Testing iPad Apps – Lessons From a Mobile App Tester

Here with the latest installment in our mobile app testing “crash course” series is David Honeyball, who’ll discuss the basics for testing iPad applications. You can read the complete series in the uTest Forums (membership required, but it’s free). Enjoy!

The Apple iPad has become one of the most sought after devices on the market in the last year. Companies have since then created and released thousands of applications for the iPad. Due to this, more and more companies are now looking for skilled testers to help to test those applications to make sure they run smoothly. The rise of the iPad has shown that we need to keep up with the times in technology.

This course and its sections will cater for the following aspects:

Checking your iPad settings
Installing applications to the iPad for testing
Testing techniques on the iPad

Checking your iPad Settings:

Checking your iPad Settings: There are a number of settings you can check on your Apple iPad by entering the ‘Settings’ icon. Of these settings, the main ones can be split into General, WI-FI and Mail, Contacts and Calendars. Additionally you should know how to obtain your UDID which will be needed for projects.

Settings Icon:

Settings>General – Clicking on About menu item brings up information for iPad
Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calendar – Set up Email addresses in this setting on the iPad

Finding UDID for your iPad:

Launch iTunes on your computer and connect your iPad to your computer via your USB connection
Select your iPad from the list of devices
Click on the summary tab
Click ‘Serial Number’ located next to the picture of your phone
You should see the word ‘Identifier’ and an alphanumeric string
Make a note of this alphanumeric string as this is the UDID for your iPad

Installing applications to the iPad for testing:

Installing applications to the iPad for testing: This course is split into various sections in order to show you how to install applications to your iPad:

Equipment needed before starting:

A computer with the latest version of iTunes installed
An Apple iPad
A USB connector cable for the iPad

Step 1: Open iTunes on your personal Computer:

If you have iTunes installed on your computer then click the icon in your desktop or programs to open this application:

Step 2: Download Latest Version if required:

If required you may need to update to the latest version of iTunes and if so when the application opens you will be prompted to press the Download iTunes button:

Step 3: Install iTunes if you do not have it:

If you do not have iTunes installed or need to re-install a version then you can download from the link below:

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Step 4: Save Files needed to run application on iPad on your personal computer:

If you are given a zip file containing the components to install on to your iPad then you should extract these files to a directory of your choosing on your personal computer

Step 5: Drag or Copy files into iTunes:

Selecting the extracted files needed for the application select one at a time and drag across to the Apps area of iTunes as per the illustration below. Alternatively you can copy the file and paste into this area too:

Step 6: Connect your iPad Device to your computer:

Using your USB Connector that came with your iPad connect one end to your iPad and the other end to the USB port on your personal computer.

Step 7: Sync iPad with iTunes:

Once you are connected you will see a new section named ‘Devices’ appear under ‘Library’ and ‘Store’ and the name of you iPad. A message should appear at the top of iTunes to say that the iPad is first syncing with your computer and then backing up. On your iPad screen you should see a message that reads ‘Sync in Progress’: