seawolf

So, MP3 players with usable scroll wheel interfaces and music stores that were usable as well as and capacitive touch full-touchscreen, actually usable phones and tablets were well implemented prior to the iPod, iPhone and iPad? OK. I'm sure you were referring to other things. Most of the time, Apple doesn't bring out something entirely new. They just bring out something that works better than what came before it. Sometimes much better, sometimes only a little. There were plenty of music players before the iPhone and there were even touchscreen phones and PDAs years before the iPhone. It's just that no one had hit upon just the right implementation and interface before Apple brought their products to market. Remember mobile web browsing before the iPhone - wow, it was horrible. Now, very good. But, based on your line of thinking then Microsoft, Google, Blackberry, Sony, and Ericsson are also patent trolls. Has Microsoft's court victory exposed Google as a patent troll? | Computerworld Blogs Rockstar Consortium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia As Apple and these other companies have also been the victims of real patent trolls (those who make nothing, and exist only to sue others) they are merely using the current patent system to protect themselves and to gain advantage over competitors. Why was the Rockstar consortium formed by these companies? Because they were being attacked by patent trolls and didn't want these patents to be used against them (and because Google had already swallowed up thousands of patents with the Motorola purchase - it was a defensive move). That being the case, is the real problem that Apple (and other companies) are "stealing" ideas; or, is it a messed up patent system? I think it's a messed up patent system and that tech companies have been forced to play this game.

New Android Bug Causes Bricked Devices | Security Intelligence Blog | Trend Micro Android users - beware of 3rd party app stores. This is a bad bug and until it is fixed, don't risk getting bricked.

Yes, VPP isn't currently supported very well at least outside of the US. No, there are ways around this. Yep, probably best to do that so this thread doesn't get hijacked.

That is correct. What you can do though is use Configurator to install profiles that can't be removed including for the WiFi. As long as your other WiFi SSIDs aren't open, there is no way they can connect to them (without a password). Yes, they could turn the WiFi off, but just create a short two page doc showing how to turn the WiFi on and post it up around the place. Screensteps works well for this. Also, if you have a small sync and charge cart or bay you can hook them into Configurator at least once a week and this will reset everything, including the home screen/background.

Point 1 is only irrelevant if Point 2 meant the patented feature was too close in functionality to another patent or prior art. Only if Point 3 did not occur, and it very well may have. Otherwise, the true inventor may hold out for 5-10 years and then ask the patent office to reexamine the patent providing ample proof of prior art (and having apps sold since 2009 would more than suffice. The threat of an invalidated patent that would open Apple up to a dead certain loss in court would likely convince them into paying up handsomely. That's how these things often work out because its cheaper than going to court.

So, how exactly did Profile Manager corrupt two Apple IDs, or is that just a general gripe in Apple's direction? As for VPP not showing up, is this the first time you've set it up (if so, check out the link I posted before)? Or, is this the first time that you've tried to use VPP with PM? Have you enabled Push Notifications? Opened up all of the ports required for PM to work with push notifications, etc? There are people on here with some experience in these matters that might be able to help.

Missed a few, ya got me. The point still remains. He dogs iOS and most of the Macbook references are to the one that the user at the start handed him. He also says "Windows 7 (I hate 8, but that’s another story) and Mac OS X are great operating systems" So, Windows 7 good, OS X good. And he also likes Ubuntu. Actually, it's usually the exact other way around on Edugeek. Just amazing how an article about how kids can't use computers turns into dogging the guy as a insane fruit-lover because he dare make mention of something Apple-related more than once.

This post has received some interesting comments. Some of them seem to have entirely missed the point of the article. The author may have been a bit over the top (or arrogant) in some parts of the article (English is also not the author's native language, so that has to be taken into account) The point was this - Kids Can't Use Computers. Here's the problem - it is too often true. I had a teacher come to me the other day describing how a more than small percentage of the students in his class (Year 8) didn't know what to do with a USB drive that they were handed. They truly had no clue how to access files on it or save to it. One (new to the school) didn't even know how to logon to a computer (Windows 7). Here's the bigger problem - there is the myth of the digital native, so people just assume kids know more about computers than others because they can use google, facebook, twitter, instagram, and snapchat. That means these kids aren't actually being taught how to use a computer. And, I don't just mean a PC (or a Mac). I'm talking about tablets as well. Yep, they can unlock it and open up Safari or download a game and play it (as long as they don't have to type in the details for an Apple ID). Too many of them cannot setup their email (or even follow the instructions to do this), or many other basic computer tasks. This means I'm seeing kids with less computer skills than those coming through 10 years ago. Here's the biggest problem - these same kids are going to have great difficulty in a world that is increasingly consumed by technology in every industry. And many schools are doing very little about it. "Give them all a " doesn't solve this problem. These kids need to be taught, not expected to just pick it up through osmosis. "Here you go kid, I'm giving you the car keys, now go figure out how to drive it."

What article were you reading? References made in the article: Apple = 0 iOS = 1 iPad = 2 iPhone =3 Mac or Macbook = 5 OSX = 3 Microsoft = 5 Windows = 12 Google = 3 Android = 1 Linux = 3 So, total references to anything Apple is 14. Microsoft references number 17. There are 4 Google references and 3 for Linux. Seems pretty balanced in that regard to me. Let me quote this bit from the article: "iOS is a lost cause, unless you jail-break, and Android isn’t much better. I use Ubuntu-Touch, and it has possibilities." That doesn't seem to be a "hail to the fruit" to me.

Firstly, here is the actual patent . This patent may also be related to or used in conjunction with United States Patent: 8665236 for a "transparent iPhone". Yes, there have been apps that have (seemingly) similar functionality previously. An app which allows people to text while their rear camera is activated has been available as a download for iPhones since 2009. There are similar apps for Android devices, too. However, what we don't know is: 1. Whether or not the developers of these apps has ever patented any of these features. 2. Whether or not their patent extends nearly as far as the Apple patent does (i.e. this feature would be embedded in iOS itself likely as an API that app developers would be able to hook into) 3. Whether or not Apple paid any of these developers (or the "original" developer) for the rights to this. 4. Whether Apple will be challenged and ultimately lose the rights to the patent if someone else shows prior use (and cares). So, my bone with the OPs original post is that it was irrational and lacking evidence as we don't have all of the facts, do we? EDIT: Of course, you may be against the ability for people or companies to patent software, or anything for that matter, but if that is an entirely different kettle of fish and an entirely different discussion.

I don't think you really understand the meaning of Patent Troll. Patent Troll - a person or company who enforces patent rights against accused infringers in an attempt to collect licensing fees, but does not manufacture products or supply services based upon the patents in question, thus engaging in economic rent-seeking.

Are you serious? Really, I'm asking if you are serious. Because you must be joking. To single out Apple as the big behemoth bully that steals from everyone else. The truth is - they all "steal" from one another. Some of it is rather innocuous and the end product looks quite a bit different from the original as the original idea was only used as a seed for innovation. Whereas other times it is a blatant copying to the letter (Samsung, you know who you are). I submit my evidence to the court. Apple vs Microsoft Top 10 features Microsoft stole from Mac OS X | Mac - InfoWorld Top 10 features that Apple stole from Windows | Windows - InfoWorld http://www.zangogroup.com/d/clips/IES_0588_news_2.pdf IBM vs Microsoft Business & Technology | Microsoft pays IBM to settle suit | Seattle Times Newspaper Apple vs Samsung Apple Wins Big Against Samsung In Court | TechCrunch Samsung says Apple stole some of its technology for the Apple iPhone Apple Vs Google Apple wins appeal reinstating ITC case against Google's Motorola Yes, Google "Stole" From Apple, And That's A Good Thing - Forbes Did Google Just Prove That Android is Google vs Blackberry Google Android Prototype In the Wild Google vs Oracle Google's Android In Trouble As Judges Mull Oracle's Java API Copyright - Forbes And the reality of it all is - to quote Isaac Newton "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - that all innovation in technology is "stealing" from what came before. Do not think that mankind in 2014 is somehow smarter or more innovative than mankind in 1941. We only have the technology we have today because we are "standing on the shoulders of giants" who came before us. Much of what we know today only came about because of the work that originated at DARPA and PARC and has been built upon by others, including IBM, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Sun, and scores of other companies and inventors big and small. Xerox PARC turns 40: Marking four decades of tech innovations - Computerworld 10 brilliant DARPA inventions | Analysis | Features | PC Pro If Android is a “stolen product,” then so was the iPhone | Ars Technica

Interesting, since PM often works better than many 3rd party MDMs, especially in smaller environments (under 100). So, I'll give that comment the well deserved - whatever.

If I were in your position, I would most likely look at completely re-building your domain and your VM servers. As it stands, you have a double whammy of a .local domain along with Domain Controllers that are doing double duty as Exchange and file/print servers - making a domren a more complex and risky task. The title of your post was "Possibly taking over the network", so I'm going to assume that you will also be taking over the network (switches, proxies, etc.) and not just the server environment and will provide recommendations based on that assumption. Reconfigure your Network - If you are currently on a flat network, you will want to consider creating VLANs (static and DHCP). I would advise a VLAN for each of the following. This will give you far more control over your network and allow you to set per VLAN (subnet) web filtering as well. Network Switches, Routers, Proxies Servers Admin Staff IT Staff Per WiFI SSID (if you have 5 SSIDs, use 5 VLANs) Per computer lab (or per building or zone) VOiP zones (one will suffice for a small number of devices) Printers Security (if you use IP security system) [*]Build a new domain - Rather than a Domain Rename, build two new virtual DCs with the new domain name. You may want to use a sub-domain of your FQDN rather than the FQDN itself depending on your expertise with DNS and DNS forwarding, etc. Don't try to migrate user accounts, etc. Build these DCs new and create the structure in a way that works for you (example showing our structure attached). Now re-create the GPOs that you require, which is a good opportunity to ensure you have no unneeded policies and re-think the policies that you need now (since you have few PCs now, you will likely need far fewer GPOs). Once the structure is complete, re-create all of your User groups that will be needed in the new domain and create the user accounts for IT and Admin and a test account for different staff and student types to use for testing. Now make sure that your DHCP (consider your VLANs) and DNS are configured as required and that you create your DNS forwarding rules and bring across any DNS entries from your old DNS server that will be required. Bind a client to your new domain to test it. [*]Build new File and Print Server(s) - Now that you have a working domain and some test users, you should build a new File and Print server. You can split these roles up if you want, but it isn't required (it can be handy if the print service ever stops and you need to restart the server because it refuses to restart - been there, done that). Again, don't migrate any data across at this point in time. Bind the new server(s) to your new domain and setup all of your printers on the new server and install whatever print management software you use (Papercut works well). Also, create some test shares (and configure DFS if you are using more than one file server). Now create a GPO with one or more shares and printer assignments and assign it to a user group then test this with a client computer bound to the domain and login with one of your test users in the group assigned the shares and printers. All working - then create the directory structure and top level folders for the network shares you will be migrating across later, including the user group permissions. [*]Migrate Exchange Server - We use Google Apps, but I wouldn't say its more compatible with iOS. We've experienced many issues in the past particularly when Google decided to ditch ActiveSync. Getting passwords to sync was also a major pain and their GAPS solution doesn't work reliably in our experience. You might want to consider Office 365 if you are already on a license agreement with MS for Office, CALs, SQL Server, etc. You will probably find a migration from Exchange to Office 365 a bit easier or more supported than to Google Apps, including getting SSO working. You would also have the option of using the new Office apps for the iPad. Just a thought. [*]Migrate Users and Data - Finally, the next to last step in the domain rename will be to migrate all users from your existing AD to your new DCs as well as all of the data on the file server(s). I recommend exporting your existing users into CSV format, editing the domain and other details needed, then importing them manually into the new DC. These tools will help: Script Active Directory User Creation tool 1.2 Script Update AD Users in Bulk from Excel Spreadsheet Bulk AD Users I would advise using robocopy or similar to migrate your user data. You will not want to bring across ACLs and permissions, but have the files inherit the ACLs and permissions from the new shares you have created. [*]Update all systems with new domain - At this point, your DCs, email, and file/print servers have been created and migrated, but you will likely still have many other systems that need to be updated to use the new domain. For server, you will need to unbind them from the old domain and bind them to the new. Systems such as the Lightspeed will have to be updated, etc. You should identify all systems that need to be updated in this manner before you ever begin this whole project, then think about it well because you probably forgot something (e.g. updating DNS servers on your internal systems, and your external DNS hosting). Make sure that Kerberos and DNS are working as expected on your Mac server following the domain change. It goes without saying that you should back up everything well before beginning all of this and it is advisable to do it during the holidays with much advanced notice to users as you will need some forced downtime so no one can update any files you are trying to migrate. It's a big project, but once it is done your team will know the network inside and out and you will be able to make it dance and sing. As for the Mac side of things, I haven't found a need for an OD replica. Just clone the main server periodically and you can then restore it quickly if you have a failure. In fact, if you go with Casper Suite, you won't need an OD master at all anymore.

If you have a Mac server, just use Profile Manager. http://krypted.com/mac-os-x/using-profile-manager-3-in-mavericks-server/

A fantastic article on coding2learn.org from last year. I think the title says it all. Kids Can't Use Computers...

@SYNACK - it appears you've removed your post, but I was being generous with 10% market share for Office 365 in schools (worldwide). The latest stats I could find showed Office 365 with a 22% market share compared to 78% for Google Apps in education. http://blog.useractivation.com/2013/07/11/office-365-vs-google-apps-showdown-market-share-by-industry-type-june-2013/ However, this is only looking at the market share vs. each other and NOT the overall market share, so it is excluding every OTHER email system in existence including on-site Exchange. In reality 10% is probably several times the market share of Office 365 in Education. Unless you have some other stats available showing otherwise?

Are you trying to use iCloud Keychain? I'm still not clear on the exact problem you are having. It seems to be tied to your proxy or web filter, is that correct? Perhaps if you could tell me specifically what you are doing (and what password you are trying to synchronise) and the point where the prompt occurs I can help. If you could PM me the doc you created for users this would probably explain it thoroughly.

That's great and all, but what about the schools that aren't using Office 365? For the schools running their own internal Exchange, Zimbra, Google Apps or something else this requirement isn't all that fantastic even if they have an EES. If we wanted to use Office for the iPad for anything other than viewing/presenting (and really what's the point in that when apps like QuickOffice, Acronis Access, and iWork can already do this, plus edit the files) - we would need to: 1. Have an EES (we do) 2. Request Student Advantage 3. Setup Office 365 accounts for all users, on an ongoing basis 4. Setup AD on Azure or use some other method to synchronise passwords; or, tell users they have another account to remember 5. Make sure staff and students don't start actually using Office 365 instead of Google Apps. 6. Explain to staff and students that their documents will reside in different places depending on what app they are using, completely confusing everyone involved and increasing our support requests infinitely just for the sake of using these apps? I think we will take a pass on that, because as they say time is money, except more time is one thing you can't buy no matter how much money you have, and the amount of time this would consume just to use 3 apps makes it a very expensive exercise for us. For those schools who are using Office 365, it's great. For the 90% that aren't - MS has done nothing but frustrate them here.

"...provided institutions meet the following criteria: 1. Institution has an EES agreement or an OVS-ES agreement 2. Licenses 100% of Faculty/Staff organization wide for Office" There are no free lunches.

Try Printer Pro http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/smartphones/how-to-print-to-a-non-airprint-printer-with-ios/

Printopia or Printopia Pro. Neither requires an app on the iPad to work.

AirCatch looks intriguing and would appear to be a possible solution for shared (trolley) iPads. It's obvious that an email account has to be setup on the iPad for it to work, so does this email account allow sending of an email to any email address, or only those configured in the AirWatch server? If it only allows emails to the addresses specified in the server, then this would be a brilliant solution as it would prevent students sending spam (or bullying) emails to one another or people outside of the school.

I'm not sure that I understand exactly what the problem is as you moved from asking about proxy setup to NTLM to keychain prompts. But, I think what you are referring to with the keychain prompt is that students are prompted for this when logging in after changing their AD password? If so, the Mac is asking for the previous password so that it can updated the encrypted keychain with the new password. You can turn this off if it is causing problems. See https://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/discussion.html?id=7783 for a discussion on this.

There might be a mad rush to download these apps, but once users realise they barely work without an Office 365 subscription...game over. Microsoft is estimating that they will add 4 Billion in revenue with the release of Office or the iPad. I imagine they would if they worked reasonably well without an Office 365 account. They could even tie it to a OneDrive account and offer 5GB of free space like iWork for the iPad and iCloud and that would be fine. But, requiring an Office 365 subscription - FAIL!