Without the app, shoe owners can use the physical buttons on their sneakers to turn the power on and off, check battery status, tighten or loosen the laces, and save individual presets, but they won’t be able to adjust the shoe’s lighting.
The power laces on the Nike Adapt BB Basketball Shoes worn by athletes like Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic can be adjusted via buttons on the shoe itself or via Bluetooth . The app also allows users to configure three tightness presets and adjust the color of the LED lights on the shoes – features that will continue to work for Adapt BB users who already have the app installed on their phones.
However, after August 6, Nike warns users that they “will not be able to move the app to a new device, and future iOS updates may limit or discontinue functionality, or the app may be completely removed from your device. “
Nike’s decision to retire the app is yet another reminder of the challenges of designing smart clothing. Most consumers may have grown accustomed to the idea of upgrading their smartphones every few years, but a pair of digital shoes or a smart denim jacket can remain in someone’s wardrobe for decades, even long after a company stops selling the product. after.
It’s not entirely surprising when a company chooses to stop paying maintenance fees and continuing to develop apps for a product that no longer makes money, but it doesn’t take away the pain of your five-year-old kicker losing functionality.
