How to disable RAPI Security on a Windows Mobile device?
Remote Manager has features to access the Windows Mobile device from the desktop. You can use Remote Manager to access window properties, reset device or capture device screenshots.
The above features cannot be accessed if RAPI (Remote API) security is enabled on the device. Attempting to perform any remote operation with RAPI disabled will bring up the following screen in SureLock Studio.
RAPI Security error
As stated in the message if the error is not due to problem in ActiveSync connection, then it's mostly due to RAPI security setup on the device. To use the Remote Manager features the RAPI security can be disabled on the device. This should be done only for development and testing purposes only.
Remote Manager provides an option to disable the RAPI security. On the Remote Manager screen, click on Device Config button. You should see the following message.
Device Config Message on desktop
As mentioned in the above message, look at the device screen. You should expect to see the following.
Device Configurator on device
On the device, Tap on Turn OFF button to disable RAPI Security. The status text on the device screen will change to Off. Go back to Remote Manager screen in the SureLock Studio on desktop and those features should work without any problems.
Once the SureLock has been tested you can Turn ON the RAPI security again.
Launching Calendar, Tasks and Contacts applications
If you have used Remote Window option in Remote Manager tool in SureLock Studio, you would have noticed that \windows\poutlook.exe is the executable that is responsible for showing calendar, tasks and contacts windows. There are no 3 different applications. How is this achieved?
Well...all the magic occurs by way of commandline parameter. Parameter passed to poutlook.exe determines which of the above three will be launched. Here are the parameters:
To launch Contacts application:
\windows\poutlook.exe contacts
To launch Calendar application:
\windows\poutlook.exe calendar
To launch Tasks application:
\windows\poutlook.exe tasks
If you want to launch any of the above in a device locked down by SureLock, then you must specify
proper parameter in application entry screen in SureLock Studio. Launching \windows\poutlook.exe without any parameter will not do anything.
Launch Calendar application (Change parameter for tasks and contacts)
Get a FREE SureLock Studio license!
Are you a blogger, a trainer or someone who wants to use SureLock Studio for demonstration purposes? if YES, you qualify for a FREE license. Just write to sales@42gears.com to get a registration key.
Evaluation version of SureLock Studio can be downloaded from here.
New Screenshots for SureLock Studio
SureLock Studio has undergone UI changes in the last release. Latest screenshots have been putup on the website. Visit the following link and click on the Screenshots link.
http://www.42gears.com/surelock/
Screenshots were created with the following tools:
- MWSnap 3 for capturing the screenshots.
- Image Resizer to quickly create thumbnails by selecting all the normal size screenshots in one go.
SureLock Studio is a product aimed at enterprises that use Windows Mobile devices for running business applications. SureLock locks down Windows Mobile devices into kiosk mode and helps enterprises increase their mobile workforce productivity and reduce regular device maintenance. Read more about SureLock Studio.
Capture device screenshots with SureLock Studio
SureLock Studio has a pretty nice feature which can be quite useful during troublehooting problems on the device. If the application on the device is not behaving as expected in kiosk mode, you can capture the screenshot and send it to the tech support. Not all Windows Mobile devices are exactly same (read "OEM differentiations") or we might not have access to your business application. A nice screen capture can help tech support team to work on the issue and hopefully provide a quicker solution.
Steps to capture the device screen shot:
- Setup ActiveSync connection between Windows Mobile device and the desktop PC.
- Launch SureLock Studio on the desktop.
- Go to Tools -> Remote Manager.
- Click Capture Screen button on the Remote Manager screen.
- In a few moments you will see screenshot of the device screen as below. Click Save As button to save the file.
Windows Mobile Screen Capture by SureLock Studio
Kiosk mode on Windows Mobile devices
Are you looking for a solution to easily lock down your Windows Mobile devices into kiosk mode, check out SureLock Studio.
By design Windows Mobile OS is a generic platform. It contains lots of builtin programs like games, browser, messaging apps etc. Windows Mobile also provides the users different ways to access and run those applications. Here are some:
* Start Menu
* Hardware buttons (keypad)
* Taskbar icons on top
* File Explorer
* Autorun on SD Card
* ActiveSync
* CAB Installation
Many organizations use Windows Mobile devices to run business applications that their employees use. Unless the device is locked the employee can access games and other apps and can get distracted during working hours, resulting in loss of productivity. Moreover a not-so-knowledgeable person can disrupt the device settings (database deletion, turn-off wireless) which will cause business application failure. "Corrupt" devices are returned to IT department which again wastes critical time and money.
Above problems can be avoided by locking down the devices so that only "approved" application can be launched and used by the employees. Our flagship product SureLock Studio is a highly configurable solution which enables kiosk type execution environment on Windows Mobile devices. SureLock Studio has features that make locking down of the Windows Mobile devices damn easy!
http://www.42gears.com/surelock/index.html
SureLock Studio is released
First version of SureLock Studio is released.
SureLock locks down Windows Mobile devices and restricts the users to only use allowed applications. This is also known as Kiosk mode and is especially useful to enterprises as it helps in increasing workforce productivity. An open Windows Mobile can be used by employees to play games and surf the web and all these activities waste costly working hours. This is what companies want to avoid.
Read more about SureLock Studio here.