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Launching Mobile Apps

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    #16
    Re: Launching Mobile Apps

    No... not quite absolutely. You can use Windows... it's not pretty... but you can. Have a look at the PhoneGap Build doc... in the section... Signing.

    To use a Mac you don't have to own a Mac... you could use something like macincloud.com. I've not tried this, but have heard of others having success.

    However... I knew that I'd always have a need to renew keys, get new keys, etc... so I picked up a Mac Mini. There's always an extra keyboard and mouse around... and usually a monitor... or you can pick up an inexpensive one. Doing this... you've got more control over your life... and way more fun.

    You can get the least expensive Mac Mini and it will be more than enough for what you need.

    Comment


      #17
      Re: Launching Mobile Apps

      I just got this
      http://www.ebay.com/itm/152429528132

      I think it will work, certainly cheaper than renting a mac...after reading a bunch of articles about the VM machine it seems that would be amajor waste of time and effort. I see no other reason than profits to require a mac to make apps for an iOS - especially when there is nothing machine dependant other than the required files to say what? To say I used a mac to generate them, it says nothing about security. I thought the DUNNS number was a bit much but at least trying to determine if someone is a legit business makes sense.

      Anyway, like you said buy it cheap have some fun, etc.
      NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

      Comment


        #18
        Re: Launching Mobile Apps

        I picked up one of the last Core-i7 Quad-Core, 1TB HDD, 16GB Ram Mac Mini from Apple. They changed to a Duo-Core machine after that. I swapped out the 1TB HDD for an SSD and have the 1TB running as an external drive. It runs 2 monitors and Parallels (for Alpha when I need it). Quite a little machine.

        Comment


          #19
          Re: Launching Mobile Apps

          WOW - 16gb of ram in a mini I have been looking for a replacement for my desktop and thought about those. Currently, I am running an IBM server as a desktop, it was given to me as a gift from a friend when a (big chain) computer store closed. Its only got 5 gb of ram but two 3.2gb physical processors and dual power supplies and it has been running for years non-stop and no trouble. Due to the limitations of the older processors it cannot run windows 10 so I am stuck at win 8 pro. heres a link to the machines PDF
          https://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/re...NUS105-073.PDF

          I keep everything (files) in external drives outside of the OS whenever possible, so I don't think I would mind changing to a MAC

          Anyone have any recommendations on an iOS machine that would work great as an AS development machine? So far I have not had need of more than 5gb of ram but it seems like all the newer stuff has a lot more.
          I do run two monitors, two external drives and almost always have 3 USB drives connected so USB ports are a must for me!

          I am not very familiar with iOS machines, I do not want to spend more than 800, of course I do what I have to - I just want to stay under that if possible. I would say max price 1200. Again, the goal here is to turn my current PG app into an app for iphones, not replace my desktop NOW that said if the machine is more robust than the server I am currently running, I'll retire the dinosaur even though it works like a champ daily.
          So it looks like the best way to create an iOS native application is to at least own a mac - I want one.
          Do you think the 60 dollar one I purchased will do the trick?
          Will I need to install AS on it?
          Can I develop and upload to PG build using my current windows machine?
          And finally - do I just need the MAC to create the two necessary files for PG to then generate the file I send to apple?
          NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

          Comment


            #20
            Re: Launching Mobile Apps

            I used the Mac mini as an Alpha dev machine for 3 months... as an experiment. I didn't mind it, but it wasn't for me. One enormous advantage is that because you're running Parallels you can back up your entire Windows install, apps and all, with just a simple file copy. I loved that part.

            Your Mac mini has the processor to run Parallels, but I doubt the RAM will do it. You have to allocate processor and ram to Parallels.... which needs 4Gb ram minimum.

            I think you're confusing your OS... iOS will not run Alpha Dev. You need a Mac OS... and Parallels.

            There's a bit more to the Mac side than just creating 2 files for PGB (and it's PhoneGap Build... not PhoneGap... the 2 are just different enough to matter). The Apple app testing and submission process is far easier with a Mac. You'll want to use TestFlight and iTunes Connect... which make the whole process much simpler.

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              #21
              Re: Launching Mobile Apps

              Your right - I am confused...and please forgive me if I should know this from reading the directions. I usually read directions as a last resort, lol.
              So to build an iOS application I have to develop it on a mac using AS and create cert files and a provisioning file to upload to phonegap build?

              I thought I just need to create the cert files on the MAC then upload them to PG build which would in turn generate the file I send to APPLE. I am also under the impression I can develop on my current windows machine and upload it to PG build.

              At this point I just want to develop and test on my ipad air2 then once done offer it to my customers.
              What do I really need?
              NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

              Comment


                #22
                Re: Launching Mobile Apps

                Develop your app under Windows. Whether that's on a Windows PC or on a Mac running Parallels (which is running Windows and Alpha) doesn't matter.
                Use the Mac to generate your .p12 file. Upload the .p12 file and Provisioning Profile to PGB. PhoneGap Build has full Doc on this. Alpha (Bob Moore) also put together a guide.

                PhoneGap Build : http://docs.phonegap.com/phonegap-build/signing/ios/
                Alpha Doc : http://documentation.alphasoftware.c...ap.xml#group_1

                You can't wing this stuff... you must read it, understand it, and apply it. Doing anything else will end up in a world of hurt.

                Comment


                  #23
                  Re: Launching Mobile Apps

                  I read it...still feel like I am winging it. My first and most important question is - will I be able to generate the necessary files on the mini mac I purchased? I have a developer account with apple, and my android app is well under way.
                  I have to say - I cannot beleive how easy AS has made this - looks like they did all the hard work making the process a seamless transition from desktop web application to full on disconnected app and I haven't even began to dive into the actual fun stuff of being a native phone application...
                  Cheers!
                  NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

                  Comment


                    #24
                    Re: Launching Mobile Apps

                    I believe your Mac mini will do the job for what's required by PhoneGap Build and iOS app submission.

                    Comment


                      #25
                      Re: Launching Mobile Apps

                      Originally posted by CharlesParker View Post
                      I read it...still feel like I am winging it. My first and most important question is - will I be able to generate the necessary files on the mini mac I purchased? I have a developer account with apple, and my android app is well under way.
                      I have to say - I cannot beleive how easy AS has made this - looks like they did all the hard work making the process a seamless transition from desktop web application to full on disconnected app and I haven't even began to dive into the actual fun stuff of being a native phone application...
                      Cheers!
                      Almost all Macs are quite old models at the moment. At the end of year situation may be different. Check here.

                      You can not build native apps using Phonegap. You build native applications using objective c and swift (iphone) and java (android).

                      Comment


                        #26
                        Re: Launching Mobile Apps

                        Your right, I gotta watch my words!
                        NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

                        Comment


                          #27
                          Re: Launching Mobile Apps

                          Finally got it together with my 65 dollar MacMini2! Had a few hurdles to jump, number one the OS on it only goes to OsX 10.7.5 and the safari web browser that is supported (comes with) is version 5.1 or something and the apple developer website will not generate the certificate because the browser errors stating that the file reader API isn't supported - you'll need to update safari to at least version 6 which you cannot update the safari browser independantly as it is part of OsX and of course this discontinued Mac cannot be upgraded due to hardware issues I imagine.
                          Soooo,
                          Next step was to download Chrome - it supported the file reader API and played nice with the apple developer website. I found it hard to believe Apple wouldn't support it but I guess they're on to better things and figure developers shouldn't be using such old stuff anyways, lol.

                          So anyways, the certificate request - creating the keys, exporting the private key with a password as a P12 and the provisioning file, then uploading all that to PGbuild - and finally downloading the app to my approved device, had a helluva time finding the UDID for that - finally it worked. Got the UDID btw from connecting my ipad to the mac and looking in the info for the mac and it's connected devices. I thought that should be eaiser to do but again, whatever.

                          With all of the preliminary things out of the way, I can now upload my project to PG and install the app on my iPad. Looking back I guess it isn't too hard but criminy - I still cannot see why all the hub-bub, android is so much easier to deal with.

                          So I guess now I can offer some advice for someone trying to do it from the stand point of complete NOOB - btw I haven't read either of the docs in David's post, lol I winged it! I cannot say I recommend that route but that's just my style I learn from doing it wrong I guess. Call it a personality flaw.

                          Really cool though to finally have an icon on my iPad knowing I did it - thanks to AS and all the great folks on here - now on to the fun stuff of trying to incorporate bar code and or qrcode scanning and all the coolness that goes with. I might even go ahead and read the documentation now!
                          NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

                          Comment


                            #28
                            Re: Launching Mobile Apps

                            "I cannot say I recommend that route but that's just my style I learn from doing it wrong I guess. Call it a personality flaw."

                            That's called wisdom.
                            Win 10 64 Development, Win 7 64 WAS 11-1, 2, Win 10 64 AA-1,2, MySql, dbForge Studio The Best MySQL GUI Tool IMHO. http://www.devart.com/dbforge/mysql/studio/

                            Comment


                              #29
                              Re: Launching Mobile Apps

                              Hi Terry
                              Is this what is called progressive web development.

                              Peter G
                              Last edited by gagsoft; 09-19-2017, 02:24 PM.

                              Comment


                                #30
                                Re: Launching Mobile Apps

                                Hi Dave
                                I basically have the same setup only mine is an i5.
                                I am experiencing issues with launching the "Sample And tutorial workspace" demo mobile app.
                                Alpha says it "could not create folder for new workspace.
                                I am trying to establish if it is a Parallels issue or a Windows thing.

                                Any suggestions would be appreciated
                                Peter G
                                Last edited by gagsoft; 09-19-2017, 02:25 PM.

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