Shared iPad

[Thomasba58]

We have an iPad at work that is shared among several people, I have the onerous task of managing this including keeping it updated ...blah blah.
Is there a way without Jailbreaking, that I can prevent the users from hooking up to iTunes and doing a restore. Thereby losing all the installed Apps etc..

I've tried threatening them with all sorts of nasty things but they're further up the food chain than me, and so I get nowhere.

Something as simple as a password to block access to iTunes would do but does anybody have any preferences or alternative...useful...suggestions?

TIA

 

[sempire]

What kind of business is this? A shared iPad in a business doesn't seem like a whole lot of sense..

 

[TheBritishBloke]

Umm. I don't think you can, even if there's a passcode on it as it means you'll have to tell them the passcode to use it.

I don't get why they would want to restore it though?

 

[GeekGuys]

I can understand this... and an iPad makes much more sense in a company setting as they are just a utility device in that sense.

In (partial) answer you could try setting it to not open iTunes on connection. This would remove the initial tempatation or accidental restore.

Also, you could set up a group policy on the PC's (if Windows) to not allow iTunes to open at all..... or possibly add in some sort of USB device control that will allow USB power (for charging) but not to recognise the device, this iTunes won't see it. Santuary is one such product.

All possible, depending on your technical ability and access in the company.

 

[GeekGuys]

As an aside, there is a small gap that Apple or not exploiting with the iPad here. Apple need to open up the device to allow corporate control of the device. This would allow companies to develop internal apps that make full use of the iPad capabilities, but giving a corporate look/feel to the screen. Remote application deployment, multi-user control, lockdown, remote wipe etc etc.
I feel this is a large market for the iPad...... this would also solve your problem... just convince Apple to let you do that, Apple then redevelop their iOS, you develop your own custom iOS and a fully automated control system... simple !!!!

 

[Consultant]

Put a sticker next to dock which says:

Do not sync
with iTunes

 

[GoCubsGo]

Nope there's no way to share access like that. To me that is a major feature that I wish the iPad had.

 

[Jaro65]

Nope there's no way to share access like that. To me that is a major feature that I wish the iPad had.

Agreed. Though from the business perspective it is obvious why Apple designed it as a single-user device. Unfortunately I don't see them changing it anytime soon.

 

[Thomasba58]

Thanks to all, I guess I was just hoping for an easy life.

And to geekguys second post and excellent idea....if I get Apple to fly with the idea I'll share the royalties with you....promise