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MF Doom Sneaker Speakers are perfect for the supervillain rapper who has everything (video)
Back in March, Nash Money showed off a pair of Nike Air Force 1s that he had turned into desktop speakers -- pretty rad, but hardly flashy enough for a supervillain / rapper. The professional sneaker customizer has significantly stepped up his game after being commissioned by Sneaker Freaker Magazine, creating two pairs of speakers from some giant suede Pumas. Nash consulted MF Doom for the project, and the masked emcee offered up suggestions like "sci-fi and laser guns," "modern architecture and geometry," and "mad exclamation marks." The finished Sneaker Speaker Doomsday Edition (how timely is that?) Models have mic inputs and red, green, and blue lights with eight effects, like speed control and a dim function. They've got plenty of power and can only be fired up by someone with the key -- in this case Doom and the magazine, both of whom walked away with a pair. That is, as much as someone with high-end speaker components in their shoes can walk away with anything. Click the source link for more pics or check a "making of" video after the break.
Sneaker speakers kick out the jams
We've seen homemade speakers crafted from all sorts of unusual objects, but these new sneaker speakers built for a design competition by professional sneaker customizer Nashmoney might just be the new king in town. As you can see, they started out as a regular pair of Nike Air Force 1s, and all of the speaker components are built right into the sneakers, including the amplifier and the controls. Of course, they're also one of a kind, but you can find some pictures and details of the build process at the link below if you have an old pair of kicks you'd like to try to retrofit yourself.
WeSC Karmatech concept makes your shoes more social with RFID
We've been seeing more and more shoes infused with different sorts of technology in recent years, but none quite like this WeSC Karmatech concept developed by some students at Sweden's Hyper Island "digital school." Described as a "social take on Nike+," the shoes apparently wouldn't have an accelerometer but they do pack an RFID chip that allows the wearer to interact with their surroundings -- automatically check in at a location and share it on Facebook or Twitter, for instance, or get access to exclusive deals or special events. Of course, it is just a concept, but the students note that it would be relatively cheap to implement (at least on the shoe end of the equation), as the RFID tags themselves only cost a few cents. Kinda gives a new meaning to "sneakernet," doesn't it? Head on past the break for the video.
These custom Street Fighter Akuma shoes have a demon's sole
Sure, your kicks are probably all right -- they might have those spring things on them, and maybe the velcro is really solid. But do they have freakin' Akuma painted on the side? Didn't think so. That's what makes these customized sneakers from Diversitile so awesome -- they feature a continuous art design with everyone's favorite Street Fighter character (suck it, Blanka) wrapped around a pair of Nike Dunks, and even the laces are styled after Akuma's beaded belt. The shoes were created for the Clash of the Customizers design battle and auction going on right now, so odds are that you probably can't afford them anyway. Guess you'll have to make do with the skates you got, dawg -- better get a little duct tape on that hole in the heel.
Nike files patent for auto-lacing sneakers, Marty McFly doth protest
We've seen some extremely DIY auto-lacing sneakers, but it looks like the big boys -- Nike -- have thought about getting in on the game as well. Patent filings which occurred in early through late 2009 show off an automatic lacing system that is pretty reminiscent of Marty McFly's invention in Back to the Future, and we can tell you that from the looks of it, it's a future we'd definitely like to inhabit. The shoes appear to boast a charging system and lights in addition to the lacing component, and while so few patent apps ever lead to a real retail product, we're really rooting for this one. One more image below.
Auto-lacing sneaker laces itself, is looking for a friend
In the future, even the most menial, second nature tasks will be automated, because why not? Taking a page from the book of Back to the Future II, a fashionable DIYer has gone ahead and brought a little piece of the future to us, with this autolacing sneaker. There's only one so far, but it's got a force sensor which reads the pressure of your foot when you put it in the shoe, and that activates the two servos which tighten the laces. There's also a switch to reverse the servo and loosen the laces. Check out the video of its operation below, and hit up the source if you want to make one (or two!) of your own.
Artist crafts Pentium Nikes but Mom buys us AMD Keds anyways
If there are two things we love here at Engadget, it's our PCs and our kicks -- that's why we were tickled when trash artist and bon vivant Gabriel Dishaw decided to memorialize the Nike Blazer with a sculpture rendered from an old circuit board. Titled "Nike Blazer Pentium 1.0," this is the first part of a series of classic sneakers -- and we must say, this one looks pretty good, if somewhat uncomfortable. Hit the read link to inquire about purchasing some art for yourself, but not before getting a closer look or two after the break. [Thanks, daklar]
Noby Noby sneakers feature long, long laces
A photo says a thousand words, right? We think this Noby Noby Boy sneaker (sent to Kotaku) speaks for itself, turning the now-iconic BOY into a very lengthy shoelace. The concept is easy to understand, and the execution is simple and stylish. It's a reader creation, though, so don't expect to see this at a store near you.
Nike Dunks + WiFi = A Step in the Right Direction
Get ready to pay atelier sneaker prices for these babies, because designer MSTRPLN (not to be confused with MSTRKRFT) and Ubiq (not to be confused with Ubiquio) teamed up to produce some straight black Nike Dunks with built-in WiFi detection. It's called A Step in the Right Direction, and we might actually agree.[Thanks, JideOsan]
Metal Gear Solid "inspired" sneakers
"Yo Sneak, go snake that shi..."Wait, we've got that backwards. Regardless, it seems like a totally obvious product tie-in. Solid Snake sneaks silently in a sneaking suit, so MGS "inspired" sneakers are certain to be solid seller. But seriously, we don't get it ... %Gallery-18398%
NBA Street-branded Air Jordans
EA and Nike have teamed up to do the limited-edition Air Jordan thing. 100 pairs of these decidedly un-street, Street-branded kicks will be manufactured -- 60 pairs apparently set aside for an online contest next week.Part of the Jordan "B'Loyal" line, the shoes were designed by EA in black nubuck leather with blue stitching. Note the speckled mid-sole accent. Ooohhh... Awww...%Gallery-1604%
Nintendo kicks turn your feet into retro gaming showcase
Run Athletics is releasing a pair of Nintendo sneakers that are quite a bit more attractive than the shoes that let you literally step into a NES. These kicks are pretty swanky, and even feature Nintendo characters on the sole, inside and out, giving 'em some real soul. The inner pattern on the outside of the shoe has a ton of invincibility stars, and check out that big Mario "M" on the shoe's tongue. Finally, you can pimp your feet out in some gaming gear that you won't be completely embarrassed to be seen in. We just wouldn't recommend wearing them in church, or on a first date. Unless you're dating a gamer, then by all means.See also: Nike Playstation Air Force Ones[Thanks, fujizhouse & James]
Nike profits driven by iPod sports kit
The Nike+iPod kit has proven to be a huge win for Nike's bottom line. Their profits are up this year with higher than expected earnings and their stock has risen to its highest price in a decade. The secret? Apparently it's Nike's iPod kit, at least in part. Bloomberg reports that "Chief Executive Officer Mark Parker boosted sales with the Nike Plus shoe that works with an iPod and signature footwear from basketball star LeBron James." Looking at the numbers, Nike's Q2 net income rose to $325.6 million compared to $301.1 million a year earlier. Revenue was up 10%, from $3.47 billion to $3.82 billion. That's a lot of sneakers. Almost makes me want to go out running.
Rare PS3 sneakers going for $4,000+ at auction
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Rare_PS3_sneakers_going_for_4_000_at_auction'; PlayStation 3s aren't the only thing fetching high prices at the auction house these days. Even PS3 sneakers (like the things that go on your feet if and when you leave the house) are commanding a premium. This limited edition pair of PlayStation 3-themed Nike Air Max sneakers (which normally retail for under $200) are currently valued at $4,010 USD at shoe auction site Blue Sole (we can't believe shoe auction sites exist either ... we love you, Internet!).Even though the insole features the PS3's "Play Beyond" tagline -- and unlike those working NES sneakers -- these aren't actually working PlayStation 3s. So what does your $4,010 dollars (and counting!) get you? The aforementioned insole, the console's US launch date stitched on the back, a hologram "Swoosh" (a Nike first!), two pairs of shoelaces, a patent leather upper that mimics the PS3's heatsink (?), and "mechanical drawings of the PS3" inside the shoe. For some reason, the auction site doesn't have images of the really exclusive, bid-inducing stuff like, uh, the insole and mechanical drawings, but if staring at that 11.17.06 stitching gets your check-writing hand all twitchy, then rest comfortably knowing that "100% of the funds from this auction will go to charity." We don't know what charity, but you've got a week to find out. The auction ends on December 4th.[Thanks, hohoho; via PS3Land]
Sony, Nintendo get official, unofficial sneakers
While neither can match the simple geek elegance of street artist Invader's Space Invader-themed kicks, Nintendo and Sony fanboys now have some sneakers of their own to covet, although both look to be harder to get your hands on than a Wii or PS3. Sony's the only one of the two to get official with its sneaks, partnering with Nike for some PlayStation 3-themed footwear (at least that's what they're sayin' -- from the looks of it, Nike may have just taken the opportunity to unload some rejected designs.) Only 24 pairs of the PS3 sneaks were made, with most no doubt spoken for by now. You won't fare any better with the Nintendo shoes, however; these stylish but apparently non-functional kicks being strictly one of a kind, created by an talented sneaker artist for a recent Sneakerpimps event in Baltimore.Read - Sole Collector, "First Look at PlayStation 3 Kicks" [Via Hypebeast]Read - Format Magazine, "Sneakerpimps Customs" [Via DS Fanboy]
GoW kicks: It's gotta be the shoes
Sneaker fan PinkSage posted her design for a Gears of War basketball shoe in the GamerTag Radio forums. Where are Nike and Epic on this, because these blood-encrusted kicks would make a sweet promotional item. Emergence Day: It's gotta be the shoes.
Nike+iPod Sport Kit review roundup
Even if the the Nike+iPod Sport Kit were inaccurate, unintuitive, and uncomfortable to wear -- which it doesn't seem to be -- the handful of reviews we've read so far all agree that it possesses at least one attribute that might still make it a worthy purchase: it actually motivated the reviewers to run harder and more often than normal. Fortunately for people who also like their gear to function properly, the wireless pedometer cum personal trainer sounds like it does indeed perform as advertised, offering runners and joggers an easy setup, useful mid-workout statistics and updates, and perhaps most helpfully, a polished online interface to plot one's progress against personal goals or compare esoteric stats with exercise enthusiasts around the world. There are a few downsides here, though, not the least of which is the fact that this is basically a disposable product; the non-rechargeable, non-replaceable battery will supposedly crap out after about 1,000 miles or a year of regular use (and that's assuming you remember to reach into your stinky shoes and turn off the transmitter after each run). You'll also have to shell out for a new armband to secure your nano, as most currently available options (except for those from Nike, of course) won't hold the combination of iPod plus wireless receiver. Overall, it doesn't seem like the kit alone is compelling enough to encourage more folks to snatch up a nano, but if you already own one of these diminutive DAPs, it's a cheap way to give it some extra functionality -- especially if you forgo the special pair of $100+ Nike sneakers for a quick and easy DIY mod to your current kicks.Read - CNETRead - Shiny ShinyRead - TewksRead - iLounge Read - WSJ
Nike+iPod available for pre-order
Exercise nuts looking to pick up one of the Nike+iPod Sport kits to enhance their workouts can finally place their orders on the Apple site, and can expect delivery of their purchase in four to five weeks. At $29, the kit is quite the bargain too, except that it won't do you much good without the hundreds of dollars of electronics and specialized footwear necessary to record and analyze every aspect of your morning jog. Luckily, Nike has been busy releasing several pairs of sneakers with that dugout under the sole for the wireless sensor, so even if the nano continues to remain a relatively pricey luxury, you should eventually be able to buy a pair of compatible kicks that won't break the bank. [Via TUAW]
Tune your run, old school
The Apple Blog points out that, with all the hubbub surrounding the Apple/Nike deal, we ought to remember that the Air Zoom Moire isn't technically the first time Apple has become involved in footwear. Many moons ago, some Apple employees could be seen sporting these babies. Oh, yeah. For some reason, those sneakers make me want to drive that DeLorean and rent Ferris Bueller's Day Off.Thanks for the chuckle, Apple Blog!
Steve abandons New Balance for Nike
With all the hubbub surrounding the announcement of the Apple/Nike partnership, no one mentioned the day's most striking revelation. No one except Arik Hesseldahl, that is. In an article at Business Week Online, Arik points out that Steve was wearing a pair of Nike Moires instead of his usual New Balance 991s at the press conference. Of course, Steve couldn't wear New Balance while talking about Nike (the Moires he was wearing are part of the Nike+ line and still unavailable to the general public). This wasn't the first time we've seen Steve stray from his typical outfit. He wore brown pants when he announced FrontRow, iTunes 6, etc. back in October. That's right, I just put up a 129 word post about Steve's clothing. Flame away.
