I could use some help on how to host my iOS and other files in the MS Azure Cloud, and access them via my MS Azure Webapp private website with OTA installations. My First go at it was not very successful.
I currently am building a web server to host the files for over-the-air installation access, and I would like to do it all inside of Azure Gov Cloud but I do not know where to host the files and make them accessable for OTA installs. I have started with a Webapp that accesses blob storage(where I store my app files and their manifests), but as iOS OTA installation requires a downloadable url link, I am having trouble with blob storage and I am thinking there may be a better solution.
So, using Azure, I am basically creating a private app store where me and my friends can upload/download apps and install them over-the-air. Unfortunately I am having issues when it comes to actually installing the .IPA file stored in blob storage.
In fact, what I was trying to do is basically the same setup as Using azure blob storage for installing ios apps.
My current attempt/setup:
I have a running web app, with a self-signed ssl cert.
I can access all the blob files through the web app interface, and even upload
files to the blob containers (on any platform/device).
I cannot get the iOS download link to function and install apps
store in the blob (or anywhere actually).
The itms-services "href" button (required for iOS installation) wont actually access the manifest, and then download the .ipa file. When I try to use itms-services and open the manifest file, the iOS device throws the error: "cannot connect to [container].blob.core.windows.net". I believe this is because it is actually cant connect to the blob storage. But then again, I really have no clue.{see href link below}
(items in boxes have been removed/hidden)
<a href="itms-services://?action=download-manifest&url=
https://[storage].blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/storagecontainer/[folder]/[folder]/manifest.plist"
>Install App</a>
I also tried troubleshooting the mobile device and I cannot seem to get an error out of the mobile web source code for the button for any further inspection.(let me know if anyone knows of any good tools for this)
What do you guys think I should do for storing/accessing the apps and their manifest files? Has anyone out there already done something like this that could send me some tips?
I am out of ideas at this point and open to any new ideas!
Related
Apple supports Over The Air (OTA) installation as long as we store both the manifest and the IPA in a publicly accessible location. Then we only have to share the URL of the manifest with our stake holders. I'm trying to store iOS builds in an Artifactory repository (generic package type) and achieve the same.
Currently we are storing them in our intranet and the setup works fine. We are looking at migrating to Artifactory but so far we have been unsuccessful even with anonymous access enabled (https://www.jfrog.com/confluence/display/JFROG/Users+and+Groups).
I reached out to JFrog. They only said it is possible but haven't offered any help. The license I have is basic and it doesn't cover SLA level support.
We need more informations
Are you able to download the IPA and the manifest with curl?
Be sure that you are using the 'List Browsing'
https://www.jfrog.com/confluence/display/JFROG/Browsing+Artifacts
I want to be able to access folders and files via my app, the problem is, when i want to access files on the desktop, i have to run it from a server or at least to emulate one using a program like xampp.
I know PhoneGap has it's own API to access files, but i need to make the app work on desktop too, and i don't mind it to be as normal offline website ( via index.html, not an exe ), but i still need to solve the security issues, i can't tell clients to run it from a server...
The big idea after it, is that i need the app to check for new files in the server, if there are any, to download them.
Also, i want the app to be able to access those downloaded files when it is offline as well.
I guess using only phonegap in ios will solve this, but i still need it to work on windows desktop as well.
PhoneGap released PhoneGap Desktop
http://phonegap.com/blog/2014/12/11/phonegap-desktop-app-beta/
I think this is what you are looking for!
I am interested in developing an app for BlackBerry devices, and was wondering if they support the concept of demo or beta releases for their app developers? By this, I mean the ability to deploy a beta or demo version of my app to a limited/restricted audience, such as business partners, customers, external beta testers, etc. Nothing in their Testing and Deployment documentation indicates either way. Thanks in advance!
There isn't a built in beta process in App World for BlackBerry 10, but you can share the debug version of your app with your beta participants. When you create a debug token, you specify which PINs you want it to be valid for. The debug token will only install on a device with one of those PINs, and your app will only install on a device with your debug token on it. The token will only be valid for 30 days. You would have to deploy it with the command line tools and not App World.
This link on the BlackBerry Developer blog explains how to do it: http://devblog.blackberry.com/2012/04/debug-token/
It's for PlayBook, but the same process applies for BlackBerry 10 as well.
I actually don't know if RIM themselves have anything formal, but since I've always released BlackBerry apps on more than just the official App World store, I've used a beta testing system that is independent of RIM. Luckily, the legacy BlackBerry Java platform gives you the freedom to do this, free of charge. (Note that this answer is not about the upcoming BB10 platform!)
Over-the-Air (OTA) Installation
You can have your beta testers install your beta versions, Over-The-Air (OTA). Unlike iOS, for example, you aren't limited to a certain number of test devices, and you don't have to tell RIM what the unique identifiers of all the test devices are.
So, what I do is just put beta versions of my apps on a webserver, and send links to beta testers that allows them to download them. So, you are in control of who gets access. If you need security to limit the beta version to nobody except the official beta testers, then you are certainly free to add password protected logins to your webserver. That works the same way it would for any other secure web content.
If you do this (OTA), here are a few references:
http://www.blackberryinsight.com/2008/07/08/howto-setup-an-apache-webserver-to-deliver-blackberry-ota-applications/
Blackberry over the air installation
https://stackoverflow.com/a/10307074/119114
There are a couple steps to be aware of:
You normally just upload a .cod file to BlackBerry App World. If you want to deploy an app to your own webserver, you also need the .jad file. A JAD file is basically just a descriptor of the app, that can redirect a BlackBerry browser to the .cod file for installation. Your build process is already probably generating the .jad file for you, in the same output directory where it generates your .cod files.
You may need to configure your webserver to properly setup MIME types for files with a .jad extension. If you use Apache, then this is what you would put in your httpd.conf file:
AddType text/vnd.sun.j2me.app-descriptor jad
you may also need to add a MIME type definition for the .cod type, too
AddType application/vnd.rim.cod .cod
If you don't have access to the web server's httpd.conf file, but can place the JAD and COD in your own user directory, then you can configure the MIME types in a local .htaccess file.
Depending on your web server configuration, there may be a couple more steps necessary. Check the OTA links I provided above.
Desktop Installation
Another option is to simply email your beta versions to beta testers, and have them install on their devices using BlackBerry Desktop Software. I don't do this, but it is another way to accomplish the same thing. For this, you use the .cod file, and also the .alx file, which is also generated by the normal BlackBerry build process.
Note that some of the project properties that get put into the .alx or .jad files are things that you don't need to worry about if you only deploy the .cod file directly to BlackBerry App World. If you use one of the options (ALX for Desktop installation, or JAD for OTA), then I would recommend opening up the .alx or .jad file and just inspecting the values for correctness. They're normal text files, and most of the values should be self-explanatory. I believe all settings can be configured from inside your IDE. If you use the BlackBerry Eclipse plugin, right click on your project, select Properties and look around there.
Here are the official RIM docs on all your installation options
its not possible. When you publish your app in app world, it will be available to all users. So you cant set any special conditions like- available only to some people. Else make it in un published mode. Then only users with sandbox id can access your app.
Check the below link for BB 10 Cascades beta 3 release(Preferrable way of development in BB 10)
https://developer.blackberry.com/cascades/
For BB 10,they are plenty of ways for developing the applications ,check the below link
https://developer.blackberry.com/platforms/
I want to use PhoneGap to sign my BlackBerry App. When I go to add the key files it asks for a CSK file.
I went to https://www.blackberry.com/SignedKeys/ and requested keys.
However the files sent to me were 3 different CSI files(RBB, RCR, RRT).
How and where can I get the CSK and DB file needed to sign apps on PhoneGap?
First you need to install the blackberry SDK (as part of Eclipse if you're using this IDE, otherwise get the standalone java one).
Then follow these steps.
Basically this will store your key locally, then you create a backup of it in the form of a .csk+.db files.
Adobe® PhoneGap™ Build currently provides a default BlackBerry development version for all users, which provides an Over-The-Air install for your PhoneGap applications. However, to distribute your own BlackBerry applications, you will need to register with RIM for your own keys, and then import those keys into PhoneGap Build.
To register, fill out the form on RIM's site , and, once you receive your keys, follow the installation process locally.. using the steps mentioned here
Here's a crazy question...The client wants a web application to be available on the ipad when not connected to the internet. My first thought was that it would be a great opportunity to use the offline app feature of HTML5, except that the entire web app (including all the media) is 3GB, and apparently all of it must be available. This exceeds the 5MB limit of the app cache. The website does not necessarily have to rely on any dynamic server side code. It can be straight HTML files. Does anyone know if it would be possible to manually copy the entire website onto the ipad and from there easily launch it in a browser? I was not able to do this, but I have to believe there's a way. Any other approaches to this problem that you can think of? Thank you.
I had a similar problem and here's what I found that worked (using an iPad and a PC):
Download (on the PC) the program HTTrack to the PC. This program can create an offline mirror of a website and has all sorts of options for what gets included.
Run HTTrack on the PC and create a folder for your website.
Install (on the iPad) the free App "Documents 5" by Readdle.
Connect Documents 5 to some sort of cloud based storage (I used by Google drive account, but I'm sure Drop Box would work also)
Zip the entire offline website folder mirrored using HTTrack and upload the zip file to cloud storage (Google drive)
Click on the zip file in Documents 5. It should be downloaded to the iPad
Click on the downloaded zip file in Documents 5. It should be automatically extracted.
Now open the extracted folder and click on index.html. This is your website offline.
I don't know if there is a way to move the index link to the home screen...
There are several apps that can be used for storing files on the iPad and viewing them in an embedded browser. I use GoodReader, but this might be overkill for your purpose.
I've been able to view them using FileApp (after transferring via DropBox), but it's far less than ideal.
Use hightail.com, you can link a website as a space, it will actually convert the website to preview image, then can be access on iPad as webpage in browser, no need to copy file to iPad or install any software.