I am aware that we can block safari content using swift code. I am interested in finding out if we can restrict install of certain apps from AppStore using similar approach ?
Also, is it possible if we can restrict a user from deleting the app from device (not from phone settings but from code) ? Even if Apple does not allow that to publish such app, I am looking for a solution as a part of research.
There are two things you mentioned.
First, can restrict install of certain apps from AppStore
Using Swift code I feel there are no Public API provided by Apple for the developer till now but there is a similar way that is called Device Enrollment Program.
The Device Enrollment Program (DEP) is part of the Apple Deployment
Programs (ADP), which help businesses and educational institutions
easily deploy and configure iOS and OS X devices. DEP provides a fast,
streamlined way to deploy institutionally owned iPad and iPhone
devices and Mac computers that are purchased directly from Apple or
participating Apple Authorized Resellers or carriers.
For more visit this developer guide.
Second: restrict a user from deleting the app from device
Same response for that, till now no Developer API, but lets say if we see this as a part of research and we develop some POC still, it does not make sense for me at all (It's my device and I install the app for making my life easy and better if I don't want to use it anymore, I need an option to delete it) and I don't think so this will be possible in future as well because the USP for iOS device is user experience and we can't make this like that.
I also want to hear something from others and if possible give the use case why you are looking a solution like that.
I hope this will help.
Related
I am planning on using DeviceCheckor indentifierForVendor to ensure that the same device is not being used to redeem multiple times the same gift (free money for example sake) offered to new users. I am wondering however, if it is possible to trick this system on a jailbroken device? Or using a custom simulator or a botnet (do iOS botnets exist?)?
I haven't tried it myself, but I think it is possible to change the bundle identifier, resign the app and side load it to your device.
This will change the change the identifier for both DeviceCheck and indentifierForVendor.
Now, for this to really affect you, the user needs to get a hold of the ipa. Which is getting increasingly difficult with the newer versions of iOS.
If you are interested in trying what I've discussed, refer to this link.
https://coderwall.com/p/qwqpnw/resign-ipa-with-new-cfbundleidentifier-and-certificate
And probably AirSign (much easier). Its a paid app for the Mac. https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/51845/airsign
Is there a way to remvoe TestFlight apps from users that have installed them? Also is there a way that TestFlight can bake into the app some sort of password that the users all have to log in with (in case of a lost phone, we don't want our developement apps exposed).
If left untouched, the provisioning of your apps will eventually expire automatically. Even without the native ability to remove applications with TestFlight there is still something of an expiration date on the application.
That would still leave your question of a "baked in password prompt" and removing the application itself physically from the device.
The first part, the app checking for authentication could be solved by implementing a solution with a more robust SDK that happens to have that sort of security-minded approach. As far as I know, and based on TestFLight's feature grid, this exceeds the abilities of their tool.
The second part, removing the application itself from the device, would be accomplished by using a tool that has the ability to use MDM (Mobile Device Management) for device-level control. Specifically you'd want to look for something that can selectively control a single application, rather than having to apply a blanket MDM policy. Again based on knowledge of TestFlight and based on their web page this is also not something TestFlight is capable of.
There are solutions out there that will give you exactly what you are asking about - easy beta testing with the added ability to force the app to check in and re-authenticate as well as the ability to remove applications from the device when you're done testing. If you hit your search engine of choice you can find a few tools that will give you a "yes" to all of your questions here. The list is very short so they're easy to find. :)
If it is at all helpful to you, I am associated with one of those companies, AppBlade, and would be happy to answer questions about this sort of thing. We're at https://AppBlade.com and you're welcome to give us a call or even log into the tool to see how it works for yourself.
Unfortunately you can't delete apps that are already installed on the device via TestFlight, unless you do it on the device itself. As for the password, TestFlight doesn't exactly support that either. You could however put a passcode lock feature in all of the Beta versions of your apps through your code. Sorry thats probably not the answers that you wanted to hear, but TestFlight is still in its early stages.
You are not able to delete apps from a users device, however TestFlight is testing in their 'Area51' an option to force users to update to a new build if there is one available.
If you no longer want testers to access your app you probably could add a new build which justs shows some info screen.
There is a way to expire the builds in the app store connect when you click on build.
Another way if you want to get rid of it as a tested to open the app page and click on stop testing.
I'm about to make an individual iOS dev account, but I would like to share my work with a colleague or two for input that do not have an account (they have Xcode). They will look at the code maybe a bit, but mainly to test the app itself and provide feedback for me. Currently I don't have an account and what I have done is take a screencast of the app in the simulator and send the screencast. Obviously not ideal. So what are my options to share my progress on a daily basis? I think just to have them run in the simulator on their end is fine, until the app is almost complete then maybe on their phone would be good too. Thanks,
rc
A) look at testflight (testflightapp.com) - it's a site which allows you to email ad hoc builds of an app to testers.
B) put your code into version control and give them access. (ie GitHub.com) then they can build it themselves with Xcode onto their devices.
I'd go with A, it gives you more control and the potential for fewer support questions :)
I'm not sure why you would want non-developers looking at your code but I'd that's really needed, option B :)
The type of developer account you get and your ability to share your code are two unrelated issues. Unless you want your colleagues to be able to build your code and install it on test devices, they don't need developer program subscriptions. You can share your code with them in whatever way suits you (give them read access to your version control system), and you can build test versions that they can install on their devices. The only thing they won't be able to do is to build the app themselves for installation on a device.
If the main purpose is for testing, then get an enterprise certificate, sign the app with it and send the ipa file. They will install it and test the app.
A friend of mine is interested in developing an iPad application, and he's heard that "most iPad apps don't offer public beta versions".
Is it true? What mechanisms can he use to distribute a private or public beta version of his app?
You can distribute them in a couple different ways:
A) distribute the source code. This will allow other developers who have an apple developer account to compile and install the app onto their iPad.
B) Release a version 1.0 on the app store and mention that it is still very rough/may have some bugs, and to please provide feedback (obviously only works for public betas)
C) Create a repository for installation of the app via something like Cydia on jailbroken devices. This will allow anyone with a jailbroken device to try your app without the need to give them the source code. Obviously this will allow you to do certain things that you wouldn't be allowed to do normally, so you'll have to make sure you don't do any of those things inadvertently.
All of this answer is re: Private beta - which is mentioned in your verbiage but not your title.
There used to be a website called ibetatest.com that did iOS beta testing (I have no affiliation with them, only remember seeing their offering, which looked interesting).
Additionally, if he wants to do it himself, he'll have to find users of the iPad who are willing to beta test for him. In the distribution instructions on the apple developers site, it will tell you how to make ad-hoc distributions available which he can then disseminate to his beta testers.
This is the short answer, it's quite involved, but once you've gotten to that point, it's something he will be intimately involved with.
How to build an application which is capable of executing outside the sandbox in non-jail broken devices? Because I need to access the files and other informations like sms, call history etc ...
I'm afraid you will probably not be able to do this. The provided SDK, and terms of using the SDK do not allow you to operate outside of the sandbox.
Even if you were able to access the information, then the app would only ever be for your own use (unless you are an enterprise developer) as it would most likely get a rejection from the App Store approvals process.
The only access outside the sandbox that is allowed is mediated through Apple's SDK. You will only be able to access specific items, such as the Address Book or Photo library, through the iPhone OS framework.
If you have a more specific question about what you want to accomplish, perhaps we can answer based on what is currently allowed.
There's no method that I know of to perform access outside the sandbox that is defined by the iPhone SDK.
Even if there were, your app would not be available for non-jailbroken phones, as it wouldn't be approved by the app store.