Apple subsidiary FileMaker, Inc. has announced the end of its Bento database application for OS X. FileMaker’s official announcement, verbatim:
FileMaker, Inc. is increasing its focus on FileMaker Product Line software. Thanks to the ease of creating iPad and iPhone solutions, our customers’ use of FileMaker on iOS is growing rapidly. Our increased focus will create an even better experience for these customers.
As part of our sharpened focus, we will stop further development of the Bento consumer products.
Bento for iPad, iPhone and Mac will continue to be available on the FileMaker Store, and the App Store and Mac App Store, through September 30, 2013.
We will provide technical support for Bento products through July 30, 2014.
We thank you for your support of Bento. We know that many Bento customers will be disappointed.
FileMaker Pro, our powerful yet easy-to-use business database software, will be appropriate for certain users of Bento for Mac. We encourage Bento for Mac customers to visit our “Is FileMaker Pro Right For You?” page to understand the differences between Bento and FileMaker Pro and to download a free trial of FileMaker Pro.
Read the Knowledge Base answer for more information on the Bento transition here.
Source: FileMaker, Inc.
Related articles:
FileMaker releases Bento for iPad – April 2, 2010
Sales of Bento for iPhone and iPod touch top 100,000 – December 8, 2009
FileMaker: Bento downloads top 250,000 mark – March 18, 2008
FileMaker previews ‘Bento’ personal database for Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard – November 13, 2007
I can’t believe either product is from Apple. My office has used Filemaker for the last 3 years and have decided to switch to a different platform. FM looks and acts like a stupid Windows program ported clumsily over to Mac. There is nothing about FM that makes it seem like an Apple product, from the hideous icons to something simple like the lack of spelling correction. I wish Apple would give it a complete redesign and replace the current FM staff.
We love FMP and have been using since 1996 …. Our entire company runs on FMP – At least our database portion …
Have a Developer coming Friday to enhance our system ….
I say, if you own a version of Bento, they should let you download the others for free. I have it on my Mac and my iPad, but never paid the $5 for the iPhone version. I have no need for anything as powerful as Filemaker Pro. I’ll have to keep using Bento as long as I can.