A source revealed that Apple has forged partnerships with some of the top athletes in the world, including Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, to test the fitness functions of the soon-to-be-released iWatch.
Other athletes that Apple is working with include Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown and an unidentified Boston Red Sox player.
The athletes have signed a non-disclosure agreement on the existence of the iWatch. However, Bryant was seen last month at Apple's campus in a meeting with Jony Ive, Apple's design chief, over the testing of the iWatch.
The partnership with famous athletes further adds fire to the speculation that the iWatch will include significant components pertaining to fitness.
The iWatch will most probably work in tandem with the HealthKit that will be released in iOS 8, which would probably have the ability to track the user's number of steps taken, burned calories, and heart rate. The app will also most likely utilize advanced sensors that can read the user's hydration level, sweat level and blood pressure.
The HealthKit, which was unveiled along with the HomeKit at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference 2014, will compile all data gathered by devices through different apps to create a comprehensive health profile of the user.
There are also reports that the iWatch will have two different models. One model will be a "Sports" model that has a rectangular frame and a rubber bracelet, which is the one being currently tested by Bryant. It will include a variety of sensors to monitor the wearer's health statistics. The other model is a "Designer" model, which has a circular frame and a metallic body. Both models, however, will have a touchscreen and are water resistant, along with a storage memory of 8GB.
In addition to its fitness components, the iWatch is reported to be able to run maps apps, to be displayed on a 1.5 inch by 2.5 inch screen. A source reveals that the iWatch will rely heavily on being paired up with the iPhone, and will be created to be able to connect to the Internet using the iPhone's connection.
Last year, Apple hired Jay Blahnik, a former fitness consultant for Nike, to work on the iWatch project. With Nike shutting down development of the FuelBand hardware, Apple has employed mechanical engineers that have worked on the wearable devices of Nike.
In addition, Apple formed a team under Dr. Michael O'Reilly with health, sensors and sleep experts to work with engineers and regulators on the approval and testing of wearable technology, with a report revealing that Apple is still currently seeking approval from the FDA for upcoming wearable devices.
The iWatch will most likely be announced this October in an event that will demonstrate wearable technology.
