iOS 9.3 will let IT managers define home screen layout, hide and blacklist apps

For businesses and other organizations, Apple's forthcoming iOS 9.3 update will let them lock the layout of a device's home screen — and exert more control over apps in general.

Layout lock requires OS X Server, Profile Manager, and supervision configured on a device, according to official documentation highlighted by developer Steve Troughton-Smith on Tuesday. With the option in force, apps can't be rearranged, for example allowing a company to ensure that apps it wants workers to use can't be moved into a folder or a different page.

Organizations will moreover be able to hide apps, or blacklist or whitelist specific ones, determining what can be downloaded to an iPhone or iPad in the first place.

Administrators will lastly be able to enforce notification settings, which may help them in circumstances where it's critical that some app notifications come through.

iOS 9.3 is still in beta testing. Large-scale deployments are a particular focus in the update, but mainly for schools, which will for instance have a universal management hub and a Classroom app so teachers can exercise more control over student iPads.

17 Comments

dangaioh 16 comments · 9 Years

About 8 years ago

I've been waiting for Layout lock ever since my first iPhone 4. It's so annoying how apps get moved around, deleted, or get lost in folders simply by touching the phone by accident. The average consumer needs this feature not just big companies.

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

No more excuses for government IT administrators to claim they aren't responsible for the security of the phones they issue to all of the terrorists they seem to keep hiring.

Also, parents should love these features.

volcan 1799 comments · 10 Years

dangaioh said:

The average consumer needs this feature not just big companies.

SpamSandwich said:

Also, parents should love these features.

SpamSandwich said:

No more excuses for government IT administrators to claim they aren't responsible for the security of the phones

Nope, nope and nope. iOS 9.3 enables just 4-5 new features that are part of the enormously complex Profiles and Supervision installation process. Unless you want to invest in an OS X server and a publicly exposed network infrastructure, MDM server and a degree in Computer Science, this not for individuals or parents. As far as IT administrators and security is concerned these new Profile entries do not affect any of the exiting security features in Profile Manager and if the iPhone is locked or encrypted they still can't retrieve any data from it unless they know the passcode. Follow the link in the article to the documentation for more information. BTW many of the Profiles management values are supported by OS X as well.

jbishop1039 258 comments · 9 Years

Layout lock would and could be a pretty simple feature if implemented locally. Needing OS X Server is fine if you're managing business accounts, but for average users, choosing a layout and locking it down is pretty much a switch on/off feature.

Maybe these types of features will help OS X Server become a bit more common. Would need to come a long way to compete with its competitors though. I'm a big fan of it though.

cali 3494 comments · 10 Years

dangaioh said:

I've been waiting for Layout lock ever since my first iPhone 4. It's so annoying how apps get moved around, deleted, or get lost in folders simply by touching the phone by accident. The average consumer needs this feature not just big companies.

huh?

SpamSandwich said:

No more excuses for government IT administrators to claim they aren't responsible for the security of the phones they issue to all of the terrorists they seem to keep hiring.

Also, parents should love these features.

Good feature but this won't be available to the public. Would be nice to hide those annoying default apps we don't use though.