Filemaker's Bento Personal Database App to Launch for iPad

[ValSalva]

So... Spreadsheet, word processing, presentation, and database apps available from day one. Yeah, this thing's a toy.

But it's still all about data input. Not sure I want to drag around a kludgy keyboard dock. If I have to travel with that dock I'd rather take my MBP. I still think, despite these apps, that the iPad is mainly a book reader and movie watching device.

 

[Friscohoya]

Its beginning to look a lot like christmas. I dig that UI.

 

[nastebu]

But it's still all about data input. Not sure I want to drag around a kludgy keyboard dock. If I have to travel with that dock I'd rather take my MBP. I still think, despite these apps, that the iPad is mainly a book reader and movie watching device.

bento has options for entering data with drop down menus, checkboxes, stars for ratings, and other finger friendly methods. I've used the iPhone version to record survey results in the field this way. Obviously sometimes you need to type, but here's enormous potential for this kind of form factor to be incredibly useful. And honestly the software keyboard will quite probably be quite usable for the kind of quick short entry that most database data consists of.

 

[abhimat.gautam]

I love that UI!

 

[Jaro65]

I keep trying to justify a reason for Bento. Maybe this will finally push me over the edge.

Same here. It actually looks very good on iPad!

 

[thatisme]

bento?

Bring on Filemaker Pro 11. That would be a great thing to have on an iPad... a portable relational database!!!

Sports coaches, Athletic Secretaries would eat it up...

So would ... Outside Salesmen, Territory managers, insurance companies, contractors, etc......

Bento is great, but a bit too simplistic. An advanced database solution would be a welcomed app!

 

[Undecided]

The virtual leather case shown in the screenshot is a waste of screen real estate.

 

[rhett7660]

Bring on Filemaker Pro 11. That would be a great thing to have on an iPad... a portable relational database!!!

Sports coaches, Athletic Secretaries would eat it up...

So would ... Outside Salesmen, Territory managers, insurance companies, contractors, etc......

Bento is great, but a bit too simplistic. An advanced database solution would be a welcomed app!

That is what I am talking about and the ability to sync to multiple devices.

 

[LadyHoneyBabe]

Does Filemaker Pro 11 have an iPhone app like Bento?

 

[bikertwin]

So is this going to be a universal app for both iPhone and iPad, or do you have to buy one for each?

 

[FFArchitect]

Very cool, but I must say that I've tried to think of a good use for Bento and still can't find one.

 

[Zc456]

But it's still all about data input. Not sure I want to drag around a kludgy keyboard dock. If I have to travel with that dock I'd rather take my MBP. I still think, despite these apps, that the iPad is mainly a book reader and movie watching device.

You do realize you can use a wireless bluetooth keyboard as well?

 

[jacoder]

Very nice... new candidate for my iPad.

 

[polaris20]

Not only that but, I think we also must be reminded that:

- No Flash
- No eInk Screen
- No User Replaceable Battery
- No Windows Logo
- It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken
- Bill Gates Confirmed It Totally Suxors Unlike A Cool XP Netbook
- Only a dupe would pay for expensive, overpriced chocolate when you can have 2x as much mockolate for the same money. Yum, oily, powdery mockolate.

You just described my MacBook Pro 13". I block Flash.

 

[polaris20]

But it's still all about data input. Not sure I want to drag around a kludgy keyboard dock. If I have to travel with that dock I'd rather take my MBP. I still think, despite these apps, that the iPad is mainly a book reader and movie watching device.

I'm not getting the dock, I'm just getting the case that props it up, coupled with the BT keyboard.

 

[stagi]

looks like a promising app and beautiful design. I think I was most excited about the calendar design when the iPad was released more than anything Love software with a good design and so much more to be creative with compared to the iPhone.

 

[SandynJosh]

Sooo.... OmniGroup has announced their five applications...any word on what they may be? The link doesn't seem to work for me on the Firefox browser.

Arn seems to be running some software there that doesn't like the Mac Firefox... he's probably a Microsoft mole.

 

[SandynJosh]

Bring on Filemaker Pro 11. That would be a great thing to have on an iPad... a portable relational database!!!

Sports coaches, Athletic Secretaries would eat it up...

So would ... Outside Salesmen, Territory managers, insurance companies, contractors, etc......

Bento is great, but a bit too simplistic. An advanced database solution would be a welcomed app!

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought that Filemaker and Bento data bases could talk to each other? If so, what if a person used Filemaker on the Mac and Bento on the portable devices?

 

[tgc]

Too concentrated on Bento.

Still dreaming of an iPhone/iPad version of FileMaker that syncs with the Desktop version. There's been rumour of one from the last developer conference but am losing faith as they obviously Bento is more the market.

I'm hoping iPad will change that and I'd pay quite a bit higher than the $4.99 for Bento ... more like $30.

Tried FMTouch and some of my simpler database relationships/portals just didn't work. And it was so slow.



Dreams never die, just the dreamer.

 

[deconstruct60]

Sooo.... OmniGroup has announced their five applications...any word on what they may be? The link doesn't seem to work for me on the Firefox browser.

Just go to the omnigroup's site. It isn't a secret there.

http://www.omnigroup.com/blog/entry/iPad_or_Bust_two_weeks_later/


Namely they are not all coming at once. If you poke around the blog you can see that sketch has been working with printed prototype for look and feel.

 

[RalfTheDog]

I'd like to know more about this Patrice Morgan. Is she attached?

Attached to what?

Usually, when I need a database, I write it in PHP/SQL, then use a web browser. I think most commercial software is a bit overrated.

 

[thatisme]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought that Filemaker and Bento data bases could talk to each other? If so, what if a person used Filemaker on the Mac and Bento on the portable devices?

they can talk to each other. However, Bento is a data storage database. Much like a very pretty spreadsheet application. Filemaker is a true relational database that allows you much more latitude in storing your information, linking data points from one database to another and mining the results.

I use Filemaker to track my kids' team. I track personal contact information, track weekly dues, scores, averages, tournament entries, etc. For the dues, we calculate each week, report back total funding, missing dues, who owes for which dates, and which monies are missing (general dues, trophy funds, uniform fees, etc.)

I have tried this in Bento to no avail. It can track everything in separate databases, but I cannot have a true summary panel that will drill down to the information I need.

Nothing that I have is overly complex that couldn't be implemented on the iPad, if and only if, there is a relational database program to use. The beauty of the iPad is that I could have it in hand out on the lanes and not need to constantly be tied to a power adapter or a table to use the "computer"

 

[nastebu]

they can talk to each other.

I think you're mistaken. They can't share data.

However, Bento is a data storage database. Much like a very pretty spreadsheet application. Filemaker is a true relational database that allows you much more latitude in storing your information, linking data points from one database to another and mining the results.

[...]

I have tried this in Bento to no avail. It can track everything in separate databases, but I cannot have a true summary panel that will drill down to the information I need.

Very true. Bento can't show relationships between data like that--at least not on a single screen.

The beauty of Bento, however, is that it can keep track of all of that information very neatly, and it would be possible for someone new to databases to set up the file in a couple of hours. In filemaker, you'd need quite a level of expertise t create this kind of database.

 

[artpease]

Not looking for a tutorial here, only info from a knowledgeable group.

I do not own Bento. It appears here that it won't do a conditional query.
If contact is member of employeeGroup, then display time card data.
if contact is member of customerGroup, then get schedule.
if contract is not a member of a group then why not!

Does it just redisplay Address Book and iCal notes data on a form?

There appears to be some data entry. Does that just go into an Address Book note or an iCal Note. Can there be additional tables created and how are they connected.

Thanks, don't take a lot of Arn's space, I'll get it.

 

[artpease]

You just described my MacBook Pro 13". I block Flash.

I block Flash too! Go Steve...