Bento is a must-have app for those looking to manage nearly every aspect of their life in one program. The ability to sync with the iPhone and iPad (apps sold separately) is key, but the growing list of features certainly helps. There may not be enough here in v4 if you’re happy with v3 and don’t need to print labels, but those who aren’t on board at all really should take advantage of the 30-day free trial now.

If you’re a Bento user—be it on the Mac, iPhone or iPad—check your updates; FileMaker has shipped Bento 4 for Mac (now available in the Mac App Store) and updated Bento for iDevices to v1.1. New features include the ability to print labels, export libraries with data, automatically add geographical locations to records and lock down forms.

FileMaker, Inc. has announced version 1.1 of FileMaker Go for iPhone and FileMaker Go for iPad, their apps that let users view, edit and search FileMaker Pro records on iPhone or iPad. These significant updates are available free from the iTunes App Store, and include enhancements for creating PDFs, sharing databases via email, and inserting photos in databases.

The school year may be winding down, but FileMaker is already looking ahead to the fall. Students who download the 30-day trail of Bento 3 for Mac will receive the new Bento 3 Student Survival Kit. This integrated set of student organizing tools includes ready-to-use templates for organizing lecture notes, courses, group projects, special events and job searches.

Bento for iPad, quite honestly, made me nervous. I liked the idea of syncing Bento between my Mac and iPhone. I do the heavy creation and edits on the comfortable Mac, sync them to the iPhone, then always have my recipes, Appletell staff info, etc., by my side. Wouldn’t the iPad just get in the way? After using it for a few weeks, I now don’t think so. Bento for iPad is its own thing.

Man, it’s going to be a busy day for updates as companies officially announce their iPad apps. One of the bigger announcements we’ve been sitting on until now is that FileMaker, Inc. has announced the Bento for iPad, available now in the App Store. The app is based on Bento for iPhone with enhancements to make the most of the big, beautiful iPad screen. The new app enables users to manage contacts, track projects, plan events and more, and can be used by itself or synchronized with Bento 3 for Mac.

Bento 3 is to database programs what RapidWeaver and iWeb are to web development. There are more powerful, more functional, more expensive database programs out there, but through a simple interface and a wealth of pre-made templates, Bento 3 offers all the tools that many of us need. What’s more, it’s made by the same company that makes FileMaker Pro, likely the best database program available on the Mac, and arguably on all platforms.

Bento for iPhone should cost $15 more than it actually does. It doesn’t feel like an app, it feels like a program. Like software. Like something you’d buy in a box off a shelf at a store. It’s an app that makes me feel foolish for not trying its Macintosh predecessor earlier. It hasn’t quite gotten there yet, but as I move more information to it, and if they release more templates, Bento will easily become the most important app on my iPhone.

Filemaker released an update to the public beta verson of Bento, their personal database application for Mac. Bento is a Leopard only application and makes us of some Leopard only features. Check out the list of new functionality, from the Filemaker website, below: New functionality includes: * Quick Look support inside Bento – With the more »