How do you create iOS virtual machines?

[redesigned]

On the VMWare Fusion 4 page it says:

"VMware Fusion 4 is the best way to develop and test new applications for the Mac and iOS."

(http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/migrate.html)

Yet, I cannot for the life of me figure out how one would create iOS virtual machines.

Wouldn't it need to virtually emulate the entire A4 processor in order to run any iOS?

Is this just a typo on the website, or am I missing something?

Thanks,

Josh

[weinstein5 · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Community - As far as I know IOS will not run on x86 architecture  so you would note be able to create a virtual IOS machine - I think you would have to treat it as if you were developing on a regular MAC or Windows machine -

[redesigned]

Yeah, I figured it would have to be a full emulation stack if it supported testing iOS apps like the website stated.  I guess that was just a typo on their website, they probably meant OS X.

Too bad, I would have really liked to be able to test iOS apps on set of virtual devices and various versions of the iOS.  I have the latest iPad and iPhone, running the latest iOS, but that doesn't really help test compatibility with older devices and iOS versions.

*sighs*

Well thanks for answering my question, I'll keep dreaming of a future where this is possible.

-Josh

[redesigned]

Well, you might not be able to create iOS Virtual Machines, but...

creating Android Icecream Sandwich machines is a snap.

Have everything working except for the wifi, still working on that bit.

[SvenGus]

Anyway, it would be great if eventually one could emulate the iOS on Intel hardware; and even better if an iPad could also run Windows.

It was indeed possibile in the PowerPC times (PPC Macs running x86 Windows through emulation), so why not in the future?

Who knows...

[Technogeezer]

You develop and test iOS applications on a OS X platform using Apple's Xcode development platform. Xcode provides the necessary iOS emulator. Either install Xcode on your Mac directly, or in an OS X virtual machine.

[SvenGus]

Yes, Xcode's iOS Simulator is of course the standard way to go (had forgotten about that option)...

BTW, in the new Xcode 4.3 it is located at

/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/Applications/iPhone\ Simulator.app

[ColoradoMarmot]

Apple's EULA won't allow it.

[redesigned]

I *WISH* the iOS simulator wasn't so crippled, so many things you can't really do or test with it.

Also, the inability to test different iOS versions, save and roll back state, etc. etc. etc. really blows.

It is a fancy toy good for simple dev work and not much else.

To be fair the emulator that is bundled with the android sdk is worse, but at least you can run android in a real vmware machine with all the associated benifits.

This question originated not because I was unaware of the existing tools apple provided with xcode, but rather because the vmware fusion page had misleading information touting it as the best way to develop iOS apps.  It made is seem like you could somehow run or do something with iOS and vmware.  Turns out you can't and they later fixed the wording on that page.  Just a misunderstanding due to marketing copy.  Doesn't mean a guy can't wish...lol.

In the post pc era, being able to vitrually emulate post pc devices and their os for development is crucial, such a platform will be the future of vitrulization technology.

[redesigned]

The EULA really has nothing to do with this.  The ability to emulate the A4 or A5 processor and/or iPhone/iPad hardware is not baked into vmware.

[alex17pat]

One of the Best iOS Emulators which I know are

1. Ipadian
2. SmartFace
3. Appetize.Io
4. AIR Iphone
5. Xamarin Testflight

source:- http://merabheja.com/ios-emulators-for-windows/

[ColoradoMarmot]

Apple's iOS EULA only allows running it on native Apple hardware.  That's exactly the reason why Fusion - and no other legitimate company - ever has done it.