FileMaker releases Bento 4 for iPad, users can now create own apps

FileMaker, Inc. today released Bento 4 for iPad, the new version of the leading personal database app, that lets anyone create their own personal productivity apps on iPad.  

Bento 4 for iPad changes the way people will view personal productivity on iPad.  Solo business owners, knowledge workers, freelancers, contractors, consultants and home-based business owners now have an easy way to make their own apps to organize contacts, track projects, plan events and manage lists.  Apps are both created and run within Bento 4 for iPad. Hit jump for the full feature set.

New features of Bento 4 for iPad include:

-  One-tap linking to the Bento Template Exchange to access hundreds of free, ready-to-use templates to get started in seconds

- Powerful design tools that let users customize templates, create forms and organize information with a tap

- 40 retina display-ready themes that add coordinated backgrounds, fonts, and shading to mirror a user’s personal style

- New ways to see and interact with your information such as Table view, Split view and Full Screen view

- The ability to add calculations, encrypted fields and GPS location fields 

“With Bento 4 for iPad it is amazingly easy for anyone to create their ultimate personal productivity app – right on their iPad,” said Ryan Rosenberg, vice president, marketing and services, FileMaker, Inc.

Bento 4 for iPad can be used by itself to create apps for personal use on iPad. Bento 4 for iPad can also be synchronized with Bento 4.1 for Mac. Bento 4.1 for Mac is available as a free update and provides existing Bento 4 for Mac users compatibility with the new Bento 4 for iPad. 

Beta Users Praise New Bento 4 for iPad

"I love the ability to flip to the Table view, as well as customize the forms on the device, which also allows me to have a form similar on my Mac," comments Christian Behnke, a professional Disc Jockey in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. "Its ability to both operate as a great stand-alone app as well as sync data with Bento for Mac make it a fantastic app to have for business use."

"Bento 4 for iPad is easy to design, simple and seamless and a great app to use for tracking medical supplies," says Elliott Gross, M.D., Rye Brook, N.Y. “I am amazed by the capabilities and functions built into Bento 4 for iPad…it is going to change the way I run my photo shoots,” says Cayne Zimmerman, a professional wedding photographer in Ellicott City, Maryland. “I have to say that I love the new user interface. Everything was totally intuitive. The two features that stand out the most are the ability to create Libraries on the iPad and being able to create fields and edit fields is invaluable. Also, I love having the ability to see and create multiple forms in a Library. So many iPad apps are simply stripped down versions of their desktop counterpart. Bento 4 for iPad breaks the mold on that idea. Bento for iPad is a great app on its own accord.”

“The new Libraries are great,” notes Nelson Brann, film editor, Film Alchemy, Redondo Beach, CA.  “They are well designed and useful as is. They are also the perfect starting point for customizing my own versions. Now I can separate my projects and "To Do" lists into manageable bits. It is so handy taking my iPad, loaded with Bento 4 for iPad, on location to make my notes and take pictures that go directly into my database and then syncing it all back at the office for the heavy lifting with Bento on my Mac. This boosts the functionality of my iPad exponentially.

Pricing and availability

Bento 4 for iPad is immediately available on the iTunes app store. Until July 31, customers can purchase Bento 4 for iPad at the special introductory price of US$4.99 (price will be $9.99 starting August 1, 2012).  Bento for iPhone can be purchased for US$4.99. 

New users can get Bento 4.1 for Mac at the special price of US$29.99 until July 31. This is US$20 off the regular price. Price will be US$49.99 starting August 1, 2012). Bento 4.1 for Mac is available on the Mac App Store and filemaker.com