Android update bricks Nike's $350 self-lacing sneakers

[midian182]

Facepalm: While ‘real’ hoverboards and flying cars are two Back to the Future technologies we’re still waiting to see, self-lacing shoes have been around for a few years now. But owners of Nike’s new Adapt BB smart sneakers have found them to be a little buggy.

As reported by CNET, Nike’s shoes, which were released on Sunday, come with an app that lets users control their tightness. This function is also possible using the two buttons on the sides, but controlling the fit via an app is one of the sneakers' main features.

Days after their launch, Adapt BB needed a firmware update. And while this doesn’t seem to have affected the iOS app, the update has caused some big problems on Android. According to user reviews, the app keeps failing to connect one shoe to another, and it has “bricked” the sneakers.

Some people have found that the issue can be resolved by performing a manual reset, which is a surprisingly arduous process. The shoes can still be used as regular sneakers, and the physical buttons continue to adjust the tightness, but paying $350 for some smart footwear that isn’t particularly smart has incurred the ire of many buyers.

We’ve seen updates brick devices in the past. Back in October, Apple pulled the WatchOS 5.1 update after it bricked a number of its smartwatches, causing them to become stuck in endless boot loops.

Nike has responded to a comment on the Play Store with “We are aware of the issue and are actively working on a solution.”

In an era when almost anything can be turned into a smart device, it seems new technologies can bring new problems.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/78857-android-update-bricks-nike-350-self-lacing-trainers.html

 

[yukka]

Those comments are hilarious. I read as far as "Simply this app doesn't work. When I try connecting my shoes... etc etc".

Shoes don't need connecting. This is crazy land.

 

[p51d007]

I'll say it again...we are DEVOLVING as a race.

 

[Mister_K]

I'll say it again...we are DEVOLVING as a race.

I'll say it again, these have a purpose.
Technology is a resource-liberating mechanism.

 

[misor]

I hope no one calls 911 because his 'shoes got bricked'.

 

[Danny101]

Of course it did!

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

The shoes aren't 'bricked' We use the word 'brick' when a phone dies because it's the shape of a brick and good for nothing anymore. A shoe that loses it's connection is now just a shoe isn't it?

 

[wiyosaya]

I'll say it again...we are DEVOLVING as a race.

I'll say it again, these have a purpose.
Technology is a resource-liberating mechanism.

Except when the resources, in this case feet, are stuck in them because the technology is a brick.

 

[wiyosaya]

The shoes aren't 'bricked' We use the word 'brick' when a phone dies because it's the shape of a brick and good for nothing anymore. A shoe that loses it's connection is now just a shoe isn't it?

The key question here is can these shoes be laced manually? If not, IMO, the best analogy is the brick.

 

[wiyosaya]

I'll say it again...we are DEVOLVING as a race.

This brings to mind the movie WALL-E.

 

[mbrowne5061]

The shoes aren't 'bricked' We use the word 'brick' when a phone dies because it's the shape of a brick and good for nothing anymore. A shoe that loses it's connection is now just a shoe isn't it?

The key question here is can these shoes be laced manually? If not, IMO, the best analogy is the brick.

The article says they can be used manually, and the manual function still works. The author and reviewers seem to be using the term "bricked" rather liberally here; the shoes can likely be repaired to a future update to the Android app, and continue to work with the iOS version, its just a connectivity issue.

 

[BlackCatRokusho]

Have they tried turning their shoes off and back on again?

 

[wiyosaya]

The article says they can be used manually, and the manual function still works. The author and reviewers seem to be using the term "bricked" rather liberally here; the shoes can likely be repaired to a future update to the Android app, and continue to work with the iOS version, its just a connectivity issue.

I stand corrected.

Still, though, an app to tighten sneakers?

And in other news, today, Nike is not looking so good. I have to wonder about the durability of these.

 

[mailpup]

Have they tried turning their shoes off and back on again?

Is that like rebooting?

 

[cliffordcooley]

This brings to mind the movie WALL-E.

I don't recall them wearing shoes in Wall-E.

 

[JamesSWD]

When a shoe is using software...it's past time we take a step back and put some commonsense back into what we're doing.

 

[ForgottenLegion]

When a shoe is using software...it's past time we take a step back and put some commonsense back into what we're doing.

Everything must be connected to the internet and will receive a performance boost if encorporating RGB.

 

[JamesSWD]

Everything must be connected to the internet and will receive a performance boost if encorporating RGB.

But can the shoe's 28.8K modem handle that much RGB bandwidth?

 

[cliffordcooley]

Don't worry! Next month they will upgrade to 33.6K. By the end of next year we will have 56K.

 

[JamesSWD]

Don't worry! Next month they will upgrade to 33.6K. By the end of next year we will have 56K.

That's just crazy talk...no one needs that much speed.