Apple Targets “Sneaker Hackers” with DRM Patent for Clothing
7:44 am, September 15th, 2008, Lonnie Lazar
Apple has filed a patent application detailing a method of “pairing a sensor and an authorised garment”, such as “running shoes, shirts or slacks” in hopes of deterring what the company has determined is a disturbing trend toward people “[taking] it upon themselves to remove the sensor from the special pocket of the [iPod-linked] Nike+ shoe and place it at inappropriate locations (shoelaces, for example) or place it on non-Nike+ model shoes.”
Apple sells the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit as a tool for storing data about your workout on your iPod, allowing you to track and analyze your progress toward fitness perfection. As one commenter on Slashdot said about the $30 sensor, “you can also share your workout stats with others, help build community, etc – sort of the antithesis of the “isolated runner with headphones on” kind of thing. Very Web 2.0.”
Under the patent Apple has applied for, companies like Nike could authorise their garments by burying an RFID chip inside it, requiring that chip to activate the sensor. No longer would you be able to use the sensor you paid for with any shoe of your choosing.
Via Slashdot
Posted by Lonnie Lazar in Clothing, Hardware Hacks, iPod, iPod Accessories | Comment on this article
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And if Nike made shoes in some width other than D, maybe I would buy their shoes.
Boo, Apple.
caesararum, on September 15th, 2008 at 5:20 pm