• On TechRepublic: Windows 7: Slower to boot than Vista?
July 15, 2009 3:26 PM PDT

Rain won't stop Nike from checking your performance

by Mats Lewan

Cross heavy rain off your list of excuses for not getting outside to see if you've improved your running performance.

Nike+ Sportband

The Nike+ Sportband's two-tone wristbands now come in gray-pink, gray-yellow, or black-red.

(Credit: Nike)

A new version of the Nike+ Sportband--an armband that gives runners real-time information on distance, pace, time, and calories burned--now comes with a welded seal to improve water resistance, a feature that seems to be a market trend.

The new version also has a screen with a white background to enhance visibility. It goes on sale Wednesday for $59.

Nike+ Sportsband works much like the Nike + iPod Sports Kit, but with a separate armband instead of the media player communicating with the sensor that's fitted into the running shoe.

Runners can upload their stats to NikePlus.com, which recently merged with nikerunning.com. Accounts can now be personalized, and there's also a social-network feature for communication with other runners.

An alternative for those who don't want the sensor in the shoe, or maybe are not into running but cycling or skiing, are smartphone applications such as RunKeeper, using the phone's in-built GPS for tracking.

Mats Lewan, IT and telecom editor at Swedish technology weekly Ny Teknik, has joined CNET News as a 2009 fellow with Stanford University's Innovation Journalism program. E-mail Mats.
Recent posts from Crave
ZiiLabs latest processor brings 1080p to Netbooks
How your cell phone can diagnose disease
Apple Store opens in the Louvre: Where next?
OOMouse has more buttons than a shirt
Gigaware remote adds HD radio to the iPhone and iPod Touch
The 404 463: Where we're not that funny, but at least we try
Hands-on: Netflix streaming on the PS3
Sony Eco TV turns off when you leave the room
advertisement

About Crave

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. If you would like to contact Crave with a tip or comment, please write to: crave@cnet.com

Add this feed to your online news reader

Crave topics

After 5 years, Firefox faces new challenges

Mozilla helped reshape the Web since releasing Firefox 1.0 five years ago. Now it's got a reawakened Microsoft and Google Chrome to reckon with.

There's a map for that: GPS or smartphone?

Almost every handset comes with mapping software these days, but standalone GPS devices are becoming more affordable than ever.