iOS Nike+ heart rate monitor support most likely an iOS 4.2 addition later this year (Updated)
by Justin Horn on Aug 31st, 2010 @ 1:58 pmUPDATE iOS 4.2 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod confirmed for November
UPDATE 2 As execpted Nike+ HRM support did not appear in iOS 4.1 GM, but there is a strong chance it will be in iOS 4.2.
We reported a couple weeks ago that iOS heart rate monitor (HRM) support was coming this fall. Logically I assumed (or wishful thinking?) this would fit nicely with the final iOS 4.1 release. As of beta 3, released August 3, there was no support, but I was hoping to see it introduced in beta 4. It’s been almost a month since beta 3 was released and with the fall event scheduled for tomorrow, there is basically no chance we’ll see this in iOS 4.1.
If not in iOS 4.1, I thought we might be waiting till iOS 5 for support. Remember there was no iOS 3.2 release last year (not counting the special iPad only version) and this isn’t something you’d see in a small iOS 4.1.1 update. However, I did suggested there was a small chance for an iOS 4.2 release later this year, which could definitely include HRM support.
John Gurber suggest, due to the lack of iOS 4.1 iPad beta, there is a good chance for a 4.2 update later this year:
As for the iPad, no, I don’t think 4.1 is going to be released for it. iOS 4.2, coming late in the calendar year, is a more likely unification release for all iOS devices. Think about it — how can Apple release iOS 4.1 for the iPad next week if they haven’t released a single beta for developers?
This makes sense a lot of sense and backs up my hopes for a possible iOS 4.2 release for iPhone, iPod, and iPad. This update would happen before years end and still fits in with the fall prediction, which covers from early September (labor day) through late December (around the 20th).
Follow me on Twitter @justin_horn
Comments Off
Featured post, iOS 4.1, iOS 4.2, iPhone, iPod, Nike+, Speculation
Nike+ heart rate monitor to support iPhone and iPod touch this fall
by Justin Horn on Aug 13th, 2010 @ 4:31 pmUPDATE Didn’t make it in iOS 4.1, but hoping to see it soon in iOS 4.2 betas, slated for a public release this November
Little birdie just let us know we should see Nike+ heart rate monitor support coming to the iPhone and iPod touch this fall. Currently, it only supports the 5th generation iPod nano and Nike+ SportBand. Many Nike+ users, myself included, were disappointed after waiting (…and waiting) for the rumored feature, only to find out it wasn’t compatible with Apple’s top products. No surprise, there has been no official word from Apple or Nike on when we should expect support.
This time frame lines up nicely with the iOS 4.1 public release, which should happen after the annual fall iPod event in September. iOS 4.1 is the next logical time for inclusion of a new feature, but so far there have been no signs of HRM support in the iOS 4.1 betas. There are at least a couple more betas to go, but if it doesn’t make it into the final release I’m thinking we’ll be out of luck till iOS 5. I just don’t see an update like this, especially with all the Nike+ issues on iOS 4, coming in a small 4.1.1 update. There is a small chance it could be added later in a iOS 4.2 update, although there wasn’t an iOS 3.2 update last year (iOS 3.2 was an iPad only, stop gap measure until iOS 4.1). Hopefully next Tuesday’s beta 4 brings us a Nike+ HRM surprise!
This info is from a reliable source and I believe it to be true, but there is always the chance for delays with any software or hardware release. For example, the HRM hardware was delayed a week from the rumored release date of June 1st. You’ll also remember we were all expecting over the air syncing with iOS 4 when it appeared in the betas, only to disappear before the final release (it’s back and working on iOS 4.1 beta).
Follow me on Twitter @justin_horn
Video: Nike+ over air sync on iOS 4.1 beta
by Justin Horn on Aug 4th, 2010 @ 11:29 pmUPDATE Confirmed this is still in final iOS 4.1 GM release! No magic disappearing OTA sync this time.
Nike+ over air syncing first appeared in iOS 4.0 beta, but was removed early on in the beta cycle. Even when it was still active, it never was able to send the data to Nike’s servers. Over air syncing made its triumphant return in first iOS 4.1 beta and has stuck through yesterday’s beta 3. Also, as you can see from the video, on iOS 4.1 beta it actually works.
So the fact that it’s still in beta 3 and the Nike+ servers are now ready to accept the data, there is a strong chance this update will make it into the final iOS 4.1 release.
Follow me on Twitter @justin_horn
iPhone 4 iOS 4.1 beta, dB to bar mapping exposed
by Justin Horn on Jul 15th, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
While the software update obviously does not and cannot address the design of the antenna itself – or make the drop from holding the phone any less – it does change the way the issue is perceived among users. The result is that most iPhone users will see fewer bars disappear when they hold the iPhone 4 in a bare hand. The side effect is that the iPhone now displays fewer bars in most places, and users that haven’t been reporting signal in dBm will time see the – perhaps a bit shocking – reality of locations previously denoted as having excellent signal.
Interestingly enough, Apple has indeed changed the heights of bars 1, 2, and 3. They’re taller, and the result is that the relative heights are no longer linear, but rather a tad exponential looking. It’s a mind trick that Apple no doubt hopes will make the signal look better. If the bars are taller, they must denote stronger signal, right?
Even with Apple’s “magicalness”, they still can’t fix hardware issues with software alone.
Follow me on Twitter @justin_horn
Nike+ over the air sync returns in iOS 4.1 beta
by Justin Horn on Jul 15th, 2010 @ 9:52 am
We were all disappointed when this functionality was removed from the iOS 4 beta before final release. Not a big surprise as iOS 4 Nike+ is the buggiest I’ve ever seen, so I’m sure it was an easy decision to cut it. Hopefully now they’ve worked out all their bugs and this update is going to stick till the final iOS 4.1 final release. Like iOS 4 beta the over the air sync isn’t yet functioning, when trying to sync it pops up an error saying the service isn’t available. We’ll try again next beta and hopefully can fully test this!
Follow me on Twitter @justin_horn
Full AVRCP finally coming in iOS 4.1
by Justin Horn on Jul 15th, 2010 @ 9:32 amWe been asking for this one for a long, long time. iOS 4.1 beta 1 has now added skip forward and back. Prior to this release the iPhone only supported volume pause / play, volume for me, was always controlled bye the headset itself.
Hopefully this makes it to the final release.
Follow me on Twitter @justin_horn
