Nike's Amp+ watch: hearts your heart and iPod, too

Quietly -- too quietly perhaps since Apple hasn't update their site yet -- Nike's $79.00 Amp+ Sport Remote Control just made its first appearance on Nike's online store. That "+" indicates that this device integrates with Apple's wee iPod nano receiver for Nike+ shoes allowing you to wirelessly track and monitor your runs and personal progress. Yes, it's a watch too; an LED display shows the time of day with those biggie, iPod icons appearing only when activated by the remote. It's also water resistant for you Mr. Sweaty McFaty, up to 50-meters in fact just in case your glands react unfavorably to your new Twinkie-free lifestyle. With the Amp+ now shipping, it's reasonable to expect the other unannounced devices we peeped back in January to go to market as well, donchathink?

[Thanks, Bernard A.]

[周鹏 @ Oct 5th 2007 2:00AM]

It's so nice!but how I can read it in dailylife.I watch the timeshow on iPod or on this guy?a QA!

[Rustymetal @ Oct 5th 2007 2:04AM]

does it work with iphone?

[souravgh @ Oct 5th 2007 2:26AM]

nope , only for the nano

[Yo @ Oct 5th 2007 8:41AM]

Pitiful. Why do people put up with this stuff?

[dom.rout @ Oct 6th 2007 5:58AM]

Your face is pitiful!

[lol @ Oct 5th 2007 2:35AM]

wow engadget, is apple paying you?

you dont talk shit about anything apple/ipod/iphone related do you?

[Yon @ Oct 5th 2007 2:53AM]

Did you fall asleep a week ago and just wake up? I would look over the last 30 or so apple articles to refresh. Also, take a look at all the positive zune coverage, you can't quite claim the same apple bias anymore (or, currently).

[LordFarkward @ Oct 5th 2007 3:08AM]

die troll, die

[SteveMB @ Oct 5th 2007 7:49PM]

I agree 100%. Why is he a troll for stating the obvious? Engadget is a bunch of Apple fanboys. There's no denying it. Especially you, Thomas Ricker. The M8 a iPhone ripoff? Wow... If it were a rip off, it'd be a rip off of the Prada, not your overpriced piece of junk called the iPhone.

[Andrew Harrison @ Oct 5th 2007 2:50AM]

may have been released, but it still looks like the Starck designed Fossil watch

http://www.wristdreams.com/images/new_starck_watch_led.jpg

[Arron Chu @ Oct 5th 2007 3:56AM]

It'd be great if it works on all ipods and even iphone

[allaina @ Oct 5th 2007 2:12PM]

i KNOW! i really like the nike+ setup, i'd even pay the ridiculous price for a pair of nike shoes if this thing would work with my video!!

[Peter Gibbons @ Oct 5th 2007 4:33AM]

Wow... Nike ID team, seriously. You guys invented the Triax, what happend?
Even the button placement, buckle and silhouette are a blatant rip-off:

http://www.kenmarwatches.com/philippe-starck-PH1076.html

[Neebs @ Oct 5th 2007 6:06AM]

Is that a Halo 3 edition?

[Twitchy @ Oct 5th 2007 6:49AM]

Nice idea, but I am still waiting on a decent heart rate monitor watch that also controls an iPod. Pedometers cramp my style (i.e. are of fuck all use to me), but a heart rate monitor...oooh baby....

[Alex @ Oct 5th 2007 9:28AM]

I agree, heart rate monitor for the wrist would be ideal.

[rcappo @ Oct 5th 2007 10:49AM]

I agree that they need to have a heart rate monitor in this. It shouldn't be that hard.

I would also like to see them come out with cycling and swimming ones as well that would monitor how far your bike has gone and how far you have swam. Along with your heart rate.

[Dave @ Oct 5th 2007 8:14AM]

As an owner of the nike+ kit who uses it as part of my marathon training, I can say that this watch is pretty pointless. Everything that it does is already available by pushing a button on the nano during the workout. $80 is just ridiculous for this thing.

[Glancing Aft @ Oct 5th 2007 9:26AM]

Why the heck didn't they put a heart rate monitor in this? I would have purchased it in a second. Now it's just another fashion accessory.

[DingDong @ Oct 5th 2007 10:30AM]

"Mr. Sweaty McFatty"
LOL that's totally me, the sweaty gross guy on the stairmaster.

[Dario @ Oct 5th 2007 10:33AM]

this was supposed to be released almost a year ago.

[ventivent @ Oct 5th 2007 11:17AM]

This is a really cool looking timepiece, but functionally, I'm not sure it offers that much. For instance, when you're not using it for running, do you have to push a button to make the LEDs light-up just to tell time? You don't have to do that with a regular watch.

Also, I've been running with the Nike+ iPod since it first came out with my G1 Nano, and now my G3 Nano. The Nano is already light enough, and it's controls are easy to operate. I carry it in my hand, I just push its buttons to tell me my stats, change music, etc. As a distance runner, I want to keep as much extraneous weight off as possible, and adding a watch that does the exact same thing as the Nano itself (albeit without wires, though you still have to stash the Nano somewhere on you) is not practical at all.

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 5th 2007 11:45AM]

nice, but I don't need an exercises accessory with an unreadable display.

someone make a normal-ish watch, with ipod controls built in, and I'll buy it!

[Hunter MacLean @ Oct 5th 2007 12:00PM]

Any athlete would know if you are going to wear a watch it MUST have a chronograph. Why the hell would I wear this watch on one hand to control my iPod and another watch on my other hand to track lap times??
Lucky for me I don't even run or bike with an iPod anymore; gotta keep my head in the race!

[ark_v2 @ Oct 5th 2007 1:50PM]

Oh my god, that's so sexy! The design is just too stylish.

[Paul @ Oct 5th 2007 2:28PM]

Just bought one today at the Nike Store. I was also at the Apple store, they hadn't heard of it. I just got back home and tries to link the amp+ to my 3G nano, but it isnt being recognized. The packaging has 2G nanos all over it. I hope there isn't a problem with 3G Nanos!

There was an extra sheet of paper in the manual on what to do if the Receiver option wasnt showing up in the Nike+ menu on the Nano, but that's not working either.

[Tom @ Oct 5th 2007 2:49PM]

Sweaty McFatty

this had me laughing

[Anthony Huff @ Oct 5th 2007 3:57PM]

I just bought my ipod+nike kit yesterday. Boo!

[Paul @ Oct 5th 2007 6:03PM]

Why boo? Because of the 3G thing? We arent sure if it really doesnt work yet or whether Apple just hasn't pushed out an update or what.

[Paul @ Oct 5th 2007 4:05PM]

I might pick this up when it goes on sale.

[Jason Pitsch @ Oct 6th 2007 7:11PM]

I am glad you guys used my tip.

http://professionalwatches.com

[Dougp @ Oct 8th 2007 2:23PM]

Now the Nike Flight+ needs to come out so we can have a real chronograph watch with Nike+ control. I don't want to run with two watches on...ick.

[Justin Time @ Oct 9th 2007 9:33AM]

Wow, you all are bowing down to a knock-off artist in Nike. Just one more company to jump on the iDookie bandwagon. But, because it's Nike, it's genius. I agree, it might be if it wasn't a knock off of two different Starck watches.

[astore.amazon.com]
[www.kenmarwatches.com]

At least you can tell they pay good money for their design team. . . . . . . .

[John @ Oct 10th 2007 4:30PM]

I got mine yesterday, here are some pics and comments:

http://www.themshow.com/wordpress/2007/10/09/first-look-at-nike-amp-watch/

[ngo @ Nov 27th 2007 9:58AM]

If you want a watch that works with all iPods and iPhone try Ironman iControl

[ngo @ Nov 27th 2007 10:00AM]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VVYY78/sr=8-4/qid=1196175268/ref=dp_also-recommended_3?ie=UTF8&n=3367581&tag=finalcount-20&s=jewelry&qid=1196175268&sr=8-4