Home Access Plus+ iOS App - Request For Testers

[Stuajnht]

Hi all,

 

Over the last few months I've been working on creating an iOS app for Home Access Plus+, mostly in part due to staff asking how to get their files off the devices (we already had HAP+ set up, why look for anything else?). While the web interface is good, trying to get a class full of 7 year olds to use it is a little bit difficult. Although there's still a number of features to be included, logging in, browsing files and up/downloading them is working well. The project is located here if you want to take a look: https://github.com/stuajnht/HAP-for-iOS

 

Sample screenshots from the app can be found here: https://goo.gl/photos/6Ptp4J1woojWuUik9, and a YouTube demo is here:

 

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the app is now in a stable enough state that it's available for testing through Apple's TestFlight program (https://developer.apple.com/testflight). If anyone out there would like to participate in the testing, offer feedback and see what you can break, please PM me and I'll pass on more details (namely I'll need an email address of some sort to send the initial instructions over (doesn't have to be your Apple ID, just an account to send stuff to) - I'm not aware of a way to send emails directly to Edugeek accounts, sorry).

 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

Update: 2017-06-01

The App is now available from the App Store. Please see this post for more information: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/home-access-plus/164699-home-access-plus-ios-app-request-testers-2.html#post1581846

Edited June 1, 2017 by Stuajnht
Added link to App Store notification post

[NokiX]

PM Sent

[Edu-IT]

Very impressive! Does it work with the likes of iMovie and GarageBand too?

[Stuajnht]

Very impressive! Does it work with the likes of iMovie and GarageBand too?

 

In theory, yes. However some movies exported from iMovie do not seem to upload properly, whereas videos saved to the video library and uploaded that way work. I haven't tried with GarageBand yet.

[DPenfold]

May sign up to this once we get our own HAP up and running etc. however just quick question will there be options such as blocking students to login via the app, normal via web browser is fine but app may open up few issues if we give them access via the app however for tutors use it can prove useful and remove the need for apps such dropbox and one drive

[Stuajnht]

May sign up to this once we get our own HAP up and running etc. however just quick question will there be options such as blocking students to login via the app, normal via web browser is fine but app may open up few issues if we give them access via the app however for tutors use it can prove useful and remove the need for apps such dropbox and one drive

 

Currently if a student is blocked (by modifying line 40 in the web.config file, steps here: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/home-access-plus/161983-excluding-users-hap-access.html) then the app logs them in but doesn't load any drives. I'll have a look at trying to stop them logging in for the next test version.

[nickbro]

@Stuajnht it'll be an API limitation on that one, I don't think the login API checks that line in the web.config

[DPenfold]

Student would have access to HAP+ (limited access; email and Drives) but I was thinking more just the app it self not allowing students to login to HAP+.

 

Also another thing brought up when discussing the idea of using the app as a replacement for Dropbox/One Drive? (using a fixed login and synced with folders/photos on the iPad etc.)

 

We had Dropbox on our iPads originally so if students would take photos of their work and the tutors could access the folder on the network (after it was all synced up etc.) however the apps has since failed and we are trying to use One Drive as an alternative however this is becoming little tricky, as it's an online storage so to speak and we use via Office 365.

 

If we could potentially replace Dropbox and One Drive Apps with a HAP+ app this would be great, we could have it with a default login when we loan the devices out but staff could potentially use their login details for easier use (I understand that we would need to manually change this back when devices are returned).

[Stuajnht]

@nickbro Thanks for letting me know. I thought that may be the case, but you've saved me from having to check.

@DPenfold Thanks for clarifying. It sounds like you're trying to do something that we'll need to do here for the iPads for the little people (primary years), where to save time the app will always log in to the same account.

 

One of the features of the app is that it can be set up in different modes (not shown in the video, but it's there in initial setup). You'd want it set up in 'single' mode whereby it always logs in to the same account, no matter who is using it. This is still being developed, but it'll be fully working soon.

 

However, the only way to remove this account from the device would be to uninstall the app, which I'm assuming is disabled on them, so wouldn't be easilly changeable to a staff member logon account between loans. Let me think about this one and see if I can come up with a way around it, perhaps a logout option but you need to type in a domain admin account before it could be removed (sort of like removing a PC from the domain).

 

More information about the modes can be found here: https://github.com/stuajnht/HAP-for-iOS/blob/develop/FAQ.md#what-option-should-i-choose-after-the-initial-setup-personal-shared-or-single

 

You also bring up about syncing folders and photos. Like the HAP+ Windows app, it doesn't support offline use so when browsing the drives it always pulls off the latest version from the HAP+ server; there isn't really any 'syncing'. Files have to be manually up/downloaded to/from the app. I can't see a way around this either, as the app doesn't know how your folder structure is set up, so wouldn't know where to put anything automatically, sorry.

[DPenfold]

@nickbro Thanks for letting me know. I thought that may be the case, but you've saved me from having to check.

@DPenfold Thanks for clarifying. It sounds like you're trying to do something that we'll need to do here for the iPads for the little people (primary years), where to save time the app will always log in to the same account.

 

One of the features of the app is that it can be set up in different modes (not shown in the video, but it's there in initial setup). You'd want it set up in 'single' mode whereby it always logs in to the same account, no matter who is using it. This is still being developed, but it'll be fully working soon.

 

However, the only way to remove this account from the device would be to uninstall the app, which I'm assuming is disabled on them, so wouldn't be easilly changeable to a staff member logon account between loans. Let me think about this one and see if I can come up with a way around it, perhaps a logout option but you need to type in a domain admin account before it could be removed (sort of like removing a PC from the domain).

 

More information about the modes can be found here: https://github.com/stuajnht/HAP-for-iOS/blob/develop/FAQ.md#what-option-should-i-choose-after-the-initial-setup-personal-shared-or-single

 

You also bring up about syncing folders and photos. Like the HAP+ Windows app, it doesn't support offline use so when browsing the drives it always pulls off the latest version from the HAP+ server; there isn't really any 'syncing'. Files have to be manually up/downloaded to/from the app. I can't see a way around this either, as the app doesn't know how your folder structure is set up, so wouldn't know where to put anything automatically, sorry.

 

Thanks for the reply

 

I've actually had proper play around with HAP+ My Files today (haven't before I've only set up and seen it's working and I can see files etc.) I thought from this it would be the same as 'File Explorer' as in windows but done in a web browser however this is not the case lol (more viewing, downloading and then upload etc.).

 

After having quick chat earlier with my network manager etc. I think the shared option might be more suiting for the school (if the kids do something we can find out etc.) but if we get any request from teacher to move photos etc. we can do that manually for now.

 

I'll PM you before the end of the week as we are re-configuring the ipad to work with Profile Manager (rather than Apple Config 1/2), when I know when this is happening I can put the app on then and see how things go.

[Lewysj]

Pmed

 

Look forward to trying it

[Brimstone]

In theory, yes. However some movies exported from iMovie do not seem to upload properly, whereas videos saved to the video library and uploaded that way work. I haven't tried with GarageBand yet.

You'll need to use the CloudKit api for access to upload directly in iMovie or Garageband on iOS

 

https://developer.apple.com/reference/cloudkit

[kidpressingbuttons]

Any chance you will be releasing this officially? I'm using it and love it. My staff would too.

[DPenfold]

Any chance you will be releasing this officially? I'm using it and love it. My staff would too.

 

I would have to agree, it's be really great so far but we're limited to only 10 (TestFlight limitations) would be great to get it to all iPads more so now with people actually stating to use MS Apps etc.

[Stuajnht]

Any chance you will be releasing this officially? I'm using it and love it. My staff would too.

 

I would have to agree, it's be really great so far but we're limited to only 10 (TestFlight limitations) would be great to get it to all iPads more so now with people actually stating to use MS Apps etc.

 

Hi all,

 

Thanks both for your appreciation.

 

To release this app into the App Store is eventually the plan. Currently, there are a few other things that I want to include in the app while it is in the testing phase (see: https://github.com/stuajnht/HAP-for-iOS/tree/develop#to-do-list) and while I am aware that the app is stable and has most of its features, I would feel as though I'd be releasing something half-finished. I am aware this it taking slightly longer than I originally expected (Summer last year was the plan!), but I've recently had a chance to start working on the project again, so this should be sooner rather than later.

@DPenfold - if you are happy to PM me a few more email addresses, that should help mitigate the problem until it's fully released.

[DPenfold]

Unfortunately we are running only one email for the iCloud/Apple ID so we can track the ipads easily however I may send you my personal and work accounts as I can use them on my phone and my/testing iPad .

[Stuajnht]

Hi all,

 

After what seems like a very long time, I've finally been able to get around to uploading the app to the App Store. The direct link is: https://itunes.apple.com/app/home-access-plus/id1076118300

 

There are a few additional features that I want to make in future versions, but for the meanwhile you're now able to install the app onto as many devices as needed, instead of the 10 device limit enforced by TestFlight.

 

A thank you to all testers, and for your suggestions of items to add to the app.

[kidpressingbuttons]

Cannot thank enough! Will be a big game changer for us.

[ass17]

Hi all,

 

After what seems like a very long time, I've finally been able to get around to uploading the app to the App Store.

 

Hi,

 

Sorry but the app doesn't work for us as we get error message below:

 

all details are correct as we can login to the website version ok.

 

Also just run an a SSL test for valid very and TLS 1.2 and all is ok also.https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/analyze.html?d=documents.nuls.org.uk

 

Any help?

[Stuajnht]

Hi,

 

Sorry but the app doesn't work for us as we get error message below:

 

all details are correct as we can login to the website version ok.

 

Also just run an a SSL test for valid very and TLS 1.2 and all is ok also.https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/analyze.html?d=documents.nuls.org.uk

 

Any help?

 

Hi @ass17,

 

It looks like your SSL setup isn't quite right, as the intermediate certificates don't seem to get sent from your server.

 

I've just sent you a PM with some details. Could you have a look and let me know if it helps?

 

Thanks

[ass17]

I'll take a look soon, thanks, go on hols Wednesday so many be a few weeks before I can get back to you..

[Max_Power]

We get the exact same error message as @ass17 gets too.

@Stuajnht any chance you could PM me details of things to try and get it up and running? Thank you

[ass17]

Strange that I've just tried to login again and it works???? Selected personal device and all is great! Only problem is that when you logout you cannot connect to another HAP server as it remembers the previous one.

[Stuajnht]

We get the exact same error message as @ass17 gets too.

@Stuajnht any chance you could PM me details of things to try and get it up and running? Thank you

PM sent with some initial information. Please let me know the result and I'll have a look.

Strange that I've just tried to login again and it works???? Selected personal device and all is great! Only problem is that when you logout you cannot connect to another HAP server as it remembers the previous one.

 

Strange... well, as long as it works! Currently that is by design as we're only a single-site school so didn't have a need for it, nor did I want students messing around and removing the settings. As it's now been requested I'll add it to the to-do list and see what needs to be changed.

[Jawloms]

I'm getting the same issue. Could you PM me too? Or as there's a few, perhaps put it on here?

 

Thank you

 

Stuart

 

************* Update ***************

 

I've turned my PROXY off and it now works. Does this mean it will work from off site?

Edited June 1, 2017 by Jawloms