I have created a simple music player app that I would like to share with friends and family and not necessarily on the public app store. What would be the cheapest way to do that? From what I understand, I need to pay for a developer membership in order to use TestFlight, but I worry that if I do that, it still might be refused during app review.
Does anyone have any pointers on not getting refused during app review in order to get it on TestFlight? Or is there another way of doing this? The app is super simple, no login, no ads, no transactions involved. It does involve downloading songs from youtube using an api I did not create (freemium based) and using the phones local storage for the song files. Any advice appreciated.
Thanks
There is no other way to share except the TestFlight. You may have other options by sharing UDID, but this is too many hassles.
You will need at least Apple Developer account and have to pay for that. Once you have the account, you can get the UDID from your friends device and share with them by by distribute ios app using adhocs provision.
More details here:
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/ToolsLanguages/Conceptual/DevPortalGuide/DistributinganApp/DistributinganApp.html
You can create one ipa file and upload it in diawi.
It will generate one link you can share that link to your family members and through that they can install the app
https://www.diawi.com/
First check the steps how to generate ipa file
Related
i would like to use my app from my server. I tried to use In-House Distribution but Apple didn't approved it for few employees. I have been using TestFlight but and my app also approved on app store review our last version. but i would like to use it from Server or using any third party. so that i can lock my app and special people can use it by getting code from me.
Any suggestion plz ?
I tried Test Flight and Want to use Server to download it.
I use:
In-House alternative link with just uploading the .ipa file (pros: distribution with just 2 clicks)
App Center (pros: can create different groups of testers)
I have not renewed my developer account since I am just developing an app for a school project. I want to distribute my app to a few folks to get some test-feedback (I think there will be lots of bugs, crashes and other issues detected even if 5-10 friends/family use it and provide feedback).
Since I don't plan to publish this on the app store but use it just to improve my app development skills, I want to distribute the app using appaloosa instead of paying the $99 developer account fee to use TestFlight.
This requires uploading an ipa file. I tried following steps in other posts but I am stuck at the step where they ask to "select the archived app and hit 'Share'". I don see any Share button when I select the archived app.
Is it possible to create the ipa file without a developer account? if yes, how is this done? Also, after creating the ipa file and uploading it to appaloosa, will things just work or are there any other gotchas?
Can someone share a screenshot of how creating the .ipa from the archived file would look like? Maybe I'm overlooking the share button?
No, you can only test on your own device for free. Any other distribution requires a Developer Account.
It is indeed possible. You can create the .ipa by using the method shown in How to create ipa in xcode 6 without Apple Developer account?. The second method (of creating empty Payload folder") is what worked for me. I then renamed the compressed file to .ipa instead of Payload.zip and uploaded to appaloosa. I just successfully installed it on multiple devices and they work! Now I'm ready to get some real user feedback. How awesome is that!
I've recently developed an application for the place that I work, and they many colleagues would like to use it.
These colleagues live miles away, and my research has told me it's very hard/impossible to load iPhone apps onto a non-jailbroken device.
So I would like to know if it is possible to put an app on the appstore for free, but only allow people with login credentials to access it or something?
Probably it is not so hard as you thought. You can use over the air distribution, without upload app to AppStore. You can find lots of useful info here.
Register an Apple ID (Or you already have one)
Join the Apple Developer Program (Cost you $99 every year)
Archive your app using AdHoc certificate, every device registered in the provisioning profile will be able to install the app
You can use iTunes Connect and keep your app in preview version or beta version. You can also add 1000 external users for your app and 25 internal users.
Internal users will get update just after you upload new build of your app and external will get after beta review. You just need users name and email This would be helpful for you.
Is there any way to distribute ios applications through my own website, not using app store?
I mean is there any way that enables end users to download the .ipa file from my website with their browser application and install it directly on their iOS devices?
I have looked around in the web and googled it, but it doesn't seem to be any option for it out there, I just want to make sure of it.
Thank You
There are several possibilities, which probably won't match your needs:
Since last month it's possible to test apps on a device without the need of a paid membership.
There's a possibility to deploy an app through a service like TestFlight, but this needs either a profile installed on the device (like HockeyApp) or always new build since the old ones expire after 30 days.
You could deploy an app with the Enterprise Program
The easy way you describe is not possible.
Apart from the options mentioned above there are 2 more methods.
Method 1:
You could ask the user to open a webpage in safari browser with the following link in it.
href="itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=url of the manifest file"
The app is installed as soon as the user clicks the link.
Method 2:
You can also leverage iOS mdm solutions like Hexnode MDM though its bit of an overkill.
here is a link on how to distribute app without app store
UPDATE:
BuddyBuild service will stop on 1-3-2018, the other alternative I know is https://www.diawi.com
Old ANSWER:
Try BuddyBuild , after making a build you can take link to IPA file and distribute it as shown.
The options include:
App Store (free or paid)
Enterprise Distribution (must be within an organization)
Open source distribution
It does not sound like any of these will meet your requirements, so no.
Further explanation:
Just to be clear, the limitation is not in distributing your .ipa file, it is the ability for users to install it on their phone. iOS requires an app be signed by Apple (from the App Store), from an Enterprise certificate, or from a developer certificate when a valid provisioning profile includes the target device.
Basically there are three ways
App store
With this method anyone with an iPhone can have access to the application. You can distribute an unlimited number of applications like this. Apple gets a 30% cut. Of course, Apple must approve your application.
Ad hoc
You can distribute applications using ad hoc without going through the app store, but you are limited to a maximum of 100 devices. With this method you can distribute your application from a web site, email, etc.
Enterprise
The method is for internal distribution in companies with more than 500 employees. Apple does not provide any more public detail that I could find on this method.
It doesn't sound like any of these methods meet your criteria unless you have fewer than 100 customers and don't plan to exceed that number. It sounds like from the question your customers are not internal to your company.
I would advise contacting Apple. They might be able to arrange some kind of custom distribution deal.
You if don't want to upload your files to the already mentioned web services, you can host your IPA in your own computer and distribute over the internet using ngrok and the approach given by jithin.
I've created a server that does exactly that and also is protected by password. You can check it out here:
https://github.com/Edudjr/IPAServer
To send build to testers or client I am generally using installonair.com which allows to upload IPA file and generate short URL which we can provide to other users and they can download and install easily from that link.
There are other options as well like Apple Testflight, hockeyapp but I found installonair.com is the quick one.
If you have and Enterprise membership you can do this, but it really isn't what they want you to do on a large scale.
Take a look at this question: Deploying an iOS Application Using Apple Enterprise Developer Program
You can use enterprise distribution services like BuildCannon, but you still need an apple enterprise account. I use a custom solution, but it's a pain to maintain.
I am developing an app that I would like some people to download it. Specifically, the people who attend my event. I've looked into the different ways of doing that, and I couldn't find how to do it. Is there a way to do it other than the App Store? Like a download link or an email attachment?
Scenario: I have an event taking place at some venue. People who attend must download an app before entering the place.
You can use TestFlight or the iOS Enterprise Program
TestFlight
With TestFlight, you can let people 'test' your app. You can setup up to 25 internal testers and 1000 external testers to test your app.
Maybe it isn't exactly, what you are looking for, but it's the cheapest way.
They then can download the TestFlight-app and will see the apps which they are invited as beta-testers. It's a very easy and nice possibility, because you also can update your app and the testers will receive updates.
Check this tutorial how to make a proper setup to do that.
iOS Enterprise Program
With this special program which costs 300$/year you can install your apps within your enterprise. But your company must be a company with a D-U-N-S number to apply. Check the details on the apple website.
You can also use Diawi.com for that matter.
PROS:
1. Easy to use. Just drag the IPA file and the Provisioning Profile to the upload box. Wait for it to get uploaded. Generate Link. Send the link to your intended downloaders. They can download it super easy and fast.
2. No need to pass the app review in Apple.
CONS:
Few Users can download. Only the registered devices in your Apple Developer account can download the app which is limited to 100 and is renewable only for once a year.
If you intend this app for people not more than 100, use this. Otherwise use TestFlight that is already integrated in itunesconnect. The cons only is that the app needs to pass the review. Pros, up to 1000 people can download it.
Hope it helps.