Options for Running OnBoard on a Mac

Andrew Sompels - Customer Education
  • Edited

Apple provides OnBoard users with multiple options for utilizing OnBoard on their Mac computers:

  1. A) Native OnBoard App via App Store
  2. B) Installed Web App via Safari 
  3. C) Traditional Web App via Browser

Below are the Limitations, Advantages, and Disadvantages for these three options:

Option A — Native OnBoard App via App Store

  • Limitations:
    • Only available on ARM-based Macs, not legacy Intel-based Macs. 
  • Advantages:
    • Easy-Open, App Experience — Installing our native app opens OnBoard in its own window, independent of your web browser, and you can conveniently launch it from the app icon in your Mac’s Dock.
    • Extended Sign-In Duration — Just like our iOS and iPadOS app, this app allows you to “Trust” the device and stay signed in for up to 120 days of inactivity, with the added security of your device’s biometrics (e.g., Touch ID) or a custom PIN code to more conveniently “unlock” the app whenever you return to it, without having to fully sign back in via email and password. Additionally, your admin can perform a Remote Wipe command in the event that your device is lost or stolen, to ensure that all the data is wiped clean.
    • Encrypted Offline Access — Documents and data are encrypted and stored on your device, making re-opening documents faster and keeping them available even when your internet goes offline.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Limited Admin experience — Since this is the same app as our iOS and iPadOS app, it is identical in its limitations around administrative features. 
    • Designed for iPadOS — This version of the app was not designed for macOS explicitly, and it may have some hiccups when running as a Mac app. 
  • How to Use:

Option B — Installed Web App via Safari

  • Limitations:
    • Must be running macOS 14 (Sonoma) or greater
  • Advantages:
    • Easy-Open, App-Like Experience — Installed web apps offer a streamlined, app-like experience where it opens in a window independent of your browser, providing a better user experience.  By installing a web app to your Mac’s Dock, you get an app icon in your dock to quickly launch OnBoard without having to navigate to a browser.
    • Full-Featured — The installed web app is identical in feature set to the web app when accessed via your browser, including all the Admin functionality.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Limited Sign-In Duration — Just like our web app when accessed via a browser, you will be automatically signed out after a short duration of inactivity.
    • No Offline Access — Also just like our web app via a browser, there is no offline support. 
  • How to Use:

Option C — Traditional Web App via Browser 

  • Limitations:
    • None
  • Advantages:
    • Full-Featured — The web-based app includes all the admin functionality.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Browser-Tab Experience — In your browser, OnBoard will be shuffled amongst your other browser tabs, instead of running as an independent app window that is easier to work with.
    • Limited Sign-In Duration — You will be automatically signed out after a short duration of inactivity.
    • No Offline Access — There is no offline support. 
  • How to Use:

Comments

0 comments

Please sign in to leave a comment.