Client Apps
Everything that sits in front of a guest is a client. Today that means iPad and Apple Silicon Mac; Android is on the way. This page covers installation, first launch, the Operator Menu and kiosk deployment.
iPad
The iPad is the primary EventSync client.
Installation
- Open the App Store on the iPad.
- Search for EventSync and install. The app is free; licensing is handled by the server.
- Make sure the iPad is on the event network, not venue Wi-Fi.
First launch
When the app starts it searches for the Primary EventSync Server on the network and connects automatically, then displays the group picker page.
- If no server is found, the app offers manual IP entry.
- If the server is PIN-protected (see Require PIN for iPad clients), the iPad prompts for the PIN.
- A first-time device joins the Auto-Join group if the event has one set; otherwise you pick a group from the list, or the operator assigns one from the Dashboard.
- After that, the device remembers the group it was last in and rejoins it on every subsequent connection. To move a device, ungroup it (Operator Menu or Dashboard → Clients) — or reassign a batch of devices at once from the Dashboard.
Staying connected
Once connected to the Primary, the device establishes background connections to any Backup servers too. If the server it's currently talking to drops, a dim red dot appears in the top-right corner of the device — it clears as soon as the server comes back or a Backup takes control.
Wake lock and background behaviour
- The iPad screen stays awake while the app is in the foreground (
UIApplication.shared.isIdleTimerDisabled). You don't need to disable auto-lock in iOS settings. - If the app is backgrounded the iPad drops its wake lock to save battery. Bring it back to the foreground and it wakes, rediscovers the server and reconnects automatically — even if the server has moved to a different IP on the same network.
Operator Menu
The Operator Menu is a hidden panel used by crew for troubleshooting. Enable it in Dashboard → Client App Settings → Operator Menu.
- Gesture — tap 5 times anywhere on the iPad screen.
- Passcode — if you've set one, the iPad asks for it before opening the menu. No default; set whatever you want.
Inside the menu:
- Ungroup Device — leaves the current group and returns to the group-selection screen.
- Identify on Dashboard — flashes this device in the Dashboard Clients view so crew can spot it in the room.
- Cached Content — shows items stored on the device; clear individual items or all of them.
💡 Tip — clearing cache with Auto-Distribute on
If you delete a cached item while Auto-Distribute is enabled (Distribution), the server will re-send the same content within seconds — it can look as though the delete didn't take effect. To fully remove an item from the device, either turn Auto-Distribute off first or remove the content from the library before clearing cache.
💡 Best Practice
Keep the Operator Menu disabled during doors-open. Turn it on during build and rehearsal, turn it off before guests arrive, and turn it back on if you need to intervene during the show. See the Operator Menu note in Connecting the Dashboard.
Apple Silicon Mac (for large displays)
To drive a TV, LED wall or projector, run the EventSync iPad app on an Apple Silicon Mac, downloaded from the Mac App Store via "Designed for iPad".
Installation
- On an M-series Mac, open the App Store.
- Search EventSync. Under the top of the search results, choose "iPad Apps" / "Designed for iPad".
- Install. Launch.
- Connect the Mac's HDMI output (or similar) to the target display. One Mac per display.
From there it behaves exactly like the iPad client — Bonjour discovery, group assignment, content distribution, cues, LiveSync, modules. Each Mac consumes one license from your pool, the same as any other device.
Android (in development)
An Android client is in active development. When it ships it will support:
- Android phones.
- Android tablets.
- Android TV (for large-display use where Apple hardware isn't practical).
Features and feature parity will be documented here when the client goes live. Until then, plan around the Apple platforms above.
Kiosk mode & MDM
For unattended deployments — table iPads that stay on for a week, display Macs that the venue will touch, anything where you don't want a guest quitting the app — use one of:
- Guided Access (iPad only) — iOS Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access. Enable, then triple-click the side button inside the EventSync app to lock it there. Triple-click again with the passcode to exit. Quick, manual, fine for small fleets.
- MDM (recommended for fleets) — use Apple Configurator, Jamf, Mosyle, SimpleMDM, or similar to enroll iPads in Single App Mode / Autonomous Single App Mode. This is the supported way to prepare a fleet of rental iPads for EventSync.
💡 Best Practice
For recurring events, build an MDM blueprint that installs the EventSync app, joins the event Wi-Fi, disables Auto-Lock and enters Single App Mode. One profile applied to every iPad the day before get-in.