iOS direct install from within an app - ios

I just clicked on an ad banner in an iOS app. An interstitial (a layer above the actual app) opened and I was able to install the app without being redirected to the app store. This is what happened:
Click on banner ad
Interstitial opens full screen
I clicked a button with "Play now" on it (on the interstitial)
I was not redirected to the app store but was able to use touch id in order to directly download the app from within the interstitial
I have two questions regarding this user experience:
How is this done?
Is this also possible from within safari or a webpage in general.

Take a look at the SKStoreProductViewController
No, but you can link to the page on the app store and it should automatically open in the App Store app if running on an iOS device. I suppose one could also implement a browser that redirects app store links to a SKStoreProductViewControoller.

Related

Universal Links - disable top right link

I currently complement my web application by using URL Schemes to launch my native application. Starting with iOS 9 my users now get challenged with a popup that says "Open in app name". I have figured how to eliminate this by using Universal Links using a different domain then the app I'm launching from but have encountered an issue.
Key points
App is distributed outside of the app store as an Enterprise Distribution. So if I understand correctly smart app banners do not apply.
In case my app is not installed, my universal link web location hosts a page on how to install it.
If a user launches the app but does not have it installed they properly get my install page
Once in the app if the user presses the domain link at the top right they will not be able to launch the app again
The problem Im encountering is that if a user ever presses on the link/bread crumb at top right the app will not launch anymore. It will always direct the user to the install page. I know if I pull down on this page there is an open button that will take me to the app, or if I long press on my link I can also have it launch my app. However, I will not be able to get my users to understand this.
Is there a way to turn off the link on the top right?

Facebook In-App Browser Cannot Launch iTunes Link

When iOS Facebook's in-app browser loads my web page, I have a link there to "Download App Now" which links to the App Store Page, i.e.
https://itunes.apple.com/my/app/XXXXX/12345678?ls=1&mt=8
If this is loaded in Safari, it launches the corresponding app page in App Store correctly and users can instantly download the app.
However, if launched within Facebook's in-app browser, the browser shows a warning: "Leave Facbook? This web page is trying to open an app outside of Facebook. Are you sure you want to open it?"
If I click "Open App", nothing happens. I've tried changing the link using href, onclick, target=_blank and nothing works, basically FB app just failed to launch the external app page.
Is this a bug with Facebook app? I need the open app link feature as I'm showing a website and wish to redirect mobile users to download the app instead.
I'm using iPhone 6 Plus running iOS 8.1, and the latest Facebook app. I tried it in my iPad 4 iOS 7, same problem too.
Thanks!
As noted by WizKid, this is/was a known problem. It should be fixed with the most recent version of the app.

Deeplink in facebook app page in iOS not working

I have an app page in facebook. I have used Call to action feature to create Use app button in my app page.
I have an app in iOS. What I wanted to achieve is that when ever a user clicks on the Use app button from his iOS device (Safari or Facebook app) He/She should be navigated to the AppStore or App(if app is already installed).
What I get now is, whenever I click on the Use app button from iOS I get navigated to my website.
Anyone got ideas to fix it?

Is it possible to update my current iOS app from App Store?

When I navigate on my app on device, I have some restrictions for some screen and what I have to do is to access App Store directly from my app when I select Ok button from the popup that restricted that page. Is it possible to create a way which can access directly App Store and to make update for my current app?

Users getting redirected to ios app when deep linking is turned off

Deep linking is turned off for our app
But when ios users click a link we posted on our facebook page to our page app (https://apps.facebook.com/nakedwines/), they are redirected to the ios app instead of our competition page.
If an ios user enters the link manually into their browser, this works.
Is this a bug or is there something not set up right?
Your issue is that when mobile users try to access your app they're brought to the app store (when the app isn't installed) ? That's expected, if the app was installed it would be opened directly.
If you don't have an IOS app, remove the IOS details from the app settings and they'll be brought to your mobile web URL instead.
The Deep linking setting allows users who click posts from your app to be brought into the app with sufficient context to allow your app to display a specific piece of content.
i.e links to your app's content are passed through to the native app with the full URL, and your app can open that content directly.
For example, clicking a link to a spotify song on iOS opens the spotify app and plays that song, without deep linking it just opens spotify with no context.
I ended up creating a completely new facebook app for the competition page. This got round all of the issues. Facebook doesn't seem to play well if you have both a page app and ios/android apps under the same application.

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