Same here. I'd like to know where it fits.
I want to replace ACT! and manage holiday rental of 3 apartments in a calendar style...
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Filemaker Introduces Bento for Mac
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I want to replace ACT! and manage holiday rental of 3 apartments in a calendar style...
A bit more detail can be found in this MacWorld First Look.
But basically, as the copy claims, it's a "personal" database app. The screenshots in the review above are probably the best way to understand some of the sample uses (which are provided in the form of built-in templates):
I remember using FileMaker to maintain a wedding guest list database (which included address, food preferences, gift received, RSVP status, etc.) and would have loved to have something like this.
But basically, as the copy claims, it's a "personal" database app. The screenshots in the review above are probably the best way to understand some of the sample uses (which are provided in the form of built-in templates):
- Media catalog
- Home inventory
- Simple project management
I remember using FileMaker to maintain a wedding guest list database (which included address, food preferences, gift received, RSVP status, etc.) and would have loved to have something like this.
It's like Filemaker "light" for consumers
It doesn't have i at the front, that's a small blessing right there. But more importantly, it's not a mail/calendar/address book; it's a database with a GUI.
Which, obviously, is exactly what the iApps are, really. But if this is like it's daddy Filemaker, then I would guess that the database part is much more emphasized; You can probably control GUI to some extent based on what's in the Database and what info you want to highlight, like Filemaker.
Chances are it has templates, and you can say, give me an "events" template, and it will go and find all the appropriate database items and populate the events, and then you can say, I don't want the "location" field but I DO want the "phone number" field, and it will adjust accordingly.
Probably you can create your own templates too, like a shortlist of cars you're considering buying, narrowing it down to, for example, cars under $40k with standard MP3 player, all-wheel drive and alloy tires, assuming you have entered the info in your database.
I may like the project management part of it. One of my hold backs on Apple for a work PC has been business applications (sorry I work in heavy MS shops that are too cheap to buy legal copies of the product but must integrate with everyone - oops another discussion for another day)... I like that business projects are now making it way into Apple. I long for the day when MS either developes truely compatible cross platform applications or Apple becomes a major playor in the workforce. I am sick of rebooting my work PC twice or 3 times a day...... How much will this cost, MS Project is over $1,000 per license so my work will not buy us copies, yet they keep sending out the darn files like we can read them 
Will this me MS project compatible
Will this me MS project compatible 
I agree. Seems like the perfect app to round out the suite. Maybe Apple will annex it from Filemaker the way the annexed ClarisWorks and renamed it Apple Works.....and then killed it.
I tried Filemaker (7 or 8 I think) and hated it for its non-Apple interface. I've always wanted an iTunes for my own data and this might be it.
Unfortunately I haven't worked out how to import any existing data yet. Can I get text files in there or Excel data?
Unfortunately I haven't worked out how to import any existing data yet. Can I get text files in there or Excel data?
I do not know apple specifically, but usually software companies only release for the latest OS. Take the PC world, you cannot by software (although it may work) for Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 anymore. But since 90% of people are using XP still they target XP and the new Vista. It does not surprise me if Apple owns filemaker. They would want everyone to switch to Leopard (especially if more changed under the hood and how applications are developed). Lets face it the windows API did not change much between the first release of 95 up through XP - hence why you can still develop in the unsupported Visual Studio 6. So the question is, how much really changed under the hood between tiger and leopard. If a lot has changed, then it would be very difficult and costly to develop for 2 different OS that are no longer a like. Could be why MS waited on office to go strickly with Apple programming languages?
And they'll make the new version completely break the old version so that you can't use existing databases without a rewrite of the entire database GUI and table structure.
It's not even close to being that good looking and functional. It's pretty cool, however.
An Access-compatible database app is surely on the cards for a future iWork update...
So let me get this straight. Bento (by the fine folks at FileMaker) is Leopard only. OK. And FileMaker does not yet support Leopard. (correct me if I'm wrong on that). Gee, I wonder what they have been working on...
Why would you ever want to have an integrated PIM? That isn't the "Apple Way".
Seriously though iCal and Address book need to die and be integrated into mail. Having multiple apps you need to switch back and forth on simply because Apple is clinging to an archaic design model IS NOT an excuse.
Seriously though iCal and Address book need to die and be integrated into mail. Having multiple apps you need to switch back and forth on simply because Apple is clinging to an archaic design model IS NOT an excuse.
I'm hoping this will fill the niche left by the loss of AppleWorks/ClairsWorks... whatever.
We still have to keep that outdated POC installed because my wife's customer database (primarily for mailing lists) that she build using the old app.
Now, our only options have been
1) import to Address Book, which is much more limited than I want, or
2) upgrade to Filemaker, which is WAAAAAYY overkill for what we need.
I'm hoping this fills that spot.
We still have to keep that outdated POC installed because my wife's customer database (primarily for mailing lists) that she build using the old app.
Now, our only options have been
1) import to Address Book, which is much more limited than I want, or
2) upgrade to Filemaker, which is WAAAAAYY overkill for what we need.
I'm hoping this fills that spot.
Why would you ever want to have an integrated PIM? That isn't the "Apple Way".
Seriously though iCal and Address book need to die and be integrated into mail. Having multiple apps you need to switch back and forth on simply because Apple is clinging to an archaic design model IS NOT an excuse.
I totally agree.
I love the idea that ical mail and address book could be integrated into one application. I work at home with dual monitors, one completely dedicated to a triple split screen ical/address book/mail, and switching between the few gets to be bothersome after using outlook 07 or entourage 08 for a while.
Is this the purpose of this bento program?
Podcasts
here is a postcast which gives additional info.
http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/podcasts/fm_files_intro_bento.m4a
looks good. If we can hook up some JDBC driver to this database, it will be a great lightweight db.
here is a postcast which gives additional info.
http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/podcasts/fm_files_intro_bento.m4a
looks good. If we can hook up some JDBC driver to this database, it will be a great lightweight db.
Oh please no. The last thing I want is to need to open Mail/iCal every time I want to query my address book.
They should be highly cohesive, highly decoupled and stay that way.
You wouldn't...but someone not into the apparent complexity of Filemaker Pro (personally I've never used it) may be looking for exactly this...