PhoneGap w/VisualStudio for iPhone/iPod touch

Question

Is there a way to develop an iPhone app on a windows machine?

I was thinking there should be a way using phonegap and the new cloud building https://build.phonegap.c

Answer 1

You actually must have a mac and xcode. What you choose to do with them after is up to you (to some degree, apple MAY reject a completely empty xcode project). You could, alternatively get a enterprise license (expensive I think) and then distribute iOS apps on your own without the App Store.

I am assuming that path won't happen. I know that at the end you NEED a mac to publish to the app store. You could however develop using .net and mono: http://www.mono-project.com/Main_Page

For a time apple had banned apps made in both flash and mono from being cross compiled, but I am fairly certain it is ok now. The only problem is you still need a mac. I've heard mixed reviews on whether a hackintosh is acceptable. It sounds like you MAY get through. I hear you need at least snow leopard, but that bad driver support will make you miserable for 8 hours a day: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2600742

About your question for getting around the $99 bucks well I remember being able to deploy for the emulator. I was not able to deploy to my iOS device (I believe), but I had other issues. They were all some how magically resolved with a few software upgrades and getting the right keys set up and paying that $99 dollars.