[banjo]

For all you database lovers, Bento is now available for your iPhone. It even has wireless sync with Bento on your Mac. Apparently it's not as fully featured as the Mac version (e.g. doesn't allow you to create or edit calc fields, though it does support them) but it sounds damn good.

Right now selling for $5.99.

Bento For iPhone | FileMaker

FileMaker

[marc]

I thought it looked good, until I saw this:

Twitpic - Share photos on Twitter

Surely Apple (or Filemaker) wouldn't put a toolbar above a tab bar... SURELY NOT! Pretty poor form, UI-wise.

[decryption]

Originally Posted by marc

I thought it looked good, until I saw this:

Twitpic - Share photos on Twitter

Surely Apple (or Filemaker) wouldn't put a toolbar above a tab bar... SURELY NOT! Pretty poor form, UI-wise.

Eww - that is pretty bad

[banjo]

Are such things really UI blunders on touch interfaces? There probably needs to be more research into it because Fitt's Law as applied to desktop interfaces, the mouse, and screen bounding edges doesn't necessarily apply in the same way.

It's much easier for somebody to hit the right area of a screen with their finger with little error because there is a 1:1 proportional relationship between the required movement and the hit area, and proximity to edges doesn't matter. Compared to a mouse, where there is a 1:15 (more or less, depending on the sensitivity and screen size) relationship, there is less probability of error and less time taken to do the same task.

Anyway, I'm using Safari and what do I see? Tab bar -> Toolbar -> Bookmark Bar, all nestled beside each other. How is that any different?

[Tassiecelt]

I bought this and wish I hadn't, absolute waste of money!

Most of the nice features that make Bento worth considering are just not in the iPhone app. The address book takes twice as long to load than the standard app (on a 3G).

It's so bad that I decided not to buy the full version of Bento for Mac.

[Aaron Bellette]

I must admit I find it useful, but in a different way to the Bento for Mac application. I am an Anaesthetist and I use Bento for my patient database. The iPhone application allows me to carry the pertinent details of each patient with me - useful for when I'm away from computer. I have also replaced another application I previously used (WriteRoom) by creating databases for hospital Provider Numbers, logins, passwords, etc.

Cheers,

Aaron.

[tact]

Originally Posted by Tassiecelt

I bought this and wish I hadn't, absolute waste of money!

Most of the nice features that make Bento worth considering are just not in the iPhone app. The address book takes twice as long to load than the standard app (on a 3G).

It's so bad that I decided not to buy the full version of Bento for Mac.

Agree with you. I bought the iPhone app and downloaded the Mac trial version. Neither work well. Wont be buying the Mac version and will dump the iPhone version.

[ijason]

If you bought this app as a contact db then you bought it for the wrong reason. As an IT manager Bento on a mac and on my iphone has made my computer inventory and warranty/maintenance db completely portable and live. It isn't FMPro, it was never meant to be.

[Vaempyr]

I use Bento as a case-law database; having all my notes about judgments with me - client interviews, Court, discussions with other lawyers, etc. - is fantastic.

I agree that the UI could use some work, but the concept is great, and it definitely fills the niche for me.

[fulltimecasual]

i really love it. its the only implementation of coverflow i like.

[aafuss]

I really enjoy using the iPhone version of Bento-i find quite simple to use.
Mainly using it to track all electronics that I own.

[zigzagler]

hi guys,

sorry to interrupt but may i know whether Bento has the GTD functionality built-in? As I'm deciding between "Things" & "Bento 2", I looking for an all-in-one organizing software atm. Just need to confirm Bento2 has the GTD capabilities.

I'm going to need both Mac & iPhone version of any of the software.

Cheers!

[Japester]

Originally Posted by zigzagler

hi guys,

sorry to interrupt but may i know whether Bento has the GTD functionality built-in? As I'm deciding between "Things" & "Bento 2", I looking for an all-in-one organizing software atm. Just need to confirm Bento2 has the GTD capabilities.

I'm going to need both Mac & iPhone version of any of the software.

Cheers!

Bento is not a list manager or GTD app. It's a database, pure and simple. There is a list-type template but for GTD, you would be much better off with Things.

[marc]

Originally Posted by banjo

Are such things really UI blunders on touch interfaces?

It's bad because it's on a touch interface. Wouldn't be as bad with a mouse driven device.

Originally Posted by banjo

There probably needs to be more research into it because Fitt's Law as applied to desktop interfaces, the mouse, and screen bounding edges doesn't necessarily apply in the same way.

I'd say Fitt's Law works very well for touch devices.

Fitt's Law: "the time required to rapidly move to a target area is a function of the distance to and the size of the target". So in other words, bigger targets are easy to hit, targets that are close to the current location are easy to hit and big targets that are close to the current location are really easy to hit.

Bigger targets are easier to hit. This is tenfold for a touch device where your finger can typically only target an area of about 45 pixels square.* There's two things at play here though... Fitt's Law, and neighbouring buttons. I think Bento's buttons are big enough, but the proximity of the Toolbar to the Tab Bar means the chance of a miss hit is increased.

Originally Posted by banjo

Anyway, I'm using Safari and what do I see? Tab bar -> Toolbar -> Bookmark Bar, all nestled beside each other. How is that any different?

A mouse is a far more accurate pointing device. Finer control, larger screen and you're not covering the hit point with your finger/hand. Case in point: the iPhone's loupe can be used with a lot of accuracy because you can see what's being selected—it's (mostly) unobscured by your finger.

I think my main gripe with the Toolbar on top of the Tab Bar is that it looks sloppy and ugly. I'm sure there would have been a better way, given more thought.

[gchallis]

I'd like to use Bento on the iPhone, but all my 'stuff' is in Filemaker on the Mac. Really would rather see FMP on the 'phone. Hopefully some sort of transmogrifier will appear.