Apple And Nike, Sitting In A Tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

Apple has encouraged and profited from the cottage industry of iPod accessories.

From automobiles to shoes, from speakers to socks, it’s an iPod accessories world. Now another Nike iPod toy.

Not released but ready for show and tell is Nike Amp+, a watch-like device that lets you control your iPod via your Nike+iPod running system.

Wait a minute. What’s a ”running system?” It’s just more cool toys from your favorite iPod maker and Nike.

And all this time I thought a running system was my feet, my shoes, and the pavement. Leave it to Apple to change a basic exercise paradigm.

Nike Amp+ is a wristwatch-like Bluetooth remote that controls your iPod via your Nike, uh, um, running system, also known as the Nike + iPod Sport Kit.

Surely you remember the Nike + iPod Sport Kit. It’s the little device that fits into your Nike shoe, connects to your iPod nano, and tracks your running.

Nike Amp+ lets you take one more step and control your iPod with the wristwatch-like device.

Now you can exercise without having to fumble around and try to control the iPod’s music selection while in motion.

Even better for Apple, Apple’s stock price, Apple’s bottom line, not to mention Nike, is your need to buy three devices for the complete running system.

It’s important to have a complete running system, right? The implication here is that if you don’t have all three devices you’re simply exercising with an incomplete running system.

The Nike + iPod Sport Kit is actually modestly priced at a mere $29 at the Mac360 Store (inserting shameless plug).

The Nike Amp+ carries a MSRP of a whopping $80. What price glory? Or, a complete running system?

That’s not to mention the cost of the iPod, or other running gear. Such as, uh, um, oh, I don’t know. Could it be-- SHOES?

Fortunately for my bank account and credit card balance, the Nike Amp+ hasn’t been released yet, though I’m sure it’ll show up well before Christmas 2006.

Apple is a shrewd company. They’ve locked down the car manufacturers, most of the home entertainment speaker folks with a brand name, cultivated a growing accessory business, and have ventured deep into clothing. Literally.

iPod is now fully synonymous with portable music player. Microsoft’s unfortunately named Zune is synonymous with failed brown brick.

I know you’re eagerly awaiting my parting set of questions, right? Here goes:

Do you have an iPod, and, if so, did you purchase accessories? Let me assume a positive response. Do you have clothing of any kind that’s officially iPod Ready?

Will you pay an additional $80 for a wristwatch-like device to control the iPod that’s already in your pocket or armband?

Check out the daily list of our 9 Word mini-Reviews at NoodleMac, and Kate's daily in-depth Mac software reviews at PixoBebo.

Off Topic #6 - The MacHeist is back. In case you missed it a few months ago, MacHeist is a great way for Mac users to get 12 top Mac applications and utilities for $49. Many of these have been reviewed on Mac360, so we highly recommend that you take a look. The value, what you get for what you pay, is remarkable. Click Here to look, buy, download.

Off Topic #72 - Need to save a few dollars on Mac software? Click Here to save almost $10 on the new version of Photoshop Elements, and almost $20 on the new Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac from the Mac360 Store (it’s really Amazon). Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Entourage and more-- barely $50 more than Apple’s iWork ‘08.