Scott,
My problem with iPad is that you can't write your own software to run on
it. You can only run what Apple wants you to run. I'm a programmer,
and would love to be able to build my own creature comforts into the
thing -- but Apple won't let me do anything except stuff I get from
their App Store.
Mike is correct, assuming the iPad will be handled the same as the iPhone
and iTouch.
You can write your own software; you just can't publish it through their app
store. Each device has a unique identifier (UUID). In order to run a
program which does not have a digital certificate and published through the
app store, you create a "mobile provisioning" file with the UUID of your
device. You then install your own app and its mobile provisioning file
using either iTunes or the iPhone configuration utility, and it is allowed
to run on your own device. If you think about it, this ability is
absolutely essential for testing programs prior to submitting to the app
store.
You can list up to 100 device UUIDs in a mobile provisioning file, which
basically allows up to 100 users per program which is not published through
the app store (or to beta test a new build prior to public distribution).
The app store includes programs such as one called UDID whose sole purpose
is to email a developer a device's UUID value so the developer can insert it
in a mobile provisioning file to return to the tester for installation with
the non-published software.
I believe to get past 100 users you must essentially clone the software into
a second program, which can then have its own mobile provisioning file with
100 authorized devices.
For individual users, just dragging the mobile provisioning file plus
program to iTunes lets you install them just fine. For a corporate
environment, Apple released the "iPhone configuration utility" which lets
you do the same thing to multiple devices without needing a full iTunes sync
operation. You just plug the USB cable in, and get direct access to the
list of apps on the device to manipulate. You still need the mobile
provisioning file, but it is much quicker for an IT department to deploy on
multiple devices this way. There is still a 100 device limit per mobile
provisioning file though.
Doug
midrange.com
