Apple TV and 'enterprise' support: petition

[iom100]

Some may be interested in this:

 

https://www.change.org/petitions/from-educause-higher-ed-wireless-networking-admin-group

 

It calls for Apple to implement sensible WPA2 and bonjour support in the Apple TV. I know they haven't exactly responded to pressure before, but it might be worth a try.

[Michael]

Apple TV v3 does support WPA2-PSK AES encryption, but it doesn't support proxy settings. As for Bonjour, why would you need this for Apple TV? It should pick up an IP from an available DHCP server, then allow you to connect to an available wireless network.

[iom100]

From the petition letter:

- Airplay does not work when Apple TV's and Apple client devices are on different IP subnets. It is common for the enterprise wireless and wired networks in our institutions to utilize different IP subnets.

 

- Bonjour technologies also do not work in a scalable, sustainable fashion between different IP subnets. Work arounds such as Wide-Area Bonjour (DNS-SD) and Dynamic DNS updates have major scalability and security issues in enterprise networks.

snipped

Specifically, we request the following:

 

- That Apple establish a way for Apple TV's be accessible from Apple's client devices across multiple IPv4 and IPv6 sub-nets.

 

- That Apple improve Bonjour technology so that it will work in scalable and supportable fashion in large enterprise wireless and wired networks.

 

- That the Apple TV support enterprise wireless encryption and authentication (WPA2-Enterprise).

 

- That authentication between Apple devices and the Apple TV be able to utilize enterprise Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) services.

[localzuk]

Bonjour is a local link multicast technology, which means it is inherently unroutable. Enabling it to work across VLANs without using the various workarounds would basically mean having to re-engineer the entire technology.

 

Considering the AppleTV is aimed squarely at home users, I would suggest that Apple will not be worried about this.

 

You're basically asking for a consumer device to work with a corporate network...

 

Which is why I am so shocked by the rife use of Apple iPads and Apple TVs in schools!!

[Michael]

Well if Apple wanted to support all these, they'd make their consumer products compatible with enterprise services.

 

What amazes me is Apple's response to all this is basically silence. No official recommendations on using iPads or similar in an enterprise/school environment. The support is practically zero too and this in my opinion is a big fundamental difference between Apple and Microsoft. Their products simply do not scale and becomes a logistical nightmare.

[Sean-OC04]

Well if Apple wanted to support all these, they'd make their consumer products compatible with enterprise services.

 

What amazes me is Apple's response to all this is basically silence. No official recommendations on using iPads or similar in an enterprise/school environment. The support is practically zero too and this in my opinion is a big fundamental difference between Apple and Microsoft. Their products simply do not scale and becomes a logistical nightmare.

 

 

 

Seriously what planet are you on.....they scale

 

Apple (United Kingdom) - Education - Profiles

 

Apple (United Kingdom) - Education - Profiles

 

Apple (United Kingdom) - iPad in Business - Profiles

[Michael]

So why doesn't Apple TV support proxy settings in your opinion?

[localzuk]

Seriously what planet are you on.....they scale

 

Apple (United Kingdom) - Education - Profiles

 

Apple (United Kingdom) - Education - Profiles

 

Apple (United Kingdom) - iPad in Business - Profiles

 

Showing examples of them being used is not the same as providing guidance and advice on *how* to use them.

[AngryTechnician]

Any technology 'scales' if you through enough effort and money at it. That doesn't mean you can describe it as scalable in an IT services context. At least we have VPP now; the ridiculous fudges everyone outside the US had to endure before then was a testament to how little Apple actually care about the education and enterprise market.

[GrumbleDook]

Apple TV don't use proxies for the same reason many app producers don't use them now (in spite of there being an option) and there have been similar in Android too ... they expect that if an upstream proxy is needed it will be transparent and 'seamless'. Perhaps this is a very US point of view as talking to some US friends they do have a tendency to do that way in schools so they aren't that bothered.

[Michael]

Think about it like this -

 

If you target a particular market with a product or service, you're going to learn and know its quirks and design your product or service to suit its needs. Allowing proxy settings is a pretty basic feature in my opinion.

 

The purpose of proxies in education is clear and they play a vital role in keeping networks secure and filtered, maximising the learning experience.

 

I'd find it hard to believe that all or most of schools in the US use transparent proxies. A percentage are going to need to specify proxy settings manually. The iPhone and iPad do support proxies, so you would of thought they'd include it in something like Apple Tv. Large, interactive presentations are common place in schools. Clearly if frustrated technicians are starting 'petitions' for Apple to cater for their needs, it really wasn't designed for that purpose from the beginning.

 

Apple's target audience without a doubt are the mainstream public, with schools and businesses in second place.

[Sean-OC04]

So why doesn't Apple TV support proxy settings in your opinion?

 

The Apple TV now supports proxies, you will need a Mac to install the XML profile though...

 

Apple TV: How to configure a proxy using profile