Understanding AppWave Apps
Go Up to Using AppWave Browser
In addition to the standard installation executables for AppWave applications, Embarcadero provides AppWave Apps versions of many products. You can access EMBT Apps and Trials at https://www.windowsapps.com.
Embarcadero AppWave Store also provides access to many free apps from other parties. You can access FREE Third Party Apps at https://www.windowsapps.com.
Advantages of using AppWave Apps:
- Apps simplify deployment and enable side-by-side versioning. When AppWave Browser is not running in Turbo mode, such as in a locked-down desktop environment, Apps are ideal because they do not affect system files or system registry settings.
- AppWave Apps run within their own space without sharing DLLs or system-wide settings that could conflict with other applications. Application data, including configuration and license information, is stored locally on the hard disk, separate from the executable itself. AppWave Apps run on the local machine and are launched from the network using AppWave Browser.
- AppWave Apps are provisioned and licensed by AppWave (leveraging the Embarcadero License Center which is integrated) and then accessed using AppWave Browser. AppWave obtains software updates from the AppWave Public Store and makes them available to the AppWave Browser user.
- Using Apps on a shared AppWave avoids the need to keep multiple machines updated with new versions. By keeping the AppWave versions up to date, you will automatically gain access to the latest versions of the products.
- Apps launched from AppWave Browser benefit from application streaming because the application will begin to open before the product has been fully downloaded. However, if you need frequent access to an application, you should download and run the file locally, which is typically faster than running it from AppWave.
Display of Apps
The Administrators determines which apps are displayed in the AppWave Browser and they have access to an interface that allows the selection of which apps within the Enterprise store to promote.
You can view the top apps for each category as well as the top apps overall. The apps are displayed in the following categories:
- Featured Apps: The apps that the Administrator wants to feature.
- Highest Rated Apps: Average Rating (from highest to lowest) of apps available in the Enterprise store.
- Newest Apps: Time of app on system (from newest to oldest) of apps available on the Enterprise store.
- Most Popular Apps: This is based on the download popularity (from most downloaded to least) of apps available in the Enterprise store.
Limitations of Application Virtualization
Some apps in AppWave will perform automatic updates from vendor websites. Such auto-updates will generally not work in a virtualized app. When an auto-update happen when running an app from AppWave, AppWave Browser users should cancel the update operation as it is likely to fail. Similarly, users should not select menu items within an app that aims to update from vendor website. The solution is to apply updates for existing apps once for all users via the mastering process using AppWave Studio. The most recent versions of Embarcadero XE apps are always available on the AppWave Public Store and are made available to Embarcadero users with maintenance contracts. Embarcadero also updates third party apps on the AppWave Public Store regularly.