I don't own a Mac, but would like to get started iPhone/iPad development using Objective-C.<p>Is there any online tools which lets me submit code in Obj-C and which compiles and displays the app on a simulator?<p>Please do share if you have any other suggestions on the easiest way to get started.
Apple does not support any development environment other than XCode on an Intel Mac.<p>Thus, if you want to do Objective-C development, your best bet is to get your hands on a Mac. Barring that, you could rig up Hackintosh, or Hackintosh VM in VMWare/Virtualbox.<p>If you are willing to consider some zanier options, there's a open source project that's attempting to create a portable iPhone toolchain: <a href="http://code.google.com/p/iphone-dev/" rel="nofollow">http://code.google.com/p/iphone-dev/</a>.<p>If you're willing to forgo Objective-C, and try cross-compiled development, there's stuff like PhoneGap, xmlvm, etc.
Check out:<p>It might make more sense to buy your own Mac, after all.
I initially assumed this service rented Mac Minis.<p>"We are a mac mini colocation service. In other words, we place your Mac mini in a high-end data center where you can use it as a server. We provide you with a menu of services including redundant very high speed internet connections, remote control electrical power, a highly secure location to house your Mac mini, and remote human hands."<p><a href="http://www.macminicolo.net/" rel="nofollow">http://www.macminicolo.net/</a>
You can get a Mac Mini for $599, hook it to your network, and access it using logmein.com or some other remote access method. That's what I did to get started, and it's worked very well.