Are there any options for IOS development on Windows 8? (Apps, Emulators, Cloud Computing OK)

I am trying to develop iPhone apps on Windows 8. To do that, I might need an emulator to run certain IOS development programs.

I would like to know if there are any OS-X emulators available for Windows and which ones are to be recommended? Please note that I am willing to pay for the emulators (doesn't necessarily have to be free).

If emulators aren't an option, I'm also willing to use cloud-computing, provided it works.

I just came across a service called macincloud.com, which supposedly allows you to rent a Mac-OS server.

I am willing to invest in this, which costs $20/month, so I seriously need to know if this is legit or not. I am not willing to pony up money for something that's unreliable.

Please tell me your thoughts on that service.

If none of those options are possible, are there any options that allow me to develop AND preview the app using Windows without submitting the product to Apple?

Thanks.

Solution 1:

According to the license for OS X, you are not allowed to run it on non-Apple hardware.

If any emulators do exist, or methods to hack existing virtualization software to run it on non-Apple hardware, that would not be legal.

Legally, you could technically buy some Apple hardware like an iMac or Mac Pro, install Windows on it, and then run virtualized OS X within Windows, but I'm not certain virtualization software that will do this exists.

The only virtualization system I know of that supports OS X is VMWare ESXi, but I believe that's a bare-metal hypervisor that won't run on Windows.

You will probably be best served by buying a Mac Mini and either KVMing it or connecting to it with VNC.

EDIT:

You mentioned http://www.macincloud.com -- I can't speak to the reputability of that particular business, but the premise is sound. They could be running multiple instances of OS X on ESXi hypervisor running on Mac Pro or Mac mini server hardware, or they could be renting out individual Mac mini servers -- making each instance accessible over VNC.

Here are two articles that may give some credit to MacinCloud's reliability:

• http://coronalabs.com/blog/2012/03/15/corona-developers-rent-a-mac-in-the-cloud/
• http://gizmodo.com/5853926/join-a-mac-timeshare-in-the-clouds