Impero - iPad control

[rpettit]

Does anyone know if the new Impero software coming in the Autumn term will be able to screenshot keywords and upload them to the server or is it simply (and I don't really mean simply) able to live view an iPad screen.

 

From a protection point of view I would like to be able to see captured screenshots - otherwise it is luck of the draw if you catch someone doing something they shouldn't...

[steveg]

I believe it does, but only from within Impero apps - they have their own browser, so if you force the use of that for internet then it will. As far as I know it wont work within other apps.

 

Steve

[GRitchie]

The Impero for iOS looks interesting.

I've downloaded and trialed it but it seems like their 'Impero' application has to be open (can be in the background) for it to even work at all.

Which doesn't seem sensible, as the students will just close it?

 

As for keyword detection, I'm not 100% - but I do know you can manually screenshot, view running apps and view live screen

[InterwebsGuy]

The Impero for iOS looks interesting.

I've downloaded and trialed it but it seems like their 'Impero' application has to be open (can be in the background) for it to even work at all.

Which doesn't seem sensible, as the students will just close it?

I said exactly this to Impero at Bett. They were pretty accepting that this is a weak point and as it is at the moment, not much that can be done about this because of iOS restrictions.

[GRitchie]

True - but from what I've heard, they've been working with Apple to get the application working?

You'd think they'd allow them to implement it as a hidden service, configured by a password protected entry within 'Settings'?

 

Or am I think too straight forward there... Haha!

[RichCowell]

I've got it here, but I've not had chance to really have a look at it yet...

 

The app you need to install to be able to see the screens remotely etc. isn't the one in the App Store - there's a different one to be downloaded and pushed out via your MDM solution...

[InterwebsGuy]

True - but from what I've heard, they've been working with Apple to get the application working?

You'd think they'd allow them to implement it as a hidden service, configured by a password protected entry within 'Settings'?

Let's just get rid of the Settings app altogether? Wishful thinking perhaps, I think. :-)

 

Hopefully they can find a solution to that, we could really use Impero on the iPads, as they are number one for messing around on due to the lack of monitor-ability.

[RichCowell]

incidentally, Impero will be at the next NW ANME meeting on the 25th June if any members want to speak to them directly, or face to face with other Impero users... (Free to join, free to attend - Association of Network Managers in Education ANME)

[Edu-IT]

If they do explain more, can somebody report back?

[DrCheese]

True - but from what I've heard, they've been working with Apple to get the application working?

 

Apple will never ever allow that. I would bet money on it

[GRitchie]

Apple will never ever allow that. I would bet money on it

 

I wouldn't be so certain. Apple are really big on getting iPads etc. into education, and this could be a project that (who knows) they might invest in themselves!

Only time (and Impero) will tell though...

[DrCheese]

But to record a screen like that would require root level access, something Apple don't even give their own apps anymore

[Garacesh]

incidentally, Impero will be at the next NW ANME meeting on the 25th June if any members want to speak to them directly, or face to face with other Impero users... (Free to join, free to attend - Association of Network Managers in Education ANME)

 

If anybody does did go to this, can they get back to us with what they said?

 

We've tried NetSupport's app and it doesn't seem to be amazingly useful. Apparently you can lock down what 'room' they're in and password protect the settings, which is good, but the students can 'leave' the room as-is. I'm under the impression this is something Apple have pushed and there's no way to make an up unclosable/always open.

Edited June 30, 2015 by Garacesh

[smithson83]

@RichCowell How did the meeting go, did anything "interesting" come up with regards to Impero and iPads etc

[Techie2000]

When I asked the Impero rep at the ANME meeting - they said that they had high hopes for the new app and features upgrade which will hopefully be available for the next academic year (September onwards) - one of key features was the ability to monitor the iPads activity through Impero's own browser.

 

I will definitely be trialling this to find out more as I'm still a little dubious about when students learn to simply open Safari opposed to the Impero browser. There wasn't much mention as to whether or not you could restrict other iPad aspects such as the Settings menu..

[Garacesh]

This is something I'm concerned about, too.. You can't change an iPad's default software, annoying, and you also (to the best of my knowledge) hide apps so they can't be accessed. So it seems that due to Apple's totally locked-down-ness, there's not a whole lot we can do.

 

Apparently iOS 9 looks a bit more promising, though, and should contain more enterprise management features, as well as a new version of Configurator. So still worth keeping an eye on.

[smithson83]

You can disable Safari in Apple Config, then they would have to use the Impero Browser to use the web, providing you disable installing apps...

[Garacesh]

You can? I don't see an option for that, only to install/uninstall third-party apps that have been downloaded.

 

Or is it a setting that's part of profiles?

[smithson83]

Apple Config > Profiles > Restrictions > Apps > "Allow Use of Safari"

[RichCowell]

@RichCowell How did the meeting go, did anything "interesting" come up with regards to Impero and iPads etc

 

See @Techie2000's reply - I'm more and more interested and intrigued by their plans for iPad features, so really looking forward to seeing them in action...

 

When I asked the Impero rep at the ANME meeting - they said that they had high hopes for the new app and features upgrade which will hopefully be available for the next academic year (September onwards) - one of key features was the ability to monitor the iPads activity through Impero's own browser.

 

I will definitely be trialling this to find out more as I'm still a little dubious about when students learn to simply open Safari opposed to the Impero browser. There wasn't much mention as to whether or not you could restrict other iPad aspects such as the Settings menu..

 

If you've not had a quote already, drop me an email when you're at that stage (or if your quote is 3+ months old)...

[smithson83]

Has anything come to light with regards to the new Impero iOS App. Tried looking online, but their portal is down, as has been for quite sometime.

[RichCowell]

If you email [email protected] they'll be able to help you without the portal (I prefer to go there directly too, so hoping it'll be back up soon)... The iOS app needs to be downloaded and distributed via MDM, can't remember where I downloaded it from but if that's on the portal too they may have to email it etc.

[smithson83]

@RichCowell Cheers, have dropped them a line, see what they say

[robk]

I think the impero app is now in the app store. Saw a demo at Impero this morning looks good. There are limitations as already mentioned in this thread, but screen recording and mirroring to another device seems possible. Suggest contacting support for more details.

[Edu-IT]

I don't think the one in the store is the latest version.

 

The store has 1.1.2 and i have 1.1.8 which I got a few months ago direct from Impero.

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/network-classroom-management/148223-how-install-impero-via-apple-configurator.html

Edited September 25, 2015 by Edu-IT