First things first, you need to download Apple’s “iPhone Configuration Utility”.  The latest version for Mac or Windows can be found at http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/enterprise/.  I guess if you’re a real man you can just create the file by hand, but their application makes it pretty easy.

Once the utility is downloaded and installed creating your config is fairly intuitive and uses a wizard like approach allowing you to configure any of the supported categories.  For the sake of this post, setting up a config for Exchange only requires configuring three sections.

Open the iPhone Configuration Utility and select “Configuration Profiles” from the list on the left
Click the “New” button to create a new configuration profile.

After creating a new profile, the right side of the window should populate with all the categories that are configurable.  We’ll start with the “General” section as it’s mandatory.  Selecting the “General” category gives five options, of which only two are required; Name and Identifier.

• Name: You can name the profile whatever you want,
• Identifier: The important part is using a proper identifier and it needs to be in the format of com.company.profile

Next we’ll move down to the category titled “Exchange ActiveSync”.  Click the configure button to reveal all the options.

• Account Name: Provide a name for the account, this name is what will show up in the mailboxes list, so make it meaningful.
• Exchange ActiveSync Host: You’ll want to enter the url to your OWA server
• Domain: Enter your domain name
• User, Email Address and Password can all be left blank.  By leaving them blank this will allow the phone to prompt the user for their name and password
• The rest of the configuration options are optional, I just leave them as default, unless of course your business has different requirements

The last category that you may need to configure is “Credentials”.  This allows you to inject your company’s certificate in the profile.  This is useful should you use a self signed certificate.

• Simply choose Credentials, click Configure and select the certificate you would like to include.

Once you’ve completed the steps and the configurations you’d like to change, highlight the profile and click the Export button.  This will write out the configuration to a .mobileconfig file.  You can choose to sign the file if you like, the choice is yours.

Now that you have your .mobileconfig file, it is time to deploy it to your users.  The choice is your as to how you want to deploy it, whether you send it to a personal email address already setup on their device, you can email it to them where they can use iTunes to sync/install the profile, or you can post it on a web page where the user can visit the page and install the profile on their phone.

If you choose to deploy the file via a web page, you will need to add a new MIME type.

IIS: create a MIME type with extension as mobileconfig and application/x-apple-aspen-config
Apache:

<IfModule mod_mime.c>
	AddType application/x-apple-aspen-config .mobileconfig
</IfModule>

In the end, you’ve created an easily deployable configuration file for iOS devices.  It can save a lot of time and let users easily setup their devices from a remote location without much of any help from you.

There is a lot more info in Apple’s Enterprise Deployment Guide that is worth the read.

Thanks everyone.

Going into this, I had NO experience with developing anything for the iPhone or Mac OS for that matter.  Sure I’d written some scripts, and about 7 years ago I wrote an app to import users into Active Directory, but I was a clean slate and ready to learn.  Initially, and some may remember, the app started out working like the Weather app, super simple, but it got the job done.  I gleaned a lot off forums, friends, and screw-ups to get it working and it did!  Apple even published the darn thing for me.  After some requests and a complete redesign by Brisk Studios, a much improved version 2 was out with almost 30 states and 300+ rivers, entomology photos and a great new interface.  Entomology photo’s were slow coming, but Lucas Carroll (http://www.flickr.com/photos/luke_c_photography/) was kind to provide some of his amazing photography and with the help of Jason Neuswanger (http://www.troutnut.com) a huge portion of the photography was hammered out.

With the new version I also tried to push the app to a lot of blogs and a few magazines looking for reviews and was very pleased with what came out (I have a pretty good list here).  Most recently American Angler even wrote a quick blurb about it in their Jan/Feb 2010 issue!

In all, it’s been a fun and extremely time consuming process.  There are currently over 46k rows of data in one of the SQLite tables that were hand entered.  The process has been rewarding in the fact that it’s something that I’ve created, but equally as frustrating.  One of the downsides to the app store is the commenting/review system, though it’s inherit in any retail scenario.  Anyone who’s going to take the time to comment, will most likely be a complainer.

Most recently, “Andyfisher” left a comment stating:

The data on my favorite river is plainly incorrect and the number of rivers it covers is too limited!  This app still needs a lot of work because it’s substandard.  Don’t buy it before it’s radically updated!

Wow, Andyfisher, please let me know which river(s) needs more work and I’ll see what else I can find.

A man named Robert emailed me:

Your site is a joke, at least this time of year.  The same 4 flies
cannot be appropriate for every river in the US

One of the hard things about creating an app like this is you have to generalize some information.  I fully understand that a stonefly pattern that kills in Montana may not work as well on the Deschutes; but in no way is this app meant to replace a good old local fly shop.  In fact, I would encourage users to visit fly shops for indepth knowledge of the local regions!

On that note, the latest version that I’ve submitted for approval is coming with photo’s of patterns by Montana Fly Company.  They have a great list of fly shops that sell their product and maybe in a future version I’ll figure out a way to provide a list of shop for states.

This whole process has really made me sit back and take criticism lightly and understand that I can’t please everyone.  Sure I’d love to have exact information for every river, stream, lake, and body of water in the US, but then I know I’d get bashed for giving away ‘secrets’.

I’ve got in touch with some great folks like Lucas Carroll as mentioned above, Cameron Mortenson and the folks behind http://www.fishykid.org/, David Gross at http://www.flyfishingsherpa.com, the great guys at Korkers, http://paflyfish.com/, http://eastcoastangler.blogspot.com/, and http://www.midcurrent.com.  I’m sure I’ve missed someone, but thanks everyone for the support and helping spread the word.

Should I have the chance to do it over or anyone thinking of creating an app I’d do the following:

• Wait to release a more complete app rather than slowly adding rivers as time permits
• Realize that it can’t be created for free
• Realize it is rewarding, but don’t count on it to be a gold mine

Following along a previous post about reading and goals, especially the Bible, I happened across a website called http://www.youversion.com.  It’s essentially an online bible, journal, reading plans, and community based website, but I’d say one of the best features is the slew of mobile apps.

Reading the Bible and picking from one of the many translations can be done without creating an account.  To take advantage of the reading plans and many of the other features, you need to walk through the simple process of setting up an account.  With the newly created account, you have access to the included reading plans with the ability to tag, note, journal, and share verses, as well as engage with other users.

With the newest version of their mobile apps, you can now even log in and perform many of the same tasks including following the synchronized reading plans so you can keep on top of the daily reading wherever you are.

Many of the versions required internet access, most likely due to licensing issues, but there are a few versions that are downloadable so you can read without having internet access.

It’s a pretty good app, great concept and a great addition to any iPhone or mobile device.  In no way should it take the place of a traditional printed Bible, but it is an interesting addition with the benefit of reading plans to help keep you on track!

http://blog.youversion.com/post/488/20-ways-to-read-the-bible-in-2010-pick-your-plan-personalize-it

You can find it over on iTunes: http://www.itunes.com/apps/thehatch

Make sure you check out the new website for the app over at http://www.thehatchapp.com

An update to the lite version will be coming shortly, so hang in there.

Some of you may have noticed “The Hatch” isn’t on the app store right now, well, your right.  Unfortunately I had to pull it from the App Store due to an issue with the logo.  A new version has been submitted to Apple, and now it’s just the waiting game until it’s approved.

Sorry for the inconvenience, it should be resolved shortly.  I think most everyone will be very excited for the next version 2.0.4….can anyone say “pictures”?

The following is a list of where you can find various reviews and posts:

http://www.flyfishingnotes.com/2009/08/20/hatch-2-0-ipod-and-iphone-app/

http://www.paflyfish.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=102

http://thesierranevadas.com/?cat=6

http://wcflies.com/blog/2009/08/yeah-theres-an-app-for-that/

http://www.otterbox.com/employee-spotlight-mary-knaus/

http://www.dsflyfishing.com/fishing-blog/the-hatch-2-fly-fishing-app-for-iphone.html

http://www.kiene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17442

http://www.moldychum.com/home-old/2009/10/6/hatch-chart-app-on-itunes.html

http://eastcoastangler.blogspot.com/2009/10/best-iphone-fly-fishing-app-hatch.html

http://www.facebook.com/fishpond.usa?ref=mf

http://blog.fishykid.org/10/07/2009/112

http://thefiberglassmanifesto.blogspot.com/2009/10/iphone-hatch-app.html

http://thenorthernangler.blogspot.com/2009/10/hatch-2-for-iphone.html

http://flyfishingsherpa.com/the-hatch-2-for-fly-fishing-theres-an-iphone-app-for-that/

http://mouching.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/la-bonne-mouche-est-au-bout-du-fil/

Check out http://www.thehatchapp.com

A blog dedicated to The Hatch 2 will be coming along in the future.