How to Fix the Watch Sport in Version 2

Graham Bower writing for Cult of Mac on how Apple could improve the Apple Watch Sport with a deeper Nike partnership:

Nike could provide band designs, while Apple could add a Nike-branded watch face and tighter Nike+ integration. With Apple’s support, maybe Nike+ could fix the dreaded double-lag that compromises so many third-party running apps.

As part of the deal, Nike could finally retire Nike Fuel, in favor of Apple’s Activity Rings. This would help clarify and provide focus to Nike’s digital strategy, which has seemed confused since the withdrawal of the FuelBand.

Nike’s retail channel, with its flagship Nike Town stores could provide valuable extra exposure and distribution for Apple Watch, driving far greater sales volume than Hermes could ever deliver.

I think it would be super interesting for Apple to have a deep Nike partnership. In fact, I think they could go a step further and integrate their own shoes to work with the Apple Watch. Imagine if each Nike shoe could track your activity based on the sport you’re playing. Going to play basketball? Select basketball in the Workout App and that paired with Nike “smart shoes” would give you a much deeper understanding of how much you moved as well as how many calories you’ve burned.

That, along with a broader distribution channel would probably win over even more athletes.