FileMaker on Wednesday announced the release of Bento 4 for Mac, a major new release of its personal database software. For the first time, it’s available from the Mac App Store. It costs $49, and users of previous versions are entitled to a $20 rebate. A $99 “family pack” of five licenses is also available.
[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]New features include the ability to print labels from ore than 250 popular Avery and Dymo file formats. You can share database more easily with the new version, exporting Bento libraries already populated with data for other Bento users.
If you create a Bento database that you think is particularly useful, a new built-in feature enables you to upload the template direction to the Bento Template Exchange. That exchange now sports more than 800 free downloadable templates.
Geographical location data can now be added; Bento can retrieve the data through Wi-Fi, GPS or cell tower triangulation depending on what device you’re using when you enter a record.
The software also lets you lock forms to prevent unwanted changes from being made to a layout. Bento has been reworked with improved performance and faster launch times, and also lets you more easily switch from Table view to Form view, search by date ranges and create media fields automatically by simply dragging and dropping media into place.
Bento has also recently been updated to version 1.1 for iPad and iPhone. The new update (released concurrently with Apple’s iOS 4.3 update last week) lets you record voice memos into media fields. When paired with the Mac version, users can now sync iCal tasks, edit list data from the iPhone and link libraries using related records. Multitasking support and better image support for the iPhone 4’s “Retina display” are also included.
FileMaker has also localized Bento for iPhone and iPad in Japanese, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch.
The software is available in the App Store and can also be purchased in Apple Retail Stores or through FileMaker’s online store.
Note: The $20 rebate for current users is only available through the FileMaker Store. It is not an option if purchasing Bento 4 through Apple’s App Store. It may be available as a coupon in the boxed versions found in retail stores; FileMaker does not make that distinction.
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I’m disappointed, Apple has been offering its App store Apps such as Aperture or Apple Remote Desktop with amazing discounts. I always view that as Apple passing on hints to other developers to also lower their prices. To bad “Filemaker Inc” did not take note.
I checked with Filemaker on this point – they purchasers of the App Store version who have older Bento releases are entitled to the upgrade price, as well.
Yes, it would appear that this would be the online form you need to fill out after purchasing Bento 4 from App Store. FileMaker will then send you a $20 check. The following link is for U.S. purchases:
https://filemaker.sales-promotions.com/customer-apply-for-promotion/?country_promotion=19&lng=en_us
For other countries, I found this information page link at the bottom of the Bento 4 description on the App Store (click on the See Details of item #2):
http://help.filemaker.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7964