This is a bit specific but let's say :
I just got a thousand of tablets. I want to install my app on these ones only.
I want nobody else to have the app and I want updates to be as smooth as possible.
I would also like to avoid using a third party server as it's more work and it might not even be possible (I don't think there's an Android permission allowing to delete and install apps on a device).
Is there a faster way than manually creating a gmail adress for every single one of them and restrict publishing to a google+ group that all these accounts are subscribed to ?
Is there any kind of script or option to have this done ? My googling was resultless so far.
In short how to manage update for a single purpose app ?
EDIT : I've found this : https://developer.android.com/work/cosu.html#locktask
but no update feature is mentionned
EDIT 2 : I believe it is a pertinent question as it's unanswered here : Update Android app in COSU device
EDIT 3 : I've found the "google private channel" but it doesn't seem to quite answer the problematics I face yet
First you have to login with your publisher account and
open publish apk deshboard.
Click on See List.
One Pop up will open and you can restrict the device from there.
Related
I'm currently working on a project that is going to have over 100 android devices used and the users of each device will also change on a daily bases.
What we want to achieve is that the user is allowed to open only 1 or 2 of the apps on the device. Meanwhile, everything else should be forbidden.
I've seen that G suite offers app whitelisting, but that doesn't really seem like the right use case and also it would cost more than 500$ a month to maintain. Also, the apps that will be on those devices will not be published on play store and will be directly installed via apk.
Thanks in advance!
Have you checked UserStatsManager class, you need to check which application is foreground and then you can display your own activity if it's not the intended one.
My application will be running on hundreds of android devices belonging to a single owner and I may need to modify the software as an update at some point.
I decided I should include a feature to check with the server for updates and download them, which is currently working.
Installing the update is the difficult part. I need it done automatically. Preferably with no user interaction since there are hundreds of devices and it would be very time consuming to do each one manually.
This is the problem, even with the device rooted, I can not find a generic way that each device can install the update without system specific information.
I have read questions like this but can not find a proper answer: Install Android APK without prompt
The bottom answer executes but I can find no installed app, so I assume it failed.
What you want to do is not possible without some serious hacks. A private app store might be a better fit.
If your client is a Google Apps user, you can create a private channel in the Play Store.
Distribute Android apps in your organization
If not, you will have to rely on third party solution like these one:
Apperian Mobile Application Management
ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager
I didn't try any of these, so you will have to do some research to check that they fit your needs
I published a chatting app 2 weeks earlier. I am able to see my app in playstore. But I am not able to see Similar apps section at the bottom.
Category: social
Example: Other apps are shown like:
My app is shown like:
Does download matters or I am missing something?
Usually it takes time to be indexed fully and I believe the algorithm takes into account similar downloads by users that consume your application.
With only a few downloads the algorithm probably has little data to go on.
Here's the scenario i am trying to achieve:
Publish/have an app in the Android app store
However - i do not want it to be searchable through the android market search, etc.
The only way people can access the app is if i give them an explicit link to download
Is above possible? If so - how? All FAQs/instrucitons i have seen publish & make it searchable for the whole world - but i want it only accessible through #3 above.
Thanks.
Try this site https://www.push-link.com/, you can upload apk on your private account and only can be accessible thorough automatic generated link and QR code. This service contains user notification on new versions and bug reports.
Two things that are problematic with the link to an APK approach:
Some of the devices out there (I m only aware of the Motorola Atrix) don't have the "Unkown Sources" option, meaning that this won't work on them.
You loose the ability to auto update the app if you want.
I would recommend adding a login process where only your users will have access to the actual application. This way, you still have the Market advantages and only those people can activate the application.
The main disadvantage is that the application will be open to search in the Market, but as far as I know, this won't be a problem since people will immediately uninstall it since they won't be able to activate it.
In your case, what I do is, I dont upload the application to the Market and distribute it from my server.
I mean this is simple, sweet and it also saves my $25 for the market account...
Don't do this. Just publish the APK to your own website, then give the users the URL to the APK, they can download and install it directly. The only thing they'll need to do is ensure that Menu-Settings-Applications-Unknown sources is ticked.
I have 2 unrelated questions in one so please bear with me.
I want to know if an Android device absolutely requires a simm card inorder to execute all things Location Based Services.
And ...
I would like friends of mine to download my samlpe app. Is there anyway to put my app online where friends can download and help me test and not put my beta-code on Market place?
For the second question, take a look at this question and answer: Signing an app, but not publishing on Android market
You'd be publishing as an "unknown source" and your friends' would have to change a setting on their phones. ATT doesn't allow this on some phones I think.