I’m developing an iOS app for a museum as a freelancer. It’s a very simple video player, to be installed on a single iPad that will be part of a permanent exhibition, basically acting as a kiosk. It turns out the iPad is the ideal device for that if you’re looking for a small and affordable touchscreen.
The problem is: as far as I can tell, none of the Apple Developer Program options available will allow me to distribute an app like that. The relevant options are (from the link above):
iOS Developer Program ($99/year)
Select this program if you would like to distribute apps on the App Store as an individual, sole proprietor, company, organization, government entity or educational institution.iOS Developer Enterprise Program ($299/year)
Select this program if you would like to develop proprietary apps for internal distribution within your company, organization, government entity or educational institution.
The regular program requires distribution through the App Store. The Enterprise version is for internal distribution within my own organization. Neither is the case here! It seems like I’m doomed to violate Apple’s terms of service (and I can think of at least two ways of doing that: jailbreaking, or changing the iPad’s date so it won’t know the provisioning profile expired).
Is that really so, or did I get the descriptions wrong? Has anyone here been in a similar situation?
2
I think jailbreaking is a good option for your use-case. In addition to resolving the licensing issue (assuming jailbreaking remains legal), it would also enable you to block OTA updates. I think blocking them is a good precaution for your use case, as OS or library updates may cause your software to break in the future even if you don’t change it.
4
You can use the “iOS Developer Program” (individual) to deploy your app to any single device; you’re not required to submit all apps created to the App Store, you’re only given the option to do so if you like.
Either way, in order to remain functioning on any given device, you’ll need to continue to pay the annual fee for membership in the program.
4
I acknowledge this is not a direct answer to your question (And I have no preference of Apple over Android or Windows – they all have their place).
Are you locked into the apple ecosystem? Why? – it does not appear to provide commercial framework needed for the job at hand. If it does not then another tool for the job may be required.
Android Development allows the distribution model you require, and an Droid tablet appear that it would do the job required equally well. Windows 8 Tablets will also be able to provide the commercial framework you require.
5
You can’t deploy to hardware without a dev program subscription.
The proper way would be for the museum to buy the iOS dev program and for them to add you as a member to it. Add the iPad as one of your test devices and you can just have xcode build directly to it.
The enterprise program is for entities that need to run an internal app store which you don’t here.
2
Could you just link to a YouTube Video or Vimeo link? Then just pin the URL to the ipad’s homepage so that it opens in fullscreen?
1
You should investigate the VPP program from Apple. It allows you release an App to a virtual private iTunes Store for each customer. Once the customer and you are registered they will be able to download the app from their private store. Once they have done so you can lock the app to prevent additional downloads to that one customer. The same setup can be replicated for possible future customers as well. A bit spendy but then you are providing a one off for their use. With luck some other curator will see it and want it for their exhibit! 🙂 Good luck.
2