Archive notice: This article was originally published on October 15, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
FileMaker today releases the second generation of Bento, a database solution for Apple Macintosh users with the stylish look and feel of iTunes. The US database specialist and wholly owned Apple subsidiary has completely revised its database for personal use and adds new features that make Bento 2 even easier to use.
“We have not been idle in the eight months since Bento was born and have listened carefully to our customers’ suggestions and needs,” says Hermann Anzenberger, Managing Director of FileMaker GmbH. “The second generation of Bento is tailored to users, is even easier to use and remains enjoyable.”
Bento 2 now integrates Apple Mail, providing immediate access to linked emails. Using simple drag and drop, users can incorporate not only emails but also notes and RSS feeds into Bento 2, eliminating the need to switch repeatedly between applications.
FileMaker has also completely revised data import and export. While the first version could exchange data only in CSV format, the second generation also works with iWork Numbers and Microsoft Excel. Data can simply be copied or imported into Bento by drag and drop and written back again.
Template exchange is another new capability. With the new “Exchange Templates” feature, Bento users post templates in the Bento forum and share them with one another.
Collaboration with iWork has also been refreshed: Bento 2 users can easily access their AppleWorks data, import it with just a few clicks and write it back again.
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Bento 2 offers further functionality that makes working with a database much more pleasant. The working view has been redesigned in spreadsheet style. Records and templates can be edited and modified in a familiar worksheet view without changing the current view mode.
“We found that most Bento users work extensively with spreadsheets and value familiar views and handling,” says Ryan Rosenberg, Vice President of Marketing and Services at FileMaker Inc. “For this reason, we built many new features into Bento 2 that address this preference and make Bento noticeably more convenient to use.”
As easily as with iTunes, Bento 2 lets users search for data, sort it more quickly and create summaries. Data presentation is also new: changes can be made directly without switching to “Layout Mode.” Google Maps can be displayed and iChats launched directly from Bento.
The options for printing records and templates from Bento have also been expanded. FileMaker provides ten new templates in the new version.
Although the second generation of Bento impresses with many new features, it requires no more system performance. Like its predecessor, Bento 2 needs only 512 MB of memory or more. It continues to run on Leopard (Mac OS X v10.5.4) and Macintosh computers with Intel, PowerPC G5 or PowerPC G4 processors.
Bento 2 also remains stable in price: the single licence still costs €39 (€59 Swiss francs). The family licence for five users costs €79 (€119 Swiss francs), with both prices including VAT.
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