And to think, we actually believed that Nike and Apple were this close to delivering the long-awaited running application for the iPhone. While it was widely reported that these shots were indeed the real deal, AppleInsider is pointing out a chink in the armor: Cupertino doesn't offer iPhone developers a programming interface for accessing one's music, yet this mysterious program clearly showed someone listening to Chris Martin and friends (an unreleased song, evidently) while attempting to make it to 0.02km. The take away? It's still pretty likely that the two outfits are working to create a fitness program for the App Store, but those screenshots ain't it.

[Thanks, Michael]

It has taken its sweet, sweet time in arriving, but it seems the iPhone Nike+ running application is just... about... here. A slew of new screenshots of the application have emerged, and while there are no juicy tidbits to accompany 'em (release date, cost, etc.), we all know how many lines of text a single snapshot is worth. Hang tight runners, the app you've been waiting (and waiting) for can't be far from the finish line now.

[Via MacRumors]

Technology is inexorably tied to progress, but when it busts into our lives and subtly tells us that we're doing something wrong -- in this case, getting some "us" time on a solo jog -- we've gotta admit to being a little peeved. Even for those who like to share their second most sweaty experience on the day-to-day, this is probably a bit of an overkill. A prototype technology called Jogging over Distance is being developed at the University of Melbourne which uses GPS, cellphone tech, and 3D audio simulation to make it seem as if two joggers from separate cities are actually slogging it out together. The advantage over just whipping out a cellphone is that as one runner goes faster, their voice appears to be coming from further ahead to the other runner, which could presumably help motivation. To each their own we suppose, but we'd take some loud music over the grunts of a fellow jogger any day. Or, indeed, a form of motivation that helps us -- no, forces us -- to start jogging in the first place.

[Via textually]

Look, if you haven't seriously considered one of the myriad of other exercise tracking applications for your mobile already, it's highly doubtful you'll start today, but for those looking for a streamlined program to work seamlessly on their Nokia S60 smartphone, now you've got it. The Nokia Sports Tracker unfortunately doesn't keep tabs on your favorite scores, but it does encourage owners of a Nokia S60 3.0 phone (with integrated or Bluetooth GPS) to get out and move those aging muscles a bit. As expected, runners will be able to view speed, distance, and time -- all of which will be automatically stored to your "training diary" -- but there isn't a mapping feature built-in just yet. Of course, the biggest boon to this here tracking software is the totally reasonable pricetag, so be sure and tag the read link to snap this gratis program up, but make sure you actually make good use of it, you hear?

[Thanks, Antti]