Bento 4 (for iPad)

Keeping your business and personal life in order can prove a true challenge, but FileMaker's Bento 4 for iPad aims to solve the problem. The $9.99 organizational app makes it simple for anyone—even novices—to create attractive databases in just minutes, thanks to 40 retina display-ready pre-designed templates, a flexible editing system, and a clean, intuitive interface. Bento 4 for iPad can be used as a standalone iPad app, or in conjunction with the $49 Bento 4 for Mac OS X.

Bento for iPad is far more accessible for the average user than FileMaker's business-centric ($39.99, 4 stars) thanks to an attractive, intuitive UI, and the ability to create new database entries. And new features, such as voice recording, makes Bento (one of our ) even better. That said, Bento 4 for iPad's wireless sync—which requires the iPad and desktop computer to be connected to the same signal (a big limitation)—needs an overall in an era where cloud data synching (such as to Google Docs) is the norm.

Interface and Navigation
Launching Bento takes you to a dark menu screen that features 25 attractive template icons you can use to get started. These templates range in style from "Blank" to "Products For Sale" to "Contacts"—there's a prefab template for a variety of uses.

Bento 1.1 displayed content in different ways depending on how you held the iPad, but the latest update offers virtually identical views in both horizontal and vertical views. It displays a two-column layout that consists of a main content area and a sidebar that houses the different libraries you've created. You can quickly switch among libraries by tapping their respective icons. Holding the iPad horizontally gives you a slightly wider main content area that makes it a bit easier to key in information. All in all, the design is an improvement over the previous version.

Database Creation and Customization
Creating a new database entry is as simple as selecting a template or bringing a finger to the button in the lower-left corner of the screen if you're already within a template. In fact, Bento 4 fills out the form with a mock entry just to get you up to speed with how data is presented. When I opened the "Diet Log" Library, the date, weight, and calories fields were filled in with example numbers. Bento 4 recognizes when you tap inside a field that accepts numerical data ("Cost," "Quantity," and "Serial Number") by launching a virtual numerical pad—an excellent addition for number crunchers.

I put these features to use by creating an "Events" Library entry to keep track of upcoming important dates. To do that, I tapped "Events," which opened a blank page. I keyed in "Jane's Housewarming" in the title field, "123 Main St." in the location field, and input the date in the date field. 

FileMaker, oddly, removed the specific hour-based start and end time that used to appear by default. But that doesn't mean it's not available! You also tweak the field layouts by tapping the edit icon (a pencil icon) and dragging the fields into new arrangements or adding new fields entirely. I added a "Time" file to "Jane's Housewarming" with just a few taps. This is just a sampling of what you can do with Bento for iPad's database features—you can also select from hundreds of template themes that live in the Bento Template Exchange to give your entry extra pizzazz. Unfortunately, Bento for iPad doesn't let users access iCal Events (but it does support iCal tasks).

You also have the ability to pick a new Library icon from a number of pre-made icons if you aren't satisfied with the default selection. You can't, however, select your own icon from your iPad's photo gallery. You can add or delete records to a Library entry by tapping the plus or minus icons. A horizontal bar lets you quickly scroll through all of the records that you've created. You can view entries in the new Table, Split Screen, and Full Screen views.

Bento 4 also includes the option to create a Collection, a set of records within a Library that contains related data. I created a Collection that contained a list of party supplies within the "Jane's Housewarming" library and filled it in with the wines, breads, and other necessary items. List makers will find it a handy tool.

Additional Features
You can use Bento to make voice memos by selecting the "Media" field, and then tapping the "Record Audio." I recorded and saved an audio file within a contact's profile, which could proved useful for associating a voice or idea with a person. 

Tapping the information icon lets wirelessly sync Bento for iPad records to a computer running the desktop version of Bento over the same network, apply a passcode to Bento for iPad to prevent prying eyes from entering, and more. The wireless sync feature is easily my favorite option as it lets you transfer data without being tethered to a machine. That said, because syncing works between an iPad and desktop connected to the same Wi-Fi network, you can't stray out of Wi-Fi range if you want the software to speak with one another. That's a big limitation for those who enter data while away from their Macs. I can easily see SMBs business people using Bento on the road regretting the lack of Internet syncing. 

Bento 4 for iPad also adds a Calculation field (for crunching numbers), GPS location tagging (which you can do manually, or set so that it automatically happens when a record is created), and Simple Lists (which supports spreadsheet functionality). These are for very useful features for Bento users who want extra functionality.

Bento 4 The Win
If you're looking to keep contacts, inventory listings, or any number of other potential database entries organized in an attractive, easy-to-use application, Bento for iPad is well worth the $4.99 price of admission and a clear choice for the Editors' Choice designation. It has some quirks—it only syncs with the desktop Bento when the iPad and Mac are connected to the same wireless network—but if you desire to better organize your professional or personal life, this jack-of-all-trades database app is the way to go.

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