iPod sneakers

The makers of the iPod have teamed up with Nike to produce “smart” musical footwear for joggers that will play faster music when they begin to flag.

The first trainer designed to “talk to” an iPod will be in the shops in Britain later this summer. It will use a sensor under the inner sole to detect a runner’s pace and send a signal to a wireless receiver attached to the iPod to put on a “power song” when the speed is flagging.

If a jogger is cruising along to the sound of Simon and Garfunkel and starts to slow, the iPod will sharpen up the pace with a blast of something like Eye of the Tiger, the song by Survivor used in the Rocky films, or Tina Turner’s Simply the Best.

Runners can also press a button on the iPod so their chosen power song “kicks in” to give them extra motivation on hill climbs or when a burst of speed is needed near a finishing line.

Nike, which sells 200m pairs of trainers a year, approached Apple 18 months ago about a joint project. This is its first venture into “smart shoes” using computer technology.

Apple has named the system “rock’n’run”. The computer giant estimates that half the 50m people who bought iPods last year use them while working out. One of the songs that it recommends is Everlong by Foo Fighters.

The next advance under development by Apple is an MP3 player that can change the tempo of the music to match the most punishing exercise regime. The sensor will judge a jogger’s speed and choose fast or slow music accordingly.

It can even alter the tempo of each song, using digital technology that allows music to be “squashed” into a shorter time. The MP3 player can adjust the tempo without affecting the pitch of the instruments and vocals. This would prevent a group such as Coldplay sounding like high-pitched chipmunks when their music was speeded up.

“We’re working with Nike to take music and sport to a new level,” said Steve Jobs, chief executive of Apple. “The result is like having a coach or training partner motivating you every step of your workout.

“We’ve just scratched the surface because, over time, we can do even more sophisticated things.”

The iPod screen will also display information on run time, distance and the number of calories burnt, and relay updates through the headphones. The data can be downloaded to computers at home so runners can track their progress.

Paula Radcliffe, the women’s marathon world record holder, has been training to the sound of Madonna’s Jump as well as Turner and Whitney Houston. She welcomed the idea of a “jogger’s jukebox” that can match an athlete’s needs.

“I use music both ways,” she said. “I listen to faster music if I am doing a workout to get the best out of myself, but I also use it to help me relax in the build-up to a big race.”

Lance Armstrong, seven-times winner of the Tour de France and whose current power song is the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Dani California, said at a launch in New York: “If you can incorporate time, distance and calories burnt together and make it function for both the jogger and the high-level athlete, it will take working out to a whole other level.”

The rock’n’run system requires a £65 pair of Nike Air Zoom Moire shoes, an iPod Nano and a £25 sensor kit to fit in the shoe. The total cost will be about £200.

Apple plans to offer exclusive “power songs” for download and running mixes from athletes such as Radcliffe.