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Sorry for the newb question, but are you saying that ANY app developed for the iPhone (including a custom app for a client) must go through the App Store before

by cpher 17y ago

Sorry for the newb question, but are you saying that ANY app developed for the iPhone (including a custom app for a client) must go through the App Store before being installed on their phones? I'm asking because we have a web-based intranet app that we could create an iPhone-based version of, but it's only useful to the client. So, there's no reason to put in on the App Store. But it sounds like you're saying all apps must go through it. (Edit: I don't own an iPhone so this is new territory for me)

rdouble 17y ago
There's a way to do it but you need to be an approved "enterprise" developer. Nobody I know has actually completed the process. This PDF has more info: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Enterprise_Deployment_Guide.pdf http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Enterprise_Deployment_Gu...
- cpher 17y ago
  Thanks for the link. After reading the deployment notes, I'm kind of shocked that they make it so hard to deploy custom apps that you have no intention of selling via App Store. It sounds like a web-based app tailored to the iPhone is the way to go.
jpierce420 17y ago
Wow, you can't even load your own apps onto iPhone? Damn, I knew Apple was closed-minded, but this takes the cake. If you spend that much money for that monstrosity, you ought to be able to put what you want onto it, you know, like all other phones i'm aware of. Holy Crap. Just another reason I'll never buy one. Can someone confirm this? I'm having trouble even believing that. If this were true, how do you test it, with only an emulator?
alex_c 17y ago
For small deployments, you can use "Ad-hoc" distribution - users have to jump through some minor hoops (give you their device UUID, then drag the app file into their iTunes and sync to the iPhone), but it works. It's mainly aimed at distributing copies for testing or reviewing before an app hits the app store, and I think there's a limit to how many copies you can distribute this way (100 different devices? Don't remember 100%, I'd have to look it up). You can also physically install the app yourself from your development machine if you get their device (again, there might be a limit on the number of devices, since you have to register each one). As rdouble mentioned, there's also the enterprise program. And, of course, there are jailbroken devices with third party app "stores". I don't have much experience with these, but jailbroken iPhones are supposed to make up a significant percentage of users - might not be as useful for business use, though.
- jpierce420 17y ago
  Ahh ok, thanks for clearing that up. I remembered after my last post that my professor showed me a free Standford web class on developing for iPhone, and they were giving real, in-person students iPhones to test their apps on. Still, they shouldn't limit this, nobody would overtake the appstore, they just can't stand even the smallest percentage getting around them. Makes me sick. The iPhone could be such a better device, but Apple keeps cutting apps for the use of 'undocumented APIs'. A few apps made the camera do things that Apple never imagined being possible, and they get cut for the above reason. I just wish they would open up more, broaden their horizon a bit. They're such control freaks.

by cpher 17y ago

rdouble 17y ago

There's a way to do it but you need to be an approved "enterprise" developer. Nobody I know has actually completed the process. This PDF has more info: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Enterprise_Deployment_Guide.pdf http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Enterprise_Deployment_Gu...

cpher 17y ago
Thanks for the link. After reading the deployment notes, I'm kind of shocked that they make it so hard to deploy custom apps that you have no intention of selling via App Store. It sounds like a web-based app tailored to the iPhone is the way to go.

jpierce420 17y ago

Wow, you can't even load your own apps onto iPhone? Damn, I knew Apple was closed-minded, but this takes the cake. If you spend that much money for that monstrosity, you ought to be able to put what you want onto it, you know, like all other phones i'm aware of. Holy Crap. Just another reason I'll never buy one. Can someone confirm this? I'm having trouble even believing that. If this were true, how do you test it, with only an emulator?

alex_c 17y ago

For small deployments, you can use "Ad-hoc" distribution - users have to jump through some minor hoops (give you their device UUID, then drag the app file into their iTunes and sync to the iPhone), but it works. It's mainly aimed at distributing copies for testing or reviewing before an app hits the app store, and I think there's a limit to how many copies you can distribute this way (100 different devices? Don't remember 100%, I'd have to look it up). You can also physically install the app yourself from your development machine if you get their device (again, there might be a limit on the number of devices, since you have to register each one). As rdouble mentioned, there's also the enterprise program. And, of course, there are jailbroken devices with third party app "stores". I don't have much experience with these, but jailbroken iPhones are supposed to make up a significant percentage of users - might not be as useful for business use, though.

jpierce420 17y ago
Ahh ok, thanks for clearing that up. I remembered after my last post that my professor showed me a free Standford web class on developing for iPhone, and they were giving real, in-person students iPhones to test their apps on. Still, they shouldn't limit this, nobody would overtake the appstore, they just can't stand even the smallest percentage getting around them. Makes me sick. The iPhone could be such a better device, but Apple keeps cutting apps for the use of 'undocumented APIs'. A few apps made the camera do things that Apple never imagined being possible, and they get cut for the above reason. I just wish they would open up more, broaden their horizon a bit. They're such control freaks.