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025: Mobile Device Management and More

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Recorded live November 5, 2013

Topics:

- Apple Configurator and the issue with Find My iPad and Activation Lock

- using Apple Configurator in combination with a cloud-based MDM solution; e.g. AirWatch with AirWatch app

- LinkedIn proxying emails using its LinkedIn Intro service; see also

- MTC vs. MTC+: MTC focuses mostly on Apple's solution, whereas MTC+ focuses more on third party solutions

- basic Mobile Device Management features for small office use: remote wipe, remote lock

- tip about updating to iOS 7.0.3, removing and re-adding the stored Fingerprints

- Sam's impressions on the Synology DS1513+

- plus, Sam teases what's to come from his trip to Apple Professional Services Camp

Follow up:

- Jerry "rolling back" his client to Mountain Lion

018: New iPhones: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

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Recorded Live on September 24, 2013

Topics:

- iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c

- Maker Faire

- Touch ID security

- the trouble with Activation Lock in the Enterprise; disabling Find My iPhone

- wireless network improvements; outdoor enclosures to extend a wireless network outside

- Joe's story of seeing iOS 6.1.3 running on an iPad and thinking it was much older

- Verizon reps recommending Android phones, receiving commission

Picks of the Week:

- Macwireless.com – Joe

- Inssider – Sam

- WiFi Explorer & NetSpot (See also this review from Glenn Fleishman at Macworld) – Jerry

 

014: Pricing Roundtable

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Recorded Live on 8/27/2013

Sam, Jerry, and Joe discuss rates and pricing after a digression into Mac OS X Server services.

Followup:

- Jerry reports that Find My Mac only works on WiFi; only works when WiFi network interface is listed first in Network preferences set service order; requires Recovery Partition

Topics:

- password manager frustrations; Apple's opportunity to solve the problem with iPhone 5S and iCloud Keychain

- Jerry mentions Ryan Block's idea to prevent iPhone from turning off unless passcode was entered to improve security and allow Find My iPhone

- Sam discusses using Profile Manager to enable Remote Wipe without iCloud

- Mac OS X Server services discussion; in-house email hosting considerations

- rates discussion: how to charge; minimums; project-based billing vs. hourly

- onsite/phone/remote; labor; diagnostics fee; travel time

- discount for contracts/prepaid hours

- whether to post rates on the website

- remote support options: ARD over VPN, join.me, TeamViewer

- remote hard drive shredding vs. occupying space on the workbench to securely erase

006: Consultants in the Field - Alan McCullough, CV Rao, and Colleen Beale

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As ACN Advanced Camp wrapped up last week in Austin, Sam Valencia interviewed three more colleagues in the Apple Consultants Network.

First we hear from Alan McCullough of Zen IT as he and Sam reflect on Advanced Camp, followed by a group discussion panel featuring CV Rao of TechOne Centre and Colleen Beale of Data Networks.

005: Consultants in the Field – Craig Cohen, Kok-Yong Tan, Brian Mortensen, and Jeff Satterwhite

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Sam was kind enough to record these "man in the street" interviews with four of our colleagues,  including master trainer Craig Cohen of HCS Technology Group, who helped organize the technical content for the Apple Consultants Network Advanced Camp.

Features a pro tip for fixing broken network jacks from expert Network Wrangler and Delouser, Kok-Yong Tan of Reality Artisans, and the answer to the question on everyone's mind: "Tan, what's in the vest?" 

Also includes feedback about ACN Advanced Camp from Brian Mortensen of BFA Technologies, Inc. and Jeff Satterwhite of Post Mod Tech.

Thanks to Craig, Tan, Brian, and Jeff for participating. Enjoy the last day of camp!

Update: check out this great photo of Sam interviewing Tan at ACN Advanced Camp, taken by Arek Dreyer.

 

Sam&Tan.jpg

004: Live from ACN Advanced Camp in Austin, TX – Mobile Technology Competency (MTC Plus)

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Featuring Sam Valencia of HCS Technology Group, reporting live from Apple's ACN Advanced Camp in Austin, TX. Sam is joined by Jerry Zigmont of MacWorks and Joe Saponare of PsiMac.

With ACN Advanced Camp well underway, Sam got up early to share his experiences before another 12+ hour day of intensive mobile solutions training.

Topics

  • increase business in 2013 by offering Mobile Solutions
  • training provides essential experience with third party MDM solutions in addition to Apple's Profile Manager
  • social aspect of training conferences
  • partnering with ACN colleagues for real world experience; the strength of the ACN community; cooperating with the competition
  • cloud hosted MDM solutions vs. self-hosted
  • value of the Consultants Locator and ticking the Mobility checkbox with MTC Plus
  • value of the Apple Developer membership; early access to new releases
  • "lightbulb" moments
  • importance of wireless infrastructure in mobile device management solutions
  • MTC training led to a 30% jump in business for some consultants
  • keeping in touch with vendors
  • being Client 0
  • Atlanta beer vs. Austin beer
  • special considerations for cloud-based solutions
  • vendor support for third party mobile devices
  • did Sam spill the beans about secret features of Mavericks Server?

Thanks to everyone who listened to our live broadcast. We're looking forward to doing more of these in the future.

There's still time to register for the ACN Advanced Camp July 16 - 19 in Tampa, FL!

Mentions

Mass360 (@maas360), AirWatch (@airwatch), Mobile Iron (@mobileiron), Aerohive (@aerohive), Meraki (@meraki), Aruba (@arubanetworks), Craig Cohen (@ccohen), Arek Dreyer (@arekdreyer), Ben Greisler (@magikben), Allen Hancock (@ahancock), and Kim Manitt (@macdivas).