iPhone Stuff

The whirlwind utilization of FileMaker’s consumer database code continues with the promulgation of Bento 3. Bento 3 adds individualist recent features, including mutual libraries, iPhoto integration, section options, and prizewinning of all, an raise price.

First liberated in Nov 2007, Bento was questionable to be the database for the rest of us, touting assist of ingest over the plasticity of Byzantine relational database applications same FileMaker. Bento 1 was priced at $49, as was Bento 2, liberated meet over a assemblage later. That toll caused whatever consternation among Bento 1 users opining Bento 2 was the “real” prototypal release. Apparently FileMaker has listened, and is today substance underway users of Bento a $20 discount. While the toll for recent users relic $49, Bento 3 has sufficiency “new” that those using or needing a ultimate database covering should at diminutive study the liberated trial.

As to what’s recent in Bento 3, the prototypal abstract you wager is a redesigned Template Screen. Bento 3 adds 10 recent templates, transfer the amount to 35, as substantially as a candid unification to the Bento Template Exchange. The online mercantilism has nearly 300 database templates created by users and developers at FileMaker.

The large modify to the programme of Bento 3 is Grid View. While database users module be old with the spreadsheet-like Table View, and Form View for individualist database objects, Grid View is reminiscent of iPhoto Events. If there is a azygos ikon in a record, you wager a thumbnail, with binary images existence cycled finished via mouseover. This is actually pretty useful, be it with bag listing or recipes. If there are no images, you crapper countenance at a thumbnail of the Form View, which is not so useful. Something additional that is multipurpose is iPhoto integration.

As a earnest iCal user, the unseamed combining Bento affords is invaluable. As an example, Bento allows me to create Smart Collections of events, same machine fix or trips to the vet. Not exclusive crapper I add fields in Bento, same cost, but I crapper modify fields that iCal uses. Now, Bento has additional iPhoto to the itemize of desegrated OS X apps: Address Book, iCal, and Mail. Unfortunately, what happens in Bento, stays in Bento with iPhoto integration. While I crapper assort recent achievement fields with photos in Bento, I can’t modify iPhoto fields. Anyone who struggles with iPhoto’s clumsy keyword redaction understands how bounteous a dissatisfaction this is. To equilibrise that dissatisfaction for me, we eventually hit distribution in Bento 3.

To those who bemoan the demand of shared, editable calendars with iCal and MobileMe, Bento 3 appears to substance a workaround. Bento 3 distribution is a aggregation same iTunes distribution over a topical network. It’s as cushy to ordered up as the alternative pane above, but modify more useful. Up to fivesome people, apiece needing their possess double of Bento, crapper modify mutual databases. While I hit not proven this yet, I’m forward that redaction iCal and Address Book accumulation module be echolike for individual users.

The terminal bounteous constituent to Bento 3 is the choice of database security, but there are numerous another diminutive enhancements that crapper be old in free trial. Bento 3 requires OS X 10.5.7 or 10.6.1, costs $49 (or $29 for limiting Bento 1 and Bento 2 users). There module also presently be a recent promulgation of Bento for iPhone, liberated to underway users and $5 for recent users.

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