What you need for this book

In this book, we cover the installation and management of Apple Configurator, but Apple Configurator is a tool used for mass deployment, and when managing large numbers of devices, no amount of planning is enough. Before using this book, as a means of preparing and managing devices, consider the user experience and the painstaking detail that goes into the stock configuration of an iOS device.

Apple makes a lot of choices on behalf of users. You will be altering this user experience. Make sure that you understand what goes into each aspect of doing so. For example, if you are preparing devices and lock them down too far, what's to keep your users from wiping devices and attempting to recreate your planned experience for them in a less restrictive environment?

This book explores the limitations and capabilities when using Apple Configurator, but please keep in mind that the more you plan the user experience, the more that care and feeding shows in how that experience is received. The popularity of iOS-based devices is immense. This is for a reason and we caution you not to lock devices down too much, but to be very premeditated in the experience you provide to your users. In short, measure twice and cut once.

In addition to good planning, you'll also need at least one iOS device and at least one OS X computer. The computer will run Apple Configurator and the iOS device will perform all the necessary automations to test a complete iOS deployment.