Path 2.1: Now with smarter camera, support for Nike+

Up-and-coming private social network Path had a couple of rough days last month because it uploaded its users’ address books to its servers without their explicit permission. Today, however, the company is focusing squarely on its product again with the release of version 2.1 of its iOS app. This isn’t a major overhaul of the service, as the version number already indicates, but the company made some pretty significant updates to the product that its users will surely appreciate.

One really cool new feature is the built-in support for Nike+, so your runs now automatically appear in Path. For those of us who aren’t runners, the new version now also features a Shazam-like Music Match feature that is powered by Gracenote and a smarter camera that you adjust focus and exposure manually.

The Nike+ integration in Path is driven by the company’s new API. It’s worth noting, though, that Path isn’t rolling this API out widely and is taking a very deliberate approach to opening its platform up to third parties. To sync the two apps, users have to very explicitly tell Path to pull the data from the Nike app by pulling a little Nike icon onto the Path icon. This ensures that you don’t share this information without giving the app the permission to do so.

The Music Match feature works just like you would expect. You just click on the microphone icon and let the app listen to the music that’s playing in the background for a while. You can then easily share this song with your friends on the service (though it will only play a 30-second sample, as far as I can see).

Overall, then, this isn’t a revolutionary update, but it puts Path back on track after the privacy discussions of the last few weeks. It’ll be interesting to see when and how the company will open its API to other developers. There is definitely a lot of potential here.