iPad File Transfer w/o iTunes

[shovelca]

We want to give away iPads to Customers but need the ability to upload documents (PDF) WITHOUT confguring the iPad in iTunes. We don't want to create an Apple ID for our Customers. Of course without an Apple ID we can't purchase and download Apps to do the file transfer.
Any ideas on how we can do this?
Thanks!

 

[alex2792]

You will need to jailbreak,but unfortunately you can't do that with ipad2 yet. I would recommend sticking with Android tablets since you can easily transfer stuff to and from the device without needing the market.

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[fertilized-egg]

You can simply email them the files and they can save the files to the iBook for later access.

edit: sorry I didn't read that you didn't want to download apps so iBook is out.

 

[shovelca]

Thanks Egg. How do I get GoodReader on the iPad without iTunes?

 

[EvilC5]

I downloaded I think it was air file (cant remember off the top of my head and dont have my ipad in front of me), and it allows you to copy files to your ipad wirelessly without itunes. you turn on a setting that turns the ipad into a webserver for a short time and you can drag and drop files.

 

[Donka]

I downloaded I think it was air file (cant remember off the top of my head and dont have my ipad in front of me), and it allows you to copy files to your ipad wirelessly without itunes. you turn on a setting that turns the ipad into a webserver for a short time and you can drag and drop files.

A number of files do this including GoodReader. You also have the option of sharing the PDF files using Dropbox or similar.

 

[shovelca]

I really do appreciate all the help everybody. But the trick to all this is I can't setup an Apple ID on the iPad. I need a solution WITHOUT any sync with iTunes

 

[Donka]

I really do appreciate all the help everybody. But the trick to all this is I can't setup an Apple ID on the iPad. I need a solution WITHOUT any sync with iTunes

I don't believe there is a way to view a PDF on a vanilla iPad so I think you are hosed already.

 

[dergaderg]

web server

try setting up a file server to host the pdf's. the ipads can view the pdfs in safari

 

[Donka]

try setting up a file server to host the pdf's. the ipads can view the pdfs in safari

I didn't realise that. In that case, the web server or using email are 2 options.

 

[Night Spring]

I really do appreciate all the help everybody. But the trick to all this is I can't setup an Apple ID on the iPad. I need a solution WITHOUT any sync with iTunes

Look up iPhone configuration utility. I believe it lets you load apps onto iDevices without setting up a user account for each device.

Also, check through these pages for info.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/enterprise/

 

[fertilized-egg]

I didn't realise that. In that case, the web server or using email are 2 options.

Yup the iPad Safari has no problem reading PDFs - in fact the built-in viewer is very fast - but the reason I brought up the iBooks was that you can save the file for offline viewing when there's no internet available. If Apple bundled iBooks with the iPad the problem would've been solved easily.

 

[4phun]

You will need to jailbreak,but unfortunately you can't do that with ipad2 yet. I would recommend sticking with Android tablets since you can easily transfer stuff to and from the device without needing the market.

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Hardly any body buys, much less uses an Android tablet.
I find it fascinating you even mention them as viable for a business.

I know if I ran into any business man trying to impress me with an Android tablet I would pass him up as he was from the ghetto.

 

[OllyW]

Can't you create another iTunes account just to use to sync these iPads?

 

[alex2792]

Hardly any body buys, much less uses an Android tablet.
I find it fascinating you even mention them as viable for a business.

I know if I ran into any business man trying to impress me with an Android tablet I would pass him up as he was from the ghetto.

Wow,someone had too much kool aid...

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[nickbarbs]

Hardly any body buys, much less uses an Android tablet.
I find it fascinating you even mention them as viable for a business.

I know if I ran into any business man trying to impress me with an Android tablet I would pass him up as he was from the ghetto.

are you trolling? i would respect a business guy using an android tablet muich more than an Ipad, because he can you know, use files, and stuff.

The ipad is NOT a business device, get over it, its tied to Itunes and as long as that's the case it's an oversized ipod, not a tablet PC.

I have one but I know its limitations.

 

[Donka]

The ipad is NOT a business device, get over it, its tied to Itunes and as long as that's the case it's an oversized ipod, not a tablet PC.

I have one but I know its limitations.

Try telling that to our CTO! He seems to be embracing the iPad - it isn't a jack of all trades but is an excellent tool in certain scenarios.

 

[alex2792]

Try telling that to our CTO! He seems to be embracing the iPad - it isn't a jack of all trades but is an excellent tool in certain scenarios.

Checking email in between Angry Birds sessions does not make the ipad a powerful business tool.


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[Donka]

Checking email in between Angry Birds sessions does not make the ipad a powerful business tool.


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No but allowing a research nurse the ability to update drug trial and patient data at a doctors clinic while interacting with the patient in real time does!

 

[Drag'nGT]

This is one of those "post PC" quirks that Apple has to address.

 

[Doombringer]

This is an example of where Apple's ecosystem falls short. Basically, you have to play ball with their iTunes/AppStore back-end. For a consumer wanting to make iTunes/et. al. a part of their life, that's fine... but for an IT guy wanting to provision iPads to his users with certain apps or features locked-down, heh... good luck. Kludgy workarounds, go!

 

[Night Spring]

This is an example of where Apple's ecosystem falls short. Basically, you have to play ball with their iTunes/AppStore back-end. For a consumer wanting to make iTunes/et. al. a part of their life, that's fine... but for an IT guy wanting to provision iPads to his users with certain apps or features locked-down, heh... good luck. Kludgy workarounds, go!

For IT guys, there is the iOS configuration utility.

 

[Donka]

For IT guys, there is the iOS configuration utility.

Yup, this works the same way for iPhone & iPad. You can create and mass deploy profiles with restrictions in place e.g. in our work we prohibit iCloud document sync and also force a secure device lock password.

 

[James4444]

Thanks Egg. How do I get GoodReader on the iPad without iTunes?

 

[Menneisyys2]

Thanks Egg. How do I get GoodReader on the iPad without iTunes?ImageImageImage

By directly purchasing / downloading it from the onboard AppStore app (first SpringBoard page).

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I guess the only option left for you is to use a commercial iPad Transfer software when you don't want to use iTunes application to sync iPad PDF files to other media storage.
http://www.transferforipad.com

$22.5 euros for an app when you can have the equally good, if not even better, iExplorer 2.x for free(!!!), or the also-free iFunBox?

Both are capable of transferring files to the Documents folder of any app on even non-JB'n devices.