[DUG] iPad App development

[Robert Martin]

Hi

We have a request for an iPad app (our first).  As an owner of XE2 I 
believe we have the tools for this.  However I do have some question...

1) Is Mac OS required.   I understand there is an emulator to test apps 
but do we actually need to buy a Mac to do this work? (would add a 
significant cost to the project).

2) What database would we use, our data is in Firebird but I believe 
their is no embedded FB for IOS.  Is there a standard / built in DB that 
we would use and populate data from say XML recieved via Http?

3)  I assume I can use http(s) for communication, can I also use FTP?  
What components would I use (Indy ?)

4) what about deployment?  I have used App store but how do we ship out 
our app, we wouldn't really want to put it out on app store.

5) what about updates ?

Does anybody have any recommended sites?

Thanks
Rob


p.s. yes I have only just started looking into this !