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Nike’s smart sneakers are breaking when used with an Android phone

Nike’s smart sneakers are breaking when used with an Android phone

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Now a dumb shoe

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Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Nike’s brand-new Adapt BB smart sneakers have stopped working for some users because of a bad Android update just days after they were released. Affected owners say either their left or right shoe no longer pairs with Nike’s app, meaning it can’t be used to tighten their fresh pair of $350 self-lacing shoes.

Some people have had success getting the shoes to function again after a hard reset. It’s unclear if people can still manually tighten the shoes through their side buttons, or if the update shut them down completely. Some users report that the update caused the motor to stop working, even through the physical buttons.

The issue appears to stem from an early version of the software built into Nike’s sneakers. Some sneakers weren’t shipped with the latest version of the software, and if they don’t receive the update in time, the pairing process with the latest Android app can lead to them locking up.

The sneakers’ Android app apparently isn’t very good even when it is working. Users say that the app isn’t as built out as the iOS version and is missing features like the ability to set different tightness presets.

When I went to see the shoes in November at Nike’s Oregon headquarters, the company only showed its iOS app, but it guaranteed support for both iOS and Android. While it’s true that an Android app exists, it seems that the company failed to dedicate enough resources to test it. We’ve reached out to Nike for comment.