Walking with Nike+iPod

I added a new widget to the right column yesterday for my Nike+iPod walks (hopefully runs in the future). I didn't plan to get the Nike+ system, it just happened that way. I annually get the same type of Nike shoes; the previous year's Structure Triax, and the most recent version my mother gave me at Christmas, the Structure Triax 11 added the Nike+ module to the left sole. As a cost cutting measure in January, I got an iPod Touch so I could drop my Blackberry plan from T-Mobile, so I ended up with the two most expensive parts of the system there. Holly gave me the module to slip into my shoes for V-Day, and that rounded out the circle, or triangle, whatever.

The whole thing is pretty slick. When I get ready to go out on a walk, the module is already in the shoes, so I just press the Nike+ app on my iPod Touch. I then choose from one of four workout options; Basic, Time, Distance, or Calorie, to set what parameters I want my workout to follow. For the first three walks, I went with Basic, to see how it fits together. Then, I choose a playlist from what is already on my iPod Touch. I like listening to podcasts, so I have a smart playlist of my Leo Laporte podcasts loaded, then I'm off. A neat feature involving music is the option to select a power song. There is a button enabled during the workout that if you press it, it plays your chosen song to get through a tough portion of your run (in my case, walk). When I get back from my workout, I sync my iPod to iTunes, and it automatically uploads the workout information to Nike's website, where I can review the data graphically and share it with web widgets on this website and Facebook. The Nike site also has an interface with Google Maps to map run courses and distances.
The entire experience, like anything I have tried to do with my iPod, is really easy to use and simple to navigate.

New website in progress...

After much delay and about a three month hiatus from anything resembling serious photography, the bug is catching me again and I am finally getting around to creating the photo website I had planned last year.  Here is a first sneak preview for the front page.  I am creating the page in iWeb '08, although it probably will not be published until iWeb '09 gets released so I can attempt to take advantage of some of the new features.  It will be published to my Mobile Me account, and I'll be releasing the URL soon.  I have yet to decide if I will be using a personal domain like this site.  

In other news... I am finally giving up the Blackberry.  B

efore you start thinking "but Alex, even Obama is keeping his", I will say this is a voluntary move to save money on my monthly cell phone bill.  The overwhelming majority of the places I spend time have an open wifi connection available.  Conversely, my Blackberry operates solely on a much slower EDGE connection, and has drifted behind a couple of years in technology as well.  I don't get streaming video, I don't get automatic syncing of my contacts, calendars, bookmarks, etc., and the screen on the Pearl leaves much to be desired.  After deliberation about switching carriers, I eventually decided to stay with my current carrier, drop the BB Plan, and get an iPod Touch.  I looked at the T-Mobile G1 as well as other smartphone devices, and none really matched the features I could get from even using an iPod.  Not to mention, in about six months it will have paid for itself.  

So, here is a quick sneak preview of the new site.  The name isn't out, and it is greyscale.  I'll be announcing it soon...