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I've got Windows Vista and Windows 7 here.

I intend to create an iPhone application which connects to my website in order to read and show some database records.

I cannot afford a Mac Mini or buying expensive hardware and software.

I was wandering if it's legal and possible to create iPhone applications, running Mac OS X under my Windows, using tools like Pear-PC or similar products?

BenMorel
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Junior Mayhé
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    Apple says running Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware is a violation of their license agreement. – Thilo Jan 15 '10 at 14:04

3 Answers3

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I don't think you will be able to use Pear-PC as the iPhone SDK requires an Intel processor, but there are lots of other options listed in this question.

Community
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stuartd
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  • Thank you. I'm seeing somebody created DragonFire for developing Iphone app on Windows. http://www.dragonfiresdk.com/index.htm – Junior Mayhé Jan 15 '10 at 14:42
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It's illegal to run Mac OS X on non-Mac PCs. Not that it stops people from doing that.

notnoop
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    Apple says running Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware is a violation of their license agreement. That is their point of view. I doubt that it would really be considered illegal, as long as you have bought a license for OS X (but I am no lawyer). – Thilo Jan 15 '10 at 14:08
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    The judge in the Psystar case seemed to come down on Apple's side: http://www.tuaw.com/2009/12/18/psystar-shuts-down/ – Brad Larson Jan 15 '10 at 17:53
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It is definitely possible to develop iPhone applications using VMWare to virtualise a Mac OS X guest on a Windows or Linux host. The major problem is that 3D acceleration does not work, so you will not be able to use the Simulator for any OpenGL testing.

As for the legality of it all; it's hard to say especially since you did not mention your location! If you buy legitimate copies of everything and modify them yourself then it ought to be OK. I can say for sure that Apple probably has no way of telling and/or does not care what you use to develop on.

Coxy
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