One of the more common tasks performed in Apple Configurator is to create a backup of a device and restore that backup to multiple devices. This backs up the icon placement on screens, the settings on the device and anything not stored in the operating system or secure enclave of a device. Once you’ve created a backup, you can assign that backup to a blueprint or deploy the backup to individual devices. To create a backup, first open Apple Configurator 2 and tether a device to the computer running Apple Configurator. Next, right-click on a device and then choose the Back Up option. Once you unlock the device (if locked) the…
-
-
Restore A Device Backup Using Apple Configurator 2
One of the common tasks to perform when doing some larger iOS deployments is to restore an iOS device as part of setting the device up for users. Restoring a device will retain a few things like icon placement on a device. To restore a device, we’ll first create a backup, described here. As of Apple Configurator 2, you can use iTunes and Apple Configurator 2-sourced backups of devices. You can also now assign the restore task to a Blueprint or do so manually. To get started with restoring a device, first plug in a device and open Apple Configurator. Right-click on a device and then choose the Restore from Backup… option.…
-
Install Apps To iOS Devices Using Apple Configurator 2
One of the primary use cases for Apple Configurator 1 and Apple Configurator 2 is to get apps on devices. Even with MDM, you can use Apple Configurator 2 for app deployment. The value here might be that you end up transferring 10 gigs of apps over a USB cable, rather than over the air in larger deployments. Here, we’ll look at a basic app deployment using Apple Configurator 2. To get started, first download the app and get it in iTunes. This can be accomplished by copying the .ipa file for an app onto a device, or syncing an iOS device with iTunes that has the app installed. Take care that…
-
Use The Fitbit App With Your iPhone Instead Of A Fitbit
Recently, I had my third Fitbit in a year break. I decided to pick up a Jawbone UP3 instead. But I got to missing my Fitbit friends and some of the other features that are great on the Fitbit. So I looked into using the Fitbit app without a Fitbit device. And I was in luck; I found that the Fitbit app has a feature called MobileTrack. MobileTrack allows you to use your iPhone as a Fitbit, in a way. To setup MobileTrack, install the Fitbit app from the App Store and login with your FitBit account. From the Fitbit app, tap on the “Account” icon in the icon bar. You’d normally add your Fitbit…
-
Set Device Wallpaper Using Apple Configurator 2 On Supervised Devices
You can set a wallpaper on both the home screen and lock screen of a supervised iOS device. As mentioned, the device will need to be supervised. Supervision can be implemented via Apple’s Device Enrollment Program (DEP for short), but DEP will require MDM to implement supervision, and with a device enrolled and supervised via MDM, you’ll need to use the MDM to set the wallpaper. You can also use Apple Configurator 2. To use Apple Configurator 2 to set a wallpaper on a supervised iPhone or iPad, first save the image or images lo call on an iOS device. Once saved to the Apple Configurator machine, open Apple Configurator 2…
-
Automate MDM Enrollment Using Apple Configurator 2
I’ve written a number of articles on automating MDM enrollments using Apple Configurator in the past. In Apple Configurator 2, there are some new options that make the process much easier than it’s ever been in the past. To get started, let’s open Apple Configurator 2 and click on a Blueprint we’d like to apply to devices being prepared during a mass iPad or iPhone enrollment through Apple Configurator. Control-click on the Blueprint to set up for automated enrollment and click on the Prepare button. At the Organization screen, select the organization you’d like to enroll your device in and click on the Next button. At the Server screen, select…
-
Migrate Settings From Apple Configurator 1 to Apple Configurator 2
The first time you open Apple Configurator 2, if you’ve been using Apple Configurator 1, your settings will be upgraded from the old sqlite3 database in Apple Configurator 1 into the Apple Configurator 2 decentralized file structure. To get started, first backup your computer. I’d recommend a clone as with certs and profiles and databases and all that fun stuff. Once you have a solid backup, open the new Apple Configurator 2 app and then click on the Next button at the Introduction screen. At the Library Migration screen, select each of the types of data that you’d like to migrate and click on the Next button. At the Device Backups screen, you will…
-
Increase The Logging Level Of Apple Configurator
Apple Configurator, by default, logs only a limited amount of data. To increase the logging level for Apple Configurator, use the defaults command to write All into the LogLevel key in com.apple.configurator, using the defaults command: defaults write com.apple.configurator LogLevel ALL Re-open Apple Configurator and you’re golden. Then, have some problems and be so happy to get some logs, viewable in Console. defaults read com.apple.configurator {AcceptedLicenseVersion = 20150317; CDFirstLaunch = 0; CDMainViewType = 3; ChaperoneCertificateIssuer = ; ChaperoneCertificateSerial = ; LogLevel = ALL; NSNavLastRootDirectory = "~/Desktop"; NSNavPanelExpandedSizeForSaveMode = "{712, 620}"; "NSToolbar Configuration C484E2C8-5B9C-4999-9304-7233D38B3F95" = { "TB Display Mode" = 1; "TB Icon Size Mode" = 1; "TB Is Shown" =…
-
Bushel: Invite Your Friends For More Free Devices
Bushel gives you three devices for free. But you can get more free devices if you like the product and choose to share it with your friends and family. To do so is pretty straight forward. Simply click on the Accounts icon in the sidebar and then click on the Profile tab. Here, towards the bottom of the screen, you’ll see the Referrals section. To Read More About Inviting Your Friends To Bushel To Get More Free Devices Forever on the Bushel Blog
-
The Top 8 Features for Small Businesses in iOS 9
Smallbizdaily posted an article I did for Bushel about the top 8 new features in iOS 9 that help small businesses. Find it here, if you so choose: http://www.smallbizdaily.com/22820/top-8-new-features-ios-9-help-small-business/