We have 150 iPads at our school. What effective ways have you found to update and download new apps to such a large number of iPads? Can I download different apps to different sub sets of our large group - or must they all have the same apps?

You can configure different set of apps for different groups of ipads.

You need an mdm to do this.

"This document offers guidance on some important considerations for getting the most out of your iOS deployment." Covers: Prepare your infrastructure. Set up devices. Configure and manage devices. Deploy apps and content. Plan for support.

https://www.apple.com/ipad/business/docs/iOS_Enterprise_Deployment_Overview_EN_F eb14.pdf

Quick overview of zero-touch MDM enrollment, DEP

http://www.apple.com/education/it/dep/

Consider DEP, Device Enrollment Program. Use VPP, Volume Purchase Program. Select an MDM, Mobile Device Management. Read the Google doc below and nsdjoey write up.

IT Resources -- ios & OS X -- This is a fantastic web page. I like the education site over the business site.

View documentation, video tutorials, and web pages to help IT professionals develop and deploy education solutions.

Education

http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/resources/

scroll down after all the pretty picture. Click on the words "For It".

business site is:

http://www.apple.com/lae/ipad/business/#browse-it-resources

If necessary, scroll down until you see the Browse IT Resources button. Click on button.

MDM -- Mobile Device Management

For a comparison see this page:

http://www.enterpriseios.com/wiki/Comparison_MDM_Providers

VPP -- Volume Purchase Program

http://www.apple.com/education/it/vpp/

Joe Rowe's Excellent guides

IT managers who are new to configurator and managing a cart of ios devices:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SMBgyzONxcx6_FswgkW9XYLpA4oCt_2y1uw9ceMZ9F4/ edit?pli=1

[ original announcement -- https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4256735?tstart=0 ]

Quick help presentation for students:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18937JdleX2gymtSb8zfbDczV-76BdR2DIfCV9eJi yOE/edit#slide=id.g1b776944_0_224

MDM -- Mobile Device Management

MDMs

Airwatch, Meraki, MobileIron, Profile Manager on OS X Server, or Zenprise

For a comparison see this page:

http://www.enterpriseios.com/wiki/Comparison_MDM_Providers

Airwatch

http://www.air-watch.com/

Meraki -- A free MDM [ expect lots of email and phone calls about upgrades ]

Read the product overview. Click on "get started now" to sign up.

https://meraki.cisco.com/products/systems-manager/?ref=YZRzCR

Video's on how to setup and use Meraki.

https://meraki.cisco.com/blog/2012/08/how-to-get-the-most-from-meraki-systems-ma nager/

MobileIron

http://www.mobileiron.com/

Apple Configurator and Apple Profile Manager

"Apple Configurator makes it easy for anyone to mass configure and deploy iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch in a school, business, or institution." Limited to Macs. Connects via USB cable.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-configurator/id434433123?mt=12

"Profile Manager lets you configure OS X and iOS devices so they’re set up to use your company or school resources and have the settings, apps, and books your organization requires. Profile Manager creates settings and preference bundles for devices and deploys them to devices via the Mobile Device Management (MDM) service." Requires OS X server.
http://www.apple.com/uk/support/osxserver/profilemanager/

Zenprise

http://www.zenprise.com/

Hi cougtechteacher,

Are you using an MDM (mobile device management) service? I highly recommend it. I manage about 2,600 iPads in our school district and we have a ton of dynamic groups and static groups set up to manage apps and configuration profile. You can get as granular as you need, but for your group of 5 carts you probably only need 5 groups.

You can also use Apple Configurator to manage app distribution, but that requires devices to be plugged in to receive the apps (MDM does everything wirelessly).

Hope this helps!

~Joe