If you’re participating in a Nike+iPod running challenge, especially a very active or competitive one, you know how much fun it is to check on your competitors’ progress throughout the day. Unfortunately, logging into and navigating the Nike+ website isn’t especially quick or convenient. But good news is finally here: Nike’s just made it easier to track your Nike+iPod challenges and goals by releasing two desktop widgets for Mac and Windows users.
A widget is a small, lightweight application designed to perform a specific task without the need to open a larger application. They were popularized by an application called Konfabulator for Mac OS X, which has since be purchased by Yahoo and renamed Yahoo Widget Engine. Apple has incorporated widgets directly into version 10.4 (Tiger) of its operating system under the Dashboard interface. The Nike+ Widgets give you a quick glance at your up-to-date stats with out the need to open your web browser.
Nike’s Challenges Widget and Goals Widget are available for download to registered members of Nikeplus.com. After you’ve logged in, look for the link on your welcome page. Windows users (and Mac OS 10.3 users) need to install the Yahoo Widget Engine.
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By the way, you don’t see this in the UK welcome page, you don’t see much of anything basically – no ‘trash talk’ (thankfully), no powersongs top 10, music links or forums.
However I do get all of this if I change my country selecter to US, go figure. I assume this will be the same for most non-US folks. Swapping between the two it feels like we are a couple of iterations behind. The welcome page is different as well and there is no little home link on the left.
I wonder if I can stay configured as a US homepage but with a UK profile?.
[...] Yes, I was happy that Nike (finally) released desktop widgets for tracking Nike+iPod workouts and challenge stats, but honestly, no one but me ever sees my desktop. I can’t for the life of me figure out why there isn’t an official Nike+ plugin or widget for popular blogging platforms. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit seems to be catching fire within the tech-savvy blogging community, so it’s a shame that there’s no simple way to share your running accomplishments with your friends. Crusty Bugger has taken matters into his own hands and written a widget that displays cumulative Nike+ stats in a WordPress blog’s sidebar. [...]
Previous Web Application: PlusGoals Nike + iPod Community Site…
There is such a huge potential for a great on-line community site based around the Nike + iPod Sport Kit. Unfortunately you can only upload your data to the Nike + website through iTunes. At the time I was developing this website there was no method…