Shared iPad Overview(support.apple.com)
support.apple.com
Shared iPad Overview
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/deployment/dep9a34c2ba2/web
30 comments
It’s very common in industries where the software is the tool, not the iPad itself.
For example, it makes sense for sales to have their own iPad, because they use it as a portable notebook, CRM, email box, slideshow controller, etc.
But in geomatics or environmental engineering, it’s not uncommon for field techs to share the ruggedized iPad that’s already preloaded with the 5-figure mapping software, data collection tools, etc
For example, it makes sense for sales to have their own iPad, because they use it as a portable notebook, CRM, email box, slideshow controller, etc.
But in geomatics or environmental engineering, it’s not uncommon for field techs to share the ruggedized iPad that’s already preloaded with the 5-figure mapping software, data collection tools, etc
Thanks, I see the use case, but then I'm not sure each user of the device is logging in/out each time they use it ?
I'd imagine a single common user that's never touched, with a pin/password memorized by everyone.
I'd imagine a single common user that's never touched, with a pin/password memorized by everyone.
>I'd imagine a single common user that's never touched, with a pin/password memorized by everyone.
This is how it was done in a typical 24/7 operation that was as small as it could be.
The office people, who worked straight days, each had a PC at their desk, but those offices were dark at night. One supervisor office was manned 0600 to midnight and there were 3 different user accounts on that one.
In the labs there were two "community" desks that the regular shift workers all shared, one in the main paperwork area with the printers and telephones, and one backup/overflow desk in the chemical area. One unique username on each PC, but both using the same password and sharing the same email and LOB servers. That same common email was also used by the supervisors and functioned as a single "interface to the laboratory" for the rest of the organization and the outside world. Naturally this is in a physically secure area but nobody ever signs out or logs in unless the PC is rebooted, and whoever is on duty at the time uses the same password. Each employee also had their own private company email address and could use their own device on the guest wifi.
IIRC the idea of a personal computer was so that it's affordable for every operator with a use case to have one of their own.
It's been a while and as commodities they have stratified into fairly well-defined price points.
If you're using iPads now and can not truly afford one for each user, that could be a strong sign that you need a platform having a lower-cost pricing structure engineered in from the beginning.
This is how it was done in a typical 24/7 operation that was as small as it could be.
The office people, who worked straight days, each had a PC at their desk, but those offices were dark at night. One supervisor office was manned 0600 to midnight and there were 3 different user accounts on that one.
In the labs there were two "community" desks that the regular shift workers all shared, one in the main paperwork area with the printers and telephones, and one backup/overflow desk in the chemical area. One unique username on each PC, but both using the same password and sharing the same email and LOB servers. That same common email was also used by the supervisors and functioned as a single "interface to the laboratory" for the rest of the organization and the outside world. Naturally this is in a physically secure area but nobody ever signs out or logs in unless the PC is rebooted, and whoever is on duty at the time uses the same password. Each employee also had their own private company email address and could use their own device on the guest wifi.
IIRC the idea of a personal computer was so that it's affordable for every operator with a use case to have one of their own.
It's been a while and as commodities they have stratified into fairly well-defined price points.
If you're using iPads now and can not truly afford one for each user, that could be a strong sign that you need a platform having a lower-cost pricing structure engineered in from the beginning.
Shared iPad requires a mobile device management (MDM) solution and Managed Apple IDs that are issued and owned by the organization.
In other words, this doesn't help out families who might want to share a single device. Lame.
In other words, this doesn't help out families who might want to share a single device. Lame.
No, because they would rather you buy multiple iPads on top of the iPhones and Watches you might already own.
Oh man, I got excited to use this with our kids, but then saw that it requires a " mobile device management (MDM) solution and Managed Apple IDs." I hope they consider the family use case in the future.
They want you to buy a separate device for each family member.
But the result is that, although I want a new iPad, I cannot justify buying even one, given how useless it is in a family-shared environment.
I think android is doing it now, so they’ll probably follow soon, I guess…
In this size class, Chromebooks and ChromeOS tablets could be a better fit.
Perhaps Samsung's tablet could be more polish, but for many use cases Chrome OS is more flexible and will "just work". And to the subject at hand, user switching is pretty decent, all the more so if you keep nothing local.
Perhaps Samsung's tablet could be more polish, but for many use cases Chrome OS is more flexible and will "just work". And to the subject at hand, user switching is pretty decent, all the more so if you keep nothing local.
Exactly. An employee doesn't have the authority or the budget to buy a(nother) company iPad, but kids will nag their parents until they give in.
For those looking at using this at home with their family, I think it’s possible with a little effort. Jamfnow is free for three devices, and you can use Apple Configurator to setup the iPad in supervised mode. I haven’t tried multiple profiles myself, though.
Edited to add a link (no affiliation with Jamf, just a user): https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-now/
Edited to add a link (no affiliation with Jamf, just a user): https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-now/
How does this work then? Do you give Jamf then control over your Apple device?
That’s the case with any MDM solution. Whether you use Intune, XenMobile, Jamf, etc. you are using that service to install a validated management profile on your device. Nearly every major institution does this.
Personally, I picked the free Jamf solution so that I could better control my kids’ devices. It’s more complicated than Apple’s Screen Time solution, but there is so much more that you can govern with the management profiles.
What I would love to see is a robust FOSS MDM option. There seem to be a few out there, but I’m not sure how well they’re maintained.
What I would love to see is a robust FOSS MDM option. There seem to be a few out there, but I’m not sure how well they’re maintained.
This isn’t new, but does highlight the fact that Apple often doesn’t let us have nice things. iPads do tend to be single-user devices in practice, but every time I have to help family or friends set one up I am taken aback by how much computing power they have today and how much more useful they could be.
Multi-user is just one thing, but especially galling for people on lower budgets or who want a tablet for family use.
But Apple is not alone. My Nexus 7 Android tablets (the first tablets I bought for my kids, second-hand off of eBay) supported multi-user quite well. I haven’t seen any modern Android tablets that do that (and I looked around at Android 11/12/13 tablets recently).
Multi-user is just one thing, but especially galling for people on lower budgets or who want a tablet for family use.
But Apple is not alone. My Nexus 7 Android tablets (the first tablets I bought for my kids, second-hand off of eBay) supported multi-user quite well. I haven’t seen any modern Android tablets that do that (and I looked around at Android 11/12/13 tablets recently).
Apple truly has been very slow to market with a lot of basic features like this. And even this feature is only available to enterprises/schools with an IT department.
For a mature OS (if you subscribe to the idea that iPadOS is an OS in the first place), features like multiple profiles seem like table stakes.
I'm not sure whether I prefer a go to market approach more similar to Google (launch quick, and kill projects that don't work) or Apple's approach (launch extremely slow and be extra sure there's long-term product market fit).
For a mature OS (if you subscribe to the idea that iPadOS is an OS in the first place), features like multiple profiles seem like table stakes.
I'm not sure whether I prefer a go to market approach more similar to Google (launch quick, and kill projects that don't work) or Apple's approach (launch extremely slow and be extra sure there's long-term product market fit).
My parents bought an iPad recently, intending to share it. They were dumfounded that it could only have one account and amazed that no-one had pointed it out to them when they went to buy it. It's now my Dad's iPad, which is a shame for my Mum.
Does this mean I could have got them a free Apple Business Manager account and given them two accounts? I assume it's not that simple, despite ABM being free?
Does this mean I could have got them a free Apple Business Manager account and given them two accounts? I assume it's not that simple, despite ABM being free?
That's a bummer. You should get your mom a 5G iPad mini for the upcoming holidays! Great connectivity and form factor.
You have to be a school or an organization (they ask for the DUNS number for organizations, that I’m sure of).
See samch's message above
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41648046
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41648046
My biggest gripe in the Apple ecosystem is this. iPad is closer than ever to MacOS but the keyboard shortcuts are different, there is no multiple users, etc. Its frustrating.
This would be an amazing alternative to not having work profiles if it worked on the iPhone. Work Profile is the biggest feature I miss from my Android days.
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> Shared iPad requires a mobile device management (MDM) solution and Managed Apple IDs that are issued and owned by the organization.
To note, I don't think I've ever seen an organization actually sharing their iPads at scale. For instance I saw a Sales fleet with central management but each employee has their own iPad that's exchange only if it dies or disfunctions.
Same for classrooms, each kid getting their own iPad seems to be the norm. I'd guess at the end of the day having multiple account on one device is still a PITA in some way ? (local storage management perhaps ?)