iOS app development tidbits

iOS supports directly access of video hardware codec (e.g. H.264/H.265 codec).  It is through AV Foundation and Video Toolbox. It works for iOS 8.0 (released in 2014) and above.   There are detailed step-by-step instructions. 

One needs a Mac machine to run Xcode to test iOS apps.  iMac or MacBook Pro are appropriate for app development.  MacBook Air, MacBook or Mac mini would be struggling, and Maac Pro or iMac Pro would be overkill.