AppsAnywhere 3.0: Our most feedback-focused release!

What a year 2022 has been for us at AppsAnywhere. We’ve had a complete refresh with a new company name and logo, updated our long-term strategy to be as customer-centric as possible, and released version 2.12 back in June! However, the year may be coming to a close but we’re not done yet! Introducing our upcoming release, AppsAnywhere 3.0!

This latest release represents a step change in the overall AppsAnywhere experience, bringing together several of the most requested features gathered from customer conversations and feedback sessions.  It is the first release with value delivered against each of our product pillars - User Experience, Delivery Methods, Higher Ed, and Analytics - as well as offering AppsAnywhere Cloud.

Keep reading to learn more about all of the updates in AppsAnywhere 3.0... 

AppsAnywhere 3.0 webinar recording  

Improved UI with Dark Mode  

You’ll recall that we gave AppsAnywhere’s UI a complete makeover back in version 2.12. In this upcoming release, 3.0 will continue that work with a search-driven portal with improved accessibility and architecture. By releasing the new portal in 2.12 we gained invaluable feedback, which we’ve used to further enhance the launch experience! 

We've created new Smart Collections to make it easier for students to find their apps: 

• New – (Apps that have been recently added to the system)
• Recent – (the last 6 apps that a student has launched)
• Desktops – (any Virtual Desktops that are available to the user)

Following feedback on the launch pop-ups in 2.12, we've continued the theme of a cleaner, less obtrusive experience through to our downloadable clients…

‍Less obtrusive launch confirmation request

"Every time I launch an app I get a launch "confirmation" dialog box with "If your application didn't launch, you can try again here." in it - like it's expected to fail … and you have to click "Ok" before you can search for and launch another application."

In 3.0 there is a much more subtle dialog in the portal to provide clearer info on the application launch and no requirement for the extra click. For those with admin rights, we’ve added the option to jump into editing an application in admin, straight from the portal!

Client 2.0.0 

A new version of both Windows and Mac clients with fewer pop-ups and more convenient scheduling of 3^rd party client updates !

Dark Mode

Dark mode request

"Dark Mode would definitely be useful. Then I wouldn't have to use a dark reader anymore. Our users would benefit from that. We have a lot of … students so I'm sure it would be heavily used." 

One of the most requested change requests will now be available as the portal UI now has a Dark Mode option! This feature will allow users to manually select it or just allow system preferences to determine the visual theme. The benefits of this feature include reducing eye strain and it also helps improve the battery life of your device!  

AppsAnywhere Cloud  

We’re very proud to announce that we’ll be offering a flexible range of hosting choices via our all-in-one AppsAnywhere Cloud solution! As the Higher Ed Industry continues to evolve, we’re committed to providing the best service we can, and we believe that AppsAnywhere Cloud will make a big difference!

AppsAnywhere Cloud

Delivery Methods & Analytics  

One of our goals for 3.0 was to provide you with more tools for your toolbox for delivering applications!

Amazon AppStream 2.0

The most requested technology for us to integrate with has been Amazon AppStream 2.0.

This new delivery method allows for Launches via an AppStream streaming URL or the Embed streaming method and captures the launch data in Analytics too. 

‍Amazon AppStream 2.0 integration request

"...where I would love to go is that they have the first website [AppsAnywhere] come up. They can pick their application. If it doesn't work [locally] on their machine, it redirects them into AppStream and then remembers what they tried to launch, so that it can launch it through an AppStream session"

Frame & VMware

Likewise, we've added a Frame delivery method - allowing for launches using Nutanix Frame technology in a new tab with Analytics data. It is now possible to configure an SSO experience between AppsAnywhere and VMware Horizon and we show you how in 3.0!!

VMware SSO request

"We really would love a seamless/single sign-on experience for the user."

Azure Virtual Desktop

In 3.0 we've updated the WVD integration to Azure Virtual Desktop and given more control to users with the ability to cancel a launch. The AVD dialog can now differentiate between the native and web client when providing instructions and guidance.) This is just the beginning and we're going to be improving this popular delivery method more in future v3 releases. 

Analytics

We’ve incorporated lots of feedback around Analytics to create a new vision of how we provide the data.

We want to provide it on the screens where it is most useful for making great decisions. In this release, we're displaying Application usage data right in the admin view and edit screens as well as the number of active users in the main dashboard, regardless of analytics license!

‍Analytics requests

"Have a page of Analytics data for the application you are viewing as a tab similar to how you can view provisions or categories that app is a part of"

"More pre-created reports. e.g which apps have never been launched."

"The number of … licenses is limiting" 

Canvas & Blackboard  

We've had an integration with Canvas for some time now, however, in 3.0 we've enhanced the view of applications within the Canvas Integration. This brings things on par with our most requested integration, Blackboard Learn, which is available in this release. If you’re using Blackboard Learn as your Learning Management System, you can now bring the AppsAnywhere experience into it:  

• The ability to configure App Lists to associate them with a course
• The ability to launch applications directly in Blackboard Learn

‍SAML Attribute Mappings request

“I’d like the ability to remove LDAPs auth completely”

SAML Attribute Mappings  

Many Higher Ed institutions are fond of SAML and coupling this with several requests to allow the use of AppsAnywhere without the need for an LDAP connection, we have created a new option to map SAML attributes.

It adds the ability for AppsAnywhere to take the required user data from the SAML login and then user roles, provisioning, and delivery method restrictions can be set up using the SAML attributes.           

AppsAnywhere 2.12 recap

Refresh your memory of what was new in AppsAnywhere 2.12, including a brand new UI and hardware profiles…

AppsAnywhere 2.12 recap