Remotely governing a child's iPad?

Question

Level 1

5 points

Remotely governing a child's iPad?

I'm purchasing an iPad for my child to assist her with learning (primary school age) and to maintain contact with myself (different countries). The mother is untrustworthy hence I need to keep the password for the iPad so only the child can have their apps by asking me to purchase them etc. Can anyone advise the best way to do this; if I register the iPad with my existing Apple ID (so we can share apps) won't this conflict the use of FaceTime etc? If I register the iPad separately, can I maintain full control (such as handling iOS and app updates) using the icloud or iTunes from a remote location? Presuming the iPad has wifi signal would changes I make remotely, automatically update the iPad via it's wifi signal?

iPad, Both of us will have new iPads

Posted on Aug 22, 2012 7:33 AM

Reply

Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Aug 22, 2012 8:40 AM in response to xdmedical

In fairness to Philly Phan, you asked if remote management of the iPad was possible, and the answer is indeed "no" in any practical sense for an individual, though I understand that the lack of any context is disappointing. There really isn't any way you can accomplish pushing of apps or setting and controlling settings without setting up an enterprise mobile device management solution, and that's both resource and cost prohibitive for just about any individual. There are steps you can take, as the MW article you reference suggest, if you have physical access to the iPad, but to do this remotely, without having the iPad in hand, no.

As to the Facetime issue specifically, I believe you can set up Facetime with a different Apple ID than used for app purchases and updates. See:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4319

But again, you cannot manage this remotely.

Regards.

Reply

Answer 2

xdmedical Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 22, 2012 8:14 AM in response to Philly_Phan

Sorry Philly_phan but I asked for suggestions on how to best achieve some method maintaining the iPad as the child's resource rather than it being commandeered by the mother. There is a good article about configuring iPads for children; http://www.macworld.com/article/1166108/the_childs_ipad.html . However the article doesn't appear to mention how you could create two facetimes under one account or how you might be able to push apps from iTunes remotely. I can push apps between my iPhone and iPad from my iTunes thus my question is directed towards 'Apple thinking' folk who are the sort of people who can look at a situation with 'positive problem solving' abilities. I'm afraid I can't see your merely 'No!' response being the sort of response you'd get from someone who 'thinks like Apple folk think'

, more likened to a response you'd expect from Carol Beer.

Anyone else suggest thoughts on the best way I could achieve some governance of a remote iPad?

Reply

Answer 3

xdmedical Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 22, 2012 12:33 PM in response to varjak paw

Varjak paw: thanks, your insight is of great assistance, do you think there is a way forward if I purchase apps using my iTunes, if the iPad was connected to iTunes at some point (but somehow without my login details) then the apps I've purchased could be updates into the iPad but I retain a governance on what apps are retrieved. Whilst I can set up restrictions for 'child safety' use of the Internet (or the best I can achieve) I won't mind the mother surfing the web whilst the child's not using the iPad, but I strongly envisage if I can't govern the choice of apps then stuff like 'Barefoot Atlas', 'Dinosaur Zoo' & 'Marvel comics' will be substituted with the likes of OK Magazine etc Apps. I'm not 100% knowledgeable with iCloud but I got the impression it could give control of moving items between all devices (similar to a sort of network)? I just hoped Apple might have a method of designation some with administrative rights over slave devices.

Or some method where by I could give the mother the iTunes login details but restrict her from changing details/excluding me from the iTunes account so could govern what's on the app by monitoring the iTunes?

iPads are getting rave reviews in the schools that are introducing them and it also offers a huge advancement in contact potentials for kids and distant parents.

Reply

Answer 4

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Aug 22, 2012 12:51 PM in response to xdmedical

If the child or the mother has the credentials to update an app, then the same credentials could be used to purchase an app. And even if you keep those credentials secret, the child or her mother could just set up another iTunes Store account and buy apps through that. The only way you could block that would be to set up the Restrictions to prevent installing apps or making in-app purchases, and that again requires physical access to the iPad. And without the ability to install apps, the apps can't be updated except from a computer running iTunes.

iCloud is a synchronization service; it does not offer any sort of management or control so it would be of no benefit in this situation.

Finally, even if the iPad were locked down by you, anyone could just restore the iPad and set it up as new to their own iTunes Store account. They wouldn't get the apps purchased under your iTunes Store account, but that might not be a concern for them.

The iPad just isn't designed for remote management, I'm afraid, and the design philosophy really presumes that the iPad will be used by, or at least be under the control of, a single individual. I can't think of any way you can achieve complete control over an iPad that's not under your direct and constant supervision.

Regards.

Reply

Answer 5

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Aug 22, 2012 7:49 AM in response to xdmedical

No.

Reply