"Stand in the place where you live, now face north. Think about direction, wonder why you haven't before." -R.E.M.

iPod

iPod nano (RED)

11/01/2006 04:33 PM Filed in: Apple

Well if you keep up with the site much (it’s pretty easy to do...I think I’m averaging about one article for every two months lately) you know that we’ve been pushing the ONE Campaign for the last eight months. Essentially the ONE Campaign is an attempt to activate our government to help out with some of the world’s largest problems due to poverty: lack of education, hunger, and disease.

Well, there’s an additional way you can help out, and this time it’s with your purchasing dollars. You’re already going to buy some things anyway (like clothes from the Gap, an iPod nano, a Motorola phone, etc.) so you might as well get the RED versions of them, and by doing so have a portion of the proceeds go directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

One of the very first American products to do this is the new RED iPod nano. You want a nano anyway, and now you can help out an awesome cause while still getting a beautiful iPod and listening to your tunes (as well as going running with it). Go get one!

Full details here.

Tags: Apple, iPod, ONE Campaign

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Review: Nike + iPod

09/30/2006 02:37 PM Filed in: Apple

Well, I said I’d buy it once it came out and I did. After surviving the past year with running shoes that had literally been super-glued back together three times, I finally got some new shoes and some new technology for good measure.

In case you’re unfamiliar, Nike recently released a line of shoes and a wireless sensor in collaboration with Apple that works with iPod Nanos. The idea is that this sensor, placed in your running shoe, sends information to your iPod and allows the Nano to keep up with your average pace, your distance, and your calories burned. All of this information can then be sent to Nike’s website and your statistics can be easily kept up with and your progress can be tracked.

So how well does it work? I’ve been using it for about two months and I’ve already run almost 90 miles. That’s 90 more miles than I ran last year. Why? Because being able to keep track of my progress without running in place on a treadmill is fun. I can run anywhere I want and still get accurate results. The female voice on the iPod encourages me with her sweet words (haha), and I get to pick my own running soundtrack.

The Nike+ website is also pretty incredible. As you can see in the screenshots, it gives you many different ways to keep up with your progress, including goals you can set for yourself to earn virtual medals. It may sound cheesy, but it feels good to earn those medals (I earned my first one by running over 16 miles in just under two weeks).

I recommend this for anyone who is interested in getting in better shape through solid exercise. Go at your own pace, listen to your own music, and enjoy getting some fantastic conditioning. I’m actually planning on running a marathon the first half of 2008, and I never thought I’d do that six months ago. Get out there and run!