FileMaker, Inc. today unveiled Bento for iPhone and iPod touch, the portable version of the popular personal database that’s as easy to use as the iPhone or iPod touch. With Bento for iPhone and iPod touch, it’s never been easier to organise all the details of a busy life – in one exciting new iPhone application. The new software is now available for download for just $5.99 from the Apple App Store.
The Bento app has 25 built-in templates within Bento for iPhone and iPod Touch:
For business use: Issue Tracking, Time Billing, Customers, Expenses, Products for Sale, Inventory, Projects, Event Planning, Items Sold, and Equipment.
For personal use: Contacts, To Dos, Diet Log, Expenses, Classes, Recipes, Digital Media, Vehicle Maintenance, Projects, Home Inventory, Event Planning, Membership Lists, Notes, and Donations.
The new iPhone App also includes a Blank template for creating an unlimited number of customised templates.
More than a bare-bones database or super to-do list organiser or even a replacement for your built-in iPhone Contacts, Bento for iPhone and iPod touch links together your contacts and keeps track of anything from business-related sales to digital media and recipes. You can keep client information with you, organise an event or party, and make changes right on your iPhone or iPod touch that can also be synchronised* wirelessly with Bento 2.0v4 for Mac desktop software.
You can stay organised by creating “collections” (like playlists in iTunes) of records in any library. If you have a library of digital photos in Bento 2 for Mac, for example, you can create organised collections that store landscapes, animals or architecture favorites. If you have a library of tasks, you can create collections that store your work, personal and volunteer tasks.
Ready to go
With Bento for iPhone and iPod touch, you can:
- Start adding information into any of 25 pre-designed, ready-to-use templates that can be quickly customised with a few taps. You can also create your own forms to organise virtually any data on an iPhone or iPod touch.
- Tap to call a contact, view a Web site, send an email or display a map all while in a Bento library or collection.
- Manage anything from contacts and club members to projects, parties, medical bills and vehicle maintenance.
- View libraries and collections, create new records, edit details, sort data, modify forms – even use the iTunes-style search to find information quickly on the go.
- Select from 15 field types including text, numbers, choice, checkbox, media, time, date, durations, currency, rating, address, phone number, email, URL and IM Account.
Wireless synchronisation
Bento for iPhone and iPod touch can be used as a standalone application, and it also synchronises* wirelessly with Bento 2.0v4 for Mac. The update allows users to automatically keep desktop and mobile devices up-to-date whether information is edited on the Mac or the mobile device.
Compatability and connectivity with Mac programs
Bento for iPhone and iPod touch works with existing information and iPhone applications such as Contacts, Safari, Phone Dialing, Mail and Google Maps for a truly integrated iPhone experience.
Update for Bento 2 Desktop Software also available
Today, FileMaker is also releasing Bento 2.0v4, a free update to its desktop software that can be downloaded by all existing Bento 2 for Mac users. The new Bento 2.0v4 for Mac provides synchronisation compatibility with Bento for iPhone and iPod.
Options for corporate customers
FileMaker now offers iPhone users a choice of databases. In addition to the new Bento for iPhone and iPod touch for individual users, corporate workgroups can access and update critical business information live using their iPhones thanks to the FileMaker PHP iPhone Site Assistant offered with FileMaker Server 10 or FileMaker Server 10 Advanced. FileMaker Server PHP Site Assistant for iPhone can be used to distribute a wide variety of business data via the iPhone including schedules, service tickets, field data collection, images, sales leads, order histories, asset management, inventory status and more.
