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GameViewPoint
Known Participant
February 2, 2012
Question

Do I need a mac?

  • February 2, 2012
  • 2 replies
  • 1913 views

I've read varying things on this, and I just want to be sure as I'm starting out on iphone development with AIR, whether or not I need a Mac? I think it's possible to create the entire game on a PC, but when it comes to uploading it to the iTunes store I need a Mac?

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2 replies

grosssmutttr
grosssmutttr
Known Participant
February 2, 2012

You need a mac to use the application loader. The certificate and everything else could be done with the provisioning center (apple) and openssl.

Described here:

www.adobe.com/devnet/air/articles/packaging-air-apps-ios.html

G
GameViewPointAuthor
Known Participant
February 2, 2012

My plan so far is to sign up to the developer account with the mac (iMac, with snow leopard) although that might be a pain if I have to always do things in that account via the mac, hopefully I can sign in afterwards and do things via the PC (until final upload, which will be back to the mac).

And then actually develop the game via Flash CS5.5, using it's tools to create the necessary files/certs and then copy those files across to the Mac when I need final upload/submission.

Interestingly iMacs on ebay actually seem cheaper then mac mini's.

MJD1981
MJD1981
Inspiring
February 8, 2012

You do need to aim for that Snow Leopard (10.6.8) from what I can gather. I'm having a nightmare on 10.5.6 - even though both Apple and Adobe stand by "10.5.3". You can't install the latest SDKs or Application Loader on Leopard.

avtutorials
avtutorials
Known Participant
February 2, 2012

GameViewPoint,

My equipment in this world: a Windows 7 PC and an iPod Touch 4.  So, I asked myself the same question.

I read iOS Development With Flash, by Dolce (Visual Blueprint publishing).  The book is about a year old, so some screenshots are out-of-date, because Apple changed things since the publishing.  The book is excellent, though.  It walks you through the entire process of creating an iOS app, especially for Windows users

Here's the bottom line:

- Using Windows, you can do the development using Flash CS5.5.

- Using Windows,you can generate the certificates, provisioning files, etc. (it's not simple, but it's not hard).

- You have to have an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad to test your app on.

- Using Windows, you can use iTunes to transfer your app file from your PC to your device for testing.

- Using Windows, you can use iTunesConnect (the website that lets you specify all your app details to Apple for their App Store).

- YOU CANNOT UPLOAD YOUR APP FILE TO THE APP STORE WITHOUT A MAC!!!

Previously, Apple allowed you to upload your app using iTunesConnect, the website.  THEY REMOVED THAT CAPABILITY.

Now, you must use Apple's Application Uploader (or whatever it's called) to upload your app file to the App Store (and, remember that Apple has to approve your app before they put it on their App Store).

The only way to get the Application Uploader, if I understand correctly, is to install the Apple Developer SDK. And, you can only install that on a Mac.

So, this seems to be the last-ditch effort by Apple to force you to have a Mac to send your final app file to them for review and hopeful publishing on the the App Store.

If anyone knows otherwise, please correct this info.

G
GameViewPointAuthor
Known Participant
February 2, 2012

That's what I thought as well, ebay here I come

Is there any particular model of Mac you recommend? I was thinking of going with a cheap iMac, but is it a case of the more recent the OS the better? or will 10.5.x be ok?

And when I sign up and get a Apple developer account, I should do it from the Mac? (just incase the App uploader is a one time download kind of situation), or can I sign up from the PC and then download the App uploader whenever I want to the Mac?

Thanks for your advice.

Colin Holgate
Colin Holgate
Inspiring
February 2, 2012

Some of the developer software will require the Mac to be Intel based, and also to be 10.6 or later. It doesn't have to be a fast Mac though. You could look at some of the refurbished Mac Mini models, if you have a monitor and keyboard spare you could use those and not end up spending that much money.

The application loader knows things about your certificates, so I would do all the signing up steps on the Mac, that way the certificates will be installed properly.

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