The New Nike+ App Inspires Athletes To Pursue Their Potential
Users of Nike FuelBand may wish to get more of of their device with the official Nike+ Connect application. With the advent of GPS technology, the application allows you to keep track of how much exercising you have been doing and the Nike+ Connect application can help you with that. Compatible with Mac OS X v10.3.9 or later, Windows Vista, or Windows XP (SP2) Home or Professional Simply place the Nike+ Sensor under the sockliner of your left Nike+ ready shoe and start running to sync it with your Nike+ Sport Watch GPS, iPhone 3GS or other Nike+ tracking device. Measures your pace, distance, time elapsed and calories burned. The Apple Watch Nike+ VaporMax Flyknit are priced at US$49 on the Nike website. The matching Vapormax Flyknit shoes are priced starting at $190, but most of those are sold out, too. Download Nike+ Connect - This is a versatile, practical and reliable software solution that helps you to quickly connect and configure your Nike+ watch or band.
March 16, 2016
Starting this summer, the new Nike+ app becomes athletes'* all-access pass to Nike's most coveted products and events via one seamless sign-on. The “plus” now equates to “personal,” and the app connects members simply and swiftly to the Nike+ Run Club, Nike+ Training Club and Nike+ SNKRS apps. It also offers members a personal store stocked with performance product recommendations and reserved invitations to their favorite sneakers. Combining these offerings, the app serves every step of an athletic life — from competition to training to sport-style — propelling members towards their potential.
Easy access to the world of Nike begins in the customized “Feed” tab, which includes a continuously updated selection of stories — training tips from coaches and trainers, inspiration from Nike athletes and information about the latest Nike releases — tailored to each member’s unique interests and ambitions.
The “My Store” tab showcases clothing and footwear personalized to members’ sport and lifestyle preferences. It prioritizes their favorite products, gives expert recommendations and offers customization options through NIKEiD.
The “Services” tab connects members directly to Nike+ experts, who are available to answer questions about all Nike+ services or book a 1:1 reservation in select Nike stores. Members can also connect simply and swiftly to the Nike+ Run Club, Nike+ Training Club and Nike+ SNKRS.
The “Pass” tab stores a personal QR (Quick Response) code, which can be added to Apple Wallet as well as used at any Nike retail store or event for personal recommendations and easy access.
The “Inbox” tab is where members gain extraordinary access to Nike’s newest releases and experiences.
As a Nike+ SportWatch user, I was shocked and devastated to receive an email from Nike informing me that they are retiring some of their Apps and Devices, including:
Nike+ Connect Mac Pc
- Nike+ Connect software,
- Nike+ SportWatch
- Nike+ SportBand
- Nike+ FuelBand
- Nike+ iPod
For those not familiar with Nike+ Technology, it is great for tracking walks and runs, recording your distances, elevation, splits etc. Fantastic technology. However, the only way to get this data out of your Nike+ watch is through the Nike+ Connect Software and USB connection.
In their infinite wisdom, Nike have decided it would be a great idea to retire this software, meaning there is no longer any way to get data off of your retired Nike+ device. So with 13 days notice, Nike have effectively made my investment in their technology worthless. I can continue tracking runs on my watch, until the memory fills, leaving me with no way to get the data off of my watch. I guess it's not completely useless, I could still wear it as an unfashionable sports watch to tell the time, utilise the stop watch, and utilise the alarm. Well isn't that bloody awesome!!
I was hoping it was all just a terrible mistake that would be fixed quickly, so I found a list of Nike executives and attempted to contact them via LinkedIn. I also reached out to many other Nike staff in management roles, involved with the Nike+ technology and those responsible for managing customer experience. Of the 30+ NIKE staff I have contacted, one replied - Mr Mihcael L Orenstein, Global Product Marketing and Concept Director // Nike Running at Nike I received the following response:
Nike+ Connect Mac Os
The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is tried and true product, but we have doubled down on our efforts to work with true smartwatch products, like the AppleWatch. Our customer service team is far better suited to speak to about the depreciation of the Sportwatch, and you can contact them here: https://help-en-us.swoosh.com/
They are great, and will respond quickly.
Despite my doubts over just how great and efficient they are and my suspicion they will lack the authority to do anything about this, I attempted to contact someone via that link. If anyone can actually find a way of contacting anybody via the rabbit warren of circular links I was confronted with I will be most impressed. I did find at one point a US phone number I could have called in their business hours, not particularly convenient for those outside the US.
I had a quick look online, you can still buy a brand new Nike+ SportWatch GPS, the going rate seems to be about $200 AUD ($155 USD, 110 GBP, 235 EUR). A quick search on eBay will show you there are still plenty of these being sold today, both new and second hand. See image below from a quick search today. I'm sure people are going to be super happy with about this change when they find there is no way to download the data from their new device. What the heck is NIKE thinking here?
Nike+ Connect Mac Air
They have all the data on every single customer that uses the Nike Connect software, they know every user's height, weight, how often they run, where and when they run and more. The number of users effected by this will be significant, how is it they just don't care? I am completely astounded by this. Do they think this is an upgrade opportunity, that they're going to force thousands of users like me to go and upgrade to the latest technology? After the way I've been treated here, there's no way I'm going to go purchase another Nike device, there are plenty of other great options on the market.
I understand the need to retire technology and divert future development elsewhere, that's fine, but surely you can maintain your existing software and systems. I'm not asking you to continue developing, just keep it running and allow me to use my device I paid you good money for, is that really too much to ask? I guess maintaining technology doesn't have a great impact on bonuses and share price. Well I hope this decision backfires and NIKE along with every other greed obsessed executive that has lost touch with the customer can learn from this mistake.
Maybe I need to lower my expectations of corporates, but I would have thought this could have been handled a lot better. If you absolutely must shut down the technology and make my technology investment worthless overnight, please give me more than 13 days notice. The majority of your customers are not on 7 figure salaries and would prefer not to just go and drop $500 on the latest Apple Nike collaboration device. If you are going to make this my only option, then at least give me some kind of discount or offer to upgrade, surely that is the least you could do? And how about the poor people that are all about to get ripped off by buying brand new and second hand devices only to find out you've switched off 90% off their functionality? Just turn a blind eye, not your problem? Really NIKE? Surely you're better than that?
That's enough from me, I'd love to know your thoughts on this, obviously, I'm not particularly happy about it. I've loved my Nike watch, it's helped me achieve 100 consecutive days of exercise and I'm currently on track to better that with goals of running a half marathon this year and 1000 Kms for the year. Not sure how I'm going to keep track of that now, I have only 12 days to find an alternative and work out how I'll merge my old data with new data. Maybe I've got this all wrong, I'm missing the point and there are perfectly good reasons for this, feel free to share your thoughts on this matter and forward your recommendations for the new device I must now go and purchase.