Bento 4 Release

Filemaker just released the newest version of Bento, its entry-level database solution for the Mac, iPad, and iPhone. The perfect tool for everyone who needs a database, but hates programming and/or the costs of hiring a bunch of geeks to come into your office just for them to scoff at your technical woes and drink all your coffee

Aside from the pre-built themes and overall ease of use it's known for, Bento 4 now also features the following new tools:

• Label Printing — customize the label function to your heart's delight.
• Form Printing Options — ditto. Improve all those invoices.
• Export Templates with Data — this looks like a roundabout way of copying the file.
• Grab & Store Location Data — this one's actually very cool. You can setup Bento to automatically enter your location when you create or modify a record. Literally. It will enter your longitude and latitude. That could be very useful indeed. You'll need a Mac with OS X 10.6 or later, or of course, an iPhone or iPad.
• Easy Date Searches — instead of typing in date ranges, simply pick words, like Today, Tomorrow, etc.
• Spreadsheet Like Simple Lists — no idea what this is for, but I'm sure it's handy to someone. I think in the old world, these would be called repeating fields.
• Bento Template Exchange — You can post your fancy new layout template to the Bento Template Exchange more easily, allowing everyone to benefit from everyone else's hard work.
• Locking Forms — Stop those pesky colleagues from editing your layouts (forms). Lock them.
• Faster & Easier — A small array of minor improvements.
• iPad/iPhone Upgrade — The Bento apps for these mobile devices have been upgraded too (to 1.1) to work with the new Bento 4 features.

Very nice -- if you need a database, on a Mac, that is easy to set up, works seamlessly with iCal and AddressBook, integrates with your iPhone or iPad, and looks pretty. Perhaps not everyone, but, still, a fairly large group of people could be very happy with Bento. Certainly worth checking out. Bento 4 is $49 for a full license, $29 for the upgrade, and there's a 30-day free trial too for those on the fence. Follow this link to the Bento site to find out more.