Pushing/controlling Apps from Win Store - in School

[adamj84]

Hey guys! I'm having a real headache when it comes to setting up a bunch of new Surfaces for our school. I pleased to get them instead of iPads (for ease of setup) and it's not exactly going to plan.

 

I've setup Azure AD - though haven't yet being able to find a 'step-by-step' way of changing the Azure user names to the users email addresses?

 

Anyway, the big, major issue I need help on though, which I am sure most will know all about is the store in Win 10.

 

The devices are to be used by multiple users - not 1:1. So from what I've read in different places is that if we have SCCM (we are licensed but not setup for it yet!) we can push the apps to the devices, but the users need to actually install the apps afterwards. Every, single, user... I can't see our primary school kids doing this..!?

 

Please, I beg, tell me I've missed something, and there is a simple way of installing a set of apps - (not just desktop apps) and having them install for all users on a device? I would have liked the teachers to be able to download and install apps for all users themselves, perhaps to test things before giving me the nod to install on them all?

 

Plead complete. Throw me to the fire.

 

Thanks,

Adam

[Arthur]

You might need to wait until the Windows Store for Business is available later this year.

 

http://blogs.windows.com/business/2014/11/20/windows-10-a-store-thats-ready-for-business

 

With Windows 10, organizations will also be able to fully control Windows Store features and distribution using System Center Configuration Manager, Microsoft Intune or via mobile device management (MDM) services. This includes the ability to install and uninstall apps, control app updates and manage app licenses. Because the app licenses acquired through the Store portal belong to the organization, we’ll provide capabilities for organizations to reassign those licenses as needed. We also recognize that some organizations need to install apps on devices that do not have Internet access. Organizations will be able to download the app installation files from the Store portal and include them in custom Windows images, deploy them in run-time provisioning packages or automatically install them from an on-premises server using System Center Configuration Manager or MDM services.

[adamj84]

Until the time comes as to when that system is released, I guess a way to work this temporarily would be to have only 1 Microsoft account, for use with the store, by everyone on the tablets - works on 85? devices I think I heard. So the question would be, is there a way, via gp? that the details or just the username can be saved for each user that logs onto the Surface device?

[Arthur]

works on 85 devices I think I heard.

Only 10 unfortunately.

 

http://windowscentral.com/windows-10-store-apps-will-be-limited-10-device-installs-same-microsoft-account

[adamj84]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! but seriously, what the heck is every other school/organization doing to distribute Windows Store apps??

[3s-gtech]

I suspect the great majority either use them 1:1 or don't bother with Store apps at all.

[Arthur]

don't bother with Store apps at all.

Yeah. Without the web-based Windows Store and the ability to distribute the apps & manage the licenses what's the point!

 

Overview of Windows 10 for Education / Using the Business Store Portal with Windows 10 Devices

 

http://i.imgur.com/TOC4Mgg.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/DRWKzmh.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/zHtKJHT.jpg

[rinzwind]

Windows Apps are horrible to manage. You simply cant and I dont expect much of it because MS already had a long time to figure things out and think it through... Windows 8. There are some arcane Powershell commands available but these dont help much. You can lurk around in windows. C:\program files\windowsapps contains your apps, even if you delete them (the default ones are still there at least). You cant go into the root folder. Beyond me why they decided to block it because a regular user still has to have access to the sub folders and you can if you know the path. What is wrong with simple copy and past package deployment? For once ms could made things simple but just didnt. Same as with start menu layouts. We have found some workarounds but stilll.Windows seems more and more a personal OS. A BYOD OS.

[annenap]

Any chance that three months later there is a happy ending to this story? I'm in a similar situation

[CoolCanuck]

I would check out this. I am not an IT pro (yet), but it seems like it's on the right track.

 

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt269549(v=vs.85).aspx

 

Sideload settings are found under the Settings app (not control panel) > Update & Security > For developers > "( * ) Sideload Apps"

 

Best of luck!