Howto start writing iPad applications?

Question

I know Objective-C from Desktop Apple Programming.

But i want to jump on the iPad bandwagon and start developing some small edutainment applets.

Is the iPad API the same as iPhone just with more power? Do i need to join the iPhone developer program and does it still start with $100.

Is there any iPad emulator yet?

Answer 1

Join the Developer Program and pay the $99. You will then have access to all the tools you need to get code running on the iPhone, iPod and iPad. There is no iPad hardware yet but you can run applications in the Simulator on your Mac to start with.

Answer 2

Is the iPad API the same as iPhone just with more power?

I think it's basically the same thing. There may be some differences as far as laying out a UI goes, but otherwise I think they're pretty much identical. According to the iPad SDK page, you build against the iPhone SDK.

Do i need to join the iPhone developer program and does it still start with $100.

Yes (to both queries).

Is there any iPad emulator yet?

Yes, it is available with the SDK (similarly to the iPhone emulator that ships with the SDK).

Answer 3

There is a simulator (not the same thing as an emulator - same situation as with the iPhone there).

Yes, you'll need to join the dev program - but you can sign up for free if you jsut want to download and play with the SDK and simlator.

The APIs are essentially a slight superset of the iPhone SDKs (it's the same platform, just that the iPad obviously has some hardware differences, and this has also lead to some software metaphor differences).

I can't say much more due to the NDA, but as you can get the SDK and docs yourself for free why not just go and download it now?