FileMaker offers Bento for iPad

FileMaker has introduced a version of its personal database software Bento for iPad, pricing it at $4.99. It’s a standalone version of the database software that also synchronizes with its Mac and iPhone counterparts.

Based on Bento for iPhone, Bento for iPad includes 25 pre-designed, customizable templates that range from event planning and time billing to recipes, classes and more. Each database template is modifiable. Bento supports 15 different field types including text, numbers, choice, checkbox, media, time, date and more.

Bento for iPhone has already sold more than 100,000 copies, according to Bento product manager Ryan Griggs. FileMaker hosts a Bento Template Exchange where users can download nearly 600 templates for use with Bento; more than 300,000 templates have been downloaded to date.

Griggs told The Loop that FileMaker anticipates Bento for iPad will be used in sectors ranging from business – everything from displaying portfolios and performing field data collection – to personal use, with schedules and to do list, recipes and more.

Enhancements made to Bento for iPad include full screen forms and a split screen view that’s not available on the iPhone. Text fields can expand and shrink using a tap, and the software fully supports both landscape and portrait orientation. Gesture support has been implemented, and users can swipe left or right to switch records.

Eric

The biggest flaw to this software (right ahead of not being relational in any way) is the fact that it won't work driectly with Filemaker Pro. You have to buy Filemaker Advanced for $100 more, and then it's only a web interface between the two. It's like they don't really take the standard version of Filemaker Pro seriously, but consider it a gateway drug for more expensive verisons.

Really disappointing that Filemaker:

1: Does not make Filemaker Pro driectly compatible with Bento.

2: Does not make iPod and iPad versions of FMP that work with the first tier version of Filemaker Pro.