[ipad] Adding new Volume Purchase Program apps - iPads

[Stephen1]

Hi,

 

I recently set up for the first time a group of iPads with Configurator 2 and would now like to add a couple of new apps I've come across.

The problem is, when I add the couple of new apps to the blueprint, after I've purchased them through the Volume Purchase Program website, and then apply that blueprint to the set of iPads, all of the old apps are re-downloaded...which on our connection takes 2 hours.

 

I did try the "Choose from my Mac" option, or whatever it's called when adding apps to the blueprint, but because they were downloaded through a non VPP account, they asked to be signed in with an iTunes account each time they were opened on the iPads, which when using them with any kids, especially younger ones, is a nightmare. I did try signing into iTunes with my VPP account to download the apps to the Mac, but it gave an error along the lines of "you can't use a VPP account with iTunes".

 

Surely there must be a way to quickly add the 1 or 2 new apps I want on the iPads or do I actually have to re-download all of the old apps each time I want to add a new app?

 

Thanks in advance if anyone replies.

[GrumbleDook]

Best thing you can do is run MacOS server with caching turned on. After the initial download to change the apps, you should be fine until the app is updated ... and for some apps that is a very regular thing ... so be warned that it will happen.

[LemonEntry]

Sign in to volume.apple.com in a browser to purchase apps with a Volume ID. They'll then become available in your Configurator. Edited April 24, 2017 by LemonEntry

[tmoon-mint]

Have you thought about using an MDM solution in conjunction with AC2? How I would do it for schools with a poor internet connection was to deploy the apps from AC2 using the choose from my Mac option and then use my MDM (Meraki in this case) to convert the apps to managed licenses. Meant I only have to download the apps once and ensures they are deployed properly using managed distribution.

 

Setting up the caching service in the server app would also help.

[GrumbleDook]

(Declaration of interest ... now working with MDM)

 

One problem I've come across when deploy schools is that some apps they use seem to be updated on a fortnightly basis, and no matter whether you push apps through the MDM or via the Blueprint (on AC2), it goes to check if the latest version is available.

 

As well as using a changing server, I often suggest a weekly routine of running iTunes and requesting app updates (so does a single pull which will be cached).

 

Then you can repush from your MDM if needed to force an update.

 

I still long for a more WSUS like setup, but we'll get there in the end.