Remote control mobile app is missing from Nike’s self-lacing Adapt BB sneakers

Without the app, owners can use the physical buttons on the shoes to turn them on or off, check battery status, tighten or loosen the laces, and save a single preset, but there will be no way to adjust the shoes’ lighting.

on the power cord nike adapt bb basketball shoeswho were worn by athletes Players like Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic were able to adjust the tightness via buttons on the sneakers or via Bluetooth. The app also allowed users to configure three tightness presets and adjust the color of the LED lights on the shoes — these features will continue to work for Adapt BB users who already have the app installed on their phones.

However, after August 6, Nike warns users that they “will not be able to transfer the app to a new device, and future iOS updates may limit or eliminate functionality, or remove the app from your device entirely.”

Nike’s decision to discontinue the app is another reminder of the challenges of designing smart apparel. Most consumers may be used to the idea of ​​upgrading a smartphone every few years, but buying a pair of electronic shoes or a smart denim jacket The product may remain in a person’s wardrobe for decades, even long after the company has stopped selling the product.

It’s not entirely surprising when a company stops paying for app maintenance and continued development for a product it’s no longer making money from, but that doesn’t make the pain of losing functionality on your five-year-old device any less painful.