12/07, 7:15pm
Suit claims earlier patents on Nike, iPod tech
An unusual lawsuit filed earlier this week hoped to upturn another lawsuit over Nike+iPod technology. Maryland resident Erik Cherdak claimed to have had two patents relating to an "athletic shoe with timing device" that predate the patents accessory maker PhatRat was using to sue, and later license out to, Apple and Nike. He hoped to have the two PhatRat patents invalidated on top of forcing Apple and Nike to pay licensing fees for iPhones, iPods, and shoes designed to use the Nike+ system, all under the threat of a possible ban.
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06/07, 11:25am
Polar intros WearLink+ for heart rate with Nike+
Training heart rate monitor maker Polar has introduced one of the few Nike+ transmitters outside of Nike in the WearLink+. The band is compatible with the Nike+ SportBand and Nike+iPod Sport Kit but does more than track pace. It straps around a user's chest and brings heart rate monitoring for the first time to the two existing Nike+ offerings.
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01/14, 9:45am
Nokia N79 Active
Nokia on Wednesday introduced an upgraded version of the N79 tailored to athletes. Called the N79 Active, the device pairs the candybar smartphone with a Polar Bluetooth WearLink heart rate belt that wirelessly sends its data to a new version of Nokia's Sports Tracker app. This and the phone's built-in GPS help keep tabs on the amount of exercise. The cellphone maker also adds a social component with the ability to share the playlist from a run and to geotag photos along the way.
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