| iPhone application development has minimum | | | | While both will work, a new dual-core Mac machine |
| hardware requirements without which iPhone | | | | should gallop and when the race for iPhone |
| programming cannot begin. This small guide lists the | | | | development is tight you want to sprint and not trot, |
| essential hardware needed for iPhone development | | | | right? However, you can take your pick between a |
| and also mentions the alternatives wherever possible. | | | | Mac Book (or Mac Mini) and a Mac PC as XCode and |
| Mac Machine | | | | Interface Builder run smoothly on both machines. |
| One of the first hardware any budding iPhone | | | | Whichever Mac you choose, ensure it has at least |
| developer should procure is an Intel-based Mac | | | | 2GB RAM for smooth performance.iPhoneiPhone |
| machine or Mac Book because iPhone applications can | | | | applications can also be developed using the iPhone |
| only be developed using Apple X OS. Does this mean | | | | Simulator that comes bundled with the iPhone SDK |
| non-Intel based Mac machines cannot be used for | | | | (Software Development Kit) but the problem arises |
| iPhone application development? Yes, spot on. | | | | when you want to test the application's GPS |
| Will a Power PC Mac work for iPhone development? | | | | functionality or access the internet from within the |
| A Power PC Mac will work but the output will be | | | | application. In such cases the iPhone simulator is not |
| sluggish, to say the least and result in extremely low | | | | enough and you have no option left but to purchase |
| productivity. An iBook will be worse, so better stick | | | | an iPhone. But if you can somehow make do without |
| to a powerful Intel-based Mac PC for your iPhone | | | | GPS and internet, the iPhone Simulator for iPhone |
| application development. In spite of this, if you still | | | | application development will do just fine. |
| want to use PowerPC make sure it is running | | | | Once you have this minimum hardware ready you |
| Leopard 10.5.4 or higher. | | | | are all set to create great iPhone applications and |
| Old or new Mac? | | | | games. |