Nike- or Zune+ ?
One major problem that is not evoked in this blog post is the very bad handling of the playlists and special Nike+ mixes.
First of all, and this one is not a Nike+ - specific problem, since it occurs also with the iPod application : I have BOUGHT two (absolutely fucking great, by the way) Nike+ Original Run mixes from iTunes store. The file type is, obviously “Purchased AAC audio file” and while it worked perfectly on the first generation iPod nano, it is impossible to synchronize them to my iPhone 4.
If I create a playlist, the playlist is copied, but empty.
I had to create an Apple Lossless Version (my default format for CD importing) to be able to finally synchronize them to my iPhone 4 and thus be able to use them in Nike+, to run.
Now I can sync them. Unbelievable. This is so Microsoft feeling. Unworthy of Apple.
But even then, they are not recognized as Nike+ runnings, but only as regular music files and thus do no appear in the Nike+ app in the special section, nor as being used in the Nike+ web statistics.
And of course, there are all the bugs and whistles already widely evoked, such as the sometimes inability to resume a run once paused or the fact that for the CASSIUSPLAY Nike+ Original Run that is composed of a 45:36 mix and a 5:02 looped Stretching Track, the damn thing plays only the 5:02 track, which is absolutely driving me mad, when I run for about an hour and don’t want to reset my run once I’ve started it.
All these problems didn’t exist on the first gen iPod nano.
Let’s now talk about the hilarious (because it’s better to laugh than cry) associated website. All the problems of the website already existed back then, when I used the iPod nano. They only became worse and/or different with the evolutions recently brought to the website.
I won’t get into detailed problems about this fucking site, but…
• it’s slow as hell
• won’t allow me to use 1Password to avoid having to enter my password every time
• the “automatically send workout data to nikeplus.com” setting only works if I hit the “Sync” button once I have plugged my iPhone
• it’s slow and buggy
• made in fucking Flash ! which is even more moronic, since it’s an Apple partnership
Come on. Flash. On an Apple-related website. Hello ? Do you realize it doesn’t work on iOS Safari ?
• it’s slow
• it’s buggy
• it’s slow
• it’s buggy
• the friend feature is bugged as hell : Z could find me, add me and see me on her page, but I can't find her, although she could add me and I agreed and thus it says I've added her but I can't see her stats, it's absolutely ridiculous
• and did I mention it's a fucking Flash site, slow and buggy ?
Too bad, because there are a lot of fun and nice ideas and features and it's very nice to be able to have one integrated system to track all the running stats. It would be really great if both the iPhone embedded app and the web site were not coded by lazy morons and it had been thoroughly tested.
Feels like a Zune+
There are so many complaining people on the Apple support site that I won’t even have to add my two (euro)cents.
I just don’t understand how or why this can go on like this. It’s just not acceptable, especially from a company like Apple and even worse when partnering with a company like Nike.
I’m really pissed off.
But I have to go running anyway.
Hmmm… not tonight. My stomach hurts.