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Apple Declares DRM War On Sneaker Hackers
theodp writes "Nicholas Carr is not pleased that Apple has applied for a patent to extend DRM to tennis shoes and other articles of clothing. Apple apparently views tennis-shoe DRM as a way to head off a potential plague of sneaker hacking. 'Some people,' the patent application observes, 'have taken it upon themselves to remove the sensor from the special pocket of the [iPod-linked] Nike+ shoe and place it at inappropriate locations (shoelaces, for example) or place it on non-Nike+ model shoes.'"
It is possible to buy the sensor without the shoe. In fact, I had assumed that the sensor never came with the shoe - but that Nike sold shoes that had a built in pocket for the sensor.
I bought a sensor and a nano - but I don't run in Nike shoes. But a few different companies make pouches designed just to hold the sensor, at the laces.
I bought it before the application date on the patent.
I ended up getting a Garmin Forerunner now that they are smaller. Much better as far as accuracy and amount of information. I still run with the Nano for music but not the pedometer. And I'm not positive on this - but I could swear that I saw an ad in Runners World for a nike thing that let you use the sensor without a nano.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
Actually, the sensor-in-a-shoe thing is pretty cool.
Sounds really dumb if you're thinking that your shoe is just talking to your iPod. That's not all that's happening.
While the shoe connects with the iPod to do data acquisition, and you can track your workout on the iPod, you can also share your workout stats with others, help build community, etc - sort of the antithesis of the "isolated runner with headphones on" kind of thing. Very Web 2.0.
Something very sad about this kind of crap - it makes it harder to tinker. Would Johnny C. Lee be able to do all of his extremely cool Wiimote hacks? (N.B. - saw Lee's presentation at UXWeek 2008 - "extremely cool" doesn't begin to do the guy's work justice).
Here's one of the evil shoe hackers Apple's trying to target.
Honestly, is Apple trying to completely destroy its brand?
This could just as easily be connecting a hip-mounted sensor to your Nokia.
Why? It's already integrated into the latest phones... here you go: http://betalabs.nokia.com/blog/2008/05/09/nokia-step-counter-beta-launched-track-how-much-you-walk-or-run-during-the-day/
And on the plus side being DRM free it works with all the brands of shoes. Don't be afraid it won't work with your Puma or Adidas or Lotto...