iOS Question Unique device ID and name

[nwhitfield]

For the authentication scheme in the API on my site, I need a unique device ID. I can't see an obvious command to get that (and, ideally, the short name, so that on the website we can list devices authorised to access someone's account).

Is this something I need to access via NativeObject for the time being? Or have I missed something (flu, and delays in getting an iOS device, mean I'm a bit behind the curve right now).

Nigel

 

[Erel]

There is no simple way to get a unique ID in Android and it is even more complicated in iOS.

You can create a random id and save it in a file.

Or you can use this code to get a unique per vendor id.

Sub GetVendorIdentifier As String
   Dim no As NativeObject
   no = no.Initialize("UIDevice").RunMethod("currentDevice", Null)
   Dim id As Object = no.GetField("identifierForVendor").GetField("UUIDString")
   Return id
End Sub

https://developer.apple.com/library...le_ref/occ/instp/UIDevice/identifierForVendor

 

[nwhitfield]

That's perfect, thanks. As long as it doesn't change, it'll do nicely. And I see that

Dim id As Object = no.GetField("name")

will return the device name like "Nigel's iPad" which is all we need to know to allow people to see which devices are linked to their web account

 

[Shay]

Can I get the UUID (If apple use it, it means it is uniqe)

 

[MikeH]

The problem with identifierForVendor is that it can change if the app is uninstalled/reinstalled.
See: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...r-in-ios-after-uninstalling-ios-app-on-device

Also, Apple will not approve apps that use the UDID. See: http://possiblemobile.com/2013/04/unique-identifiers/

 

[Shay]

I used
GetVendorIdentifier, but yesterday apple push some update and this number changed

so you suggest generate id and save to disk?
do you have any code example ready for this?

Also if user will uninstall and install the app, the file will be deleted, can I save it on "general" place where no matter if my app is been remove, it will stay?

 

[MikeH]

I`d like to know the best way to do this also.

Creating a unique ID would be quite easy, but where to store it?

 

[Shay]

and another idea I have, if I am using notification messaging and apple generate ID for me (token)
is this token number can change or I can use this token as my unique ID?

 

[Erel]

The push notification token changes from time to time.

 

[Shay]

So is there a way to save my file on location which is no deleted once app is removed

 

[Erel]

No. It is not possible.

 

[Indy]

Hi Erel,

I have an app which I built in Android. I now am looking into converting to iOS, so will be downloading B4I trial to see if it's possible. However, one of the checks that I make on this app is to ensure the device being used is authorised to use our corporate remote site. I achieve this by getting the device ID that each device has and passing it to our web service, which performs a lookup. You knidly provide the following code to the Android users which I have been using.

Dim r As Reflector
   Dim Api As Int
   Api = r.GetStaticField("android.os.Build$VERSION", "SDK_INT")
   If Api < 9 Then
     'Old device
     If File.Exists(File.DirInternal, "__id") Then
       Return File.ReadString(File.DirInternal, "__id")
     Else
       Dim id As Int
       id = Rnd(0x10000000, 0x7FFFFFFF)
       File.WriteString(File.DirInternal, "__id", id)
       Return id
     End If
   Else
     'New device
     Return r.GetStaticField("android.os.Build", "SERIAL")
   End If

Is there no iOS equivilant of the above? If not then I'm stuck for the iOS conversion .

Thanks

 

[Brian Robinson]

MAC address perhaps?

iOS code here that may help?

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...rammatically-get-the-mac-address-of-an-iphone

Hmmm... looks like this might be blocked by apple as well....

cheers
Brian

 

[Erel]

See my answer in post #2. It lists the two possible options.