Question

I’ve been developing an iPhone web app on a Windows XP box using
MobiOne Test Center and Safari for testing and debugging and
occasionally using a real iPhone for testing. The problem is that
MobiOne, Safari (desktop), and the iPhone all produce different
errors. Obviously I am most concerned with the errors that occur on
the iPhone, since that is the target device. (An example of the type
of error encountered is that an image that ordinarily appears as
expected occasionally cannot be displayed, so the little question-mark
icon appears instead.)

I have the opportunity to obtain a Mac for development, but I need to
know whether using a Mac will make a difference.

Have any of you moved to the Mac for developing or just testing a web-only iPhone app?

Is doing so worthwhile? Why?

Does the iPhone simulator in the SDK simulate an iPhone better than Safari on the Windows desktop?

Is there a reason I would need a paid subscription to the Apple iOS Developer Program?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Testing on an actual device is better than testing on any of the Simulators, since that is what you mobile customers will actually be using.

If you are strictly building web apps, your money might be better spent on more test devices (devices with and without a Retina display, iPad, maybe an old used iPod Touch running some prior version of iOS for regression testing, etc.) If you are choosy about your colors, the color can vary quite a bit across devices, so it may help to find one warm display and one cold one (from old/different manufacturing lots, etc.).

So you don’t NEED a Mac (unless you have other reasons for acquiring one).