Apple is missing out on some revenue here. I’m currently working on two projects that would benefit from having an iPhone application. I’ve gotten really excited about them. I signed up to be an apple store developer. I started preplanning my projects… and I’m stuck.
You must own a Mac, a new Mac running Leopard, to develop for the iPhone. The SDK requires Max OSX 10.5.3 in order to run. Are you serious? I can’t even go out and buy an older Mac to develop for a 620Mhz portable machine?
I understand. I undestand that Apple wants total control of their apps. I understand that they want to quality control every single application that shows up in their store. I understand that restricting development to the rich will help keep tiny little useless subpar apps off the radar.
Here’s my problem: Every single great application today, was created by somebody who was a nobody at some point. Making the SDK available to everybody, even Windows users, would give Apple twice as many choices for their store. I wouldn’t mind a stricter acceptance policy if it meant everyone got a shot to submit. I would even prefer a stricter acceptance policy. I would have no problems whatsoever if Apple rejected my app and said “do better”. You know why? Because I would do better.
I guess it doesn’t matter though. I don’t own a Mac, and I’m not going to.
I just posted this on Digg.
http://digg.com/apple/How_to_run_iPhone_SDK_on_Power_PC_Mac_running_Tiger
The article (and comments) may help you get yer iPhone SDK on a PPC G4/5. Note that you’ll need to jailbreak your phone because app signing won’t work, but you will be able to develop and simulate as if.