[ipad] Help on installing apps to multiple iPads

[Vellocet]

Hi

 

Ive got 20 ipads in my school that all need the same apps on them, some requested are paid for apps.

 

I have set up the VPP all well and good, but was wondering, as all the ipads in the school are going to be using the same Apple ID, is there anything stopping us (licensing or otherwise) buying an app once then putting it on all 20 ipads under the same apple id? If this is possible, legally too, then the cost of apps will be rock bottom? Rather than using the VPP and purchasing 20X app price

 

Or have I missed something?

 

Also how are you guys installing apps, do you have 1 account for the school or multiple accounts?

 

Bit confused by it all if Im honest. Ive also setup Meraki and got it working fine, just struggling with what account to use where etc with credit card details attached to it too makes me a bit paranoid

 

PS Been reading the site for years, first time posting but hopefully not the last!

[NerdNamedMatt]

First up, Welcome to EduGeek

 

I'm afraid I won't be an amazing help as far as the legallity goes on the multiple app purchases. I know that apple want you to buy the app more than once for each device but I don't know the exact rules.

I know you can just use one Apple ID across as many devices as you like.

For rolling out apps on multiple devices we currently use a free service called Meraki (Meraki) and that works pretty well. You can also set the permissions / restrictions on the devices from the web interface.

Sorry I can't help further. I'm sure someone else can .

[Vellocet]

Cheers Matt

 

Is there not a 10 device limit per apple id? Interested to know how you guys manage that?

[Sean-OC04]

Cheers Matt

 

Is there not a 10 device limit per apple id? Interested to know how you guys manage that?

 

The 10 device limit ONLY applies when you are buying Apps on those devices, or are used for Automatic downloads

 

iTunes licensing is I admit confusing, however as you are using these devices in an education setting, the rules are 1 App per device and whilst there is nothing stopping you from syncing a single app to all your iPads at some point in the future I can see Apple using some sort of DRM to stop this from happening.

 

VPP....You said you have created an account, you search the store and buy the number of copies you require, Apple email you to confirm your order has been processed, you log back in and download a spreadsheet with App codes which you then use in your Meraki MDM. My knowledge of Meraki's MDM stops here but the Lightspeed MDM we resell can use a free iTunes account to install an Apps pushed out by the Lightspeed MDM.

[Vellocet]

Thanks for that

 

What about free apps? As they arent on the VPP does the 10 device limit apply?

[blunty91]

What I've done today...

 

Got 1 iPad, got the all the settings I wanted on it e.g. the restrictions in the Settings like blocking people installing stuff in the App Store, in-app purchasing, FaceTime, all the apps I wanted on it (including paid ones), wallpaper and lock screen

 

Then went into iTunes, backed that iPad up... Then I got another iPad, restored it so literally like a brand new one, updated iOS, restore the back up I did, and it works - all the settings I put on the first is now on the second, paid apps are working on it too, stuff iMovie and Garageband are opening no problems.

[Boon72]

there is an Apple tool called Apple configurator that can be used to setup iPads and restrict them etc but it is Mac only so far as far as i'm aware

[j224]

there is an Apple tool called Apple configurator that can be used to setup iPads and restrict them etc but it is Mac only so far as far as i'm aware

 

Correct.

[SovietRussia]

What I've done today...

 

Got 1 iPad, got the all the settings I wanted on it e.g. the restrictions in the Settings like blocking people installing stuff in the App Store, in-app purchasing, FaceTime, all the apps I wanted on it (including paid ones), wallpaper and lock screen

 

Then went into iTunes, backed that iPad up... Then I got another iPad, restored it so literally like a brand new one, updated iOS, restore the back up I did, and it works - all the settings I put on the first is now on the second, paid apps are working on it too, stuff iMovie and Garageband are opening no problems.

 

Now there are some issues here, If you have added the restriction to Disable installation of Apps, then you cannot remotely push out apps. Its pretty stupid and hopefully Apple will give us better MDM support in iOS 7

[blunty91]

Now there are some issues here, If you have added the restriction to Disable installation of Apps, then you cannot remotely push out apps. Its pretty stupid and hopefully Apple will give us better MDM support in iOS 7

 

We've only got 15, so it's not that bad at the moment doing it this way, I really should get my head round Apple Configurator tho.

[j224]

We've only got 15, so it's not that bad at the moment doing it this way, I really should get my head round Apple Configurator tho.

 

I can help with Apple Configurator if you like. I've got 16 iPads that we've been using for a couple of months. Setup with Configurator and a sync trolley.

[blunty91]

I can help with Apple Configurator if you like. I've got 16 iPads that we've been using for a couple of months. Setup with Configurator and a sync trolley.

 

This is the thing, we haven't got a sync trolley - will this be a problem? We tried USB hubs (10 port one) but IIRC a power surge error came up when putting more than 3 in...

 

What are paid apps like in Apple Configurator - does it work? We've got Apple ID's set up for the amount of iPads we got, do you use seperate ID's on each iPad or just one?

 

Many thanks for any information mate.

[j224]

This is the thing, we haven't got a sync trolley - will this be a problem? We tried USB hubs (10 port one) but IIRC a power surge error came up when putting more than 3 in...

 

What are paid apps like in Apple Configurator - does it work? We've got Apple ID's set up for the amount of iPads we got, do you use seperate ID's on each iPad or just one?

 

Many thanks for any information mate.

 

You don't need a trolley, it's just helpful to have one if you want to send apps/settings to all of them at once, or charge them all at the same time.

 

You can still use Apple Configurator if you have a Mac (running OSX Lion) but you'll obviously need to attach the iPads one by one.

 

Paid apps work fine. You just log in to the Volume License website, search for the app you want and enter the quantity (20 or more gets you a 50% discount so it's cheaper to buy 20 than it is to buy 15- strange but true!) Download the spreadsheet with the codes, use one code to redeem in iTunes (it automatically starts downloading the app), re-download the spreadsheet to ensure you regain that code, import that app and spreadsheet into Configurator.

 

I just use 1 Apple ID for all iPads. Configurator recognises each device and assigns one code to it.

[blunty91]

You don't need a trolley, it's just helpful to have one if you want to send apps/settings to all of them at once, or charge them all at the same time.

 

You can still use Apple Configurator if you have a Mac (running OSX Lion) but you'll obviously need to attach the iPads one by one.

 

Paid apps work fine. You just log in to the Volume License website, search for the app you want and enter the quantity (20 or more gets you a 50% discount so it's cheaper to buy 20 than it is to buy 15- strange but true!) Download the spreadsheet with the codes, use one code to redeem in iTunes (it automatically starts downloading the app), re-download the spreadsheet to ensure you regain that code, import that app and spreadsheet into Configurator.

 

I just use 1 Apple ID for all iPads. Configurator recognises each device and assigns one code to it.

 

We've got VPP but didn't know about importing the spreadsheet into Configurator, will check that out now I know that!

 

Many thanks.

[blunty91]

Imported an app I brought a couple of weeks ago with 3 codes on the spreadsheet and it worked!

 

The other two main apps we brought without VPP were iMovie and Garageband, there is no way we can now put them in Apple Configurator is there?

[j224]

Imported an app I brought a couple of weeks ago with 3 codes on the spreadsheet and it worked!

 

The other two main apps we brought without VPP were iMovie and Garageband, there is no way we can now put them in Apple Configurator is there?

 

I'm pretty certain you can't. As soon as you import the app into Configurator it will ask for the codes, or else it won't allow it to be sent to any devices. If you've only bought one copy of each app then that's not a huge problem (both costing £2.99 each).

 

However, if you've already bought 15 copies of iMovie and Garageband and they're installed on the iPads, make sure you go to the Configurator preferences and uncheck the option that says "Remove apps and profiles Configurator did not install" before you connect the iPads. I've not tried this myself as I have used Configurator to install everything but in theory it should work.

[iom100]

Merkai sent me this link to a whitepaper this week, it might be helpful: http://www.meraki.com/lib/pdf/meraki_whitepaper_ios.pdf

 

Whilst it's mainly about Meraki it covers some of the background and ins and outs of Apple Configurator (supervision etc) in quite a helpful way.

[Darylrese]

We purchased a MAC Mini in the end and used Apple Configurator which has worked well for deploying apps and preparing the ipads / naming them / inserting wifi settings / setting restrictions etc

 

The only thing its lacking is the ability to deploy ibooks which is a real pain. US have the ability to buy books on the VPP but we don't yet in the UK

 

I phoned Apple and they said only 5 devices can use the same apple ID so if you have gone down the route of setting up multiple ipads with the same account you may have done so against the terms and conditions of itunes. Don't worry if you have, we did this at first then had to change it...they don't make it very clear online!

 

You need:

 

- A MAC Device (MAC Mini, iMAC, MACBOOK)

 

- Sign up for a VPP license for your school

 

- School Credit Card

 

 

Its very simple to use once you get the hang of it. We started getting ipads through the door quickly as the new head loves them, we created multiple Apple ID's, and bought multiple app store vouchers but it was a nightmare and using the configurator and VPP is so much easier!

 

I'd strongly suggest bidding for a MAC mini and a HDMI monitor (cheapest option) so that you can setup multiple ipads the same across the school without doing tonnes of manual work.

 

We tried meraki without much success, they did send me a guide for education deployment the other day but the service is blocked by our council and is an ongoing battle so went down the MAC route and no regrets. I know very little about MAC's too so you don't need to have much knowledge to use it.

 

We can only prepare 2 ipads at a time because the MAC mini only has 4 USB ports (2 used for keyboard and mouse) but we will buy a HUB at some point to connect more up.

 

Importing a spreadsheet of VPP codes is very easy indeed, buy the apps from the educational store, they send you a spreadhseet of codes, download the app on itunes on the MAC, add the app to configurator and then it comes up with a warning saying its a paid app then a buttom appears to import the spreadsheet. Put it on a USB, import it to configurator and it will then allow however many codes you bought to be distributed. You must buy one more than you need so that you can download a copy in itunes on the server to get it into configurator. So if you have 20 ipads that need an app, you must purchase 21 i believe.

 

Pop me a PM if you need any help.

Edited March 14, 2013 by Darylrese

[JJonas]

Is the a complete beginners guide to setting this all up?

 

We have our first iPad arriving today and very little experience of setting up or using them.

 

We have recently started using Meraki.

 

What type of Apple account do we need to set up? I have my own personal one but I dont want to use that. Do we just set up another one or is there special schools account?

 

Im very aware that it looks like we could set something up that would work for a few iPads but that solution might not be scalable to multiple classroom quantities of iPads.

 

Ideally we would like to do this for as little money as possible.

 

thanks in advance

[Darylrese]

I was in the same position as you a few months ago mate, do you happen to have a MAC? MAC Mini, IMac, MACBook etc will do

[JJonas]

No MACs anywhere in this school.

 

How much will I be able to do with just Meraki?

Edited March 20, 2013 by JJonas

[Darylrese]

Your going to find it really hard to deploy ipads on a larger scale than say 10 as you need Apple Configurator ideally.

 

I have tried Meraki without much luck! We invested in a MAC Mini and using Apple Configurator its quite straight froward once you have the hang of it.

 

You will need to create a master Apple ID account for the school then use that to sign up for a volume license (free of charge)

 

http://www.apple.com/uk/education/volume-purchase-program/

 

Once that's actived you can buy apps at a reduced cost in the quantity needed and import them into apple configurator.

 

Without this, you would need to create an Apple ID, purchase an itunes gift voucher and then put that account onto 5 ipads and then create another, buy another voucher and do the next 5 etc all manually. Meraki may give an alternative solution but we tried getting Meraki to work aswell as iphone conifgurator for windows both without much luck.

Edited March 20, 2013 by Darylrese

[JJonas]

How are you handling Office documents and accessing files in the users existing home areas?

[Darylrese]

We arn't, I don't think its possible.

 

The only way would be to create a document on the ipad in pages, save it to googledrive / dropbox etc then log in on the windows pc and download it or visa versa. You cant integrate the ipad into your users documents / profiles on the windows network that i know of.

 

There's plenty of things ipads are no good for a documents is one of the biggest things. They really arn't the way forward in my eyes.

 

Be warned also ibooks are a royal pain in the butt if you want to roll out on a larger scale.

Edited March 20, 2013 by Darylrese

[blunty91]

How are you handling Office documents and accessing files in the users existing home areas?

 

Citrix Receiver at the moment, works OK to be honest. Not great, but kids can access work and Office within one app.