Mac database integrates with iPhoto, provides multi-user sharing, new security options and brings innovative new ways to view, use and share photos, contacts, calendars and files
FileMaker, Inc. today announced the immediate availability of Bento 3, a breakthrough new version of the popular personal database for the Mac. For the first time ever, Bento 3 integrates with iPhoto from Apple allowing you to store more info about your photos and link them to contacts, projects, events and other information stored in Bento.
“Think of Bento 3 as a powerful, easy way to bring together all of your key Mac information and photos,” said Ryan Rosenberg, vice president, marketing and services, FileMaker, Inc. “With Bento 3, we’re providing new ways for you to view and interact with your information so you can organize contacts, projects, events and even more details of your life.”
Share and share alike securely with up to five users
Bento 3 also delivers new ways to share your information with other Bento users. Just like sharing iTunes and iPhotos over a local area network (LAN) using Apple’s Bonjour technology, you can now share your Bento libraries with up to five users over a wired or wireless local network. You can also encrypt any field and assign passwords to secure your information in Bento 3.
View information in ways never before possible using a database
The new Grid view in Bento 3 delivers an innovative method of displaying thumbnails of photos, text and numeric-based information, while improved File Lists show image thumbnails, instead of just text.
Get started instantly
With Bento 3, you can choose from 35 pre-designed, ready-to use templates thanks to the addition of 10 more templates for popular uses, including wine collecting, job hunting, home searching, vacation planning and more. In addition, the recently launched Bento Template Exchange shows off hundreds of downloadable templates designed by Bento users, so there is never a shortage of new ideas for ways to use Bento 3.
Praise from Bento 3 early evaluators
“I love being able to access grid view in my Bento 3 database… all I can say is AWESOME!” — Lisa Fitkin, Video Producer, Premier Images, Olympia, Wash. and Oakland, Calif.
“With Bento 3, FileMaker has brought the best of the Mac environment and incredible simplicity to the database world…it is an intuitive yet powerful program to use even without having to delve into the program manual. In short, I love it!” — Mark Mainville, Administrator, New Covenant Church, Malone, N.Y.
“I plan to use the iPhoto integration. Adding tags and notes to particular photos will be cool, and the grid view will also be very helpful. Bento 3 seems more polished — and the ability to keep libraries synched to my iPhone will allow me to keep everything handy.” — Maique Madeira, Newspaper photojournalist, Lisbon, Portugal
Special limited time offers available
Bento 3 has a suggested list price of $49, but, for a limited time only, FileMaker is offering a $20 rebate to existing users of Bento 1 and Bento 2. Qualified customers who purchase Bento 3 through the FileMaker Store will get an instant rebate and pay just $29 for Bento 3. Qualified customers who purchase Bento 3 at an Apple store or other retailer can request a $20 rebate online. Customers who have purchased Bento 2 between August 30, 2009 and October 14, 2009 are eligible to receive Bento 3 for free. A 30-day trial version is also available at http://www.filemaker.com/trybento3pr.
Bento 3 support for Bento for iPhone and iPod touch
Bento 1.0.3 for iPhone and iPod touch resolves compatibility issues related to Bento 3 for Mac and will be available soon. Current users of Bento for iPhone and iPod touch will see a notification on their device when the free update is available for download.
Pricing and system Requirements
Bento 3 is affordably priced at $49 U.S., or $99 U.S. for a family pack of five licenses, and is available on the FileMaker Store. Bento 3 will also be offered at the Online Apple Store and Apple retail stores. It requires Mac OS X v.10.5.7 Leopard and will also run on the recently released OS X v.10.6 Snow Leopard on a Mac computer with an Intel PowerPC G5 or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor. A minimum of 512MB of RAM and 1GB of hard drive space is recommended. A CD drive is required for installation of boxed software.
About FileMaker, Inc.
FileMaker is the leader in easy-to-use database software. Millions of people, from individuals to some of the world’s largest companies, rely on FileMaker software to manage, analyze and share vital information. The company’s products are the FileMaker Pro line — versatile database software for teams and organizations, for Windows, Mac and the Web — and Bento, the personal database for Mac, iPhone and iPod touch. FileMaker, Inc. is a subsidiary of Apple.
