Apple Configurator 2...?

[will2102]

do i have to buy the FREE app throughout the VPP also what about all my previous purchased apps they are VPP spreadsheets ??

[Garacesh]

Yes. Apps that you've previously obtained (via paying for or just being free) on another account aren't available for VPP. You'll need to repurchase them. Free apps also require 'purchasing' but are still free. It's just for assigning the licenses I guess.

 

The point of VPP isn't "to buy apps in bulk" it's to get apps that don't require an Apple ID (for the most part, I'd assume there are some apps that still do.) The fact that some apps cost money and other's don't is just part of the app store in general.

 

I don't know what you mean by VPP spreadsheets, sorry.

[Bev]

do i have to buy the FREE app throughout the VPP also what about all my previous purchased apps they are VPP spreadsheets ??

 

Yes, and what confused me is you have to buy them in the VPP website. I bought them through Meraki, which has my VPP details, but that didn't work. I had to login to the VPP website, and buy 100 copies of each free app. No charge obviously, but you have to go through the motions.

 

There is a way to convert the spreadsheets but I haven't tried that yet. I'm using hte latest version of Meraki but with less than 100 ipads, and I can import a VPP Spreadsheet. I might try that with one of our less popular apps incase it all goes pear shaped....

 

I'm a little worried about GarageBand, which I think when we bought it was free but then we had to pay for an in-app purchase to unlock it. It looks like it's not £3.99 with no in-app purchase. So I don't really want to have to rebuy it .

Edited November 20, 2015 by Bev

[donkeymusic]

The only issue i seem to be having with AC2 is that when adding apps to multiple devices, bit it one app or many apps, it fails. However if i try the same with one iPad and push one or many apps this still isnt consistent and can fail. both events when tried multiple times can possible work.

 

Not sure if anyway has any solutions for that

[Garacesh]

Nope, I fight with that here, too. I've resigned myself to considering it "a feature" and written it into my documentation.

 

• Apps are prone to sporadic failure during assignment.

o If app deployment fails, reapplying the blueprint can often result in a success even though nothing had changed. The cause of these failures is unknown.

[Arreks]

AC2 is so awful that I don't even bother using it anymore

[_techie_]

Hi.

I had this. It was down to having lockdown in the configuration profile that doesn't allow the name to be changed.

If you temporarily remove the profile, from a specific iPad, does it work? Did for me :-)

[Garacesh]

If you temporarily remove the profile, from a specific iPad, does it work? Did for me :-)

 

Yes. The "Device cannot change name" (or whatever it's called) flag is absolute. Whilst it is True/1/whatever, not even Configurator can change the name. It was a bit annoying to figure out, but I just name them before I push out the profiles now.

[Garacesh]

Anyone gotten Microsoft Excel showing up in Configurator? Word, Powerpoint and OneDrive are all there, but not Excel.

Derp. It hasn't finished generating my licenses yet.

Edited December 2, 2015 by Garacesh

[Fayj]

I've read all 16 pages. 3 questions I did not find answers for:

1. VPP isn't an option for me (controlled by finance blah blah don't advise me to try harder). All apps request iTunes info. If I enter it, will I have to do it every time or one and done?

2. If I have 7 carts, can I name devices on one cart, then push blue print to that cart, lather rinse repeat? Or do I have to name all 7 carts, then push blue print to all 7 carts?

3. Will the automatic updating of apps work without using VPP?

[Garacesh]

1. VPP isn't an option for me (controlled by finance blah blah don't advise me to try harder). All apps request iTunes info. If I enter it, will I have to do it every time or one and done?

No idea. Unfortunately, try harder is the only answer I can offer. Apps purchased through VPP do not require Apple ID's and as such are really what you want to be doing.

I don't know how, but it's possible to set up a VPP account without a credit card attached and only 'purchase' licenses for free apps. The IT Manager here set that up.

You do not want to open up your iPads to using Apple ID's as this allows for other potentially-falling-afoul-of-child-safety uses, such as photo backups/iCloud etc.

 

2. If I have 7 carts, can I name devices on one cart, then push blue print to that cart, lather rinse repeat? Or do I have to name all 7 carts, then push blue print to all 7 carts?

I do my sets one at a time, but I'm not 100% sure what you're asking. I name my sets Dept-iPad01 through Dept-iPad16. If they have two sets, they get Dept1-iPad01-16 and Dept2-iPad01-16.

 

3. Will the automatic updating of apps work without using VPP?

AFAIK, automatic updating of anything won't work without some form of MDM. I may be wrong. We just hook our iPads back up to the Configurator MacBook and update them that way. I know this isn't answering your question but if nothing else it gives you an alternative method.

[tmoon-mint]

1. VPP isn't an option for me (controlled by finance blah blah don't advise me to try harder). All apps request iTunes info. If I enter it, will I have to do it every time or one and done?

 

If you log your devices into the Apple ID, you wont get the prompt anymore. This will be a manual process of going into the settings app and logging in.

 

2. If I have 7 carts, can I name devices on one cart, then push blue print to that cart, lather rinse repeat? Or do I have to name all 7 carts, then push blue print to all 7 carts?

 

I would create 7 different blueprints, each with a different naming convention for the carts.

 

3. Will the automatic updating of apps work without using VPP?

 

I havent tested this, but there is an automatic update option in the settings app, worth a try.

[stevewill6]

Hi, Just want to thank every one here as i have gone from pulling my hair out to having semi-manageable ipad set up. Only problem i am having is the installing of apps but i can manage with that for now.

 

With regards to VPP account I had to set up a new account and i have not assigned a credit card to the account (School dont have one) if we need to purchase apps we will be purchasing VPP "Gift cards"

[Garacesh]

semi-manageable

I think that's the best you can hope for in its current state.

 

With regards to VPP account I had to set up a new account and i have not assigned a credit card to the account (School dont have one) if we need to purchase apps we will be purchasing VPP "Gift cards"

Those are a thing? Oh, thank $deity. We've done the same, no credit card, and a few departments have asked about paid-for apps.

[stevewill6]

I am not 100% sure, but i do recall a email from our LEA saying we can buy them. Also on the VPP account it says something like redeem Credit.

[tmoon-mint]

Yes I believe Apple resellers can provide you with VPP store credit. Last time I had a school that didnt have a credit card I used KRCS.

[Brimstone]

Most Apple Education Solution Experts (ASE's) can offer schools VPP credit, they just quote the amount you need for paid for apps via VPP. The reseller will need your VPP account details, once processed Apple will email you a credit cert which you download and add to your VPP account.

 

- - - Updated - - -

[RichardHarvey]

I have used Solutions Inc, Academia and Misco for VPP Credit in the past, all through Purchase Order as some schools don't have credit card. They will need the VPP email account details. It takes a few business days for Apple to sort it, but not too long. It took a few days for us to realise, but we actually needed to log in to the email account of the VPP and follow steps in the email sent from Apple - they don't just add the credit automatically.

[dry]

Can anyone confirm that as an 'administrator' on a VPP account you can't purchase paid-for apps unless a credit card (or as stated above, VPP credit) is linked to the account?

 

We've had a massive headache setting up a VPP account as our BM is (quite rightly) hesitant to give me (who doesn't have control of the budget) ability to purchase apps without going through the normal school purchase procedure- which she's concerned adding me as an 'administrator' in VPP is going to do.

 

Thanks.

[Homer]

Confirmed - you need to have a CC on file to purchase apps OR you can purchase VPP credit through an authorised reseller and Apply it to the account this way.

 

This way she has to sign off the purchase of the credit and then you can show what it is being used for in the account history

[RichardHarvey]

Confirmed - you need to have a CC on file to purchase apps OR you can purchase VPP credit through an authorised reseller and Apply it to the account this way.

 

This way she has to sign off the purchase of the credit and then you can show what it is being used for in the account history

 

 

Seconded! Couldn't have explained it better myself.

[dry]

Seconded! Couldn't have explained it better myself.

 

Confirmed - you need to have a CC on file to purchase apps OR you can purchase VPP credit through an authorised reseller and Apply it to the account this way.

 

This way she has to sign off the purchase of the credit and then you can show what it is being used for in the account history

Thanks both. Should hopefully be able to get the ball rolling now and finally get the iPads updated!

[Pyroman]

Dragging this thread up, Has anyone migrated from redeemable codes in AC1.x to managed distribution in AC2? It looks as though any codes you haven't redeemed get deleted and lost forever so if we have any spare codes do I just need to get a stack of iPads and install all of the apps on all the ipads to use all the codes?

 

Once I've done the migration and all of my ipads have all of the apps how do the codes get back into AC2 so I can start with blueprints etc?

 

Cheers

[Joanne]

from what I've read @Pyroman you have to rebuy your apps. Which makes me think... well if I can get it working without doing that... should I? (still using 1 itunes account for the lot - not signed in with VPP on apple config.) Think I'll bite the bullet and start afresh in summer though.

[Pyroman]

from what I've read @Pyroman you have to rebuy your apps. Which makes me think... well if I can get it working without doing that... should I? (still using 1 itunes account for the lot - not signed in with VPP on apple config.) Think I'll bite the bullet and start afresh in summer though.

 

You're kidding?! We have over a grands worth of apps redeemed on iPads surely Apple aren't that stupid to make you re-buy everything. They've all been bought using a VPP account and installed on supervised devices (no individual Apple IDs).