Available starting July 15th is the brand spankin’ new Nike+ SportBand. The $59 watch-like device will be available in grey with pink, dark with yellow and black with red. The SportBand gives vitals, like calories burned, distance, pace and time. Oh, the new improvements include a white background screen to make the numbers pop and a “welded seal to improve water resistance.”

One more thing. Nike has combined NikePlus.com with NikeRunning.com.

Nike Running [Nike]

Who hasn’t been at a sporting event and wished for one of those T-shirt cannons? Nike is “selling” the Nike T-shirt Gun seen in the above video for just $1500. I put “selling” in quotes because it doesn’t seem legit. It’s one of those “internet jokes” that you may have read about in USA Today.

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Reader Billy May sent us these concept sketches for the Nike Hindsight, specially design biking glasses with specifically tuned Fresnel lenses for keeping an eye on approaching taxis/cars/baby strollers.

Writes Billy:

Nike Hindsight is, put simply, like giving bicyclists a pair of bifocals for their peripheral vision. By using Fresnel lenses on the sides of eye wear, riders can detect motion in a field of view beyond the normal human limit of 180º. To get technical, high power, diverging Fresnel zones aligned vertically distort into view an extra 25º of view on either side. In doing this, vision is radically distorted in the periphery, but as the eye detects only motion in that area, little clarity is lost in the process.

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AppleInsider is reporting that the Nike+ screens we saw yesterday on a French iPhone site are tres faux and not the “work of Apple nor the athletic shoe maker” according to Nike+ sources. One telltale clue: the app had a connection to the music player which is not available to any application or program call in the SDK.

What do you get when you combine an iPhone, Nike, Google Map support, and fancy graphs? Way to many distractions from your workout.

We digress but per a French website, the upcoming Nike+ is going to sport all that and probabaly a few more nifty features. The most innovative addition though has to be Google Map support ’cause it adds demensions to this app. Just think, a runner could plan out new routes and follow them to a T. There could be greater timing to track your workout progression. Come to think of it, when you combine the iPhone, Nike, Google Map support, and fancy graphs, you get one hell of a workout buddy – plus, one that can carry a tune.

iphon.fr via Gizmodo

Got one of them newfangled Nike+ setups? Doubtless you’re wondering what happens when the battery dies on the receiver. Unsurprisingly, you’re supposed to bring it into your local Niketown and pay the man $20 to do the deal. But if you’re comfortable slicing the thing open and doing things with little wires, you can do it yourself for five bucks. Instructables has the whole story.

There’s some Monday morning quarterback analysis of a recent Nike patent application filing, which could, just maybe, hint at new features for Nike+iPod. The patent details some sort feedback system, that is, Nike+iPod will modify your workout selection based on your selections. iLounge speculates this fun scenario:

For instance, the system would be able to know if a user sped up or slowed down in response to a certain song being played, and could offer the user a choice of adding or removing the song from the workout routine playlist.

Also, maybe, there’s indications that additional sensors could be implemented, which would expand Nike+iPod beyond simple jogging. Exercises like step aerobics, ellipticals, yoga, etc. could be part of future Nike+iPod system.

Also! Everyone owes Chelsea FC for keeping the EPL title race alive for at least one more week.

via iLounge

It looks as if Nike is taking its while-running data systems solo, announcing a new product called Nike+ Sportsband.

Similar to the Nike+iPod product from last year, the Sportsband wraps around your wrist and acts as a wristwatch, but also reports the same data wirelessly as the Nike+iPod device, such as distance run, calories burned, etc.

It features a removable USB drive that stores the data and can be used with the Nike+Coach software to log your routines and make suggestions for improved performance.

Nike will release a stand-alone device in April that’s similar to the Nike+iPod deal, confirming earlier rumors. Nike has named it the SportsBand and it’ll accomplish all the tasks that Nike+iPod does, like keeping track of distance covered, velocity, etc. It’s not going to replace Nike+iPod outright, as the original rumors suggested, but rather augment and diversify Nike’s lineup. It’s for people who don’t have, or don’t want to buy, a nano just to be able to exercise.

A German Mac site reports that it’ll cost you €60, or approximately $8 billion given the current exchange rate.

Nike+Sportsband [MacLife.de]

On the news that Apple and Nike were going to expand their iPod partnership, Adidas is giving a bit of a “me too”, introducing a shoe + phone scheme, using wireless biometrics in the show to display information on an Adidas-branded Samsung phone.

We knew it was coming, but now it’s official, and that’s nice.

Adidas to take on Nike+ with branded handset [Brand Republic]

As if it wasn’t enough that your Nano was counting your every step through the chip in your Nike+ shoes, now it can track every mile you pretend to bike at the the gym. Ellipticals and such, too. They’re teaming up with 24 Hour Fitness and some Virgin thing to provide machines that track your use, assuming you have the time and inclination to plug your gear into the the thing’s port. You can then take it home and plug it in at home, at which point it will upload its data to the Nike site, where you can go to check it.

Really, now. The thing should be wireless, for one thing, and all the data should be displayed on the device, for another. It’s great that this stuff is being tracked, but if it adds too much to someone’s routine, they’re not going to think it worth the trouble.

Apple, Nike to tie iPod Nanos to gym equipment [BusinessWire]

I’m a big fan of Nike and have been since I was a kid. One of the many perks of growing up in Oregon meant you probably knew someone who worked at Nike, which meant you could get stuff at the employee store for cheap. I might have to hit up some friends when the latest Nike+ product makes its way into stores. The FCC has revealed the SportBand which connects to a bracelet that syncs with your Nike+ shoes and completely eliminates Apple and the iPod. When you’re done with your runs, simply plug in to your computer over USB and check out your stats. I’ve started running again so this might actually be worthwhile for me.

Remember awhile back, Nike told everyone it was coming out with a remote control sport watch that would work with the Nike+iPod kit? Well if you don’t, too bad, because now you can finally order a shiny new Amp+ watch for a whopping $80. With a modern, futuristic design, Amp+ will tell you the time and let you access your Nike+iPod Sport kit via buttons on the side. You’ll be able to change tracks, volume, etc. – all the good stuff.

One interesting feature is voice relay of information. Meaning if you need a creepy robot to tell you how long you’ve been running, it’s now entirely possible. Frankly, I don’t see how the Amp+ is worth $80, but to each his/her own.

Nike now accepting orders for Amp+ watch [iLounge]

Before you immediately discount this next post—a post about sneakers—hear me out. Nike, for the first time in its history, has designed a sneaker for a specific ethnic group. For Native Americans, the sneaker—the Nike Air Native N7—was designed to address health problems commonly found in the Native American community, like obesity and diabetes. Compared to the average Nike, the Air Native is about three sizes wider and some measure longer. (No, I don’t know by what measure.) The company will sell the sneaker directly to relevant Native American institutions which will then dole them out, at cost, to those who wish to buy ‘em.

As it turns out, Nike’s not going to make any outrageous profit from the sneaker; it was designed to improve Nike’s image and standing amongst, you know, people.

Hey Nike, how ’bout a blogger shoe? One that makes running around press events painless and continuously pumps caffeine into your bloodstream. I’d buy it (or get John to buy it for us).

Nike Designs Shoe for American Indians [AP/Google via Boing Boing]