the first kit allowed you to play your music don't you think this one would too. Kind of useless to run without music!

The designs look pretty damn polished - I think they are likely mockups of the app.

[ThomasShaped @ Aug 21st 2008 10:48AM]

Why would Apple make a UI with such a PAINFULLY bright red background? Of course it was fake -_-

[chris @ Aug 21st 2008 11:30AM]

Because it mimics Nike + own website and they are partners in this.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 21st 2008 11:34AM]

Why do you think you'd have to buy this app from the Apple store? On the regular iPods, it comes with the unit, as part of the Apple software. You don't have to buy it through iTunes.

Why would the iPhone be different?

There's another reason the app can't be real if you think it's a store app, that's because Apple provides no APIs for app writers to talk to accessories connected to the iPod. So it this app couldn't talk to the little receiver you plug into the bottom of the phone to get the shoe data from it.

Given this, it appears Nike couldn't write a Nike+ for the phone at all (at least yet), so if we see any Nike+ app, it'll likely be from Apple.

[CharlesV @ Aug 21st 2008 1:56PM]

The iPhones built in acceleremotere can function as a step-meter. There are some homebrew apps that do it now.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 21st 2008 6:04PM]

Why would Nike write an app for the phone that doesn't tie into the shoes or something they sell? Makes no sense.

Apple might though. You're making my argument for me.

[Grant @ Aug 21st 2008 11:58AM]

i only listen to coldplay while making sour dough bread and spinach dip.

[jupiterthunder @ Aug 21st 2008 1:13PM]

Where were all the geniuses that can see this is an obvious fake two days ago when it was posted?

[Parsec @ Aug 21st 2008 1:24PM]

You can tell they're fake because the fonts displayed in the screenshots include Arial. Apple pretty much only uses Helvetica in the iPhone.

[Idlemind @ Aug 21st 2008 1:56PM]

"...who you callin a ..." ah nevermind...