In a move seemingly designed to up my "more gear than usage" ratio in my two main categories, portable entertainment and exercise, Nike and Apple have teamed up to build the Nike+iPod shoe, a device which tracks your miles run and calories burned and stores them on your iPod Nano. The Nike+Air Zoom Moire shoes will use the Nike+iPod Sport Kit to display your pace, time, and distance, while also providing audible "feedback" through your headphones. Details on that feedback were not provided, but I find that things like "you were faster yesterday, you fat pig" to be highly motivational. There will be a Nike+ section in the iTunes music store, so ostensibly the Sport Kit will work as some sort of remote control for the regular functions of the iPod. Perhaps there will be audio programs available too, for some sort of "running-dancing" to music routines, just in case being the slowest runner in the park isn't humiliating enough.

The Nike+iPod Sports Kit will retail for $29. A quick look at the Nike+ website confirms that you can control playlists with the kit, and upload your exercise log to your PC. The Zoom Moire shoes, available separately, of course, will be $100. Both are available (or buyable, that is) on pre-sale, before the July 13th release date.

Press release.