(Newcomer) Need advice on which programming language should I use to develop iOS app.

[Starcaller]

Hi there. I'm a newcomer here and this is my first post on this forum. Nice to meet all you guys.

I need to develop an iOS application, and I don't know which programming language should I use. I know that the default way is using iOS SDK and objective-c and such, but I also heard that you can use web standard (HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript) to develop iOS apps too, using Phonegap, Sencha Touch, Nimble Kit, etc.

Let me introduce myself. I'm a graphic / web designer with a degree in Communication Arts (Computer Graphics). I know HTML, CSS, and actionscript 2, which I've learnt all by myself. I have never been trained properly in programming.

Lately I've joined this IT company that provide business application, as a web / graphic designer. My first job is to create their company's website, designing icons for their application, etc. which I have finished without any problem. However, they now ask me to develop an iPad application that would synchronize with their original desktop software, and show business reports retrieved from a remote database. Basically an app that let a business owner or people in management check in company's statistics, approve important documents on iPad, etc.

Apart from designing the user interface (which I have finished already), It's a bit (if not a lot) out of my area of expertise, to design and code an application from scratch, all by myself. Honestly, I don't even know where to start. Though feel quite intimidated and stressed, I wouldn't mind learning new things, so I've been researching a lot about how to develop an iOS application.

It seems that the best way to develop an app is to go native. But I'm not very sure if I can tackle objective-C by myself, since I don't even have programming background to begin with.

There are also quite a few alternatives, such as using web standard to create iOS app. I'm very interested about this method, since I have a background in website. But I'm still not sure about its capability, and I also heard that the apps created this way have slower performance.

The other way is to use Adobe Flash. I know how to use Flash, but I don't know Actionscript 3. I have tried to learn it, but it seems quite complicated and so different from AS2.

I want to ask you guys for opinion which method should I use to create an iPad app based on my background. The logical way seems to be using web standard, but I also want to give the best to the company by developing native, despite my lack of knowledge in objective-c (which, I guess, is not a very smart move).

I know I may sound like an idiot, but I really don't know where else to ask. Thank you in advance for any answers and advices from you guys. Any comment is appreciated. Thanks

Edit : My employer also wants the app to work not only on iOS devices, but also on Android devices and others.

[Nighty]

the answer depends on the app you need to build.
you said that the app is just a weblike app, so i'd suggest you to build a webapp. especially when you got the best knowledge on that.
Use a nice sdk like phonegap or alike, OR build a full webapp - which means: just put a different CSS on your website which will be special for mobile viewers.

I think these options are the best for you since its your field of knowledge, its cross-platform and you don't need too many fancy things.