author: Bart Swiatek
App Breaks Nike's Auto-Lacing Shoes
Some owners of Nike's Auto-Lacing shoes, Nike Adapt BB, report that their smart shoes have stopped responding to commands. The problems are caused by the issues in the Android control app, most likely related to a recent update.
Nike has recently released a second version of Adapt BB auto-lacing sports shoes. Unfortunately, only a few days after their debut (held on February 17) the smart footwear started to cause problems. Users reported that the shoes do not respond to the control application, which makes it impossible to lace (or more specifically, tighten) them around the foot, rendering them useless. The reason may be a recent software update.
In some cases, a so-called hard reset is helpful, which can be done by holding down both the buttons on the shoe. Unfortunately, this is not a universal solution - some customers report that their shoes are completely non-responsive and do not react to any commands. In such situations, they are only suitable for being placed in an honorable place and presented to curious friends (preferably from afar so that they do not ask too many uncomfortable questions). Nike says they are working on a solution - but it's not clear when the company's efforts will deliver.
"We are seeing isolated connectivity issues related to the setup of the Nike Adapt BB and are actively working to resolve it. If a consumer experiences this, we encourage them to contact Nike Consumer Services,' reads Nike's comment for The Verge.
As you can see, "smart shoes" still have a lot to learn. If you would like to learn more about Nike Adapt BB, please have a look at The Verge video footage below.