Nike and Apple, a Match Made in Heaven
 
The Nike+iPod Sports Kit is a neat device that that measures and records information about your workout and relays this information to your iPod. Information such how long you exercised, the distance you  travelled, your pace and how many calories you burned is tracked by an instrument called an accelermoter that fits in your shoe. This accelerometer communicates wirelessly with a small receiver that plugs directly into an iPod nano, iPod Touch (generations 2-4), iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4. This information is then displayed on the screen of the iPod and is also broadcast through your headphones.
 
Another option is the Nike+ SportBand, this is great because there is no iPod needed. The Nike+ SportBand has two parts. One part is the wrist band itself and the other part is the detachable tracker. This tracker receives information about your workout (mileage, pace, duration and calories burned) from a sensor you attach to your shoe. When you have completed your exercise, the tracker can be detached and plugged into the USB drive of you computer where it will display information about your workout:
 
The newest release in this Nike-Apple series is the Nike + iPod for the gym which allows users to sync their workouts directly to their iPod which is also linked to a piece of cardio equipment at commercial fitness facility. The largest manufacturers of cardio equipment (e.g. treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary bikes, etc) are now equipping these machines with attachments that sync the information from the machine’s display panel onto your iPod. For each workout, you can choose your own goal, such as the distance you want to cover, the number of calories that you want to burn, or the length of time that you want your workout to last. And during the workout, you will receive goal-oriented feedback. If you achieve a personal best, you will receive congratulations from star athletes like Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, or Paula Radcliffe. After you have finished your workout, all of this information will be stored on your iPod.
 
The Nike + iPod for the gym gets even more interactive; the next time you sync your iPod with iTunes, your workout will automatically be uploaded to Nikeplus.com, which and tracks and displays each workout based on distance, calories burned, etc. On Nikeplus.com, you can construct your own profile, participate in forum discussion and interact with and challenge others to fitness challenges. Nikeplus is building a huge community of runners, walkers, and other cardio users. Social support and a feeling of being part of a larger movement can be a powerful motivator for moving. The Nike+iPod Sports Kit is a great gadget because it not only tracks your personal progress, but it links this progress to a larger community of individuals with your same passions, goals and determination.