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Apple Making Databases and Spreadsheets... Fun?

by Terrence O'Brien on November 14, 2007 at 01:36 PM

Bento: Attractive Database App for the Average Obsessive Compulsive
For those of us with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), organization is often key. We develop special systems for tracking to-do's and routinely reorganize our CD collections just to make sure everything is in order: alphabetical order by artist, then chronological by release date. Some of the more extreme amongst us may even build databases and spreadsheets to track things like wines tasted, books read, and what we thought about them.

Bento, a spread sheet program from Apple, is looking to tap into that audience. Bento is developed by Filemaker, a subsidiary of Apple, and is available only for Leopard (Apple's OS 10.5) as a free preview or a full version for $50.

Bento integrates with with other Apple services such as iCal, Address Book, and .Mac to sync data back and forth. It can import data from Excel and CSV spread sheets, and even take stock of and help you organize files such as PDFs, Keynote Presentations, and photos.

The program is designed to blend in with the iLife suite to simplify the art of record keeping. The application is more iTunes than Excel, but the functionality is similar. In addition to text and image fields, Bento has a star rating widget and check boxes to aid in organizing.

Bento even has the equivalent of a smart playlist, filtering out only personal contacts in your address book, who you rate 4 or 5 stars and who you've checked off as having a bought you a birthday gift -- instant best friend list!

Bento is not for every one, but if you have an obsession with organization and want your database system to be both user friendly and aesthetically pleasing, it may be exactly what you need.

From Wired

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Tags: apple, bento, database, filemaker, organization, spreadsheet

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