FileMaker fans rejoice: the database vendor has finally released Bento for the iPhone, a database manager for the iPhone based on its well-known data application for the Mac.

FileMaker, based in Santa Clara, CA is a database software developer for both the PC and Mac platforms. It has long been known for its FileMaker series of products, and has now released Bento for the Mac and a companion product for the iPhone. Most iPhone database applications require the use of a desktop version to be useful, but Bento does not necessarily require any software on the desktop.

The iPhone application can be run standalone, and all of the data for iPhone databases are stored on the iPhone itself. The app built on the iPhone or Touch allows the user to perform all normal database operations without leaving the iPhone OS environment. Still, there are advantages to having both the Mac and iPhone versions of the product, according to a PC World story. Primary among these is the synching of databases, either wirelessly or via cable, in both directions.

The iPhone app became available yesterday in the App Store and is a $4.99 download. Filemaker also released a new version of the desktop Bento application yesterday, primarily adding an iTunes-like interface to facilitate the syncing of data between the two platforms. Bento is available from Filemaker, or from many vendors, starting at $49 or slightly lower.

Neither version will satisfy Oracle or MySQL DBAs, but both are suitable for personal databases and are aimed squarely at people with little or no database knowledge. In just a few minutes, an iPhone user can assemble and begin to use a small database. The iPhone version includes over 20 commonly used templates,  including a to-do list, address book, contacts, inventory, notes, recipes, events, expenses, and time billing. Several of these interface with the data already stored on your iPhone and Mac.

This is a good effort, especially for a first app. PC / Windows users will be disappointed that there is as yet no PC app with which to connect and sync to the iPhone. Their only option will be  the Filemaker template that allows you to publish databases in the iPhone format. Still, Mac users will find Bento iPhone to be an extremely useful way to help organize and track a busy life on the run.

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 2:29 pm under Commercial Software, News, iPhone, iPod Touch.  Print This Post

Read more entries by Michael W. Jones.
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