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HP is pleased to announce that Remote App Configuration is now available for all HP Workpath apps.

HP has been working hard to enhance app deployment through HP Command Center (HPCC). A few months ago, we introduced the ability to create and deploy app configurations remotely from within HPCC for several HP developed apps. We have used the intervening time to test and improve that feature under production conditions.

HP is pleased to announce that we are now making Remote App Configuration available for all HP Workpath apps. With a little work on your part, HPCC users will be able to create a unique configuration for a customer and deploy it to your app installed on that customers’ devices -- all through HPCC.

For details, please visit the new Remote Configuration page on the developer portal.

HP is pleased to announce the release of Oreo and version 1.4 of the Link for Device SDK.

In June of last year at the 2019 HP JetAdvantage Partner Conference, HP announced our intention to upgrade the HP JetAdvantage Link for Device platform to API version 26 (a.k.a. Oreo) within a year. We are happy to announce that the implementation is now complete, and is included in the latest FutureSmart Bundle (4.10). Thank you to those of you who participated in the Oreo Beta program, helping us ensure the quality of the platform.

To enable all the new features in API version 26, we are also pleased to announce the release of the JetAdvantage Link for Device SDK version 1.4 (associated with the release of FutureSmart Bundle 4.10 device firmware).

Link for Device SDK and Simulator (version 1.4):

Please note: A device firmware upgrade to FutureSmart Bundle 4.10 is required to use this SDK. The firmware will be available on hp.com soon. In the meantime, the firmware has been made temporarily available for download from the SDK Download page.

Download the new SDK and Simulator from the Download page.

Major new features of this version include:

• Android API Version 26 (Oreo)

Other notable changes in this release include:

• HPKTool Change

It is now possible to package a Home Screen (Kiosk) App that also uses Accessories

Restrictions:

• [MASSSTORAGE] Size of getFreeSpace() and getTotalSpace() is not correct.

Tips for making sure your apps are “Oreo ready”:

• Review the API changes introduced between Kitkat (4.4) and Oreo (8.0), to identify any deprecated APIs you might be using:
  • 4.4. to 5.0 (https://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-5.0-changes)
  • 5.0 to 6.0 (https://developer.android.com/about/versions/marshmallow/android-6.0-changes)
  • 6.0 to 7.0 (https://developer.android.com/about/versions/nougat/android-7.0-changes)
  • 7.0 to 8.0 (https://developer.android.com/about/versions/oreo/android-8.0-changes)
• Due to a change in permissions, PrintFromMassStorageBuilder cannot be used to print files from a USB thumb drive. Instead, you must use PrintFromUSBBuilder.
• UI anomalies have been observed when id tags are used within the include tag in an xml layout file (<include android:id=”@+id/my_id” />). Remove ids from your xml layout files.
• UI anomalies have been observed when loading scalable vector graphics (svg) images. Use ContextCompat/AppCompatResources to load svg images from resources. Also ensure vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true is added under defaultConfig in the gradle file.
• UI anomalies have been observed on devices with higher resolution displays (1024x768). Include resources appropriate for a display density of mdpi/160dpi (res/drawable-mdpi).

For any anomalies found in your app, first check your usage of the APIs. Most of the anomalies found during Beta were actually due to the app’s incorrect use of the APIs or reliance on deprecated APIs.

Link for Device SDK and Simulator Version 1.3.1 Now Available

HP has identified potential security vulnerabilities with the Link for Device Platform. The potential vulnerabilities could be used to perform remote information disclosure while scanning and printing in some modes (ScanToMe, PrintFromStorage).

To help address this issue, HP is providing an SDK hotfix (1.3.1) and a firmware update (FutureSmart 4.9.0.1). In this new implementation, scan and print data is more securely transferred to and from the app’s own sandboxed data directory. READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permissions, which are sometimes exploitable through this vulnerability, are no longer necessary.

Note: Existing apps will continue to function on the updated firmware without changes, but will remain susceptible to this security vulnerability.

In order to help mitigate this vulnerability, please update to SDK version 1.3.1 and rebuild and republish your app, specifying a minimum Platform Version of 19.4, at your earliest convenience. Your customers will need to upgrade firmware to FutureSmart 4.9.0.1 or later. In addition, unless your app requires them for some other purpose, please remove READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permissions.

Download the SDK and Simulator from the Download page now.

Note: FutureSmart bundle 4.9.0.1 will soon be available on hp.com. In the meantime you can download it from the Download page.

Sincerely,

The HP JetAdvantage Link team