Just got a brand new iPad. Is there a way natively or via another app to password protect the Mail application? I'd love to be able to let others use the iPad for internet browsing or games, but with Mail if you click it you can get right into all my email accounts with all my data. Would love to be able to have extra security on top of the Mail program to even get it to open up.
Many thanks in advance for the help.
Varjak, I think you are missing the point, aren't you?
The ipad is NOT a single user device. Yes, Apple stuck the same ios on it because they decided it wasn't worth developing a separate version. Unless of course you subscribe to the popular view that the ipad is really just a big iphone?
It's a good device, but it could be better. Apple has made some amazing bloopers with it. (The wifi also has known issues, why can't I have subfolders in my photo albums?) If you stick your head in the sand and take the attitude "it is this way 'cos we say it is" your opposition usually soon overtakes you. Yes, ipads far outsell android tablets. But once upon a time, iphones outsold android phones. Not any more. And guess what, android devices all used to have the same os...but not any more. The ipad is still (just about) the best tablet, but my guess is that tablets will go the same way as the phones, as android evolves faster and listens to the community.
The ipad is NOT a single user device.
The iPad IS a single user device, as far as privacy issues are concerned or you wouldn't be here grousing about it. The iPad IS a single user device because you can't create private individual user accounts on it for more than one person. You can either set it up as a shared device and not have an expectation of any privacy because whatever is on it is availale for anyone who picks it up to see or you can give it a primary password that protects the privacy of a single user. Period.
Yes, Apple stuck the same ios on it because they decided it wasn't worth developing a separate version.
Actually, iOS does come in different versions, based on iOS device. And those different versions based on device also install themselves differently based on the model it is installed on. Which is why the iPhone 4S is the only iOS device with SIRI. Which is why the new iPad is the only iPad with dictation. Which is why the iOS device supported by one cellular service provider may have a personal hotspot and the identical device supported by a different service provider may not. Etc, etc, etc.
Just noticed my original post is still getting some activity. I do think everyone is making valid points, in between the off the cuff comments, on how it works now or on how it could be improved upon.
True, it's not really multi-user in terms of how a PC is one machine with multiple user accounts and separate settings based on who logged on.
The part I don't understand which maybe you two could explain, is if it is truly designed as a single user device, why would Apple let you restrict some of the Apple apps but not all of them, as someone posted earlier in the thread when trying to help me with my original question. Why would one person want to restrict themselves from certain apps?
I just think it would have been nice/better had they extended the restriction ability to all the built-in programs, not just some of them. Wouldn't you agree that would be an improvement since the technology is already there? It's been like that in at least 2 generations of iPads i've dealt with. If it was truly only meant to be single-user, you'd think that feature wouldn't be included at all since you can lock the device entirely with a passcode. Not trying to stoke the flames here, just trying to show a different angle of how to view it.
is if it is truly designed as a single user device, why would Apple let you restrict some of the Apple apps but not all of them
It's really quite simple, the restrictions are a form of parental control so that a parent can set the device up for use by a child or shared use by children and feel comfortable about what is available to the child. The restrictions don't provide any privacy, simply restrictions on use.
True, just wish they would have deemed more of the built-in programs parental control worthy then. In my mind, restricting children (or anyone you choose) from getting into an application does teeter toward the privacy/security realm a bit.
That's really all I wanted to do with my original post, was restrict Mail access somehow so others could use the device but not get into the mail account. Just wish Mail would have been included with the other apps they let you restrict. I submitted that thought to Apple when the iPad2 came out and with the launch of the latest model as well.
So I guess it's more accurate to say the iPad is mostly a single user device with minimal parental control type features (the restrictions).
Thanks for the link - that's very helpful. I've posted a request for some feature to offer some form of additional password protection for some apps (for example, allowing that some screens be set up to requires re-entry of the screen-lock password). I don't buy the argument that something would have been done already if it could be. How would that logic allow any software developer to introduce any new features, ever?
Regardless of how iOS for the iPad is currently designed, there's no denying that Apple markets it as a family (read: multi-user) device. It's not practical for parents to look over their kids' shoulders every second, nor for kids always to resist the temptation to peek at that important-looking stuff that adults keep hidden all the time.
Word on the rumor sites is that Apple has been working on user accounts in iOS since at least 2010 and has been unsuccessful in doing so.
I don't buy the argument that something would have been done already if it could be. How would that logic allow any software developer to introduce any new features, ever?
Sorry, there is no logic in that flow of thought at all.
Regardless of how iOS for the iPad is currently designed, there's no denying that Apple markets it as a family (read: multi-user) device.
Apple markets it as a magical shared device, great for families, not a multi-user device with any expectation of privacy.
Dahveed, i understand what you're saying, but you're too hung up on multi-user meaning multiple user accounts logging on to the device at startup, when that's not what anyone is asking for really, just expanded parental controls which allow some sort of control over who can access what.
Think of it this way, with an example i'm sure everyone can relate to in some way. if you're a parent and you have a cabinet with alcohol (or anything) in it you don't want your kids (or anyone) getting in to without having the key, you don't lock the kid out of the house in its entirety, you just lock the cabinet with the alcohol in it and only give keys to those who should have access.
Also, i don't recall any iPad commercials or advertisements warning you should have no expectation of privacy with the device ;-)
the iPad is great for families, but parental controls are definitely not new technology, and they are already partially included via the form of restrictions. I'm just looking for them to be expanded upon, at least to those programs already included with the iPad by default.
Dah-veed, the ipad is NOT a single user device. As this thread (and many others like it) show, in the REAL WORLD, multiple users use it. Apple has parental controls - therefore it expects a parent and a child to use it. That would be a multi-user device then!
If apple has designed it to be a single-user device, well I guess that would be a case of poor design?
Given that this thread is about having a password protected application, why has the focus shifted to having a multi-user operating system? I can imagine that is more difficult to implement, but its not what people are asking for here. We simply want to be able to pass the ipad to someone else without them being able to read all our emails. Do we remember when pc's ran on single-user operating systems? Guess what - all the mail programs still had a password facility!
If what you are asking for was easily doable, a 3rd party developer would have done it by now and made a fortune selling their app to everyone who wants it to function this way. Yes, a 3rd party mail app that opens and immediately requires a password to go any further into the app, as well as requiring the password again anytime someone returns to the app.
And then if it could be done with a mail app, why not a messages app, and a contacts app? There would be 3rd party developers making a killing and laughing at Apple all the way to the bank.
There are literally tens of thousands of iOS apps, but none with the funcionality that you want. Why?
well, in one of your earlier posts you gave your answer to those same questions. But I don't see why if Apple can restrict some of their built-in apps that come with the iPad, why over a couple years between different versions of iPads they couldn't allow restrictions on all of their built-in apps, since they are all out of their code base. It's not like they don't know how.
Whose to say that a 3rd party developer hasn't tried and been shot down by Apple for the reasons you mentioned previously? I know I can't say that it's never been tried like you can, as I don't know every app Apple's ever rejected. Plus in one of your earlier posts you alluded to why a 3rd party developer wouldn't be allowed to make such an app anyway.
But why would a 3rd party need to do that when the functionality already exists, built in to the iOS, but only available for a small portion of the programs.
Dahveed, i'm not trying to argue with you, just hoping that you see and understand my point of view. Even though there are thousands of discussions online just like this one about users wishing for this feature, I'm not holding my breathe Apple will ever fix it, since it's been at least 2 generations of iPads i've had that don't do this.
Possibly because Apple controls and vets all of the apps in the app store?
Unless you are trying to suggest it is IMPOSSIBLE to have a password protected mail application? (In which case, see my earlier comment about poor design.)
That seems to come highly rated and allow multiple user accounts. Iy is only for Gmail accounts.
The same developer appears to have another app, Secure Webmail, that will work with multiple email providers, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail, Gnail, etc. That app is US$1.99 and has a high rating as well.
This may be what some folks want.
I am also looking for a way to lock my Mail app, I have a lot of people use my iPad 3 (my wife, kids and people at work) and it is left on my desk at work so that people can go to the sketches I have made for different projects without having to find me or have me unlock the iPad and then stand over them to make sure they don't look at the 'wrong' things. Ideally some way of assigning a password/swipe to any moveable app would be brilliant.
I dont want staff looking at my personal photos and likewise I don't want friends and family looking at work emails.
Regarding the muliple-user debate, this is completely irrelevant to the question the OP and myself are asking but for the record I find it unbelievable that people stating it isn't a 'multi-user' device have only ever allowed their iPad to be used by themselves.
Perhaps a better method of making those sketches available to folks would be to use one of the fee cloud services; such as Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, SkyDrive, MediaFire, etc, where they can view the sketches in a shared folder from their own computer and not have to mess with your iPad.
Password protect Mail on iPad
