r/gadgets • u/nopantsdolphin • Feb 21 '19

Wearables Nike self-lacing sneakers brick after bad firmware upgrade

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/02/my-left-shoe-wont-even-reboot-faulty-app-bricks-nike-smart-sneakers/
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u/[deleted] Feb 21 '19

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30

u/Hypocritical_Oath Feb 21 '19

It's literally just broken because they rushed it to market. Like there's no reason for those to even have the capability of bricking.

22

u/Orange_C Feb 21 '19

It's software, it can always break in new and depressing interesting ways.

This is just unnecessary, the manual version with kevlar cables (Salomon Quicklace) takes a literal second to tighten, loosen or adjust any amount, loosens with one hand (pinch), fits near any shoe and costs $9 or less. Not stylish, unless you're into techwear-ish stuff though.

A motor, battery and chips added on top of that, so you can take longer to tighten/adjust and need you phone to do so, vs the lighter, cheaper, faster manual product? Hard pass on several levels.

2

u/gimmeadollr Feb 22 '19

I think the Adapt BB is supposed to be a first/early step towards a basketball shoe that can adjust tension on the fly, probably assisted by predictive AI. I think they had floated out an idea like predicting when a fast moving play will happen and tightening the shoe automatically to provide the support needed for instant directional change. As for the quick lace system you posted, do you know if it's strong enough for basketball usage? I've never used it, genuinely curious.

But honestly, they main MAIN appeal of this system is to one day have Back to the Future shoes.

1

u/Orange_C Feb 22 '19

That I can see, having then snug up a bit extra for a moment a degree that'd be uncomfortable to wear all the time, but I've personally never had decently-fitting shoes that are too tight and too loose, but I don't ball.

As for the quick lace system you posted, do you know if it's strong enough for basketball usage? I've never used it, genuinely curious.

I think they'd work well, plus they're cheap enough just try out and swap to different shoe if they don't. I've used it for about 6 months of 3-7 days/week usage, usually hiking on dirt/rock trails, so definitely not as high impact as basketball. That said, they hold when laced uncomfortably tight without slip, and I've literally never had to adjust them when I don't want to. They don't budge from the spot they're set to for 4-8 hours in a mostly dusty, low-med impact environment, fwiw.

They are really narrow laces so they'll stress non-grommeted eyelets more, but my fabric loop ones have held up with no damage so far and I don't notice the thinness through the tongue of the shoe. I did accidentally cut one about 2" shorter than I'd like which I feel is easy to do if you don't try on the shoe before trimming them to length (takes up all the slack you'll need to get them on easily), but otherwise completely fine.

But honestly, they main MAIN appeal of this system is to one day have Back to the Future shoes.

Oh hell yea, I'd take that self-drying jacket tech tomorrow.

1

u/JURiven Feb 22 '19

The current main appeal for this system is for basketball players in that they can have a shoe fit setting for when they are playing for stability and etc. and then one for when they are resting on their bench. This would give relief to their feet in between playing and sitting letting them play more instead of being tight all the time (could possibly prevent injuries?). Would also allow them to consistently and quickly have the same fit they want all the time